Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire [Book #1]

Content Tags: Murder, Fantasy, Trauma, LGBTQIA+, Transphobia, Disordered Eating*

Description from Storygraph:

Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children

No Solicitations

No Visitors

No Quests

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.

But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.

No matter the cost.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Welcome to the world of Wayward Children!

In the world of the Wayward Children series and Every Heart a Doorway, there are certain children who find doors or other entryways into other realms of Logic or Nonsense, Wickedness or Virtue, Rainbows and Color and Unicorns or Underworlds and Monsters and Death... among others. And when these children return or are sent back to their original worlds, they don't always adapt back to "normal" as their parents and family might wish they would. In those cases, they are sent to boarding schools like Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children.

This story follows Nancy, the newest student at Eleanor West's boarding school, and introduces a few other children (and the two adults) at the school. This book not only is a story in and of itself, but it also lays the foundation for the other books in the series.

This was a reread since I last read it in January 2019 and am finally getting around to reading the other books in the series. I remembered absolutely 0% of this book, which is unsurprising because my memory is traaaaaaaash, so I got to go through the mystery of it all over again. I guess 0% isn't exactly accurate or fair. I did remember the foundation of the doorways, but beyond that I remembered basically nothing. (Thanks, brain!) 

I absolutely was suspicious of the wrong person and feel very silly because after getting to the end it was so damn obvious. But I feel like that's the sign of good whodunit writing that even when it should be obvious it still quite isn't. And I really appreciate when a book doesn't feel totally predictable and perfunctory. This book is anything but perfunctory. It is weird - as are the best things in life!

I thoroughly enjoyed this very unique structure and storytelling approach. And bonus points for the inclusion of an asexual character, which doesn't happen enough and made me feel very seen.

*Disordered Eating is included in that Nancy's character returned from a world with minimal movement and so she does not eat much to sustain herself. Her eating habits are discussed a couple of times and for anyone sensitive to discussion of food and food restrictions it may be a trigger.

Book Reflection Wrap-up:

Would you want to read another book by this author?

For sure. Obviously I just read two of them in twice as many days. And I plan to read the rest of the series. I have two more that were already on my TBR from 2019 and reserved the remaining four from my library.

Did you reread any passages? If so, which ones?

Technically, I reread every single passage... lol But also, I reread quite a few passages to my husband because they were hilariously dark. I love Jack's personality so much. One example passage: "Honestly, I don't blame them for thinking I could be a killer. I blame them for thinking I would have waited this long."