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allireadsmke's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Man these little books are quick but impactful. This one is particularly creepy and a constant feeling in your chest of ache and sadness and dread.
stephaniells's review against another edition
5.0
Shortember #6: EXCELLENT. Such a different world than the first book but still had that energy that made me yearn for more. Plus. Jack and Jill’s story sounded the most interesting to me and getting to read it in book 2 already was just ✨
jsoakes's review against another edition
3.0
Decent as a standalone, but I think it sort of ruins Jack and Jill from Every Heart a Doorway. Knowing this background makes Jack's actions in the original story almost unforgivable in their blindness. It also makes Jill even less likable than she was. As a standalone, it was great to see more of the Moors and the system of doorways. The narration was a bit weak in terms of character development, but it made it feel like a real fairy tale.
daydreaminthepages's review against another edition
5.0
"Every choice feeds every choice that comes after, whether we want those choices or not."
Much of the key plot of this book was not particularly surprising as we saw some of this information in the first book. However we were provided more detail and it made me feel even more attached to Jack. It also elevated my already negative feelings towards Jill. I did enjoy finding out more about the backstory of characters from the original books and how they got to become those people.
I enjoyed this book even more than the first and I continue to love the writing and world building, however I do once again wish this book was longer as I feel there is so much more that we could have learned. I will definitely be continuing with this series.
Much of the key plot of this book was not particularly surprising as we saw some of this information in the first book. However we were provided more detail and it made me feel even more attached to Jack. It also elevated my already negative feelings towards Jill. I did enjoy finding out more about the backstory of characters from the original books and how they got to become those people.
I enjoyed this book even more than the first and I continue to love the writing and world building, however I do once again wish this book was longer as I feel there is so much more that we could have learned. I will definitely be continuing with this series.
theninthbow_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I love this so much!
It has a slightly different narrative style than Every Heart a Doorway, and that style fits this story so perfectly. And yet it’s still Seanan McGuire’s wonderful writing, so it feels like the same series. Loved that.
Also: Jack. One of my top five favorite characters ever.
I want all the stories featuring Jack and Jill and the Moors. All of them. It’s kind of ridiculous how much I need all the novels about the Moors, and these sisters, and all the characters they’re entangled with.
It has a slightly different narrative style than Every Heart a Doorway, and that style fits this story so perfectly. And yet it’s still Seanan McGuire’s wonderful writing, so it feels like the same series. Loved that.
Also: Jack. One of my top five favorite characters ever.
I want all the stories featuring Jack and Jill and the Moors. All of them. It’s kind of ridiculous how much I need all the novels about the Moors, and these sisters, and all the characters they’re entangled with.
bethanyangharads's review against another edition
3.0
Book two in the Wayward Children Series. This book just wasn’t what I wanted – which is my main issue. Book one ends on a bit of a cliff hanger for the twins, Jack and Jill, and I really wanted this book to be a follow up of where book 1 left off. However, this is more of a prequel, giving us some backstory to Jack and Jill. I do realise that maybe we (the audience) were meant to draw our own conclusions about what happens at the end of book one, but it left so many questions unanswered for me… But good aspects. Although predicatble, I did enjoy the swapping of personalites between Jack and Jill, and I found myself falling into McGuire’s world building once again. She paints such a lively and colourful (if what slightly morose in this one) world within her pages. So, not a bad book, just not the plot that I wanted.
kashna83's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
asamandawanders's review against another edition
5.0
“The concept that perhaps biology was not destiny, and that not all little girls would be pretty princesses, and not all little boys would be brave soldiers.”
"Children are not formless clay, to be shaped according to the sculptor's whim, nor are they blank but identical dolls, waiting to be slipped into the mode that suits them best."
I liked this more than [b:Every Heart a Doorway|25526296|Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1)|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1431438555s/25526296.jpg|45313140][b:Every Heart a Doorway|25526296|Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1)|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1431438555s/25526296.jpg|45313140]; and I definitely need to reread that, though I may wait for the next book in the series. The narration reminded me of [b:The Course of Love|27845690|The Course of Love|Alain de Botton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447781024s/27845690.jpg|46106442] (another highly recommended book.)
This prequel was phenomenal. A discussion of parenting, gender roles, gender stereotyping, personality as genetics vs. environment, first love, what being family means, and choice, all in 176 brilliant pages. I suppose it's also a portal fantasy novella, but I'm not much of a fantasy reader, so I can't talk much about that. I will say the world and character building was full and vibrant; I can see the moors, the castle, the village.
I really cannot say enough about this book and I'm pretty sure I could quote half of it, so let's just finish with go read this. It's one of the few books I've read in the past couple years that I'm going to actually purchase.
“She had tried to make sure they knew that there were a hundred, a thousand, a million different ways to be a girl, and that all of them were valid.”
"Children are not formless clay, to be shaped according to the sculptor's whim, nor are they blank but identical dolls, waiting to be slipped into the mode that suits them best."
I liked this more than [b:Every Heart a Doorway|25526296|Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1)|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1431438555s/25526296.jpg|45313140][b:Every Heart a Doorway|25526296|Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1)|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1431438555s/25526296.jpg|45313140]; and I definitely need to reread that, though I may wait for the next book in the series. The narration reminded me of [b:The Course of Love|27845690|The Course of Love|Alain de Botton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447781024s/27845690.jpg|46106442] (another highly recommended book.)
This prequel was phenomenal. A discussion of parenting, gender roles, gender stereotyping, personality as genetics vs. environment, first love, what being family means, and choice, all in 176 brilliant pages. I suppose it's also a portal fantasy novella, but I'm not much of a fantasy reader, so I can't talk much about that. I will say the world and character building was full and vibrant; I can see the moors, the castle, the village.
I really cannot say enough about this book and I'm pretty sure I could quote half of it, so let's just finish with go read this. It's one of the few books I've read in the past couple years that I'm going to actually purchase.
“She had tried to make sure they knew that there were a hundred, a thousand, a million different ways to be a girl, and that all of them were valid.”
ellethefantasyqueen's review against another edition
5.0
I anxiously waited for this one to turn up so I could continue with the series. It didn’t disappoint. I did find that I enjoyed Jack’s point of view more, but I think that’s because I would also choose science over someone biting my neck. I really enjoy the flow of McGuire’s writing as it feels like you aren’t just reading words on a page, you are fully transported to the story. I would really recommend this series and I await my next books to come in.