Every Heart a Doorway

by Seanan McGuire

(21 reviews)

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.

2 editions

Catship reviewed Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

:)

5 stars

I like it a lot.

Kelson Reads reviewed Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (Wayward Children, #1)

Fast read, intriguing concept and characters, but the plot gets in the way

4 stars

A fast read with an intriguing concept that reverses multiple YA fantasy tropes: It’s a non-magical boarding school for teens who have experienced magic. And it’s not about the adventures they have going through the portal to a fantasy world, but about how they handle the trauma of coming back to the mundane one. The characters are interesting, and I’d like to read more about them, but halfway through it turns into a murder mystery. That gives it a plot, but it comes at the expense of the characterization. (And some of the characters.) It was entertaining, though, and it does make me want to check out the second book.

hyperborea.org/reviews/books/every-heart-a-doorway/

WelshPixie reviewed Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (Wayward Children, #1)

Yep!

5 stars

It was lovely; the main character is asexual, there's a trans character, these things are handled with care and wholesomeness, and the story and writing were poignant.

Violence: Yes (described after-the fact) Sexual Scenes: No

Remy Rose reviewed Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (Wayward Children, #1)

Review of 'Every Heart a Doorway' on 'Storygraph'

5 stars

This book is really good, I can't wait to read the rest of the series! It's amazing how Seanan can design worlds that seem absolutely horrible in principle, and then somehow make the characters' longing for those worlds so genuine and even enviable. I'm sure most of us could only ever wish we belonged to our worlds the way these kids do. Also, it's got great GSRM representation!