The Door Within by Wayne Thomas Batson

The Door Within explores several important themes, including the struggle of good against evil, how an individual can make an impact with the help of the One True King, and finding hope in the knowledge that one is never alone.

Wayne Thomas Batson's effective use of allegory makes the message clear without overpowering the story. A good amount of humor is also present throughout the novel, including Captain Valithor's bellowed insults and Aidan's phantom army, although it tends to be geared more toward younger readers.

Some characters are better developed than others, but overall they make the book enjoyable to read. The creativity shown in the different fantasy creatures of the Realm, as well as the various settings, also add to the book's interest.

Summary: Aiden Thomas, thoroughly unhappy about moving away from his best friend, finds adventure in the appearance of ancient scrolls. These scrolls tell a story that leads him to cross over to the Mirror Realm, which he discovers is closely linked to his own world. Sent on a mission to aid the kingdom of Alleble, Aidan must find the courage to overcome some of his greatest fears.

The great author Wayne Thomas Batson wrote this enchanting, breathtaking book named The Door Within.
While captivating the reader, the book spins a web to a well thought out world.

In this book we find Aidan, a frustrated 15-year-old boy who has reluctantly moved to a different state with his parents to take care of his sick grandpa. He soon finds a way into a whole new world… Alleble.
Aidan must train to become the twelfth knight of Alleble and defeat the evil Paragor.


I strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy.

When Aidan Thomas and his family have to move halfway across the country to care for his aging grandfather, the disgruntled teenager knows that life will never be the same. What he doesn’t know is exactly how different life will be. The discovery in the basement of mysterious scrolls with a fascinating but unfinished story leads Aidan to seek the Door Within and travel to a world of noble knights and fair maidens. In The Realm, he learns more of the story found in the scrolls and faces the choice that will define his life forever—follow King Eliam or Paragor the Usurper.


Some of the characters are rather broadly drawn so that they seem rather exaggerated and thus unrealistic, but they are delightful nonetheless. Captain Valithor, Sentinel of Alleble, employs hilarious adjectives as he urges those in his charge to work harder. One fun thing about the characthers is the way their build and temperaments tend to mirror their weapons. Archer brothers Nock and Bolt are slight and quick, while hammer-wielding Mallik is built like a rock.


In this adventurous tale full of truth and treachery, rambunctious and hilarious characters, Aidan learns what it means to never be alone. Though written for Junior High and early High Schoolers, the story contains enough depth to satisfy an older reader while remaining simple enough for children many years younger. “The Door Within” is sure to delight any reader of adventure and fantasy.