Kirkus
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When the King family relocates from their comfortable suburban home to a spooky house in a remote area, brothers Xander and David quickly discover that the house contains portals into other worlds; upon choosing a doorat random, Xander finds himself in ancient Roman times, face-to-face with a gladiator out for blood. If the strange portals weren't jarring enough, the King family's consternation mounts when they realize that not only can they venture into the portals, but other creatures can come out. Fast-paced action and thrills abound in this expository offering of a slated six-volume series. Peppered with moralistic anecdotes that toe the line of didacticism, the narrative emphasizes the ways the family must work together if they are to survive. Typical to most series fiction, Liparulo's work is heavy on action and setup, though otherwise less developmentally substantive.The wholesome family dynamic mixed with a smattering of light horror should fare well with younger readers. Number two, Watcher in the Woods (ISBN: 978-1-59554-496-4), is due out in June. (Christian horror. 10 & up) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.