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wordsareweapons's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this odd little book about ghosts and witches. It was definitely one of the more unique ghost books I've read. The writing is amazing, as it tends to be in her books. Whimsical but not over the top. The narrator is spot on as well. Just a really enjoyable quick read.
lyndsayreads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5 stars
I'm a big fan of Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series, so I wanted to read something else by her. I got this book from BookOutlet several months ago and decided to start the audiobook this morning. It's a short little audiobook and I ended really liking that. I've found that more often than not, I like shorter audiobooks more than longer ones so I gravitate to those. I really liked the narrator of this audiobook, she really captured the atmosphere of the story.
This book follows a girl named Jenna whose sister killed herself in the 70's when they were young and then Jenna accidentally dies shortly after that. However, it wasn't Jenna's time so she carries on as a ghost trying to earn the time until she can finally reach her dying day and reunite with her sister.
So if the premise sounds a little confusing, that's because it is. However, the book does a really good job of explaining the world and the rules of the magic. Unfortunately, because the book is so short and it has to spend so much time explaining how the world works, the characters suffer a little. In Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire does a good job of letting her readers really get to know Nancy alongside learning about that world. But in this book, Jenna suffers to flesh out the world. And that's a little disappointing considering I know how well she can write characters. Towards the end, we get to know Jenna a little better but by that time, it's really too late to feel something for her because the book is basically over.
I did like this book, I found it super interesting. I like that it's a stand-alone but I could see the potential for this to be a series or a series of companion novels like the Wayward Children books. I'm eager to read more from Seanan McGuire in the future because I think she's incredibly talented. If you like her books, I'd definitely recommend this one. It's a short, fast, fun read that I'd definitely recommend on audiobook!
I'm a big fan of Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series, so I wanted to read something else by her. I got this book from BookOutlet several months ago and decided to start the audiobook this morning. It's a short little audiobook and I ended really liking that. I've found that more often than not, I like shorter audiobooks more than longer ones so I gravitate to those. I really liked the narrator of this audiobook, she really captured the atmosphere of the story.
This book follows a girl named Jenna whose sister killed herself in the 70's when they were young and then Jenna accidentally dies shortly after that. However, it wasn't Jenna's time so she carries on as a ghost trying to earn the time until she can finally reach her dying day and reunite with her sister.
So if the premise sounds a little confusing, that's because it is. However, the book does a really good job of explaining the world and the rules of the magic. Unfortunately, because the book is so short and it has to spend so much time explaining how the world works, the characters suffer a little. In Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire does a good job of letting her readers really get to know Nancy alongside learning about that world. But in this book, Jenna suffers to flesh out the world. And that's a little disappointing considering I know how well she can write characters. Towards the end, we get to know Jenna a little better but by that time, it's really too late to feel something for her because the book is basically over.
I did like this book, I found it super interesting. I like that it's a stand-alone but I could see the potential for this to be a series or a series of companion novels like the Wayward Children books. I'm eager to read more from Seanan McGuire in the future because I think she's incredibly talented. If you like her books, I'd definitely recommend this one. It's a short, fast, fun read that I'd definitely recommend on audiobook!
cemiles17's review against another edition
3.0
I can’t decide on 3 or 3.5 stars. The book was very interesting and had a great start. I wish there was a stronger ending though
valjeanval's review against another edition
5.0
I stumbled across this in a bargain bin, and boy I do not know how it got there. I have been searching for some quiet, upmarket fantasy, and this ghost story really hits the spot. It packs so much into such a short book, dealing with grief, power, family, suicide, and all with a unique take on what ghosts are and why they linger. Highly recommended for people who want a soft, subtle, fantastical tale.
oliverreeds's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, and Kidnapping
rachelini's review against another edition
4.0
There was so much interesting here! I wanted it to be longer, as I always do.
leighanneslit's review against another edition
4.0
This was my first experience with McGuire's writing that was outside of the Wayward Children series and I loved it just as much. This is a very different book with a very different concept. It deals with grief and loss and moving on after loss. And ghosts. I can't tell if this is supposed to be a YA novel or not, though there wasn't anything overwhelmingly adult about it. There are definitely more creepy vibes to it which make it a little more horror oriented, and I think that is one of the things that has turned people away from it. The ghost concept was great and the idea of ghosts being trapped in glass is explored which was interesting and a great addition to the story. I really enjoyed this book and I want to read more of her work outside of Wayward Children after reading this.
ranchel's review against another edition
5.0
Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day is a strange little book about the paranormal. Of course, strange little books about the paranormal or a thing that Seanan McGuire excels at, and this book is no different. I don't actually have the words to explain how impactful this was. Read it anyway, especially if you've already fallen in love with literally anything else the McGuire has written.
araleith's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know what it is about Seanan's short novella standalone stuff that never seems to work for me.
kwugirl's review against another edition
2.0
Eh. Had a promising beginning, but then felt like an overly long short story that didn't have much of a point to it besides sort of setting up a mythology around ghosts and witches.