The Door to Oldenworld (The Oldenworld Odyssey 1) by Jack Dublin

What worked:

Ace, Jack, and Macy’s grandfather will entertain readers with his quirkiness. The twins have never met him, and they’re surprised when their mother says they need to go with this motorcycle-driving man. He lives in a huge manor, located in a remote forest, and he seems to have an obsession with clocks. One room is wall-to-wall clocks! The twins aren’t sure if he has multiple locks on the basement door to keep people out or to keep something else in. The author develops a sense of mystery, as Ace doesn’t tell the twins everything he’s thinking. Readers will wonder what could cause Ace to take his grandkids into a new world full of intrigue and danger.

Jack’s character adds more mystery through his dreams. Readers aren’t quite sure if they’re images of things that happened, things that will happen, or things that are happening somewhere else. A girl in his first dream walks across the nighttime lawn and enters the surrounding woods. He might have seen a dragon sitting among the trees, and the next day, the characters find footprints in the snow and an area of flattened trees. Jack later dreams of a bone dragon, and the vision is repeated while he travels to Oldenworld. Voices in his dreams speak to Jack and use his name, and the voices seem to be encouraging him to explore further. Is he dreaming, or is someone trying to control Jack?

The twins discover their grandfather is famous in Oldenworld, although he’s been gone for fourteen years. Ace has friends there, including the king. However, the king has changed, and Ace doesn’t understand what’s happened to him. This character creates uncertainty, since no one, including readers, knows his capabilities and deviousness. However, his vanity provides a hint, plus he’s prone to being manipulated. The developments in Oldenworld mean Ace should expect old relationships to change, and it’s unclear who might be an ally. A minor character named Jasper enters the story, and it will be interesting to see how his role changes in the future.

What didn’t work as well:

There’s a scene when the twins are entering Oldenworld, and they’re attacked by flying creatures that are obsessed with feet. This strange fetish is out of place in the overall book. Readers might want more clarity regarding the twins’ father, but that will need to wait for future sequels.

The final verdict:

The early part of the book feels a little “hokie”, but it becomes a fascinating adventure once the setting switches to Oldenworld. The twins’ reaction in the new world is a blend of awe, courage, creativity, and naiveté, and they become more important as the plot progresses. Overall, I recommend you give this book and series a shot. I’m looking forward to the sequel!