Official Review: Portals of Hope by Cate Hallahan

[Christabel Uzoamaka]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Portals of Hope" by Cate Hallahan.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Do you believe in alternate universes? Can you imagine the possibilities that lay beyond your understanding? If not, then Portals of Hope by Cate Hallahan will stretch your imagination to its breaking point. This book shows what can happen in an alternate universe where all leaders are honorable, and the masses being led are conscientious. With this piece, Hallahan shines a light on many deep issues that plague our world, through the fictional story of the life of Hope.

Hope is a regular girl who lives with her boyfriend, Colin. Their world is the third-ranked dimension of earth, where there are many other alternate dimensions. Hope, however, is oblivious to this fact and that there are other “Hopes” in those alternate universes. On the morning of the anniversary of her parents’ death, she gets a rude awakening. Somehow, she is accidentally transported to one of the worst-ranked dimensions! In this bleak world, there is tragedy after tragedy. It is such a sharp contrast from what she is used to, and so she struggles to come to terms with the horrific events that are unfolding. Hope soon finds out that she has a spirit guide called Emma. With Emma and some new friends, Hope must battle certain horrors that are thrown her way. One question remains: how will she get back to her dimension? But before then, can she really make a difference in a world that seems hopeless?

When I read the description, I was a bit skeptical because of the talk of “alternate universes.” However, I decided to pick this book because the author said that it was most suitable for women that love to read about strong women, and I thought it was a good fit for me. I was not disappointed. The story was divided into 23 parts, each part indicating the dimension that was in focus at a particular point, so I was not confused at all. The story flowed seamlessly, and I found myself eagerly flipping the pages to discover more. Hope’s character was strong and so endearing that I became her fan. Even though Hope was the main character, the author developed other supporting characters properly. I must also warn you of the many surprises along the way; no one could possibly guess the ending!

I found it delightful that the author was not merely telling a pointless fictional tale of different worlds. Hallahan drew from the tragedies of our present world, including natural disasters, police brutality, racism, healthcare malpractice, and so on. The author offered a meaningful glimpse into what the world could look like if everyone worked together to make it a better place. However, I found many blank pages, which were unnecessary. I discovered only 3 minor errors that did not detract from my enjoyment of this piece. Hence, I rightfully conclude that the editing team did a splendid job. I did not find anything to dislike about this book; I absolutely loved it and could hardly put it down once I started reading.

I recommend this book to people interested in mystery books that focus on alternate universes. Romance lovers may also find this book interesting because there is a beautiful love story included. Just like the author, I wish women would read this book. However, because of the profanity, slightly erotic scenes, and extent of malice and violence, I strongly discourage children from reading it. Over-analytical people may want to skip this one because it can drive them nuts. I, for one, have nothing but high praise for this piece, so I have decided to rate it 4 out of 4 stars.

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Portals of Hope
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[NetMassimo]

I'm not sure about the romance element because it's not my thing, but the mystery in an alternate universe intrigues me. I'll try not to be too analytical. Thank you for your great review!

[Anna Dougherty]

I've never read a book about alternate universes before. Thanks for your review!

[AnnOgochukwu]

I like the whole idea of alternate universes. It tickels my imagination and has me asking all the 'what ifs'. With what I've gathered from this beautiful review, this book makes an amazing story. I hope I get the chance to read it.

[Suesea]

I can't help but repeat a few other reviewers. I'm often referred to as an overthinker. I think that's similar to being overly analytical. I'm not sure why that would interfere with my enjoyment of this fantasy though. It tends to be the reason I seek books to pull me out of reality. The one thing that might be depressing is the reality that there is no alternative dimension for us to escape to. This is it. Humans need to face that fact to heal the Earth and stop violence and injustice.

Thanks for your review.

[adhambakry]

Thanks for the review! Science-fiction is my favorite genre. I might give this book a try.

[Maconstewart]

This book sounds amazing! I love the concept of alternate universes. It sounds like this author did a good job of keeping the reader aware of where they were.

[Akusom]

I’ve always been interested in the idea of alternate universes and this book sounds exactly like the kind of book I would like. This is a very detailed and impressive review. Thank you

[Menace Crypto]

I really loved the book's title, and I loved your review, it has really made me want to read this book. Thanks a lot for the well-detailed review. Kudos.

[SweetSourSalty AndSpicy]

I am curious about how they were transported to the other dimension. Was there a portal, like what the title is suggesting? Thank you for the review.