The Gatekeepers #1: Raven's Gate (1)

I could go on a rant about how well written this book is and how great the characters are brought out, but I've done it numerous times before to people and for projects. I bought this copy because my own was ruined by wear and tear, plus I did not have the first edition cover as this one does. Great read for a great price, I highly recommend this book and its sequels.

Having read a few of Anthony Horowitz's more recent books, I was pleased to find this first in a series for middle-grade and older readers. The story is about Matt Freeman, a fourteen-year-old orphan who strikes up a friendship with Kelvin, an older boy with criminal tendencies. Wanting to maintain his only friendship, Matt commits petty thefts until police catch Kelvin and him. Kelvin stabs a security guard. From that point on, Matt's life takes a straight nosedive. He is offered a choice; he can either go to a juvenile detention facility or agree to work on a farm under close supervision. Matt chooses to work on the farm. He finds that he is under the control of a cruel and sinister woman Mrs. Jayne Deverill. Denied adequate food, forced to work long hours, and locked in at night, Matt plans to escape. He manages to take an old bike on the farm and pedals furiously away. No matter which fork in the road he chooses, Matt ends up back at the farm. He is in the midst of forces and rules he doesn't understand. Matt enlists the aid of a journalist to find out why he hears strange incantations coming from the woods on certain nights, why there is a massive building in the woods that looks like a nuclear power plant, and why the villagers he has had limited access to all stare at him. The plot and pacing of Horowitz's story keep the reader involved, especially as he ratchets up the tension and increases the stakes. Matt's quest to escape leads to violence to those who help him. Supernatural forces are unleashed which are not only coming from around him but from within Matt himself. Middle-grade fiction and older readers will enjoy Matt's story. It's a blend of thriller and supernatural horror.

I wanted to start this set of books after finishing the Alex Rider set. Very different things. This is a lot more about magic. You can still see some of the same style of writing that you may see while reading these books. This is a good start to a very good set of books. I know, because I'm readingthe last of these right now.

A good read. Not predictable. Made me want to read the next in the series. Possibly for the younger adult but still enjoyable.

Very creative, amazing, perfect, outstanding, well-thought-out plot, wonderful characters... Those words aren't enough to describe how awesome this book is and best of all NO ROMANCE! Definitely clean and I love that! This is a must read for people who like magic, witches and ghost related stories with kids that have epic powers. This book is also for thrill seekers and people who enjoy a lot of action! I totally recommend it...

Although the story was amusing, I choose to give it a five stars because I believe that this book is not the best out of the book series. I must say that I enjoy reading Anthony Horowitz's books because they are pleasantly readable with extreme detail. What I enjoyed most about the book, was humor I got from the protagonists of the story.

I've been reading some of Anthony Horowitz's books, most of the Alex Rider series to be precise. And I love them. He really knows how to write a good story and I can't wait to read the rest. As for this new series, this is the first book, Ravens Gate. It was awesome with a ton of twists and dark stuff. It'll keep you super entertained, you won't wanna put the book down. I can't wait to read the next book in this series, I believe it's called Evil Star. I recommend this book to everyone and anyone. !

The names of characters and places have changed a little, but Raven's Gate is definitely the Devil's Door-bell. I feel foolish for having bought this book when I already read Devil's Door-bell. I didn't realize this was going to be the same book. This is a case of an author cashing in on his current popularity to try and make money on his older books. Books that did not sell well... and for good reason. This book is not up to the standards of his Alex Rider series.

Absolutely love this book. I'm a huge fan of Anthony Horowitz and this book was overpriced everywhere but here. It came without any issues in such low price. Also the delivery was early.

It is so mysterious sometimes the death parts describe a lot I am not going to do a spoiler .

The book was a bit to long and boring in the beginning but the end was very good and interestin

I bought this book for my 12 year old son, but he has found it a bit scary. So, I read it myself. It is an excellent book (I am used to the series Alex Ryder) and it is the type of books I would usually read. Mr Horowitz is an excellent story teller and Raven's Gate is riveting. When you read it, as an adult, you do not feel that the main character is a kid, you just identify with him. It is for Young Adults, but it will definitely appeal to adults too, the same way it appealed to me. Basically, Matt, the main character is a teenager (14 year old) who feels he never fits anywhere. After the tragic death of his parents, he goes to live with his auntie who does not like him at all and neglects him. A wrong decision sees him in court for burglary and a crime he did not do, but he is placed into a program where he has to go and leave in a farm in a little village with foster parents. And it is when trouble starts even worse. The people are weird, the village is weird and weird, scary things happens..... I can understand that my 12 year old did not like it because he is more into The Ranger's Apprentice and Harry Potter or into the World of Skulduggery Pleasant and I think Raven's Gate iwas too''mature'' for him, or maybe too dark or at times, too grisly. My recommendation, as a parent, is that if your child is easily disturbed by supernatural/paranormal thing, then give this book with caution. But for myself, I loved it and got the other book from the series. Maybe in two years time, my son will be ready to read it, so, I will keep it.

I was constantly entertained throughout the novel, which was a real page turner. I could not put the book down until everything was revealed and pieced together at tge end.