Under the Whispering Door: Book Review

Title: Under the Whispering Door
Author: TJ Klune
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Series: Standalone
Age group: Adult
Author website: 
​http://www.tjklunebooks.com/ 

Thoughts

Another amazing book from TJ Klune. Earlier this year I read and reviewed The House in the Cerulean Sea. I loved it so much I bought it and preordered Under the Whispering Door. I was not disappointed.

It takes dying for Wallace to learn how to live. A Reaper collects Wallace from his own funeral and takes him to the ferryman's teahouse. This is a place of transition, where you have time to adjust before choosing to go through the door into whatever the afterlife holds. Wallace goes through all the stages of grief. He starts out a very unlikeable character, but learns and grows in his time in the teahouse. This is a heartfelt story about love and loss and redemption. It's not about religion or what is on the other side of the door. I laughed; I cried. 

This is light on the fantasy compared to The House in the Cerulean Sea. In that it will probably appeal to a larger audience. It is very queer and diverse friendly. I highly recommend the book, especially if you enjoyed his previous title. And these books look amazing on the shelf. I adore the artwork.

Quotes

"We aren’t supposed to force someone before they’re ready. That’s not our job. We’re here to make sure they see that life isn’t always about living. There are many parts to it, and that it continues on, even after death. Its beautiful, even when it hurts."
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"The first time you share tea, you are a stranger. The second time you share tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share tea, you become family."