Beyond the Black Door is a young adult dark fantasy about unlocking the mysteries around and within us―no matter the cost …
Everyone has a soul. Some are beautiful gardens, others are frightening dungeons. Soulwalkers―like Kamai and her mother―can journey into other people’s souls while they sleep.
But no matter where Kamai visits, she sees the black door. It follows her into every soul, and her mother has told her to never, ever open it.
When Kamai touches the door, it is warm and beating, like it has a pulse. When she puts her ear to it, she hears her own name whispered from the other side. And when tragedy strikes, Kamai does the unthinkable: she opens the door.
A.M. Strickland’s imaginative dark fantasy features court intrigue and romance, a main character coming to terms with her asexuality, and twists and turns as a seductive mystery unfolds that endangers not just Kamai’s own soul, but the entire kingdom …
Praise for Beyond the Black Door:
“A.M. Strickland’s Beyond the Black Door offers a dazzling new world, beautifully conceived and fearlessly written. I couldn’t put down this deliciously dark dream of a fantasy.” —Lisa Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Magician
“The author has done an outstanding job of helping readers fully understand how these characters feel … Perfect for those who enjoy dark romances with insightful characters.” —School Library Journal
“Beyond the Black Door is a dark delight, gorgeously written and as twisty and enigmatic as a labyrinth at twilight. I wanted to stay lost in its pages forever, wandering ever deeper into the maze of Strickland’s beguiling, intricately imagined world.” —Margaret Rogerson, New York Times–bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens
“Always engaging … Give this to dark fantasy fans.” —Booklist
“Beyond the Black Door is sumptuously constructed and intricately designed; a world I wanted to live in with a heroine I wish I could have met as a teenager and a villain after my own heart.” —Emily A. Duncan, New York Times–bestselling author of Wicked Saints
“Lovers of dark fantasy and edgy romance will enjoy this tale, which gives the stage to an asexual protagonist.” —Kirkus Reviews
“While the diversity may prompt someone to pick this up, the beautiful imagery and lush descriptions along with the tantalizing mysteries will be what keeps them reading.” —The Nerd Daily
“A beautiful tale of the dark mysteries that lurk in dreams, the heart, and the world. Strickland is a storyteller of both grace and power.” —Richard Kadrey, New York Times–bestselling author of the Sandman Slim series
“Kamai’s adventure is brimming with irresistible pulls for readers: secret societies, ancient conspiracies, an interesting and nuanced portrayal of sex work in a fantasy world, and, of course, brooding and mysterious boys.” —The Bulletin