The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

by Alix E. Harrow

***Shortlisted for the Hugo Award for Best Novel***

'A gorgeous, aching love letter to stories, storytellers and the doors they lead us through . . . absolutely enchanting' Christina Henry, bestselling author of Alice

EVERY STORY OPENS A DOOR

In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored and utterly out of place.

But her quiet existence is shattered when she stumbles across a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. Each page reveals more impossible truths about the world, and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.

'One of the most unique works of fiction I've ever read' Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author

'A gorgeously written story of love and longing, of what it means to lose your place in the world and then have the courage to find it again' Kat Howard, author of An Unkindness of Magicians

'Devastatingly good, a sharp, delicate nested tale of worlds within worlds, stories within stories, and the realm-cracking power of words' Melissa Albert, author of The Hazel Wood

'The Ten Thousand Doors of January healed hurts I didn't even know I had. An unbearably beautiful story about growing up, and everything we fight to keep along the way' Amal El-Mohtar, Hugo Award-winning author

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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The Ten Thousand Doors of January, written by Alix E. Harrow is a novel that I've been hearing about non-stop. Honestly, I'm a little upset with myself for taking this long to read it!

January Scaller knows what it is like to live in between. Raised by Mr. Locke, and the daughter of one of his employees, she knows wealth, and loneliness. She knows what it is like to be ignored, and to be looked down upon.

Little did she know what sort of family history she was missing out on. It all started with a book. Well, a book, and a doorway. Each door is a passageway to another world, and she is one of the few who can open them, and harness that potential.

“I hope you will find the cracks in the world and wedge them wider, so the light of other suns shines through; I hope you will keep the world unruly, messy, full of strange magics; I hope you will run through every open Door and tell stories when you return.”

The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a novel that I've had on my TBR shelf for way too long. And I might just have built it up just a touch too much, for while I enjoyed it, I didn't fall head over heels like I had fully expected.

So that probably wasn't the fairest thing I could have done. Still, I did truly enjoy January's series of adventures. Obviously, I loved the whole concept behind her doors and the worlds (and thus adventures) contained within.

Actually, looking back at it now, I think that's the crux of why I didn't love it more! I wanted to see more! More worlds, more doors. All of it. While we did see a few, they were limited. Both in number, and in details. (If you felt this way as well, go check out Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series – lots of worlds and even more descriptions!).

“May she wander but always return home, may all her words be written true, may every door lie open before her.”

Still, I can't say that I didn't like The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Far from it. I love a lot of the subjects that the narrative touches upon, including the way January herself doesn't feel like she fits in anywhere (a reason that is explained in detail).

I know that this is a long shot, but do you think there will ever be a sequel? I'd love to see what January got up to, especially after that hint at the end (I'm trying to be vague here, for obvious reasons).

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 12 February, 2021: Finished reading
  • 12 February, 2021: Reviewed