Scan barcode
tjones11's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
4.75
sarahcaesar's review against another edition
5.0
The story telling and writing in this book was amazing and I really loved it :’)
common1's review against another edition
4.0
A charming book about stories and storytelling following the adventures of January Scaller, a ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, who discovers a book filled with secret doors, each opening to a new and different discovery. Imaginative, powerful, and compelling, these pages explore the strength of love and the powers of words.
amyyyyjaneee's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed it except it was very slow at the beginning
regularlyreading's review against another edition
5.0
A stunning debut novel that now lives inside my heart.
katie_is_dreaming's review against another edition
5.0
I felt an instant connection to this book the first time I heard about it. I'm not always the best at picking books that are completely my taste, which is why I like to use the library so much, rather than buy immediately, but I saw a review by a friend here on Goodreads and the book spoke to me at once (and this same friend first introduced me to Katherine Arden as well, so I trust her! Thanks, Tadiana!). Still, I checked out Harrow's Hugo Award-winning story "A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies" (available online) just to see what her style was like. I highly recommend that story, and I completely recommend this novel too. I absolutely adored it.
Just to clear a misconception about this book to begin with: this is NOT a portal fantasy, or not primarily. Other worlds form part of the narrative, yes, but they are very much secondary, described in fleeting, tantalising detail (a world where fire can be tamed enough to walk at your heels, a world of islands and white city spires). If you are looking to this book to take you on an epic journey through many well-described worlds, you will be disappointed. This isn't that book.
This book is primarily about doors, or Doors, and all that they represent - escape, adventure, potential, growth, possibility, daring, bravery, and also the ability to hide, or, negatively, be enclosed or locked away (and then escape!
Just to clear a misconception about this book to begin with: this is NOT a portal fantasy, or not primarily. Other worlds form part of the narrative, yes, but they are very much secondary, described in fleeting, tantalising detail (a world where fire can be tamed enough to walk at your heels, a world of islands and white city spires). If you are looking to this book to take you on an epic journey through many well-described worlds, you will be disappointed. This isn't that book.
This book is primarily about doors, or Doors, and all that they represent - escape, adventure, potential, growth, possibility, daring, bravery, and also the ability to hide, or, negatively, be enclosed or locked away (and then escape!
michellercollins's review against another edition
5.0
The best book I’ve read in many years. Beautiful!
linde26's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
susanmckinley's review against another edition
5.0
I wish I could delete this book from my memory bank and then reread it again for the first time. Absolute perfection from the first sentence to the last.