The Book of Lost Things

At first it seems like The Book of Lost Things is going to be the usual type of ‘portal' fantasy, as I like to call it. Someone from our world being whisked away to another by various means and going on an adventure, like the Narnia books, Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, Inkheart, etc. I like those types of fantasy, so The Book of Lost Things sounded right up my alley. What's different about it though, is how dark it is. It's not meant for kids. Not only in the fact of the gore, that although not over the top, is still very present, but also in the tone and themes. This is not a fun adventure, but a true coming-of-age story and all that that entails with the struggles and the uncertain decision making. The realization that the world is not a fair or very pleasant place, but what you do in the world can make all the difference in how you survive and live in it. It is actually quite poignant in its telling.
I didn't fall in love with the characters and that's the reason for the 4 stars. I liked the story, the world-building and the overall message it conveyed, but I had trouble really caring for the characters. The main character was fine, just not a very great or memorable one.
The Book of Lost Things is a really good book, not great, but well worth reading if you like portal fantasy with a dark twist and meaningful things to say.