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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a tough one to rate. I was sad that I ended up settling on only 3 stars, as the story itself was quite good. My defenses went up a bit when the author began to put little flourishes in the writing directed at the reader–such as "look at how the f curls up like a leaf unfurling," commenting on the typography. It felt gimmicky and insincere, but I allowed myself to overlook it for a time. Then I began to be irked by the switch from the story itself to reading the book within a book–Ten Thousand Doors–something that annoys me whenever it is done in novels. However, again I was interested in the story, so I kept going. About halfway through the book I was really enjoying it, and even came to see why the author utilized the book within a book method. However, by the end I was back to being annoyed by both of these things more than I was enjoying it. Again, the story itself was really lovely. I just wish it was written without the affectation.
Loved this book. Loved the characters, the creativity and the unique world that Harrow created. This is a story worth telling and a story worth reading. The power of love, imagination and change.
While it starts out a little slow and a little confusing, the story arcs in The Ten Thousand Doors of January soon begin to interweave in a most unpredictable and satisfying way. The concept of hidden doors into other worlds is a familiar one to fans of fantasy and fairytales, but Alix Harrow puts her own spin on the tales with doors and their worlds to save from powerful enemies bent on their destruction. Several times I had a most pleasant “aha” moment as I discovered “connections” I had not seen coming. A fun, unpredictable summer read with twists and turns as unexpected as the ten thousand doors.
3.5 rounded down. Unique premise, but I didn’t feel very connected to the main character.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was an easy read with a very interesting premise. There are unique worlds adjacent to our own that can be reached through Doors. The setting of America at the turn of the 20th century is a poignant one, allowing for exploration of racial, gender, and social mores through speculative world building. The cast of characters is diverse, both as related to our own world (Italian, African, American) as well as related to the other worlds where skin color and features and powers are different to ours.
Readers align with the narrator/protagonist as she learns about the Doors, her origins, and her power. At first, this was an interesting perspective to inhabit, however as the book reached it's climax, I found that the stories of the other characters were actually much more interesting, and I would have liked to be placed in their perspective as narrators, as opposed to simply getting the overview of their experiences. Still, I was invested in the story and the people, though mostly I was invested in the safety of the dog. I did find the last third of the book pretty predictable.
Recommend for someone looking for an easy read with interesting, if slightly shallow, world building.
Readers align with the narrator/protagonist as she learns about the Doors, her origins, and her power. At first, this was an interesting perspective to inhabit, however as the book reached it's climax, I found that the stories of the other characters were actually much more interesting, and I would have liked to be placed in their perspective as narrators, as opposed to simply getting the overview of their experiences. Still, I was invested in the story and the people, though mostly I was invested in the safety of the dog. I did find the last third of the book pretty predictable.
Recommend for someone looking for an easy read with interesting, if slightly shallow, world building.
I respect a person who will take a bullet for their dog! Also this was a great story that explores a lot of different themes, especially the impacts of colonialism. I really enjoyed it!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This story is a mystical adventure of self-discovery, good vs. evil and family love.