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

adventurous dark inspiring 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? No

4.5

Vague spoilers ahead, not enough to warrant spoiler tags (*I* think, but maybe you think they would so heres a warning) on the themes in this book

The first couple chapters from January's POV were kinda hard to get through, not because the writing was bad but bc of the colonialism, racism, and imperialism that January herself subscribes to at times. Of course that's important for character development and it's an accurate portrayal of the times but it still was rough at times

(Below are some spoilers on plot points so I do use the tags)

I think if I was younger I would have liked this less, back then I was used to
large story arcs with one big bad or evil entity with a final showdown
which this book doesn't have. Instead the ending is
a relatively small one, where there are small and mid-level bosses January overcomes. The final boss being her pseudo-father and caretaker
and i think i can appreciate that a lot more because of how it is a really great representation of these rich white men thinking they're at the top of the food chain and being an authority over things when really nature
the doors opening and closing 
doesn't really notice and will always balance out.
Locke and his group trying to put rules to how magic works
goes about as well as California trying to build a sea in the desert 
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