Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
First book in the Wayward Children series
4.75 stars
Nancy has been to a different world. A world where standing still and holding your breath to be a statue was considered to be special. Now Nancy is back in the world she originally lived in. Her parents don’t like her newly acquired stillness. It makes them uncomfortable. When an opportunity opens up for Nancy to attend Eleanor’s West Home for Wayward Children, they quickly send her there. The Home for Wayward Children is not what’s advertised as. It’s meant for children who have come back from the worlds they have stumbled upon. Everyone hungers to go back and some will do everything to get there even if it means murder. Part murder mystery and part fantasy portal tale, Every Heart a Doorway is a great mix of intense storyline that will leave you want to keep turning the page. McGuire is one my favorite authors currently writing. She tackles subjects like asexuality while not making it the focal point of the story. It’s just another aspect to the character’s identity. McGuire writes a world filled with intense suspense and mysterious wonder.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 5
“Stillness was safer. Stillness had saved her before, and it would save her now.”
The main female character is Nancy. Nancy is an interesting protagonist. She’s very cold and she doesn’t often show emotion. However, following Nancy is intriguing. She constantly asks questions and often finds out truths that people in the House would prefer to keep hidden. She is an interesting character to introduce the grand scape of the worlds that children travel to because she is not from a world of joy, but of cold stillness and melancholy. She thrives in that kind of world. It’s different to follow a character not ready to bloom around blossom and sing to deer.
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 4.25
The Villain- What a treat. I am so intrigued by the villain in this story. McGuire did a great job with not allowing us to see who it was until just the right time. Her motives are also horrifying and disturbing. I enjoy encountering a villain who is actually terrifying especially considering that the story was so chilling. The level of brutality that these girls faced was extreme. It was like something straight from a horror novel (which McGuire does well).
Villain Scale: 5
All of the characters in the novel are entertaining and intriguing. From Jack to Kade to Eleanor West. I loved finding out more about the worlds they had visited and how their personalities fit those worlds. These characters are standout and they have so much life in them.
Character Scale: 5
I listened to the audiobook for this novel and it was fantastic. It was a great novel and I can’t believe it took me so long to read it. The Wayward Children series is imaginative, dark, gritty, and entertaining.
Plotastic Scale: 5
“You’re nobody’s doorway but your own, and the only one who gets to tell you how your story ends is you.”
Cover Thoughts: I love this cover so much.
Thank you, Netgalley and Tor.com, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
First book in the Wayward Children series
4.75 stars
Nancy has been to a different world. A world where standing still and holding your breath to be a statue was considered to be special. Now Nancy is back in the world she originally lived in. Her parents don’t like her newly acquired stillness. It makes them uncomfortable. When an opportunity opens up for Nancy to attend Eleanor’s West Home for Wayward Children, they quickly send her there. The Home for Wayward Children is not what’s advertised as. It’s meant for children who have come back from the worlds they have stumbled upon. Everyone hungers to go back and some will do everything to get there even if it means murder. Part murder mystery and part fantasy portal tale, Every Heart a Doorway is a great mix of intense storyline that will leave you want to keep turning the page. McGuire is one my favorite authors currently writing. She tackles subjects like asexuality while not making it the focal point of the story. It’s just another aspect to the character’s identity. McGuire writes a world filled with intense suspense and mysterious wonder.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 5
“Stillness was safer. Stillness had saved her before, and it would save her now.”
The main female character is Nancy. Nancy is an interesting protagonist. She’s very cold and she doesn’t often show emotion. However, following Nancy is intriguing. She constantly asks questions and often finds out truths that people in the House would prefer to keep hidden. She is an interesting character to introduce the grand scape of the worlds that children travel to because she is not from a world of joy, but of cold stillness and melancholy. She thrives in that kind of world. It’s different to follow a character not ready to bloom around blossom and sing to deer.
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 4.25
The Villain- What a treat. I am so intrigued by the villain in this story. McGuire did a great job with not allowing us to see who it was until just the right time. Her motives are also horrifying and disturbing. I enjoy encountering a villain who is actually terrifying especially considering that the story was so chilling. The level of brutality that these girls faced was extreme. It was like something straight from a horror novel (which McGuire does well).
Villain Scale: 5
All of the characters in the novel are entertaining and intriguing. From Jack to Kade to Eleanor West. I loved finding out more about the worlds they had visited and how their personalities fit those worlds. These characters are standout and they have so much life in them.
Character Scale: 5
I listened to the audiobook for this novel and it was fantastic. It was a great novel and I can’t believe it took me so long to read it. The Wayward Children series is imaginative, dark, gritty, and entertaining.
Plotastic Scale: 5
“You’re nobody’s doorway but your own, and the only one who gets to tell you how your story ends is you.”
Cover Thoughts: I love this cover so much.
Thank you, Netgalley and Tor.com, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Have you read Every Heart a Doorway? What are your thoughts about it and the series? Let me know down below in the comments!
I love it when the villain is also an interesting character! I hate when they're evil with no explanation. :)
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
Yes, me too! I need a good explanation otherwise it's pointless to even have a villain.
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