Thoughts on : Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Posted by on July 4, 2017 3:50 am in 3 stars reads | 4 comments

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
Genre : Fantasy
Stand alone

About the Book  :

Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children No Solicitations No Visitors No Quests

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere… else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced… they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.

But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.

No matter the cost.

My Thoughts :

I can’t find the words to convey how disappointed I feel right now. I went into this book feeling completely sure that I would absolutely adore it. It had amazing reviews, the story seemed intriguing and it had aspects of storytelling and themes I usually enjoy. It had also been praised for its diversity, which is always a big plus. (And amazing cover, too!)

But for some reason, it just didn’t click for me. I don’t know if what I’m saying will make sense to you : it’s not really that I’m disappointed in the book itself, but more that I’m disappointed by my enjoyment of it.

Mostly, it was that I simply couldn’t connect to the characters, whom I felt removed from. Even Nancy, who’s at the center of it all. The diversity I had been promised was there, but I felt that the book, being more novella than novel, lacked the space required to let the characters fully develop.

This being said, I still enjoyed the story. The idea itself was well executed. I’ve always wondered how it would feel for Alice to come back or for the kids traveling back from Narnia, but never had I imagined a place like this! It had all of the weird I could have hoped for, and some more. The scenes were also wonderfully set, and the worldbuilding felt cleverly done.

I’m left feeling confused, because I still feel sure I should have loved this book. Possibly my head wasn’t in the right place? I did get a cold right in the middle of reading it… In any case, this is one book I’m willing to give a second chance to in a near future. The second book in the series just came out and I’d love to see more of this weird new world!

4 Comments

  1. That cover is wonderful – too bad the book didn’t live up to it.

    • Isn’t it gorgeous? Book two is striking as well. I’m hoping I’ll enjoy it more on reread.

  2. Bummer. I enjoyed this book, but I have had this happen with others. I hope the second read goes better for you. Thanks for the reminder on the sequel. I need to get myself on the library hold list before I forget what happened in book 1. I just read it a couple of months ago.

    • I was in a really weird mood when reading it, I really hope I can enjoy it more later. I hope you’ll enjoy book two as much as you did book 1.

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