Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Every Heart A Doorway (Wayward Children, #1)

by Seanan McGuire

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.

Reviewed by lovelybookshelf on

4 of 5 stars

Share
This short novel has a super cool premise: What is it like for children to return to the normal world after spending a significant amount of time in a magical world? If they are unable to reintegrate, they are sent to "Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children." Every Heart a Doorway has a creepy nonchalance about it, a semi-predictable murder mystery, and a little horror (if you get queasy easily, consider yourself warned). It feels like magical realism a lot of times, so I was hooked. The main character is ace, and there's a trans secondary character who plays a significant role in the story―and avoids all the tired tropes you get with trans characters. Fantastic rep, fun read.

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 22 December, 2016: Finished reading
  • 22 December, 2016: Reviewed