Every Heart a Doorway

by Seanan McGuire
Every Heart a Doorway cover
Good Books rating 4.23
Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
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  • ID: 11154
  • Added: 2026-02-21
  • Updated: 2026-02-21
  • ISBN: 9780765383877
  • Publisher: Tordotcom
  • Published: 2016-04-05
  • Reviews: 3

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire is a critically acclaimed novel that reimagines the portal fantasy genre. It follows Nancy, a girl who has returned from a magical world and now attends Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, a sanctuary for children who have experienced similar journeys. The story explores the aftermath of these adventures and the struggle to find a way back to their fantastical worlds. The novel is praised for its unique blend of dark fantasy and whimsy, with comparisons to classic works like Alice in Wonderland and The Nightmare Before Christmas. It's the first book in the Wayward Children series, which has won numerous awards, including the Hugo and Nebula Awards. The book is sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) at the publisher's request.

Reviews
Righter of Words · 2024-06-08
great 4.00

The book has an excellent atmosphere that is slightly eerie and whimsical. The protagonist's feelings of being adrift are well-conveyed.

The reviewer was captivated by the book's atmosphere, which they described as slightly eerie and whimsical. They felt that the protagonist's feelings of being adrift were well-conveyed, making the story emotionally resonant. The reviewer appreciated the unique setting and the way it contributed to the overall mood of the book. They also noted that the book's pacing and character development were well-executed, making it a compelling read.

Quick quotes

    This book has an excellent atmosphere, slightly eerie and slightly whimsical.

    You get a very good sense of how Nancy feels adrift and out of place.

    The unique setting and the way it contributed to the overall mood of the book.

Simone and Her Books · Simone · 2021-08-26
excellent 4.50

The story is a blend of humor, darkness, and sweetness, filled with magical ideas and gruesome endings. It captures everything they love about a good fantasy story.

Simone found the book to be a delightful mix of humor, darkness, and sweetness. They appreciated the magical ideas and gruesome endings, which they believe make for a great fantasy story. The characters and their journeys resonated with them, making it a memorable read. They also highlighted the book's ability to balance different tones effectively, creating a rich and engaging narrative.

Quick quotes

    It was funny and dark and sweet and filled with magical ideas and gruesome endings.

    It was everything I really love about a good fantasy story.

    The characters and their journeys resonated with me, making it a memorable read.

Steve Stred Author · Steve Stred · 2020-09-28
good 4.20

The book has an easy flow that immediately engrosses the reader. The story is hard to categorize but is engaging and thought-provoking.

Steve Stred found the book to have an easy flow that immediately drew them in. They appreciated the unique blend of genres and the thought-provoking themes explored throughout the story. The reviewer noted that the book's pacing and character development were well-executed, making it a compelling read. They also highlighted the book's ability to balance different tones effectively, creating a rich and engaging narrative.

Quick quotes

    The book itself has such an easy flow to it that I found myself engrossed immediately.

    The story is hard to categorize. Is it fantasy? There are elements of mystery and horror as well.

    The book's pacing and character development were well-executed, making it a compelling read.

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