Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
Reviewed by: Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
Suggested Age: Teens, Adults
What is the book about?: The children in Mrs. West’s care have disappeared….and reappeared. They have traveled to magical worlds through doors that have mysteriously open before them. Nancy is one of these travelers. When she reappears in the real world years later, she is not her parents’ little girl any longer. They send her to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children to hopefully learn to readjust to reality. At the home, Nancy meets an interesting mix of characters, all of whom have survived journeys to magical realms. Nancy soon discovers that they all desperately seek to return to their portal worlds, though their doors may never open again. In the midst of adjusting to her peers as well as new surroundings, something horrifying starts to unfold that has everyone at the home on their toes.
My Review: At under 200 pages, Every Heart a Doorway is a fantasy and a murder mystery that will keep your attention until the end. It’s a great read for people who feel like they don’t fit in this world and accidentally find a place created just for them. I loved the characters and applaud McGuire for including elements of fantasy as well as horror, but also tackling issues of orientation and gender. One of the characters is trans, while another is asexual. I was a bit disappointed that the various worlds or characters were not explored in depth, but I believe this is saved for the next two novellas in the trilogy. I listened to the audiobook version of this novel and found it easy to follow. The narrator really captures Nancy’s voice and mood of McGuire’s writing.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Creepy, magical, and atmospheric
Give This a Try if You Like… Murder mysteries, genre blenders, Girl, Interrupted
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!