The idea of a magical doorway to another world has appealed to me since I read the Chronicles of Narnia, so when I saw a book in which the characters escape a burning London through a doorway to another world I had to read it. Down, however is most certainly nothing like Narnia. The characters have to fend for themselves in an unfamiliar and unwelcoming environment if they are to survive. And despite having escaped to a different world, all the characters bring their own issues with them and have to confront them or be defined by them. In short - I couldn't put it down!

This is one of those books that you can't really say too much about without spoiling it for the first time reader - like Narnia, you need to discover what's on the other side of that magical portal for yourself. There are clear paraellels, but there are also very different elements, a fascinating, ever-expanding world, a more 'high-fantasy' magic system, hints at steampunk elements... The main characters are really well-drawn: a mix of orange-jumpsuited people with mixed backstories that reminded me of the variety of Misfits. Being from multi-cultural London, they're not you're stereotypical white, many-generational-British fantasy characters, but Morden equally never lets their race or religion force them into stereotypes. The antagonists, too, are great, although some of the support cast, especially those from 'the real world' feel a bit ignored. There is a suggestion that there's more to come from them in the following books, however. I really loved this book, and I'm keen to see where the sequel takes him, but it works perfectly as a standalone. Morden's blog has hinted that the second book will be somewhat different in tone, which is great, as I'm not sure the sense of mystery - an almost 'Lost' feel - can be maintained as the characters find out more about the world they're living in. Definitely worth a read.

This was a sit-up-until-3am-can't-put-it-down read! In Down Station, Morden's disparate band of character's take a healthy, much needed step away from the typical white, male-centric fantasy genre. They are all very different, and even the 'bad' ones elicit sympathy. The world they are transported to is very real and very vivid and one I was easily able to immerse myself in. There are comparison's to Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (which was what attracted me to the book in the first place), but Mordens world is one all of his own, and I cannot wait to return to it.

I really can't rate this book highly enough, and I also think it is nicest to go in without any ideas of what you are in for! Just read it, honestly. If you really want more information than that... it reminded me of Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman except darker; Perdido Street Station by China Miéville but gentler; and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel only more magical (the station-related names probably help, yes). The chapters alternate between two main characters, who both escape a burning London to a mysterious other world. Mary is a streetsmart, ex-shoplifting, foulmouthed girl from the East End, whilst Dalip is a gentle-hearted Sikh student, trying to balance his religious values with his new life. Filled with amazing ideas, a bizarre but familiar world, and just enough trauma to keep things interesting, I urge everyone to read this book!