Every Heart a Doorway - Seanan McGuire

Every Heart a Doorway

By Seanan McGuire

  • Release Date: 2016-04-05
  • Genre: Contemporary
Score: 4
4
From 306 Ratings
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Description

Winner of the Hugo Award, Hugo Award for Best Series, Alex Award, Locus Award, and Nebula Award
Nominated for the World Fantasy Award, British Fantasy Award, and Tiptree Honor List

"A mini-masterpiece of portal fantasy — a jewel of a book that deserves to be shelved with Lewis Carroll's and C. S. Lewis' classics" —NPR

New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire presents a fresh take on the portal fantasy genre that blends Alice in Wonderland, The Magicians, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

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 things.

No matter the cost.

The Wayward Children Series
Book 1: Every Heart a Doorway
Book 2: Down Among the Sticks and Bones
Book 3: Beneath the Sugar Sky
Book 4: In an Absent Dream

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Reviews

  • Really liked it

    5
    By Archangel Beth
    A very short little mystery, and I only figured it out shortly before the protagonists did. I've read some of the short stories and this made me even more worried for one of the secondary/tertiary characters!

  • Captures that longing to belong somwhere

    5
    By HRJones
    On a whim, I picked this up in audio because I wasn't sure when I'd get to it on the page. Given how late I am to the party, I'm aware that there's now an entire series of the "wayward children" stories, involving those who have gone through portals to another realm...and now can't find their way back. But this first story is less a classic portal fantasy than it is a classic murder mystery. And when all the inhabitants of the mysterious spooky mansion are more than a little odd, sorting out the suspects can be a problem. I really enjoyed the worldbuilding behind McGuire's version of portal fantasy. And the protagonist captures the desperation and angst of being a Strange Child doomed never to find her way to the place she belongs. (Been there, though a different flavor of Strange.)

  • Fantastic

    5
    By Jennie.Reads
    I've read this book several times and have yet to review it? Let's just say this is one of my favorite books! I love the diversity and I love the characters. Nancy might be my favorite character in this whole series. I love that I want more from this story but at the same time, it's complete. I don't need anything more for completion. I need more because it's just so freaking good!

  • Fairytale gold

    5
    By tash124
    I wonderful little fairytale that I adored. The misfit Wayward children all have one thing in common, they want to belong. And I think amongst each other, they will finally have that place. For as short as this was, there was ALOT to sink your teeth into and I was blown away. This one I will be rereading for years to come and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the Wayward children have in store.

  • New favorite series

    5
    By TanyaEm
    Peter Pan + School for Good and Evil + And Then There Were None + Seanan McGuire Have you ever wondered what happened after “The End?” If YOU were Alice, would you really want to leave Wonderland? This is a story of those that were sent back to their worlds, kicking and screaming. They want nothing more than to find their door (rabbit hole/window/cyclone/etc). Eleanor, headmistress of Wayward School wants nothing more than to take them into her care, away from parents who will never understand) and help them find their doors. But when new student Nancy arrives, tragedy strikes..and again..and again.. I ABSOLUTELY adored this book! I gave 5-stars to Over the Woodward Walls and EHaH blew it out the waters! I don’t know how Seanan does it! She is able to tell THE best stories in less than 200 pages! And her language and world-building is second to none! This book was gorgeous, creepy, mysterious, funny, scary, and inclusive!! This is my favorite read of the month and have already ordered #2 for January! One note: I have seen some reviews saying this is MG. I would just be careful about letting younger ones read, as there are f-bombs and talk about adult toys. I would say this is more a fairy tale for teens or adults. Buy this for yourself or someone who has always wondered what happens after “The End.” Or, if you’re twisted, get it for someone who believes fairy tales only apply to children.

  • Amazing story.

    5
    By amaulthea
    I enjoyed every second of this book. I was really happy about the representation of asexuality and transgendered individuals. The story was absolutely stellar and I'm excited to read the other books.

  • My favorite book from on of my favorite authors

    5
    By amberfox
    Very possibly the best thing she's ever written, and there are at least two more on the way!

  • Don't waste $10.

    1
    By Chuck_ML
    Like a creative writing project for a 6th grade honors class. Trite and typecast. I don't know how this story got such rave reviews.

  • Aaaaagh

    5
    By Ish1126
    As always, seanan's story was fantastically screwed up. I want a sequel.

  • For all the Girls Who Came Home

    5
    By Groblek
    Seanan McGuire is amazing as always. I admit my first thought in hearing about Every Heart was but I want more Toby or Antimony, but I still knew it had to be good. And I wasn't disappointed! I could have happily read a coming of age story for Nancy. The characters were exciting and compelling and the school as a setting is one I'd love to sink my teeth more deeply in to. But the plot twist that drives it into intrigue brought the book to a new level. This book is full of surprises, and creates a universe ripe for future adventures.

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