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The Quantum Worlds #1
The Quantum Door
Discover what lies beyond the Quantum Door. The mysterious woods behind Brady and Felix's house have been deserted for years. But things change when a fence goes up and the brothers notice strange things happening at night. From the moment they dare cross the fence, the brothers enter a world of dark technological secrets that will rock the foundation of everything they know to be true. And once they enter, there's no turning back. Some places are better left alone...
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
November 29, 2016
Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book by the author, Johnathan Ballagh, for an honest review
Opinion: Ahhh...sweet, sweet satisfaction. Usually, I stay far FAR away from any kind of book that involves sci-fi and quantum physics and such. I’m not a rocket scientist here guys, and I have no problem admitting that I just don’t understand what those black holes and “plasma snatcher do-hickie” things are all about. However if you gave me a book like this every day, I would sign up to be Captain blah-blah-blah of your Star-Trek/Star Wars ship any day of the week! Call me insane, but did I just find space-heaven in some pages?!? I think I did.
The Quantum Door starts out following Brady and his younger brother Felix as they trespass into a property near their house. As Brady and Felix make their way through the property, they happen upon a fiery blue door that a young girl (Nova) and a metal dog (Achilles) appear to come out of. Completely frightened, they turn back home and vow to never go back over the fence. But when Brady is awoken by the metal creature named Achilles in an effort to rescue Nova, Brady and Felix decide to cross into the door to another world. Soon the two experience adventures they had never imagined, and creatures that could only have been thought up in video games and movies. What starts out as harmless adolescent curiosity, soon turns into an adventure that will change their lives forever.
Where to begin?!? This book is bursting at the seams with SO MUCH happening, that it is literally impossible to become bored while reading. The author, Johnathan Ballagh, has done a fantastic job of creating these characters and alternate worlds. The fact that this is his very first book is absolutely astounding, and I cannot wait to see what else he comes up with. The story is highly creative and imaginative, there are an abundance of creatures and machines that the reader becomes introduced to throughout the story. It was almost as if I was watching a movie or television show because the imagery was superb. I found the main characters, Brady and Felix, to be full of innocence and youthful curiosities. Brady, being the eldest, is stuck with the role of being the only father figure left in their family. He is constantly telling his younger brother Felix that they should turn back or that something “isn’t a good idea”. Felix starts out being the braver and more creatively thinking sibling in the beginning of the story, but I liked how they both evolved towards the end where Brady showed his bravery and Felix showed that he is still the younger and vulnerable brother.
The backstory to Nova and Achilles proves to be very developed and unique. I was constantly guessing what her secret was and her motives behind the things that she had been doing. However, I would have loved a little bit more insight to the “Elder Minds” and what their reign of terror had been like and done. I felt like it wasn’t stressed enough WHY they were the bad guys, so I would have liked there to be some more scenarios and events that dealt with them directly. The Artifex creatures were BIZARRE, but AJ just had me infuriated! AJ, or Ajax, is the only “child��� of the Artifex creatures; which are robots that have a way too intense obsession with humans. Part of me felt a sadness for AJ as he was forced to be trapped in the body of a child and do everything his “father” or creator had told him to do. But most of the time, I was just wondering what his deal was. Glad I kept an eye on him! Overall, I think this is a GREAT first book for Johnathan Ballagh and I am hoping that there will be another sequel to follow up this great read. This story is suitable and perfect for any age, so get to reading and enjoy!
Opinion: Ahhh...sweet, sweet satisfaction. Usually, I stay far FAR away from any kind of book that involves sci-fi and quantum physics and such. I’m not a rocket scientist here guys, and I have no problem admitting that I just don’t understand what those black holes and “plasma snatcher do-hickie” things are all about. However if you gave me a book like this every day, I would sign up to be Captain blah-blah-blah of your Star-Trek/Star Wars ship any day of the week! Call me insane, but did I just find space-heaven in some pages?!? I think I did.
The Quantum Door starts out following Brady and his younger brother Felix as they trespass into a property near their house. As Brady and Felix make their way through the property, they happen upon a fiery blue door that a young girl (Nova) and a metal dog (Achilles) appear to come out of. Completely frightened, they turn back home and vow to never go back over the fence. But when Brady is awoken by the metal creature named Achilles in an effort to rescue Nova, Brady and Felix decide to cross into the door to another world. Soon the two experience adventures they had never imagined, and creatures that could only have been thought up in video games and movies. What starts out as harmless adolescent curiosity, soon turns into an adventure that will change their lives forever.
Where to begin?!? This book is bursting at the seams with SO MUCH happening, that it is literally impossible to become bored while reading. The author, Johnathan Ballagh, has done a fantastic job of creating these characters and alternate worlds. The fact that this is his very first book is absolutely astounding, and I cannot wait to see what else he comes up with. The story is highly creative and imaginative, there are an abundance of creatures and machines that the reader becomes introduced to throughout the story. It was almost as if I was watching a movie or television show because the imagery was superb. I found the main characters, Brady and Felix, to be full of innocence and youthful curiosities. Brady, being the eldest, is stuck with the role of being the only father figure left in their family. He is constantly telling his younger brother Felix that they should turn back or that something “isn’t a good idea”. Felix starts out being the braver and more creatively thinking sibling in the beginning of the story, but I liked how they both evolved towards the end where Brady showed his bravery and Felix showed that he is still the younger and vulnerable brother.
The backstory to Nova and Achilles proves to be very developed and unique. I was constantly guessing what her secret was and her motives behind the things that she had been doing. However, I would have loved a little bit more insight to the “Elder Minds” and what their reign of terror had been like and done. I felt like it wasn’t stressed enough WHY they were the bad guys, so I would have liked there to be some more scenarios and events that dealt with them directly. The Artifex creatures were BIZARRE, but AJ just had me infuriated! AJ, or Ajax, is the only “child��� of the Artifex creatures; which are robots that have a way too intense obsession with humans. Part of me felt a sadness for AJ as he was forced to be trapped in the body of a child and do everything his “father” or creator had told him to do. But most of the time, I was just wondering what his deal was. Glad I kept an eye on him! Overall, I think this is a GREAT first book for Johnathan Ballagh and I am hoping that there will be another sequel to follow up this great read. This story is suitable and perfect for any age, so get to reading and enjoy!
September 24, 2015
The cover and the title is what peeked my interest. The illustrations throughout the book were eye catching and beautifully designed. In the beginning the author captures the innocence and curiosity of two boys. Felix and Brady steal your heart and never let it go. There is a message of brothers sticking together which makes your heart melt. The concept of the Quantum Door was well defined and easy to understand. Nova was an interesting character who I adored. I loved how well developed she was. Out of all the machine characters Thorn was my favorite. Overall I really enjoyed this book. This is the first book I have read from this author and it definitely won't be the last.
November 18, 2015
Fast-paced with vivid descriptions and nonstop action, The Quantum Door takes readers on an adventure in a world where technological advances abound and doors don’t just lead to another room. Brady (14) and Felix (12) are brothers on a mission when they defy the “No Trespassing” signs on the chainlink fence that separates their backyard from the unknown of the woods beyond.
Jonathan Ballagh weaves a tale of dangerous adventures, mysterious other worlds and an unbreakable bond between two brothers. His writing style is fluid and lets you slip into the story with ease. Before I knew it, fifty pages were behind me and I was deeply invested in whatever Brady and Felix were up to. This middle grade novel is perfect for those who enjoy futuristic settings and worlds where AI are not only real but terrifyingly powerful.
Skillfully crafted into three parts, The Quantum Door doesn’t give its readers a single moment to be bored. Just when I thought everything was calm and all the rights had been wronged, BAM, there was more to come. I think this book would make a great movie! It was hard not to imagine the scenes playing out in my mind as I read.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the bond between Brady and Felix. Having a brother Felix’s age, I was able to really imagine how they interacted and it was hard not to root for the boys as they dove into the unknown. The relationship between the brothers is something I think anyone with siblings can understand because underneath all the teasing and occasional fighting is a bond so strong, it can overcome anything.
I highly recommend Jonathan Ballagh’s debut novel to you all! It was a fantastic read and my only regret is that it was over all too soon. Can’t wait to read more of his work!
P.S. The cover art and illustrations in this book are beautiful <3
Jonathan Ballagh weaves a tale of dangerous adventures, mysterious other worlds and an unbreakable bond between two brothers. His writing style is fluid and lets you slip into the story with ease. Before I knew it, fifty pages were behind me and I was deeply invested in whatever Brady and Felix were up to. This middle grade novel is perfect for those who enjoy futuristic settings and worlds where AI are not only real but terrifyingly powerful.
Skillfully crafted into three parts, The Quantum Door doesn’t give its readers a single moment to be bored. Just when I thought everything was calm and all the rights had been wronged, BAM, there was more to come. I think this book would make a great movie! It was hard not to imagine the scenes playing out in my mind as I read.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the bond between Brady and Felix. Having a brother Felix’s age, I was able to really imagine how they interacted and it was hard not to root for the boys as they dove into the unknown. The relationship between the brothers is something I think anyone with siblings can understand because underneath all the teasing and occasional fighting is a bond so strong, it can overcome anything.
I highly recommend Jonathan Ballagh’s debut novel to you all! It was a fantastic read and my only regret is that it was over all too soon. Can’t wait to read more of his work!
P.S. The cover art and illustrations in this book are beautiful <3
December 31, 2015
Suitable for early teens upwards, Jonathan Ballagh's debut The Quantum Door is the story of two brothers Brady and Felix, who happen to venture onto their neighbour's land and discover a gateway to a huge adventure filled with technological marvels.
After rescuing a young girl, Nova and her robotic dog Achilles, the brothers find themselves wrapped up in a complicated scenario involving everything from rogue robots to all-powerful AI beings and all manner of strange and wonderful creatures they meet along the way.
The story progresses effortlessly without getting too bogged down in the science, but the writing is confident enough to make even the younger reader understand the basics of the technology represented in the story, and cleverly mixes factual science with more fantastical elements to bridge the gap and make it believable.
A classic coming-of-age adventure fused with a epic techno-rollercoaster that demands you turn every page, and a very impressive debut.
After rescuing a young girl, Nova and her robotic dog Achilles, the brothers find themselves wrapped up in a complicated scenario involving everything from rogue robots to all-powerful AI beings and all manner of strange and wonderful creatures they meet along the way.
The story progresses effortlessly without getting too bogged down in the science, but the writing is confident enough to make even the younger reader understand the basics of the technology represented in the story, and cleverly mixes factual science with more fantastical elements to bridge the gap and make it believable.
A classic coming-of-age adventure fused with a epic techno-rollercoaster that demands you turn every page, and a very impressive debut.
April 1, 2016
Exceptional work from one of my new friends in the independent author arena. This is a can't miss effort folks!! Well communicated, ORIGINAL storytelling. Crisp, interesting characters, and just....a wild fun ride. I highly recommend Jonathan's book.
February 6, 2017
Really unique and not at all what I was expecting. I'm really glad I had the opportunity to read and review this one!
Read the full review at Birdie Bookworm.
Read the full review at Birdie Bookworm.
Want to read
January 27, 2020🎁 The Quantum Worlds Series (2 book Series) is FREE on Amazon today (1/27/2020)! 🎁
September 28, 2015
Hold on to your hats for a quantum ride!
Synopsis: Brady and Felix are two brothers whose lives will forever change when they venture over the chain link fence that surrounds the neighboring property. The No Trespassing signs posted along the fence are like neon lights saying, ‘Look over here!’ What twelve-year-old boy (Felix) could resist that temptation? And what about the blue lights Felix is sure he saw?
Felix and his older brother, Brady, send in a drone to explore the property, and the drone is inexplicably knocked out of the air. This is when we start getting introduced to the unusual cast of characters which includes Nova, Achilles (my favorite), Thorn, and Nyx. And that’s just on this side of the quantum door. And the boys still don’t know what the quantum door is!
Just wait until you check out the other side!
Cover Art: The cover and inside illustrations were done by Ben J. Adams (check him out at benjadams.com). My favorite illustration is of Achilles. I just want to meet him and touch him!
Back to the cover art! I’m one of those people who prefers more color on my books. Bold, contrasting colors tend to catch my attention the most. That being said, this cover still does a good job and has an otherworldly, eerie feel to it. It captures the essence of the first part of the book quite nicely.
My Thoughts: For some reason, I am finding it difficult to form my thoughts into words and sentences. So, if my thoughts seem a little abrupt and don’t flow from sentence to sentence, that’s why. Oh, my very first thought when I read the title was Schrödinger’s Cat!
I found the book entertaining and well written. The landscapes and characters were easy to picture in my mind (but I wish there had been a few more illustrations). I thought the author did a really good job giving personalities to the various characters like AJ, Achilles, and Thorn. But, I felt that the main characters could have been developed a little more than they were. You don’t need to know science to enjoy this book, which can be good or bad. There is science introduced and science used, don’t get me wrong, but I think the author could have taken advantage of the opportunity to teach readers a little bit more. In my opinion, it’s never too early to get kids interested in science and math.
Notes: This book is aimed at younger readers (10-14), but older readers can certainly find it entertaining and worth a read.
disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Synopsis: Brady and Felix are two brothers whose lives will forever change when they venture over the chain link fence that surrounds the neighboring property. The No Trespassing signs posted along the fence are like neon lights saying, ‘Look over here!’ What twelve-year-old boy (Felix) could resist that temptation? And what about the blue lights Felix is sure he saw?
Felix and his older brother, Brady, send in a drone to explore the property, and the drone is inexplicably knocked out of the air. This is when we start getting introduced to the unusual cast of characters which includes Nova, Achilles (my favorite), Thorn, and Nyx. And that’s just on this side of the quantum door. And the boys still don’t know what the quantum door is!
Just wait until you check out the other side!
Cover Art: The cover and inside illustrations were done by Ben J. Adams (check him out at benjadams.com). My favorite illustration is of Achilles. I just want to meet him and touch him!
Back to the cover art! I’m one of those people who prefers more color on my books. Bold, contrasting colors tend to catch my attention the most. That being said, this cover still does a good job and has an otherworldly, eerie feel to it. It captures the essence of the first part of the book quite nicely.
My Thoughts: For some reason, I am finding it difficult to form my thoughts into words and sentences. So, if my thoughts seem a little abrupt and don’t flow from sentence to sentence, that’s why. Oh, my very first thought when I read the title was Schrödinger’s Cat!
I found the book entertaining and well written. The landscapes and characters were easy to picture in my mind (but I wish there had been a few more illustrations). I thought the author did a really good job giving personalities to the various characters like AJ, Achilles, and Thorn. But, I felt that the main characters could have been developed a little more than they were. You don’t need to know science to enjoy this book, which can be good or bad. There is science introduced and science used, don’t get me wrong, but I think the author could have taken advantage of the opportunity to teach readers a little bit more. In my opinion, it’s never too early to get kids interested in science and math.
Notes: This book is aimed at younger readers (10-14), but older readers can certainly find it entertaining and worth a read.
disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
February 1, 2016
A Delightful Snack for Young or Old
At first glance The Quantum Door looks like a YA novel, but adult readers will should steal it from their kid's book shelf and spend a couple of evenings with it too. The story reads like an roller coaster, a little slow on the ride to the first crest but once you hit that peak the thrills twist and turn.
Latchkey brothers Brad and Felix live for video games and pizza while their mother works multiple jobs. Brad also spends his days keeping his electronics whiz younger brother Felix out of trouble. When a mysterious new neighbor buys the lot across the street and posts "No Trespassing" signs, Felix's curiosity is piqued. When the power starts going out, Brad knows it's only a matter of time before he'll have to chase Felix from the neighbor's yard.
Felix flies a toy drone with a video feed across the fence only to watch something chase it from the sky. Before Brad can stop him, Felix climbs the fence to retrieve the drone and the two brothers enter a world that makes Oz look as ordinary as the world of Charlie Brown and Peanuts.
Brady and Felix meet a young girl Novah and her robot dog Achilles, a robot dog so sophisticated he could chew the Transformers for lunch and spit their bolts for gristle. Together they open a portal to another dimension filled with malevolent AIs, mindless robot clones, sentient junkyards and traps that would have scared me back into diapers when I was a kid.
To add to the fun Ballagh throws in tech-stripping robots, human worshipping tech-stealing robots, and an AI child who makes Pinoccio look honest when his nose was twenty feet long.
Readers can finish the book in an evening or two or dip into it as they have time without losing track. Ballagh's story is well plotted, and easy to follow. The characters engage the readers and the pace never lets up once it kicks into high gear. The small eBook price makes the purchase a no-brainer.
Phillip T. Stephens is the author of Cigerets, Guns & Beer, Raising Hell and the new release Seeing Jesus. You can follow him @stephens_pt.
At first glance The Quantum Door looks like a YA novel, but adult readers will should steal it from their kid's book shelf and spend a couple of evenings with it too. The story reads like an roller coaster, a little slow on the ride to the first crest but once you hit that peak the thrills twist and turn.
Latchkey brothers Brad and Felix live for video games and pizza while their mother works multiple jobs. Brad also spends his days keeping his electronics whiz younger brother Felix out of trouble. When a mysterious new neighbor buys the lot across the street and posts "No Trespassing" signs, Felix's curiosity is piqued. When the power starts going out, Brad knows it's only a matter of time before he'll have to chase Felix from the neighbor's yard.
Felix flies a toy drone with a video feed across the fence only to watch something chase it from the sky. Before Brad can stop him, Felix climbs the fence to retrieve the drone and the two brothers enter a world that makes Oz look as ordinary as the world of Charlie Brown and Peanuts.
Brady and Felix meet a young girl Novah and her robot dog Achilles, a robot dog so sophisticated he could chew the Transformers for lunch and spit their bolts for gristle. Together they open a portal to another dimension filled with malevolent AIs, mindless robot clones, sentient junkyards and traps that would have scared me back into diapers when I was a kid.
To add to the fun Ballagh throws in tech-stripping robots, human worshipping tech-stealing robots, and an AI child who makes Pinoccio look honest when his nose was twenty feet long.
Readers can finish the book in an evening or two or dip into it as they have time without losing track. Ballagh's story is well plotted, and easy to follow. The characters engage the readers and the pace never lets up once it kicks into high gear. The small eBook price makes the purchase a no-brainer.
Phillip T. Stephens is the author of Cigerets, Guns & Beer, Raising Hell and the new release Seeing Jesus. You can follow him @stephens_pt.
December 12, 2016
Read it on my blog
The Quantum Door is a superb science fiction novel aimed towards the Young Adult audience. Brothers Brady and Felix discover a gateway to another dimension on their neighbour's land. After passing through, they rescue a young girl called Nova and her robotic dog Achilles. They encounter a whole host of dastardly AI adversaries in the ensuing adventure to return home safely. The Quantum Door is a captivating, imaginative story with a theme of camaraderie in the face of adversity. A very satisfying and enjoyable read.
Thanks to author Jonathan Ballagh for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Quantum Door is a superb science fiction novel aimed towards the Young Adult audience. Brothers Brady and Felix discover a gateway to another dimension on their neighbour's land. After passing through, they rescue a young girl called Nova and her robotic dog Achilles. They encounter a whole host of dastardly AI adversaries in the ensuing adventure to return home safely. The Quantum Door is a captivating, imaginative story with a theme of camaraderie in the face of adversity. A very satisfying and enjoyable read.
Thanks to author Jonathan Ballagh for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2017
Review is also available on my blog The Shameful Narcissist Speaks.
This was a decent mid-grade/YA science fiction novel with excellent pacing, non-stop action, and relatable characters. Often when you have two (especially same gender) sibling characters, their descriptions will start to run together, but this wasn't the case with Brady and Felix. The older Brady is more cautious and a bit shier, while his younger brother Felix is bolder, almost reckless, and an inventive genius.
The story reminded me of Stranger Things right off the bat with its "mysterious girl in the woods," and "strange power outages," but that's about as deep as it goes with that particular narrative. The Matrix-y parts have to do with the neurogeists ("brain ghosts"), which are terrifying antagonists similar looking to the sentinels that the boys and their new friend Nova have to face beyond the titular door where she comes from. There are more Matrix-like paradigms, but I'd be wading into spoiler territory if I revealed them. There's also an interesting God motif insofar as all powerful beings choose not to intervene, and humans pay the (potentially deserved) price for our own hubris, but even deities can regret their choices.
The chapter breaks are in binary code (I don't know if each specific one meant anything), and I was also impressed with some of the layers of meaning in the characters' names. Nova means "new," which is appropriate for Then later, the boys run into robot/androids (it's not completely clear what they are) called Artifex, which is taken from the word "artifice," meaning "clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others." These AI are desperately trying to mimic their human creators so much so that they carve crude, human faces (or their approximations) and built a fake town named Invidia, but the former is far more uncanny valley than anything else. Invidia is Latin for "envy," which is perfect for automatons desperate to be like their long gone makers.
Quantum just skates the edge of being annoying with the tidbits of information it gives about the world beyond the door. Since Nova comes from there and Felix and Brady traverse it with her, she has all of the information, which she keeps hidden for reasons that aren't entirely defined. It's possible she doesn't want to draw them into what she considers to be her own problems, but I think the author could've made that clearer. It seems like she doesn't give information just to not give information (aka for the sake of the plot), and a major judgment on Brady's part could've been avoided if she'd only explained why she was performing that particular action in the first place..
Also, apparently the story takes place in the (near) future, which I didn't know for certain until I read another review. There's a scene where Brady and Felix go into town with their mother in a self-driving car. Initially, I thought that Felix had something to do with it since he's shown to have a bunch of high tech gadgets, which I assume he made. Since Brady seemed more clueless about how they worked, my belief was Felix was a child prodigy inventor, which he may very well have been, but knowing the book is a bit futuristic draws that into question.
All in all though The Quantum Door was a fast paced read that never had a dull moment, which isn't to say the action took over the plot. The author knew how to balance those high tension moments with quiet, bearing finding ones, and there's one extremely heartbreaking scene near the end of the novel that any one of us could relate to. It also ties Nova and the boys together in a tragic way. If parallel universes exist, which is certainly what the existence of the quantum door suggests, how many other and what kind of others of ourselves might we find?
The novel ends with definite potential for a sequel, which was only avoidable if the door was sealed shut at the end (that would've been incredibly boring and cliched). So I'm keeping my eyes open for one if the author decides to go in that direction, which I hope he does.
3.5 stars.
This was a decent mid-grade/YA science fiction novel with excellent pacing, non-stop action, and relatable characters. Often when you have two (especially same gender) sibling characters, their descriptions will start to run together, but this wasn't the case with Brady and Felix. The older Brady is more cautious and a bit shier, while his younger brother Felix is bolder, almost reckless, and an inventive genius.
The story reminded me of Stranger Things right off the bat with its "mysterious girl in the woods," and "strange power outages," but that's about as deep as it goes with that particular narrative. The Matrix-y parts have to do with the neurogeists ("brain ghosts"), which are terrifying antagonists similar looking to the sentinels that the boys and their new friend Nova have to face beyond the titular door where she comes from. There are more Matrix-like paradigms, but I'd be wading into spoiler territory if I revealed them. There's also an interesting God motif insofar as all powerful beings choose not to intervene, and humans pay the (potentially deserved) price for our own hubris, but even deities can regret their choices.
The chapter breaks are in binary code (I don't know if each specific one meant anything), and I was also impressed with some of the layers of meaning in the characters' names. Nova means "new," which is appropriate for Then later, the boys run into robot/androids (it's not completely clear what they are) called Artifex, which is taken from the word "artifice," meaning "clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others." These AI are desperately trying to mimic their human creators so much so that they carve crude, human faces (or their approximations) and built a fake town named Invidia, but the former is far more uncanny valley than anything else. Invidia is Latin for "envy," which is perfect for automatons desperate to be like their long gone makers.
Quantum just skates the edge of being annoying with the tidbits of information it gives about the world beyond the door. Since Nova comes from there and Felix and Brady traverse it with her, she has all of the information, which she keeps hidden for reasons that aren't entirely defined. It's possible she doesn't want to draw them into what she considers to be her own problems, but I think the author could've made that clearer. It seems like she doesn't give information just to not give information (aka for the sake of the plot), and a major judgment on Brady's part could've been avoided if she'd only explained why she was performing that particular action in the first place..
Also, apparently the story takes place in the (near) future, which I didn't know for certain until I read another review. There's a scene where Brady and Felix go into town with their mother in a self-driving car. Initially, I thought that Felix had something to do with it since he's shown to have a bunch of high tech gadgets, which I assume he made. Since Brady seemed more clueless about how they worked, my belief was Felix was a child prodigy inventor, which he may very well have been, but knowing the book is a bit futuristic draws that into question.
All in all though The Quantum Door was a fast paced read that never had a dull moment, which isn't to say the action took over the plot. The author knew how to balance those high tension moments with quiet, bearing finding ones, and there's one extremely heartbreaking scene near the end of the novel that any one of us could relate to. It also ties Nova and the boys together in a tragic way. If parallel universes exist, which is certainly what the existence of the quantum door suggests, how many other and what kind of others of ourselves might we find?
The novel ends with definite potential for a sequel, which was only avoidable if the door was sealed shut at the end (that would've been incredibly boring and cliched). So I'm keeping my eyes open for one if the author decides to go in that direction, which I hope he does.
3.5 stars.
March 14, 2017
The Quantum Door is a middle-grade fantasy/sci-fi type story that, while written for kids around the ages of 8-14, can be enjoyed by adults as well.
The story definitely reminded me of an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark, even though I'm not sure why. The episode I'm remembering had to do with aliens and a TV set that kept turning on. It also reminded me of something you might see in an episode of Doctor Who. But one of the scarier episodes, not one of the campy ones. And, like, if the Daleks had tentacles and stuff. Yeah...
Anyway, The Quantum Door has two brothers who are very relatable. They argue. They tease one another. They hang out together like siblings do. The boys notice some strange things going on in the woods near their home, and being typical boys, they decide to investigate. What they find is something neither of them was expecting. Their discovery is what sets the story in motion, and it will keep you rushing through the pages, eager to find out more.
I really enjoyed the other characters in the story. Nova was pretty cool, especially when more of her backstory is revealed. And her doggy companion is definitely a fun addition to the story.
The plot is paced quite nicely, and I can't recall a dull moment anywhere in the story. It was, at least for me, a quick read, and it kept my curiosity piqued all the way through.
The world building was great, as well. There's the main world where the boys live, the world Nova is from, and another world that Nova sends the brothers to that leaves them wanting to stay there forever.
The only thing I really detracted a star for is the wording used. I felt some of the things mentioned were a little advanced for the age range the book is marketed to. It gets a little tech-y at times. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially because kids nowadays are all about technology, but I do think some readers may have a harder time understanding it. I, as an adult, occasionally had to stop and try to figure out what was being explained or talked about. I'm not very tech-knowledgeable. Or techno-logical, if you will. lol
Overall, I rather enjoyed The Quantum Door, and I'd like to read more stories involving Felix, Brady, Nova, and Achilles. I'd rate the story 4 stars, and I'd definitely recommend it to everyone, but especially parents with kids in the age range. You never know; they might just discover a love of reading if they haven't already.
The story definitely reminded me of an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark, even though I'm not sure why. The episode I'm remembering had to do with aliens and a TV set that kept turning on. It also reminded me of something you might see in an episode of Doctor Who. But one of the scarier episodes, not one of the campy ones. And, like, if the Daleks had tentacles and stuff. Yeah...
Anyway, The Quantum Door has two brothers who are very relatable. They argue. They tease one another. They hang out together like siblings do. The boys notice some strange things going on in the woods near their home, and being typical boys, they decide to investigate. What they find is something neither of them was expecting. Their discovery is what sets the story in motion, and it will keep you rushing through the pages, eager to find out more.
I really enjoyed the other characters in the story. Nova was pretty cool, especially when more of her backstory is revealed. And her doggy companion is definitely a fun addition to the story.
The plot is paced quite nicely, and I can't recall a dull moment anywhere in the story. It was, at least for me, a quick read, and it kept my curiosity piqued all the way through.
The world building was great, as well. There's the main world where the boys live, the world Nova is from, and another world that Nova sends the brothers to that leaves them wanting to stay there forever.
The only thing I really detracted a star for is the wording used. I felt some of the things mentioned were a little advanced for the age range the book is marketed to. It gets a little tech-y at times. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially because kids nowadays are all about technology, but I do think some readers may have a harder time understanding it. I, as an adult, occasionally had to stop and try to figure out what was being explained or talked about. I'm not very tech-knowledgeable. Or techno-logical, if you will. lol
Overall, I rather enjoyed The Quantum Door, and I'd like to read more stories involving Felix, Brady, Nova, and Achilles. I'd rate the story 4 stars, and I'd definitely recommend it to everyone, but especially parents with kids in the age range. You never know; they might just discover a love of reading if they haven't already.
June 22, 2017
Real cool read
Although it was written for "tweens", I really enjoyed it! The story grabs you at the beginning and draws you along. You have no choice..... lol
Although it was written for "tweens", I really enjoyed it! The story grabs you at the beginning and draws you along. You have no choice..... lol
January 27, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised by Quantum Door. I got lucky and found a signed copy on eBay so I decided to take a chance. Mister Ballagh does a pretty good job of keeping his readers entertained and engaged. The story moves along at a pace that encourages young readers to finish that next chapter. Overall, I think it was an excellent start to a new author and will share it with my wife's classroom in the hopes that it will help a young one learn to love reading.
December 2, 2020
quick read, good story
November 3, 2019
Can this day get any worse??
Never, ever say that! These kids get into more trouble than you'd ever expect! This is a wonderful YA fantasy with lessons on trust, friendship, and learning to love your life, even when it seems hopeless. It's a beautifully crafted story with plenty of mystery & excitement.
I'd recommend it for ages 12 and up.
Never, ever say that! These kids get into more trouble than you'd ever expect! This is a wonderful YA fantasy with lessons on trust, friendship, and learning to love your life, even when it seems hopeless. It's a beautifully crafted story with plenty of mystery & excitement.
I'd recommend it for ages 12 and up.
April 1, 2020
A bit long but worth the read nonetheless
September 18, 2016
I was provided an electronic copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Before we start, can we please take a minute to admire the cover of this book? Because I think it's awesome. Now that that's out of the way, let's get to this review, shall we?
So, this book follows two brothers on their adventures as they get new neighbours and all sorts of crazy stuff starts happening. It starts with simple stuff, like power outages and strange things happening to their technology, and begins to get more complicated and amazing that either of the boys could have ever predicted. This book was written by the author in order to get his children interested in science fiction, which is one of the best reasons I've heard to date regarding why a book happened.
The Quantum Door is an addictively fast-paced middle grade novel that is a true science fiction novel in every sense of the word. Don't think that just because it's geared towards younger kids that you're going to get a watered down story with simple technology and alternate universes. We're talking Star Trek levels of complication here, just with material that won't scare away middle grade aged kids. Even as an adult, this book was incredibly satisfying, because you get so much more than you're bargaining for.
The Good Points of The Quantum Door:
The world building is done very well. It's a fairly short book, but Ballagh uses his words well to give us the perfect amount of detail without telling us more than we needed to know.
I enjoyed the relationship between the two brothers. Because they're isolated a bit, they pretty much have to be friends in order to survive. But that doesn't stop them from alternatively worrying about each other and being annoyed with the other's decisions, which only makes it more fun.
This book does not let up for a moment. As soon as one issue is solved, something else is exploding, literally or figuratively. From the moment you meet Brady and Felix, you're chasing after them, racing to the end of the book to make sure that they make it out okay.
This book is not written for children. It uses intelligent language and doesn't dumb anything down to be 'at a child's level'. It just happens to be suitable for kids and include middle grade aged main characters, so it's plunked into that category. The writing style is easy to read, but well written.
The Downsides of The Quantum Door:
I honest didn't realize this book was set in the future until I was a good 50 pages in. I was super confused why these fancy technology things existed until I caught on. It would have been great if there was some indication of this, because it would have saved a lot confusion at the beginning.
There are some complicated technology terms used in this book. I had to find a dictionary to figure out what some were. While I'm all for not dumbing things down, my non-technological brain could have used a glossary or some definitions for some of the concepts. This is totally a personal preference though.
I think this book would have been better if it had stuck to a single point of view, or if chapters alternated between Felix and Brady when necessary. Again, personal preference, but it would have been nice to not know what all the characters were feeling, and get to see how one of the brothers interpreted one of Nova's reactions or something like that.
All in all, this book was fantastic, and I highly recommend it. Even if sci-fi is not really your thing, this is a great gateway book into the genre: simple to understand, but not watered down. Ballagh's definitely going to be on my radar now for any future books, because I need more of this.
Before we start, can we please take a minute to admire the cover of this book? Because I think it's awesome. Now that that's out of the way, let's get to this review, shall we?
So, this book follows two brothers on their adventures as they get new neighbours and all sorts of crazy stuff starts happening. It starts with simple stuff, like power outages and strange things happening to their technology, and begins to get more complicated and amazing that either of the boys could have ever predicted. This book was written by the author in order to get his children interested in science fiction, which is one of the best reasons I've heard to date regarding why a book happened.
The Quantum Door is an addictively fast-paced middle grade novel that is a true science fiction novel in every sense of the word. Don't think that just because it's geared towards younger kids that you're going to get a watered down story with simple technology and alternate universes. We're talking Star Trek levels of complication here, just with material that won't scare away middle grade aged kids. Even as an adult, this book was incredibly satisfying, because you get so much more than you're bargaining for.
The Good Points of The Quantum Door:
The world building is done very well. It's a fairly short book, but Ballagh uses his words well to give us the perfect amount of detail without telling us more than we needed to know.
I enjoyed the relationship between the two brothers. Because they're isolated a bit, they pretty much have to be friends in order to survive. But that doesn't stop them from alternatively worrying about each other and being annoyed with the other's decisions, which only makes it more fun.
This book does not let up for a moment. As soon as one issue is solved, something else is exploding, literally or figuratively. From the moment you meet Brady and Felix, you're chasing after them, racing to the end of the book to make sure that they make it out okay.
This book is not written for children. It uses intelligent language and doesn't dumb anything down to be 'at a child's level'. It just happens to be suitable for kids and include middle grade aged main characters, so it's plunked into that category. The writing style is easy to read, but well written.
The Downsides of The Quantum Door:
I honest didn't realize this book was set in the future until I was a good 50 pages in. I was super confused why these fancy technology things existed until I caught on. It would have been great if there was some indication of this, because it would have saved a lot confusion at the beginning.
There are some complicated technology terms used in this book. I had to find a dictionary to figure out what some were. While I'm all for not dumbing things down, my non-technological brain could have used a glossary or some definitions for some of the concepts. This is totally a personal preference though.
I think this book would have been better if it had stuck to a single point of view, or if chapters alternated between Felix and Brady when necessary. Again, personal preference, but it would have been nice to not know what all the characters were feeling, and get to see how one of the brothers interpreted one of Nova's reactions or something like that.
All in all, this book was fantastic, and I highly recommend it. Even if sci-fi is not really your thing, this is a great gateway book into the genre: simple to understand, but not watered down. Ballagh's definitely going to be on my radar now for any future books, because I need more of this.
March 7, 2016
Review originally posted here: http://fullofbooks.com/the-quantum-door/ [Edited to add information such as Genre. I was provided a paperback copy in exchange for an honest review.]
Rating: 4 Stars
Age Recommendation: Probably directed at children aged 10-15, but with the level of science involved, any young adult readers could appreciate the plot
Genre: Science-fiction, Coming-of-Age, Action and Adventure
-----
" 'I always feared this would happen. You know that the door leaves a signature behind it. Others will be able to find it - and us.' "
-----
The Quantum Door, by Jonathan Ballagh, tells the story of two brothers named Brady and Felix, who wander into the yard next door and end up getting into a mess that is extremely over their heads. Nova, their mysterious neighbor, initially tells them not to venture into her yard again. When she finds herself in trouble, however, it is up to Brady and Felix to jump in, head first, and do what they can to help. Of course, nothing is quite as simple as it seems, and their adventure takes them across a curious, alternate version of Earth as they try to return home.
I am not usually a sci-fi lover, and I don't think that The Quantum Door was intended for my age group, but I thoroughly appreciate the creativity of the plot and the type of being created for this novel. Around part three of the novel, I was wishing it had been made into two separate books, but the closer I got to the end, the happier I was with the way it was done. Several things are explained and events start happening very quickly (although the majority of the novel is quite fast-paced).
Something I had trouble with was the architectural terminology used throughout the book. I haven't a clue what a couple of them mean - though it has convinced me to look them up, so I suppose that's good! Other than that, the text was very easy to understand. A part of me wished for more description when it came to the characters, or maybe a bit more of their thought processes as the events were happening. A lot of it is how they react externally, which is also interesting, but I personally find the internal bits just as fascinating, if not more so.
Ballagh has created an interesting world that young readers with any interest in science can appreciate. In thirty or forty years, will technology look like the things in Ballagh's novel? I actually hope it does. Ben J. Adams, who has created illustrations for the work, provides another step into the world described, and each image is as beautifully designed as the last. He also made the beautiful cover for the novel.
The Quantum Door, released in August in 2015, is sure to catch the attention of many young readers, and I hope that it drives many of them to love reading as well as science.
Rating: 4 Stars
Age Recommendation: Probably directed at children aged 10-15, but with the level of science involved, any young adult readers could appreciate the plot
Genre: Science-fiction, Coming-of-Age, Action and Adventure
-----
" 'I always feared this would happen. You know that the door leaves a signature behind it. Others will be able to find it - and us.' "
-----
The Quantum Door, by Jonathan Ballagh, tells the story of two brothers named Brady and Felix, who wander into the yard next door and end up getting into a mess that is extremely over their heads. Nova, their mysterious neighbor, initially tells them not to venture into her yard again. When she finds herself in trouble, however, it is up to Brady and Felix to jump in, head first, and do what they can to help. Of course, nothing is quite as simple as it seems, and their adventure takes them across a curious, alternate version of Earth as they try to return home.
I am not usually a sci-fi lover, and I don't think that The Quantum Door was intended for my age group, but I thoroughly appreciate the creativity of the plot and the type of being created for this novel. Around part three of the novel, I was wishing it had been made into two separate books, but the closer I got to the end, the happier I was with the way it was done. Several things are explained and events start happening very quickly (although the majority of the novel is quite fast-paced).
Something I had trouble with was the architectural terminology used throughout the book. I haven't a clue what a couple of them mean - though it has convinced me to look them up, so I suppose that's good! Other than that, the text was very easy to understand. A part of me wished for more description when it came to the characters, or maybe a bit more of their thought processes as the events were happening. A lot of it is how they react externally, which is also interesting, but I personally find the internal bits just as fascinating, if not more so.
Ballagh has created an interesting world that young readers with any interest in science can appreciate. In thirty or forty years, will technology look like the things in Ballagh's novel? I actually hope it does. Ben J. Adams, who has created illustrations for the work, provides another step into the world described, and each image is as beautifully designed as the last. He also made the beautiful cover for the novel.
The Quantum Door, released in August in 2015, is sure to catch the attention of many young readers, and I hope that it drives many of them to love reading as well as science.
March 29, 2016
Today We Did
A large swathe of woods stands on an abandoned property behind the house where teenage brothers Felix and Brady live. When a tall chain-link fence is erected along the boundary line the boys’ interest in the woods is piqued. They try to explore the woods using Felix’s remote control quadcopter, discovering something strange among the trees. An huge metal dog with glowing red eyes and a dark-haired girl appear through a fiery portal. The boys quickly remove themselves from the woods and its strange inhabitants, only to find themselves venturing back in in the middle of the night on a rescue mission that will lead them on an interdimensional adventure.
The Quantum Door is technological science fiction. The parallel world that Brady and Felix travel to shows what could happen if Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems evolved to become self-aware. In a world where humans have died out due to some mysterious illness, AI is all that is left as a pseudo life-form. Different types of robots have different jobs and communities in this world that is so similar to Earth, some even have social structures and families. This was fascinating and terrifying. We are so reliant on technology, it is everywhere, and this scenario is a plausible outcome of developing AI, though I hope we stop before the technology gets out of hand.
The plot was fast and exciting, with a lot of action. The description of the machines was particularly vivid, and I found myself thinking about the neurogeists late at night! Creepy, horrible things! It was interesting and engaging. There were a few things I didn’t see coming too. I quite liked the story, and the characters. The giant dog, Achilles, was a lovable sidekick for Nova, who was extremely self sufficient for a girl her age. I admired her efforts to keep Brady and Felix safe. Nova also had a little robotic bird called Thorn that was a wonderful companion and help. I enjoyed picturing her fluttering about the group and helping out, such a loyal little thing. Brady, as the older brother, was responsible and worried about Felix, while Felix was much more likely to take risks and be impulsive. Brady tended to follow whatever scheme Felix had thought up, partly to watch out for him, and partly because his ideas were often fun. I liked the brothers, and their relationship with eachother. The little bot Ajax was rather annoying, but helpful in his own way.
This book was different to a lot of the books I normally read, but it was very good. I highly recommend it to fans of Sci-fi. The Quantum Door is suitable for upper primary school and high school students.
*I received this book as a digital copy from the author, who asked me for an honest review of this book. I did not receive any other remuneration, and the review is composed entirely of my own opinions.
A large swathe of woods stands on an abandoned property behind the house where teenage brothers Felix and Brady live. When a tall chain-link fence is erected along the boundary line the boys’ interest in the woods is piqued. They try to explore the woods using Felix’s remote control quadcopter, discovering something strange among the trees. An huge metal dog with glowing red eyes and a dark-haired girl appear through a fiery portal. The boys quickly remove themselves from the woods and its strange inhabitants, only to find themselves venturing back in in the middle of the night on a rescue mission that will lead them on an interdimensional adventure.
The Quantum Door is technological science fiction. The parallel world that Brady and Felix travel to shows what could happen if Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems evolved to become self-aware. In a world where humans have died out due to some mysterious illness, AI is all that is left as a pseudo life-form. Different types of robots have different jobs and communities in this world that is so similar to Earth, some even have social structures and families. This was fascinating and terrifying. We are so reliant on technology, it is everywhere, and this scenario is a plausible outcome of developing AI, though I hope we stop before the technology gets out of hand.
The plot was fast and exciting, with a lot of action. The description of the machines was particularly vivid, and I found myself thinking about the neurogeists late at night! Creepy, horrible things! It was interesting and engaging. There were a few things I didn’t see coming too. I quite liked the story, and the characters. The giant dog, Achilles, was a lovable sidekick for Nova, who was extremely self sufficient for a girl her age. I admired her efforts to keep Brady and Felix safe. Nova also had a little robotic bird called Thorn that was a wonderful companion and help. I enjoyed picturing her fluttering about the group and helping out, such a loyal little thing. Brady, as the older brother, was responsible and worried about Felix, while Felix was much more likely to take risks and be impulsive. Brady tended to follow whatever scheme Felix had thought up, partly to watch out for him, and partly because his ideas were often fun. I liked the brothers, and their relationship with eachother. The little bot Ajax was rather annoying, but helpful in his own way.
This book was different to a lot of the books I normally read, but it was very good. I highly recommend it to fans of Sci-fi. The Quantum Door is suitable for upper primary school and high school students.
*I received this book as a digital copy from the author, who asked me for an honest review of this book. I did not receive any other remuneration, and the review is composed entirely of my own opinions.
December 28, 2015
Genre: YA, Sci-fi
Brady and Felix have lived outside of a forbidden forest for as long as they can remember, but when a mysterious new neighbor moves in and fences spring up around the forest overnight, their curiosity knows no bounds. When the strange lights start appearing in the forest too, they feel it is their duty to investigate. There is no turning back--especially when they find themselves called upon to help save the life of their mysterious new neighbor. Entering the forest plunges them into a world of technology and revelations that challenge everything they thought they knew.
Brady and Felix were young for a YA book, but believable as main characters. There was enough of that sibling rivalry and angst to keep the story moving in the beginning, but you really get a good sense of the depth of a sibling relationship once the main action in the story took over. There was plenty of interest aspects as far as the sci-fi goes, but I think the relationships were really one of the strongest aspects of the book. It's unusual and pretty refreshing to read a book where there are sibling protagonists who work together as equals throughout the story. Siblings aren't especially uncommon in YA fiction, but it is uncommon for them to share the responsibility as main characters and work together throughout the story. I think it's great to find books that can inspire kids to imagine adventures with their own siblings rather than always treading the path to adventure alone. It's the sort of relationship all parents want for their kids.
I know that's not particularly something that will appeal to kids looking to read this book, but there is plenty of action, technology, and other-worldly sci-fi stuff to sell this book to the younger set. It's one that I'm going to recommend to my little brother Sam. He's only 9 but a pretty advanced reader and this will be just up his alley.
For my part, I'm not sure whether I would classify this as a YA fiction or more of a middle-grade fiction, but I'm going with YA. The main characters were younger than I would expect from a YA novel, but it had the reading level and plot intricacy that indicated the next reading level to me. Makes for a perfect book for that advanced younger reader in your life. There's still a lot of Christmas break left... just saying! It's the most wonderful time of the year for reading ;)
Overall, I really liked it: 4 out of 5 stars.
August 9, 2016
Brady closed his eyes, balled his fists tightly, and walked toward the portal. As he took his first step into the light, he expected to be whisked along a celestial tunnel through the stars. But he never left the ground. Instead, he felt a slight pressure that pushed ever slightly against his skin like an invisible membrane. And then the sensation was gone—the bubble had burst.
Portals, robots, danger, oh yes…an entire multiverse is waiting within these pages. What could possibly be any better than that?! Science has come a very long way in this book—one where an entire world is filled with energy and futuristic possibility. Ballagh has written an adventurous young adult sci-fi novel that will hold his readers to the edge of their seats.
Brady and Felix are brothers, total polar opposites as far as personalities go. When an elderly man moves out of the neighboring lot, Felix becomes curious as to what possesses the new tenant to put up a huge fence. Is it to keep something in or to keep them out? Since Felix is a boy genius with gadgets, he devises a plan to fly a robotic helicopter over the fence into the many acres of neighboring forest, in the hopes of finding adventure. When something jumps out of the air and knocks the helicopter down, the brothers are forced to trail into the unknown after it. They not only know that it is highly dangerous, but their curiosity of what happened and the fear of getting caught, compels them both to continue on. What they find is priceless—the very air that they breathe splits and forms a blue vortex of light. Out of the light, steps a girl and her robotic dog. At first, Brady and Felix are terrified, but as it turns out—the girl, Nova and her dog, Achilles, need their help to fight a war that is much bigger than they could have ever imagined. Will Brady and Felix be able to help Nova and Achilles before the danger crosses over to their world too?
Ballagh has a superb story-line, one filled with creativity and original content. The science aspect of this novel is compelling by itself, but readers will fall in love with the highly developed characters that this author has created. With such unlikely friends, this novel is suspenseful and entertaining. If you are a reader of young adult and science fiction genres, this may be your type of book.
A free copy was exchanged for an honest review of this fictional piece.
Portals, robots, danger, oh yes…an entire multiverse is waiting within these pages. What could possibly be any better than that?! Science has come a very long way in this book—one where an entire world is filled with energy and futuristic possibility. Ballagh has written an adventurous young adult sci-fi novel that will hold his readers to the edge of their seats.
Brady and Felix are brothers, total polar opposites as far as personalities go. When an elderly man moves out of the neighboring lot, Felix becomes curious as to what possesses the new tenant to put up a huge fence. Is it to keep something in or to keep them out? Since Felix is a boy genius with gadgets, he devises a plan to fly a robotic helicopter over the fence into the many acres of neighboring forest, in the hopes of finding adventure. When something jumps out of the air and knocks the helicopter down, the brothers are forced to trail into the unknown after it. They not only know that it is highly dangerous, but their curiosity of what happened and the fear of getting caught, compels them both to continue on. What they find is priceless—the very air that they breathe splits and forms a blue vortex of light. Out of the light, steps a girl and her robotic dog. At first, Brady and Felix are terrified, but as it turns out—the girl, Nova and her dog, Achilles, need their help to fight a war that is much bigger than they could have ever imagined. Will Brady and Felix be able to help Nova and Achilles before the danger crosses over to their world too?
Ballagh has a superb story-line, one filled with creativity and original content. The science aspect of this novel is compelling by itself, but readers will fall in love with the highly developed characters that this author has created. With such unlikely friends, this novel is suspenseful and entertaining. If you are a reader of young adult and science fiction genres, this may be your type of book.
A free copy was exchanged for an honest review of this fictional piece.
October 9, 2015
The Quantum Door by Jonathan Ballagh is a very interesting novel placed partly in a unique and intriguing alternate reality. I enjoyed reading about this other dimension where earth was full of machines and artificial intelligence and I think the author did an amazing job describing all of the technical aspects very nicely. There were a lot of new words and things that I had never encountered before, but I never felt confused about any of it because it was introduced in a very clear way.
The style of writing is very good and the book is easy to read and the story feels unique, which is something I value a lot. I may not have been so surprised by the way the book developed and the twists and turns in the plot was rather predictable from the start, but I still really enjoyed it.
Overall, the characters felt well developed, but I did however struggle a bit with seeing the difference between Brady and Felix. I do feel like they came out a bit too similar and they sort of had the same voice. Felix was a bit more curious though, and a bit more interesting to follow in the beginning. But as the story progressed I came to like Brady more and more even if I even in the end failed to see any change/progress in this character. Nova was the character I found to be most developed in a way and already from the start it was clear what this girl was like. I liked following her through this story and the way her character revealed more and more of this world was done in a great way.
This is definitely a novel I will recommend for those who like sci-fi and want to read what I think is a unique story. I do have to mention that I did find the book a bit slow to get into though and I had to work to get through the first half, but then things really started to happen and the second half was really enjoyable, especially part three, which was my absolute favorite.
And I cannot forget to mention the few pieces of art inside this book, they were amazing and I totally love them. If I could have one of those pieces framed on my wall, I would have. I want to see more of this art, and it would have been such a dream to have a little drawing like that at the start of every chapter.
The style of writing is very good and the book is easy to read and the story feels unique, which is something I value a lot. I may not have been so surprised by the way the book developed and the twists and turns in the plot was rather predictable from the start, but I still really enjoyed it.
Overall, the characters felt well developed, but I did however struggle a bit with seeing the difference between Brady and Felix. I do feel like they came out a bit too similar and they sort of had the same voice. Felix was a bit more curious though, and a bit more interesting to follow in the beginning. But as the story progressed I came to like Brady more and more even if I even in the end failed to see any change/progress in this character. Nova was the character I found to be most developed in a way and already from the start it was clear what this girl was like. I liked following her through this story and the way her character revealed more and more of this world was done in a great way.
This is definitely a novel I will recommend for those who like sci-fi and want to read what I think is a unique story. I do have to mention that I did find the book a bit slow to get into though and I had to work to get through the first half, but then things really started to happen and the second half was really enjoyable, especially part three, which was my absolute favorite.
And I cannot forget to mention the few pieces of art inside this book, they were amazing and I totally love them. If I could have one of those pieces framed on my wall, I would have. I want to see more of this art, and it would have been such a dream to have a little drawing like that at the start of every chapter.
November 8, 2015
The door into another world is as old as Alice in Wonderland and as new as Neil Gaiman's Coraline, with many many interpretations and reiterations in between (and since). In The Quantum Door, Jonathan Ballagh's debut novel, it is given a familiar yet fresh treatment in this middle-grades science fiction story set a very few years in the future.
Brothers Brady and Felix are attracted by a faint light in the forest behind their Vermont home, a forest that has recently been purchased and fenced with No Trespassing signs. Felix, the younger and more technologically-oriented brother, attempts to investigate with a drone, leading to the discovery of the quantum door, a door into a parallel universe fraught with menace and danger.
The door has been constructed by Nova, a strong, resourceful female character who appears to be roughly the same age as the boys. With her robotic, AI dog – a canidroid? - Achilles, she is attempting to find a safe place away from the Elder Minds, the artificial, evolving intelligences that now rule her world.
The Quantum Door is imaginative and fast-paced, introducing young readers to many of the classic science fiction themes. The science and the technology is realistic and feasible, building on current knowledge, devices and systems. The scenes of the underworld where the Neurogeists, constructed creatures that house the reprogrammed minds of transgressors of the Elder Minds' rules, are resonant of many dystopias portrayed in text and film, and yet manage to be fresh horror.
A mention must be given to the outstanding illustrations by Ben J. Adams. Dark and fractured, they convey the dystopian side of this novel perfectly.
The reading level and story complexity are also worthy of mention: they are appropriate to the age group to which this book is aimed, without talking down in any way. This is a book that in my previous career in education I would have been recommending to middle-grade teachers without hesitation. Five stars to this outstanding debut novel, and here's hoping for a sequel.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Brothers Brady and Felix are attracted by a faint light in the forest behind their Vermont home, a forest that has recently been purchased and fenced with No Trespassing signs. Felix, the younger and more technologically-oriented brother, attempts to investigate with a drone, leading to the discovery of the quantum door, a door into a parallel universe fraught with menace and danger.
The door has been constructed by Nova, a strong, resourceful female character who appears to be roughly the same age as the boys. With her robotic, AI dog – a canidroid? - Achilles, she is attempting to find a safe place away from the Elder Minds, the artificial, evolving intelligences that now rule her world.
The Quantum Door is imaginative and fast-paced, introducing young readers to many of the classic science fiction themes. The science and the technology is realistic and feasible, building on current knowledge, devices and systems. The scenes of the underworld where the Neurogeists, constructed creatures that house the reprogrammed minds of transgressors of the Elder Minds' rules, are resonant of many dystopias portrayed in text and film, and yet manage to be fresh horror.
A mention must be given to the outstanding illustrations by Ben J. Adams. Dark and fractured, they convey the dystopian side of this novel perfectly.
The reading level and story complexity are also worthy of mention: they are appropriate to the age group to which this book is aimed, without talking down in any way. This is a book that in my previous career in education I would have been recommending to middle-grade teachers without hesitation. Five stars to this outstanding debut novel, and here's hoping for a sequel.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2015
So I was excited to read this, it had me intrigued first of all by the fence. OK so that may sound a little strange but a barrier of any kind is a great thing in my eyes, is it keeping something in or is it keeping someone out?
The Quantum Door is the story of two young brothers, Brady and Felix who live in the country with their mother.
Their house is remote but it borders another property and when the owners change hands a fence appears, Brady and Felix are still in their early teens so of course a fence doesn't mean keep out, it means come on in.
Exploring the other side they see strange lights and then after a drone they set to explore goes down, well they fear that something bad is out there, something is out there and it is watching them.
Thankfully that something is friendly and is actually two somethings, the boys encounter a strange door and through that door appears Nova, a young girl and her incredible robotic dog Achilles.
Nova is trying to stay safe and hidden from what lies on the other side of that door but there is something she needs that means she has to make frequent visits through the door. But when she finds herself in trouble, Achilles seeks out the boys and together they start an incredible adventure as they step through the door in to an amazing world with some very strange inhabitants.
Can the boys save Nova before it is too late and will the strange new world let them go home?
The Quantum Door I would say is aimed at the YA/Middle Grade age range, I am a little past that range and I found this to be a really enjoyable story.
It was actually a bit spooky to begin with as the boys explore the forest, I kept expecting monsters to jump out and eat them. The building of the worlds is really good too, our own Earth seems a bit further in the future with self driving cars but the world through the door is really well imagined and is a joy to read about, perfect for those younger readers.
This was an enjoyable read and I could quite happily read more from this world.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Quantum Door is the story of two young brothers, Brady and Felix who live in the country with their mother.
Their house is remote but it borders another property and when the owners change hands a fence appears, Brady and Felix are still in their early teens so of course a fence doesn't mean keep out, it means come on in.
Exploring the other side they see strange lights and then after a drone they set to explore goes down, well they fear that something bad is out there, something is out there and it is watching them.
Thankfully that something is friendly and is actually two somethings, the boys encounter a strange door and through that door appears Nova, a young girl and her incredible robotic dog Achilles.
Nova is trying to stay safe and hidden from what lies on the other side of that door but there is something she needs that means she has to make frequent visits through the door. But when she finds herself in trouble, Achilles seeks out the boys and together they start an incredible adventure as they step through the door in to an amazing world with some very strange inhabitants.
Can the boys save Nova before it is too late and will the strange new world let them go home?
The Quantum Door I would say is aimed at the YA/Middle Grade age range, I am a little past that range and I found this to be a really enjoyable story.
It was actually a bit spooky to begin with as the boys explore the forest, I kept expecting monsters to jump out and eat them. The building of the worlds is really good too, our own Earth seems a bit further in the future with self driving cars but the world through the door is really well imagined and is a joy to read about, perfect for those younger readers.
This was an enjoyable read and I could quite happily read more from this world.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2016
Light and darkness within the fenced in forest. Ready to explore?
In Quantum Door by Jonathan Ballagh, we're introduced right off the bat to Brady and Felix and their strange neighbors' vast property. And within pages, the strange neighbors moved, the property up for sale, and then mysteriously, a fence surrounding the entire property showed up. Not only the fence, but strange things like frequent power outages have sparked the boys' curiosity, and open a whole world of adventure for them and for us, as readers.
From the title of book, we can deduced this would be a science fiction of some sort, but I didn't really know how this will played out. Since the beginning, as the boys trek through the "forest" of their neighbors, I didn't really know what to expect. So I was pleasantly surprised by the "door" and what's behind. As our boys, along with Nova and the robotic dog, Achilles traveled into a mysterious parallel world beyond the door, we are filled with excitement through their adventures.
Very well written and appropriate for the target age group. I felt the words were on mark and wasn't played down, and the storyline reminiscent of classic middle grade science fiction books. As a debut novel, Jonathan's writings in Quantum Door inspires creativity and evokes imagination in a world of technology and its future for young readers. The plot's pace moves swiftly from the beginning to the end, and even brings hope of more, leading to the idea of "possibilities" for readers. A fun read literally and figuratively for readers, especially with the "hidden" clues for readers to explore. And don't forget the lovely cover and additional illustrations within the book that adds to the visualization of Quantum Door.
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. For my review policy, please see my Disclosure page.
In Quantum Door by Jonathan Ballagh, we're introduced right off the bat to Brady and Felix and their strange neighbors' vast property. And within pages, the strange neighbors moved, the property up for sale, and then mysteriously, a fence surrounding the entire property showed up. Not only the fence, but strange things like frequent power outages have sparked the boys' curiosity, and open a whole world of adventure for them and for us, as readers.
From the title of book, we can deduced this would be a science fiction of some sort, but I didn't really know how this will played out. Since the beginning, as the boys trek through the "forest" of their neighbors, I didn't really know what to expect. So I was pleasantly surprised by the "door" and what's behind. As our boys, along with Nova and the robotic dog, Achilles traveled into a mysterious parallel world beyond the door, we are filled with excitement through their adventures.
Very well written and appropriate for the target age group. I felt the words were on mark and wasn't played down, and the storyline reminiscent of classic middle grade science fiction books. As a debut novel, Jonathan's writings in Quantum Door inspires creativity and evokes imagination in a world of technology and its future for young readers. The plot's pace moves swiftly from the beginning to the end, and even brings hope of more, leading to the idea of "possibilities" for readers. A fun read literally and figuratively for readers, especially with the "hidden" clues for readers to explore. And don't forget the lovely cover and additional illustrations within the book that adds to the visualization of Quantum Door.
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. For my review policy, please see my Disclosure page.
November 10, 2015
Originally reviewed at The Cyborg Knight
Jonathan Ballagh is the author you have to read in self-publishing! The Quantum Door is a high quality debut that showcases Ballagh’s mature writing style in a dimension hopping story featuring two brothers in the near future science fiction thriller that gives the reader a glimpse into what modern day technology may look like in 20 to 30 years.
While The Quantum Door isn’t considered a YA book, the two school age protagonists slant the story towards a slightly younger crowd than the adults that are normally featured in and drawn to Science Fiction. At 14 and 12 years old Brady and Felix are mature for their age, but approach the problems set before them in just the way you want to see in any book – with age appropriate solutions that are both innovative and fun.
The multi-dimension world featured in The Quantum Door is unique and a bit terrifying. Machines pit themselves against humans in a nightmare world where humanity has been considered superfluous. Ballagh does a great job of building suspense as the brother travel through the worlds of the machine and ours. I found myself quickly “flipping” though the “pages” of The Quantum Door on my Kindle, eager to get to the end. I also loved Achilles, the mechanical dog! Trust me, you have to meet him.
A special shout out goes to Ben J. Adams who designed both the cover and internal illustrations of The Quantum Door! While you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, Adams’ work is the perfect introduction to Ballagh’s story.
The Quantum Door is an enjoyable read with an edge of suspense that makes it perfect for cold winter nights. Jonathan Ballagh has a great writing style and I am looking forward to reading more of his books!
Jonathan Ballagh is the author you have to read in self-publishing! The Quantum Door is a high quality debut that showcases Ballagh’s mature writing style in a dimension hopping story featuring two brothers in the near future science fiction thriller that gives the reader a glimpse into what modern day technology may look like in 20 to 30 years.
While The Quantum Door isn’t considered a YA book, the two school age protagonists slant the story towards a slightly younger crowd than the adults that are normally featured in and drawn to Science Fiction. At 14 and 12 years old Brady and Felix are mature for their age, but approach the problems set before them in just the way you want to see in any book – with age appropriate solutions that are both innovative and fun.
The multi-dimension world featured in The Quantum Door is unique and a bit terrifying. Machines pit themselves against humans in a nightmare world where humanity has been considered superfluous. Ballagh does a great job of building suspense as the brother travel through the worlds of the machine and ours. I found myself quickly “flipping” though the “pages” of The Quantum Door on my Kindle, eager to get to the end. I also loved Achilles, the mechanical dog! Trust me, you have to meet him.
A special shout out goes to Ben J. Adams who designed both the cover and internal illustrations of The Quantum Door! While you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, Adams’ work is the perfect introduction to Ballagh’s story.
The Quantum Door is an enjoyable read with an edge of suspense that makes it perfect for cold winter nights. Jonathan Ballagh has a great writing style and I am looking forward to reading more of his books!
November 29, 2016
This was a really good book! The best part of the book was the unique worlds created by the author. I don't read many science fiction books, but I felt like these worlds were something new. The book was reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe because in all three of these books kids enter another world and go on a magical adventure where they meet beings that could be either friend or foe. They have a mission to complete in this world before they return home.
The main characters were presented right away and I felt I knew them immediately. The other characters were introduced as they were encountered. They had distinct attributes and all had believable personalities. The only thing I felt that was missing was some quirk Brady might have, or some special interest. He just seemed like your average fourteen year old. He was well-developed, but I wanted him to be more interesting.
The author's writing style was simple and straightforward, not wordy or flowery at all. The technology was described in a way that non-technological people (like me) could grasp and actually understand what was happening. The author wove the explanations into the story masterfully. I did not have to reread any part to understand it.
There was just enough description throughout the book so that the settings and characters could be pictured, but the author focused more on the action which I believe is perfect for fifth grade and up. The story was not predictable. It was great not knowing what was going to happen. This is one of those books that can be read by almost any age and enjoyed. Also, although it is a science fiction book, it has a really good story to it, so those that are not huge science fiction fans would also find it entertaining.
The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The main characters were presented right away and I felt I knew them immediately. The other characters were introduced as they were encountered. They had distinct attributes and all had believable personalities. The only thing I felt that was missing was some quirk Brady might have, or some special interest. He just seemed like your average fourteen year old. He was well-developed, but I wanted him to be more interesting.
The author's writing style was simple and straightforward, not wordy or flowery at all. The technology was described in a way that non-technological people (like me) could grasp and actually understand what was happening. The author wove the explanations into the story masterfully. I did not have to reread any part to understand it.
There was just enough description throughout the book so that the settings and characters could be pictured, but the author focused more on the action which I believe is perfect for fifth grade and up. The story was not predictable. It was great not knowing what was going to happen. This is one of those books that can be read by almost any age and enjoyed. Also, although it is a science fiction book, it has a really good story to it, so those that are not huge science fiction fans would also find it entertaining.
The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2017
For the most part, this was a pretty cute book. I've had mixed feelings about science fiction lately and I was nervous about this one. There were elements that I didn't completely love, but I liked the vast majority of the story. Personally, I found the lead characters rather difficult to connect with. I have noticed, though, that when the lead character is a teenage boy (who is not Harry Potter or Percy Jackson), I do have kind of a tough time connecting with them. It's not that Brady and Felix were poorly developed or unlikeable. Quite the opposite, really. The pair of them were very realistic, quite well developed, and endearing in a lot of ways. I'm pretty sure it's just a personal preference thing.
In part because I had trouble connecting to the lead characters, I also had trouble getting really invested in the story. It took me a while to read this one. Honestly, I wasn't really hooked until more than halfway through the book. Again, this could totally be a matter of personal preference. Once I did get really invested, though, I felt like the central conflict was addressed quite a while before the book ended, at which point another conflict was introduced (with like 20% of the book left) and everything we thought we knew changed. This is one of my pet peeves when it comes to action stories. I feel like introducing new conflicts and new information to a story at this point takes attention away from the story the rest of the book was devoted to an doesn't allow time for the author to do justice to the new developments. I really would've rather seen a sequel that allowed time for this second conflict to develop and be resolved.
Despite my own difficulties with this book, I do think it is quite well written and I totally recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good scifi action story.
In part because I had trouble connecting to the lead characters, I also had trouble getting really invested in the story. It took me a while to read this one. Honestly, I wasn't really hooked until more than halfway through the book. Again, this could totally be a matter of personal preference. Once I did get really invested, though, I felt like the central conflict was addressed quite a while before the book ended, at which point another conflict was introduced (with like 20% of the book left) and everything we thought we knew changed. This is one of my pet peeves when it comes to action stories. I feel like introducing new conflicts and new information to a story at this point takes attention away from the story the rest of the book was devoted to an doesn't allow time for the author to do justice to the new developments. I really would've rather seen a sequel that allowed time for this second conflict to develop and be resolved.
Despite my own difficulties with this book, I do think it is quite well written and I totally recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good scifi action story.
February 18, 2017
2.5 stars. This book had a lot of elements that I would normally really enjoy: alternate realities, murderous AI, giant robot dogs... but the parts didn't add up to a whole that held my interest. There wasn't anything wrong with the book, I just couldn't get into it.
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