Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

72 reviews

kbea88's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The world building was just *chefs kiss* SO GOOD. When I finished, I was hoping to dream about it when I went to sleep. I loved the way the two stories were woven together in the end, I loved January’s development, and the combination of adventure/mystery/romance/fantasy. So good. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Self harm, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Confinement and Racism

sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Racism, and Sexism

Minor: Abandonment

wrenthebard's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, and Racism

Minor: Cursing, Murder, Pregnancy, Slavery, and Vomit

memoriast's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Self harm

Moderate: Abandonment, Racism, and Violence

Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, and Cursing

claudiamacpherson's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

When January Scaller was young, she found a door to another world. As she grows up in the care of her father's wealthy benefactor, however, she is forced to squeeze herself into the role of sensible, obedient ward...until one day she finds a fantastical book that just might be true.

I had high hopes for this book (because I loved Harrow's <i>The Once and Future Witches</i> so much), and it did not disappoint! There was genuinely nothing I disliked about this story. The premise was sort of <i>The Magician's Nephew</i> meets <i>Inkheart</i> but also entirely its own. I loved the characters, not just January but all of the minor characters as well (and I would <b>love</b> spinoff stories about Jane or Samuel or any of the others!). I adore Harrow's writing style and her little asides and comments on words and letters throughout the story.

Even the ending was perfect, except for the fact that I wanted more!

Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just the general vibe):

Happy!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, and Self harm

Minor: Racism and Violence

sha_keiraa's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

absolutely one of the best books i have ever read. made me cry, beautifully written 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Murder, Grief, Animal cruelty, Blood, Confinement, and Body horror

keen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I started this book with an intensely negativity mindset for several reasons. 1) I do not like historical books. I find them to be either boring or painful to read. 2) Connecting to 1, historical books that address racism and sexism can be triggering for me, as a trans-masc black person. 3) I simply found the start of the book to be interesting, but boring, disappointing me based on talk about it being adventurous portal fantasy.

I've just finished reading and my heart is tight in my chest. It hasn't made me cry, but it was right on the edge of it. I don't have good words to describe why I liked the story overall. It's more several small parts that built up into me caring deeply about the story. But to summarize:

1. The racism aspect of the book was what made me immediately connect to January. Both of us struggle with our race being ambiguous, causing people of all races to be unsure of how to approach us. I would've preferred to not focus on it at all, but that would have significantly changed the story. Honestly, I was surprised the author is white. Her depiction of racism was so natural. Better yet, characters of different skin tones are described, not only dark or unnatural skins. I've seen it be far too common that only dark and alien skins will be described, implying that the default skin tone is white and doesn't need to be mentioned for a character description. This was immensely refreshing.
   
   
2. Similarly, the way mental health and abuse was handled was so realistic that it was actually triggering. I had to put the book down to recover a few times. This was an awful experience for me, but I think this is a bonus to the book. I rather be hurt by how accurately a book portrayed a toxic relationship, causing me to further relate to a character, than to see it handled badly.
   
   
3. I was pleasantly surprised to see a prominent LGBT character in the story. It's not lingered on long, but it's made explicitly clear. There's also a small mention of a two old men holding hands.
   
   
4. I can't say that I found Samuel particularly interesting as a character, but I enjoyed him. I wasn't expecting much for a story that's not focused on romance, anyway. Him and January have a nice dynamic, with their relationship not developing in a straight line. Also, he's not Prince Charming. January gets a lot of agency in what she wants. This story has a strong focus on women being courageous and powerful and how those are attractive qualities.
   
   
5. Above could be said for a lot of the characters in this story. I appreciate that relationships in the book are explicitly complicated. I'm very happy that a story about family and your place in society didn't make relationships one-dimensional. Friendships and family in this book feel so grey that there's not a lot of room on how to handle a situation in a "good" or "bad" way.

Aside from my issue with the slow start to the book, the only had bad thing that stands out to me is how impulsive and reckless January can be. At the same time, that could be said for a few characters, and in the context of the book, it makes sense. Also, she's a teenager, so shouldn't expect some ground-breaking planning skills when going through a terrifying situation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Racism, Self harm, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Racial slurs

Confinement/Emotional Abuse/Child Abuse Explanation:

There is a part where January, as a young girl, is forced to stay in her room for several days with no social contact, breaking her down emotionally so she'll behave."

Forced Institutionalization Explanation:

This is a significant part of the book. January is put into an asylum under false pretenses. She is strapped down and drugged to be kept passive.

Self Harm Explanation:

Connected to above, January gets out of the asylum by carving words into her arm as a necessity

meg_elyse's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Violence

jkiefer's review against another edition

50%. The book was advertised as a fantasy story about traveling to other worlds via doors, but was actually more about the racist politics of the 1920s. It wasn't the book I was expecting to read. I also did not like the heavy handed story-within-a-story aspect. There was also a lot of info dump/heavy exposition. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Racism and Confinement

Minor: Animal death

georgia1981's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I loved this book! I read it in less than 3 days and want to read it again. January is such a lovable character and Bad - loved him! The idea of traveling between two worlds, through "Doors" is wonderful and the description on the front of the book is correct - Breathtakingly Beautiful.  I wish there was more description and adventure of the other worlds, maybe there will be a sequel someday.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Animal cruelty, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Self harm, and Violence