Renee
Written on Apr 5, 2020
Beneath the Sugar Sky, the third book in McGuire's Wayward Children series, returns to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children in a standalone contemporary fantasy for fans of all ages. At this magical boarding school, children who have experienced fantasy adventures are reintroduced to the "real" world.
When Rini lands with a literal splash in the pond behind Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, the last thing she expects to find is that her mother, Sumi, died years before Rini was even conceived. But Rini can’t let Reality get in the way of her quest – not when she has an entire world to save! (Much more common than one would suppose.)
If she can't find a way to restore her mother, Rini will have more than a world to save: she will never have been born in the first place. And in a world without magic, she doesn’t have long before Reality notices her existence and washes her away. Good thing the student body is well-acquainted with quests...
A tale of friendship, baking, and derring-do.
Warning: May contain nuts.
- ISBN10 0765393581
- ISBN13 9780765393586
- Publish Date 9 January 2018
- Publish Status Unknown
- Out of Print 5 April 2024
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Tor Books
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 176
- Language English
Reviews
inlibrisveritas
Written on Jan 8, 2019
Spoiler Warning for all previous books! This review may have spoilers for the first two books in the Wayward Children series, if you are interested in starting the series I recommend checking out my review of Every Heart a Doorway of that book instead.
Beneath the Sugar Sky is the third book in the Wayward Children series and picks up a little while after the ending of the first book. (The second book focuses on two characters in the first book, but technically kind of happens before and during book one). The school is moving on somewhat from the tragedy of Sumi’s death in book one when a girl falls out of the sky saying that Sumi is her mother. Sugar Sky takes us on an adventure to a land filled with nonsense, sugar, and a little political upheaval.
I will say this one is probably my least favorite of the series so far, because it does have that theme of nonsense and a tone that matches the weird sugary world that is Confection. That being said I think it’s still pretty enjoyable and still has the darker edge to it, I just think that some of the writing felt a bit cumbersome and obvious at times. We have a new character to follow named Cora, who is heavier set and very self conscious about it. In the world she went to it where she became a mermaid it was a boon, but here she finds herself sliding back into being defensive and scared when it comes to others opinions. I appreciated the rep here, but at times it felt a bit heavy-handed and too exposition-y. Instead of feeling her discomfort at the idea of someone looking at her different, we are told all the ways in which she is used to it and how this or that relate to how she’s been bullied in the past. It just didn’t come off as a natural way to present the information. I did like Cora despite the odd way some of her inner monologues were written, and I love the friendship that she starts to forge with Christopher. We also get to know more about Cade, whose story is rather unique in that he doesn’t want his door to open.
The plot itself is suitably weird as it deals with Sumi, who in the first book was kind of a delightful mess of energy. We get to see the world that she was pulled into and it’s kind of wonderful. The world just comes across as exceedingly vibrant and while the idea of it makes my teeth ache, I just the adore the concept of a world filled with cake and soda. We also get to spend some time in Nancy’s world, which seems more my speed. The best part of this was the fact that it actively broadens the scope of what we the readers get to see, and seeing the characters in their element (and in a larger case way out of their element) is just so much fun.
I am looking forward to diving into In an Absent Dream! The world needs more portal fantasy and McGuire is providing.
leahrosereads
Written on Dec 10, 2018
But it's good! It's so good!
OK, I'll say something - we see another portal world. And it's so whimsically disturbing, I just don't even have words. I need more but now I'm all caught up and have to wait like everyone else?
The horror!!
Quirky Cat
Written on Jun 22, 2018
That being said, I really don’t recommend reading this series out of order. This one caught my attention first, but I was good and went and read them in the order intended. And I’m really grateful I did that – I wouldn’t have gotten nearly as much meaning or enjoyment out of this one otherwise.
Beneath the Sugar Sky, in many ways, comes full circle from Every Heart a Doorway. Once again we’re back at the school for Wayward Children, seeing many familiar faces, as well as some new. The events in the first novella have finally come back around to rear their ugly heads, and things have been set in motion that our students must stop.
Every time I think I’ve gotten handle on this series and the worlds in it, I find myself surprised once again. There is never a dull moment, and I love it. The different rules in each unique world are confusing and utterly different from one another. What is possible in a logical world would never be possible in a nonsense world, and vice versa. Seeing characters from one interact with the other was fascinating.
This novella brought about familiar faces, like I mentioned earlier. Kade being the most notable, but Eleanor, Christopher, Nadya, and others are there as well. There are also some new faces, such as Cora and Rini. I love how unique each of their circumstances and worlds are.
Kade, as we know, came from a world of faeries and goblins. We learn much more about his fights in that world in this novella, and its borderline heartbreaking. I love Kade so much more, which is saying something, after having learned of his past.
Cora came from a world similar to Nadya, only instead of being a drowned girl she’s a mermaid. She’s got lots of self-esteem issues, and there are some disturbing implications of how she found her door in the first place.
Rini…well you won’t believe where she’s from. Not until you’ve had a chance to read this book for yourself at least. So I high suggest you make some time to sit down and read it.
What I love the most about this world is how human each of Seanan McGuire’s characters are. They’re all unique, personable, and most importantly, they have flaws. More than that though, is that McGuire isn’t afraid to make her characters be who they are. No body type, sexuality, race, etc is forbidden to her. And the best part is she doesn’t even make a big deal of it. They’re here in her world, and they belong there. End of story.
I can’t wait for In An Absent Dream to release. It looks fantastic. Definitely my second favorite out of all the covers (again, this one holds a certain emotional value to me).
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
alindstadtcorbeax
Written on Apr 23, 2018
*ONLY $2.99 ON KINDLE TODAY FOLKS!*
______________________________________________
April 23rd, 2018:
4 stars!
RTC
kimbacaffeinate
Written on Mar 17, 2018
When a naked girl with candy corn eyes, falls from the sky demanding to see her mother the children of Wayward home are shocked. From the moment I was all in!
Rini is from the Land of Nonsense, and she seeks her mother, Sumi. Rini and her world are in trouble. What she doesn't know is the Sumi is dead. Can the children help her? This was so whimsical from cotton candy dresses, to the land of the dead.
Christopher, who hails from the land of the dead, has ideas and with the help of Rini's magic the group set off to find Sumi. I loved how the group worked together. My favorite was Cora, a Mer-girl who loves turtles. Each place we visit is well developed, as are the children.
McGuire's imagination and gift of weaving these tales never ceases to amaze me. Villains, soda pop and magical baking held me enchanted. While I think I preferred the darker worlds in this series, I loved a world baked entirely out of sweets.
Michelle Dockery's narration was delightful. I loved the voices she gave these characters from the whimsical to the frightening. She helped deliver the enchanting tone of McGuire's tale. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Bianca
Written on Jan 19, 2018
But children, ah, children. Children follow the foxes, and open the wardrobes, and peek beneath the bridge. Children climb the walls and fall down the wells and run the razor’s edge of possibility until sometimes, just sometimes, the possible surrenders and shows them the way to go home.
— Another magical tale in the wayward children series, still exploring themes of being different and not conforming with society’s expectations (and that’s okay!!!). It wasn’t as brilliant as the first 2 books in the series though.
sa090
Written on Jan 16, 2018
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This book was my most anticipated book of the year; I honestly didn’t look forward to any book as much as I did with this one. So when it came out I grabbed a copy and waited till I finished The Desert of Souls, before getting comfortable and thinking that I’ll read a few chapters before bed and all of my usual routine… can you imagine my surprise when I turned the page and there was nothing else to read? Before I even realized it, a couple of hours passed and I’m adding another book to my goal count of 2018! That’s a beautiful feeling to have but it also leaves me with a heavy heart when I realize that there isn’t anything more for me to read in this series.
To me, Wayward Children is the best series I started in 2017 and this experiences proves once again how pathetically weak I am against Seanan McGuire’s writing. Just like the other two books in the series, this one deals with many issues; weight, human cruelty, kindness, acceptance, identity and social anxiety amongst others. I love the way she can add so many stuff like this in what is basically a novella without making it sound exactly like something all of us have heard about before, it’s an aspect of life and the characters + reader will have to deal with it. The best thing about this is that the character do! It’s not just depicting someone who is going to cry about it, they deal with it in some way and it’s really nice to see the coping mechanisms. I know it’s wishful thinking, but who knows? Maybe one of the many many teenagers who are in the same place can be inspired a bit. Which is a perfect place to put one of her amazing quotes:
”There is kindness in this world, if we know how to look for it. If we never stop denying it the door.”
Speaking of the plot itself, the book really isn’t pulling any punches. We see this world and we see others as well. It’s very nice to see old faces and new faces as well, the way this really diversifies the book is just the icing on the cake, when I least expect it she just adds one more person that makes me really wonder about her limits. This book also felt a little “fan service-y” to me, I felt like she was spoiling me with all the events I got to see in this book which is again what makes this woman a gift to me. I’m being vague here because I don’t want to spoil this, it’ll be really really easy to do that.
I think if there was one thing that I absolutely loved about this book is how she tried to delve into what makes her worlds a thing. We’re never getting a clear answer with this one though, because she’s intentionally making it difficult for the characters and in turn the reader to pin it down. That to me is what makes it so fun, there really is no limit here. I heard she still has 4 more books worth of content for this series but it will depend on the trilogy sales before she goes any further so here’s to hoping!
Final rating: 5/5
Stephanie
Written on Jan 15, 2018
layawaydragon
Written on Aug 19, 2017
But I must say, as a fat girl that's always been fat, fuck all you assholes raging on Cora with all the fatphobic bullshit. There doesn't have to be a big happy "I love me the way I am" moment all spelled out for you for it to be meaningful. When the whole world and everyone in it puts your weight before you, you start thinking like they do. It highlights how damaging it is and makes you sabotage yourself. Cora relaxes and grows and starts shedding the toxic fatphobic bullshit because the Wayward Children don't give a shit about her weight. It's something every fat person I've known wants. It's included here and beautiful. We're not some inspiration porn for you, FFS. So again, fuck you.
Notes While Listening:
>>Starts with Children's Clapping Rhyme 'Confection' = Amazing!
>>CADE! Christopher! Eleanor! Everyone!!
>>Oh yeah. Good point...
>>Cora, the new girl. Fat. Mermaid. Green & blue hair but when it fades, she's stuck.
>>Yay Cora hasn't been fatshamed there 💙
>>More worlds!!
>>Nadia is missing her arm from the elbow down. Born in Russia & adopted to YT Americans.
>>Poor turtle!
>>Damn. Damn. Damn.
>>Nicely done, Cade.
>>Oh NO!!
>>"choosing the more entertaining idea of hurting eyes" lol
>>LOL Remi. Sex positive, blunt, and unashamed.
>>Awww, Chris in the basement.
>>OH SHIT!!!!
>>Awwwwwww Cade.
>>Of course she came.
>>Lol Cora. 💙
>>"Funny, that's where I keep my bones."
>>"Still missing the squishy bits"
>>"We have her ghost, not her shadow or heart."
>>I did not see that coming.
>>"I didn't invite stupid causality to my birthday party, it doesn't get to give me a gift."
>>"Oh, like you're attracted to girls for their pretty kidneys!" LOL
>>"No one promised me a happy ending. No one even promised me a happy existence."
>>Awwww Laylah!
>>Yep, saw that. Good.
>>*gasp*...*sigh in relief
>>YAY!!!!!
>>I NEED MORE. MORE. MOAR. MOAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!