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A review by ninegladiolus
Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire
adventurous
mysterious
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
4.5
Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire is the seventh novella in the beloved Wayward Children series. At this point, I know I’m going to at least enjoy the stories in this series, so it’s less of a question of whether I’m going to like it and rather how much I’m going to like it. Even though this novella feels like the start of a new arc in the universe and leaves us with some unanswered questions, after some reflection, I think it’s one of my favourites next to the Down Among the Sticks and Bones and In an Absent Dream.
This novella follows mermaid Cora as she tries to deal with her severe trauma from her recent adventure in the Moors. In addition to debilitating nightmares, the events in the Moors have stolen what comfort she used to take from the water and sea—from the place was her home both before her door and after. Eventually, Cora makes the choice to transfer from the Home for Wayward Children to the Whitethorn Institute, a school with a reputation spoken of only in hushed whispers and muted fear.
In addition to my personal love of merfolk/sea creatures/the ocean, which certainly influenced my enjoyment, Cora is such an outstanding character and has become one of my favourites through this novella. From unflinching and at times raw navigation of fatphobia, to the unpacking of how deeply it hurts us when our safest place and identity no longer is safe at all, to taking agency of both the great and terrible parts of our stories, this novella (like many of the others) has an emotional depth that packs a punch of vulnerability. We also see some familiar faces along with the new characters, some of whom I dearly hope to see again in future books.
Where the Drowned Girls Go reminded me of why I love this series as a whole so much even if individual entries in it fluctuate; it’s a masterclass in depicting young girls and women in such a multifaceted, complex way, from sharp teeth to aching tenderness and everything in between. In a genre—and world—that belittles and dismisses the feminine, McGuire handily offers a refreshing, fantastical-yet-oh-so-human alternative in the stories of Cora and all the other protagonists. This series will continue to be a favourite and a go-to recommendation for me for years to come.
Thank you to Tordotcom and NetGalley for an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
This novella follows mermaid Cora as she tries to deal with her severe trauma from her recent adventure in the Moors. In addition to debilitating nightmares, the events in the Moors have stolen what comfort she used to take from the water and sea—from the place was her home both before her door and after. Eventually, Cora makes the choice to transfer from the Home for Wayward Children to the Whitethorn Institute, a school with a reputation spoken of only in hushed whispers and muted fear.
In addition to my personal love of merfolk/sea creatures/the ocean, which certainly influenced my enjoyment, Cora is such an outstanding character and has become one of my favourites through this novella. From unflinching and at times raw navigation of fatphobia, to the unpacking of how deeply it hurts us when our safest place and identity no longer is safe at all, to taking agency of both the great and terrible parts of our stories, this novella (like many of the others) has an emotional depth that packs a punch of vulnerability. We also see some familiar faces along with the new characters, some of whom I dearly hope to see again in future books.
Where the Drowned Girls Go reminded me of why I love this series as a whole so much even if individual entries in it fluctuate; it’s a masterclass in depicting young girls and women in such a multifaceted, complex way, from sharp teeth to aching tenderness and everything in between. In a genre—and world—that belittles and dismisses the feminine, McGuire handily offers a refreshing, fantastical-yet-oh-so-human alternative in the stories of Cora and all the other protagonists. This series will continue to be a favourite and a go-to recommendation for me for years to come.
Thank you to Tordotcom and NetGalley for an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.