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A review by feyley
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
4.0
After the first book in the series, it felt a little odd to go back to tell Jack and Jill's story. Especially since we already knew quite a bit of what happened, this book just provided details to their backstory and explained how they ended up becoming the people they were in Every Heart a Doorway. Seeing Jack and Jill at the beginning of their adventure through their door was so peculiar. They had been forced into certain roles by their parents, Jacqueline was the feminine one and Jillian was the tomboy. That is how their parents determined they were to behave and they were given no choice in the matter. Given what we know from Every Heart a Doorway, it's very obvious that something happened in the Moors (the world they went to) to change things for them.
Following Jack and Jill as they morphed into different people than their parents set them out to be was fascinating. I already knew the outcome but it was interesting to see how seamlessly they shed their old archetypes to fit into these knew roles expected of them. This book made me severely dislike Jill as she became more and more like her Master, there was so little to like about her personality. Jack was interesting to me. Her position in the Moors was so much more difficult, she had to learn so much after years of being told she was only meant to be the pretty one. Somehow, she created a life for herself in the Moors and settled herself in without losing her humanity in a wicked world. I can't say the same for Jill.
The events that led them to be cast of their world and forced back to their original home were heartbreaking. Even though I had an idea of what was coming, it was still sad to read what Jack was forced to go through at the hands of her sister. This book is an excellent example of the difference between nature and nurture. Two twins, raised in the same home and then split as preteens. One lived the ideal life, pampered in a castle and became the wicked one. The other was forced to work for her living, doing things that disgusted others, and she is the one who came out kind and loving. All because they had completely different mentors. In addition to showing nature versus nurture, it definitely shows the reader not to judge a book by its cover. Though this one does have a gorgeous one.
As with the Every Heart a Doorway, I still highly recommend this one. I almost wish this had been placed as a prequel to the first book, I think it would work better in that regard. I don't feel that this book spoils anything of the events in Every Heart a Doorway, aside from showing more of the twins' personalities instead of what part of themselves they chose to show to the other students. That being said, I obviously intend to continue with the series. I'm curious about the other students and the worlds they have ventured to. I recommend listening to this series on audiobook if you can, the narration is fantastic.
Following Jack and Jill as they morphed into different people than their parents set them out to be was fascinating. I already knew the outcome but it was interesting to see how seamlessly they shed their old archetypes to fit into these knew roles expected of them. This book made me severely dislike Jill as she became more and more like her Master, there was so little to like about her personality. Jack was interesting to me. Her position in the Moors was so much more difficult, she had to learn so much after years of being told she was only meant to be the pretty one. Somehow, she created a life for herself in the Moors and settled herself in without losing her humanity in a wicked world. I can't say the same for Jill.
The events that led them to be cast of their world and forced back to their original home were heartbreaking. Even though I had an idea of what was coming, it was still sad to read what Jack was forced to go through at the hands of her sister. This book is an excellent example of the difference between nature and nurture. Two twins, raised in the same home and then split as preteens. One lived the ideal life, pampered in a castle and became the wicked one. The other was forced to work for her living, doing things that disgusted others, and she is the one who came out kind and loving. All because they had completely different mentors. In addition to showing nature versus nurture, it definitely shows the reader not to judge a book by its cover. Though this one does have a gorgeous one.
As with the Every Heart a Doorway, I still highly recommend this one. I almost wish this had been placed as a prequel to the first book, I think it would work better in that regard. I don't feel that this book spoils anything of the events in Every Heart a Doorway, aside from showing more of the twins' personalities instead of what part of themselves they chose to show to the other students. That being said, I obviously intend to continue with the series. I'm curious about the other students and the worlds they have ventured to. I recommend listening to this series on audiobook if you can, the narration is fantastic.