A review by lue_moon
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense 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

5.0

This book started a bit slower for me (a lot of exposition), but once I got into it I loved it (and the exposition heavy beginning was worth it for the storytelling). The buildup of the world(s) and the story I felt worked really well. The fantasy/historical fiction juxtaposition felt like it melded together much better than other attempts I've read. I loved the growth in the characters, the elements of story within story, and of course the Doors and the sense of magic and adventure surrounding them. 

It also wove in many darker/more difficult themes which I felt were handled really well.  (Because I had to skip ahead like 90 pages to find out before I continued: Bad
survived and was okay, if a little worse for wear
)

Ultimately felt like a really unique story and I loved the writing. Excellent main and side characters, whom I'd love to continue reading about, together or on their own.

I hope you will find the cracks in the world and wedge them wider, so the light of other suns shines through; I hope you will keep the world unruly, messy, full of strange magics; I hope you will run through every open Door and tell stories when you return.
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