top_shelf_reads's review
5.0
This book automatically made it to my Top 5 of 2020 and possibly on the Top 10 of All Time.
Alix E. Harrow just sucks you in from the first pages of this totally original concept novel. The characters are rich and fully developed- the world building is just perfect - enough for you to see it all but doesn’t get lost in the minute details.
The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a story with in a story. January Scholar is an in between sort of girl: not quite an orphan though her father travels the world often leaving her in the care of their generous benefactor Mr. Locke, not quiet “colored”, not quiet a “good girl”, and definitely not what you think she is.
A girl with adventure in her blood and some secrets too.
This amazing novel touches on so many interesting ideas- what is real, what is our place in this world or others, friendship, family, love.
It gives me Harry Potter vibes and that’s a good thing - a strong lead character that doesn’t know their own inner strength, quick paced action, and a bit of magical realism.
The audiobook was amazing and I can’t what to reread in print. All the ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s
Alix E. Harrow just sucks you in from the first pages of this totally original concept novel. The characters are rich and fully developed- the world building is just perfect - enough for you to see it all but doesn’t get lost in the minute details.
The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a story with in a story. January Scholar is an in between sort of girl: not quite an orphan though her father travels the world often leaving her in the care of their generous benefactor Mr. Locke, not quiet “colored”, not quiet a “good girl”, and definitely not what you think she is.
A girl with adventure in her blood and some secrets too.
This amazing novel touches on so many interesting ideas- what is real, what is our place in this world or others, friendship, family, love.
It gives me Harry Potter vibes and that’s a good thing - a strong lead character that doesn’t know their own inner strength, quick paced action, and a bit of magical realism.
The audiobook was amazing and I can’t what to reread in print. All the ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s
carleeannmiller's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
3.0
justiceofkalr's review
4.0
Okay, I really liked this book. The writing is the kind you'll probably either love or loathe. For me I found it fun and charming, but I can see how some people might find it twee and overly flowery in places. My biggest complaint was how dense January was at times, especially concerning Mr Locke, but at the end the reveal that helped explain some of that away for me. Also, not a complaint per se, but I'd have loved to have seen more of the worlds. For being the "ten thousand" doors, we get only a few visited worlds and some tantalizing bits of descriptions for others and not much else. For a debut book though, this is pretty fantastic.
Spoiler
Locke can mess with people's mindselvenpanther's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed the book and the premise of doors to multiple worlds, however I still felt like there was some depth missing to the story. The main character, January, felt painfully naive throughout the majority of the book and while there was some point behind this... to an extent, I would have liked to see more on the development of her into her own self-sufficient person rather than feeling like it was tacked onto the end in such a "and look how much she has grown!!" way.
Also, while we were told that the villains were villains, I wasn't truly given full reason to despise them. The Founder's goals, while perhaps executed in a heartless way, did not seem as dastardly to me as I feel the author had wanted the reader to feel towards them. This could be because this novel seems to be geared more towards a young adult demographic, and perhaps I've become to disillusioned with the functioning of the world.
Overall, it was entertaining, but I probably won't need to reread at any point. Good for a palate-cleansing read.
Also, while we were told that the villains were villains, I wasn't truly given full reason to despise them. The Founder's goals, while perhaps executed in a heartless way, did not seem as dastardly to me as I feel the author had wanted the reader to feel towards them. This could be because this novel seems to be geared more towards a young adult demographic, and perhaps I've become to disillusioned with the functioning of the world.
Overall, it was entertaining, but I probably won't need to reread at any point. Good for a palate-cleansing read.
lynnmiy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
e_naida's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
melodious1776's review
5.0
This book is for readers, as most books are, but this one in particular is for two kinds of readers who often can be found within the same one person - those who read to run away from something and those who read to run toward something.
It's a beautifully written and enchanting story about a young girl (who I both see parts of myself in and wish to be more like), a family in disrepair, escape, and adventure.
Reading this book has taken my already quite unquenchable desire to consume stories and multiplied it tenfold; it gave that feeling truth and meaning, and has left me quite honestly with a bit of discontent with the world we know and a wanderlust to match.
It's a beautifully written and enchanting story about a young girl (who I both see parts of myself in and wish to be more like), a family in disrepair, escape, and adventure.
Reading this book has taken my already quite unquenchable desire to consume stories and multiplied it tenfold; it gave that feeling truth and meaning, and has left me quite honestly with a bit of discontent with the world we know and a wanderlust to match.
samidhak's review
3.0
This did not turn out the way I expected it to. Okay, so here’s the thing I love portal fantasies, and so I have some thoughts.
The good:
- critique of colonialism
- interracial and diverse characters
- strong female representation
- maybe redeemable villain?
- the writing and prose
- Ade and Yule’s story
The bearable:
- friendships
- scene-setting of 19th-20th century America
- mythologies about some other worlds
The bad:
- world building (I feel like the premise was used for click bait)
- the main character (totally useless and dead weight till the last few chapters. And because she hadn’t done a single action from her own will it made her final coming-of-age very unrealistic )
- animal cruelty (I am sorry but it was making me sweat in anticipation - not in a good way)
- the pacing (somehow the first 80% of book holds nothing, and the last 20% has rising action, crisis, resolution, and tying up loose ends - all mixed together).
- no coherent explanation of the rules of magic, except for a parchment that is more about love and less about the worlds)
All in all, I believe the novel would’ve benefited greatly from being a two part duology. Clearly it left so many questions, and hints about promises that maybe fulfilled; that are not wrapped up properly. I am not disappointed, but I feel cheated.
The good:
- critique of colonialism
- interracial and diverse characters
- strong female representation
- maybe redeemable villain?
- the writing and prose
- Ade and Yule’s story
The bearable:
- friendships
- scene-setting of 19th-20th century America
- mythologies about some other worlds
The bad:
- world building (I feel like the premise was used for click bait)
- the main character (totally useless and dead weight till the last few chapters. And because she hadn’t done a single action from her own will it made her final coming-of-age very unrealistic )
- animal cruelty (I am sorry but it was making me sweat in anticipation - not in a good way)
- the pacing (somehow the first 80% of book holds nothing, and the last 20% has rising action, crisis, resolution, and tying up loose ends - all mixed together).
- no coherent explanation of the rules of magic, except for a parchment that is more about love and less about the worlds)
All in all, I believe the novel would’ve benefited greatly from being a two part duology. Clearly it left so many questions, and hints about promises that maybe fulfilled; that are not wrapped up properly. I am not disappointed, but I feel cheated.
llona_llegaconlalluvia's review against another edition
4.0
Una storia d'amore più travagliata di quella di Romeo e Giulietta da cui nasce una figlia, January, poi soggiogata magicamente dal suo tutore: delirante fondatore di una società segreta dedita a chiudere le porte tra i mondi.