Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Ten Thousand Doors of January

I can't get enough of Harrow's style of writing. Her metaphors and descriptions are like nothing I've encountered in writing before. Everything feels lyrical and alive. It's honestly difficult to move on after reading one of her books because it's like I have a book hangover, but in the worst way. I love the story and the characters, but what I can't move on from is Harrow herself. Her style almost ruins reading anything else after finishing a novel of hers.

Overall, I highly recommend this book just for Harrow's style alone, but it's also a fascinating plot with creative and well developed characters. Yes, it starts off rather slow, but that's extremely intentional. Yes, January feels frustratingly naive, but of course she is given her living situation. This book is all about adventure, imagination, and developing your own life's narrative. One of the top books I read all year and I recommend it to everyone!

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anastasiamakes's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

I've really enjoyed all of the Harrow I've read so far and can't believe I waited so long to get round to this one which I think is my favourite of the bunch.

It's whimsical but dark, tackles important topics without feeling preachy, and made me cry happy tears.

I have so many quotations highlighted in this book, it's just so beautifully written.

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heshanks's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious reflective 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

2.75

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lyndsay_bibliophile's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

The .5 is for the beautiful writing and quotes coming out of this book.

“The Ten Thousand Doors of January" delivers in its beautiful prose, but left me wanting more from the doors themselves.

Harrow's wordsmithing is undeniable. Words paint vivid pictures, but felt fleeting, leaving the broader world-building underdeveloped. We sneak a peek at fantastical lands, but never truly get to explore.

The story itself meanders through time and narrative styles, which was sometimes distracting and I found it difficult to connect with the characters through this back-and-forth.

One trope was annoyingly loud: miscommunication. While it fuels some dramatic moments, its overuse felt like a missed opportunity for deeper character exploration.

Ultimately, this is a hopeful story. While it doesn't quite reach its full potential, Harrow clearly has a talent with words.

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piikasmalls's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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