Reviews

Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

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klp_reads's review against another edition

5.0

This absolutely did not suffer from second book syndrome! I loved Jack and Jill's story. It really helped explain their behaviors in the first book. I want more of Jack's story. Mad scientists are so interesting. I could do without Jill to be honest. What a horrible creature she turned in to.

I loved the spooky setting of the Moors. I wish there was a little more exploration of the village and the area surrounding the windmill.

I'll definitely be continuing on with this series. The books are so well written. 5 stars!

roeckitcody's review against another edition

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4.0

holy hell that was good

janeleng's review against another edition

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5.0

I finished up Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire this weekend, which is the second book in the Wayward Children series. I was hesitant to start this one since I thought that the first book in the series, Every Heart a Doorway, was only okay. Luckily, Down Among the Sticks and Bones succeeded for me in many of the ways that its predecessor did not. This was a 5 star read for me.

Down Among the Sticks and Bones tells the backstory of how the twins, Jack and Jill, first came by their door that led them to the Moors. You find out how they became such complete opposites of each other, as well as how they were sucked into an age old power-struggle between a mad scientist and a vampire.

The sexual orientation and mental health representation is what makes this book really shine for me. McGuire presents these as a given fact of life (both OCD and wlw), rather than a focal point of a plot. It’s genuine rather than performative, which is so refreshing to read.

Additionally, I think the trope of twins with opposite personalities could have been very tiresome, but McGuire handles it with such nuance and frankness. I could not get enough of these girls, and I can’t wait until the next book following their storyline gets published in 2020!