The title may be unassuming, but Katrina McKee’s Portal proves to be a far more engaging novel than its name initially suggests. Blending contemporary fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and adventure, the novel builds an imaginative mythology around a network of hidden portals concealed beneath some of Australia’s best-known historic buildings. While the prose and exposition remain straightforward, the novel succeeds because of its brisk pacing, appealing cast of characters, and an underlying emotional story about loyalty, family, and inherited responsibility.