Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children, #3)

by Seanan McGuire

[Quirky Cat]

Beneath the Sugar Sky is the latest in the Wayward Children series, and I can’t express how much I’ve been enjoying reading them. Up until a year ago I hadn’t read any of this series, but it was seeing the cover of this one that originally caught my attention – you have to admit that the cover is striking. For that reason I think I’ll always be particularly fond of this book. In a way it introduced me to a whole new world I love so much.
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).


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