A world of wonder awaits
Dive into a world with other realms, where animals talk, mythical creatures exist, and danger lurks in the shadows!
Join Jack, Ella, and Lucy as their story begins in “Realms of the Red Door.” The first book in “The Unfolding of Time” series.
Release Date: November 19, 2026
Eleven-year-old Ella Bexley never imagined her life could change so drastically—until a hideous toad lands on her cheek, sliming her with something far worse than muck. She thinks it’s just a disgusting encounter until she sees the terror in her aunt’s eyes at the mention of the toad. It is then that she begins to realize it was something far more sinister.
Before she can make sense of it all, Ella finds a mysterious key, pulling her and her siblings into an extraordinary world. A place beyond the Red Doors where mythical creatures exist, animals talk, and an ancient Prophecy comes to light—a Prophecy that warns of the downfall of the Realms— at their hands!
Hunted by a ruthless traitor and burdened by a curse Ella never expected, she and her siblings must unravel the truth before time runs out. With allies guiding them, they travel through strange lands, searching for answers. But in a fallen world, danger and the chance of being captured are ever-present.
In this first installment of “The Unfolding of Time” series, the Bexley children are met with more questions than answers on their quest to survive.
Reviews and Recommendations
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The Unfolding of Time: Realms of the Red Door by Sam Roel is a stunning kids’ fantasy story, written in a way that will make you believe that, perhaps, there are other realms out there, hidden from human eyes. Every character has their own personality, developed as the story unfolds, and they are all relatable and easy to like. Sam Roel demonstrates her skill at telling fantasy stories that make you believe they are real. It’s highly creative, easy to follow, and compelling reading, as each chapter draws you deeper into the adventure. There’s no “I’ll just read this chapter tonight” with this book; once you start reading, you’re in this until the end. Fascinating tale, highly recommended for any reader, no matter their age. This isn’t just for the kids; adults will enjoy this book, too.
Anne-Marie Reynolds - Reader’s Favorite 5 star review
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Author Sam Roel has a vivid imagination that pours smoothly and confidently onto every page of this novel, creating a richly imagined world that evokes the magic of classic children’s fantasy with fresh, modern twists that young readers are sure to love. The writing has a timeless quality that offers emotional depth and sibling dynamics amidst the high-stakes adventure. The action scenes have a cinematic quality to them for things to be easily imagined immediately, but there’s also depth and beautifully penned multi-sensory imagery to keep the literary feel and the nostalgia of classic fantasy tales we know and love. Roel puts some brilliant twists on those tropes to give Ella surprising new challenges with the curse she has to bear. The plot moves at a good pace for her to learn from her experiences and find new strength in an inspiring way. Overall, The Unfolding of Time: Realms of the Red Door is a promising series opener that leaves readers eager to unlock the next chapter. I would certainly recommend it to fantasy fans to enjoy with their loved ones across the generations.
K.C. Finn - Reader’s Favorite 5 star review
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Realms of the Red Door by Sam Roel is a sci-fi-fantasy hit! This delightfully told tale has all the components a fantasy reader seeks. Mystery, ancient curses, adventure, imagination, uniquely crafted characters, and so much more. My 10-year-old loved it, has read it twice, and we can’t wait for the next book in the series. It is excellently written with great pace and dialogue, and the story (and series) is well thought out and truly original. The author was extremely descriptive, painting quite a picture for us to envision as we read the scenes and characters. I could see this being a movie at some point, and found the best parts of the story were, indeed, the entire book. Five well-deserved stars and highly recommended for every fantasy reader.
Kristy Volchko - Reader’s Favorite 5 star review
I have a tuxedo cat named Oreo, an English Springer Spaniel named Charlie, and a German Shepherd named Tosca. If I could be an animal, I would want to be an otter because they always seem to have so much fun!
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I love imagination, art, and anything creative. It is exciting that I can share my imaginings with you, my new readers! I think you will love my characters as much as I do!- I can’t wait to find out which one is your favorite.
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