Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January
By: Alix E. Harrow

*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a transporting story. Literally, the main character, January, a young girl of mixed race, is transported by way of doors. She lives in the early 1900s, and a girl of her color is not acceptable to society. She lives in Locke Mansion where she feels like a display piece. Her father, a black man, also not acceptable, is frequently away on business for Mr. Locke. January falls upon a bit of something magical that allows her to be transported through all of these different doors. Maybe she will find answers about her heritage, or maybe there are secrets to reveal. The possibilities are endless. January is a compelling character with an independent spirit, plus intelligence and perseverance. She is likeable, and I did feel sympathetic for her situation and judgement from society. This story is definitely unique and obviously requires a suspension of disbelief. Magical realism, etc. is not what I usually read, so I stepped out to read this book. I enjoyed it, although, I was confused a couple of times or felt tired out of the story and had to take a break. Overall this is a well written unique adventure story with a strong heroine, and I definitely recommend reading it.

Just wow, people! This is simply a fantastical bit of storytelling which is filled to the brim with plot twists and intriguing characters. I was utterly fascinated with this world that Ms. Harrow has created. From those first few paragraphs until the final words on the final page, I was swept into January's life and subsequently was unable to put her story down! Let me attempt to describe to you why...

Firstly, there's the world-building. Ms. Harrow has created a complex world which requires some delving out. I learned never to assume anything about anything, there are always more possibilities than you may be imagining. And also one never can tell for sure who may be trustworthy and who isn't. I was constantly kept on my toes wondering just what may yet come in the next chapter. The details that we begin to uncover about who everyone truly is and how they truly fit into this world are slowly, tantalizingly revealed. There is so much going on underneath the surface that I think a reread or three will probably reveal even more details that I completely missed my first go round!

Then there are the characters. Most of which I liked, but they don't sit comfortably either. Oh no. These characters have depth and a fierceness about them that doesn't soften much. Even January herself has a few unexpected sharp corners. There were times I understood her and times I didn't. All the others pretty much had guaranteed sharpish places and so much that they weren't saying, either to January or to me. I'm not complaining about this, however! It meant I was always endeavoring to figure them out further. These aren't your typical warm and fuzzy type of people. They've seen things, they've experienced things, and those things have changed them forever.

For all the fantastical bits that enthralled me, there were other things that I didn't enjoy, sadly. The romance parts didn't really sit well with me. There are two central romances (both mostly subtle in the background) and while I never felt a connection to either couple, the one caused me to dislike the ending just a tad. I almost think I would have enjoyed it more had that romance not happened at all. I simply never saw enough true emotion going on to help me understand some of the choices made. But that's just my own personal qualm and one which may not bother someone else...

Overall, I was so thoroughly involved within this story that when I finally finished a few hours later, it felt like I hit real life with a jolt! :) There are so many wondrously written sentences that I kept finding another and another I had to stop and reread. Her lyrical way of writing means that Ms. Harrow is certainly an author I will keep an eye out for in the future. Her attention to detail and ability to withhold information while seeming not to withhold it at all is a skill that not many writers have. I was suitably impressed and look forward to rereading this one again!

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

January Scaller grew up as the ward of Mr. Locke, a collector of rare and unique artifacts. Instead of feeling the wealth and privilege of the world in which she resides, she always felt like one of her guardian’s curiosities. Part of his collection. January knows nothing of her mother and only sees her father on the rare occasion that he’s back from whatever adventure Mr. Locke sent him on in his need to acquire more.

January’s world is changed on the day she discovers a Door—not to be confused with a door mind you. Upon opening the Door, the world literally opens for her, but she quickly learns there are those who would close all the Doors forever. When she later discovers a book that unravels the mysteries of the Doors, January will set out on a quest to find what she’s lost and maybe something she’s yet to find.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a sprawling book. Simultaneously traversing land and countries, worlds and mythologies. It has an almost circular pattern of storytelling to it, as January discovers a book that seemingly describes the various possibilities of Doors, yet it also manages to tie into January’s own sense of self-discovery, then uses that same discovery to continue the momentum of the story moving forward.

I loved the idea of Doors as not just a threshold that one walks through, but something that can also be an event or a person. An object or place or whatever that can change and alter you, for better or worse, in an undeniable way. Alix Harrow does a great job of making this concept very easily accessible to the reader.

There’s a back and forth narrative going on throughout most of Ten Thousand Doors. First, is January’s own story, and second, once the book is discovered we get alternating chapters verbatim as though we were reading along with January. It’s an interesting writing technique and overall I liked it, but there were times that I’d get going in one narrative and the switch would pull me out too easily. Even further, I’d sometimes confuse what was happening with January with what she was reading in the book. Looking back, and based on events that occur, I think this was strategic planning on Alix Harrow’s part, but at the time, again, it was something that pulled me out of my reading trance.

But seriously, what a book to get yourself lost in. I’m writing this review almost right after finishing the book, and all I can think about is going back in, discovering new worlds. I mean isn’t that why we read in the first place, to be transported? If you’re looking for a story that knows the power of words and the transcendence of love, you’ve certainly found it with The Ten Thousand Doors of January.

I was a little apprehensive about this title because it’s been getting a lot of hype, but also since it is a portal fantasy I assumed that it would require a lot of world building for all of the different worlds. While the story didn’t travel to the many worlds that I expected it to and wanted it to, I still wound up absolutely loving this story. Right away I liked the way it was written. The story is told in first person from January’s point of view as she recounted events to the reader. While sometimes I feel like acknowledging the reader isn’t a great choice, in this story it was the perfect one.

The thing that I loved the most about The Ten Thousand Doors of January was that it felt entirely real to me. This story truly came to life for me and I could almost believe that it was true. In the story January finds a book titled The Ten Thousand Doors, which is partially a scholarly investigation into Doors that are portals to other worlds, and partially a story of two lovers traveling through Doors in attempts to find one another. The inclusion of The Ten Thousand Doors within this book added immensely to the world building, but also made the possibility of Doors feel incredibly real. I haven’t read a ton of magical realism titles, but after this one I really want to read more books in that genre because the fact that Doors felt so real made me love this book even more.

While I did hope for the plot to take me to many different worlds like Valhalla and Atlantis, and I was worried that there wouldn’t be good enough world building this book had me completely absorbed. While the story didn’t travel to lots of different worlds, the world building was still fantastic. Even though I had different hopes for the plot I absolutely loved where this book wound up going. While none of the plot twists really caught me off guard, I also couldn’t predict where the story was going to take me next. It was a magical journey that really pulled at my heart strings, but also showed me what it was like for darker skinned people in America in the early 1900’s.

Each one of the characters in this story was written well. In the beginning of the story when January got a dog who became her best friend I knew I was going to cherish this book. January wound up with friends who were fiercely loyal to her and couldn’t believe that people would want to be her friend and that they wouldn’t abandon her. She was easy to relate to even though I am quite different from her because the first person point of view conveyed her personality and thoughts very well. Even the villain of the story was multi-layered and interesting. I would love a spin off story about Jane though, because I really wanted to know so much more about her life. I would honestly love a spin off story about any one of the worlds that the Doors lead to.

I tried to reign in my expectations for this book, but there was really no need because it was beautiful and magical. This fierce story of hope, friendship and family was so well written and is one that I absolutely cherished. I am so grateful that I received an ARC and highly recommend that everyone gives this book the chance it deserves. I was surprised to find out that The Ten Thousand Doors of January was Alix E Harrow’s debut novel and am excited to check out her next book which has been pitched as “suffragists, but witches” and is set in an 1890’s alternate America where they fight to restore women’s magic. The idea sounds amazing and I can’t wait to read more books by Alix E Harrow.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this title, but all in all it was a really satisfying novel. reminded me of Seanan McGuire's Wayward children series which is probably the highest praise I can pass to a series.

Thank you for the chance to read this title!

January Scaller has grown up in a mansion filled with peculiar treasurers, being raised by Mr. Locke while her father is off collecting these treasures for him. January feels just like the curious artifacts, just as out of place as they are.

One day while rifling through the artifacts she finds a book that holds tales of other worlds, secret doors that connect them, love, and adventure. She has always had to behave and be a “good girl” living in Locke’s home. But one day her father never returns, and Locke has told her of his passing.

Locke has always raised her as his own daughter. Trying to deal with the grief, January finds her escape in the pages of the book she found and discovers the story is increasingly entwined with her own.

Such a whimsical story! I loved the concept of doors opening to other worlds, however, the first half of this novel was a struggle. It focuses primarily on the story January is reading which seems long and dragged out. I would have enjoyed it so much more if there was a little more excitement in the first half! At the fifty percent mark is exactly where it started to get exciting and moved almost double speed! The second half really made me like the novel a lot better. . I just wish there had been more attention grabbing moments to keep me as a reader invested the whole way through.

Thanks so much to @redhookbooks / @netgalleyfor the advanced copy for an honest review! This published yesterday, or as I’m sure you have seen as an early release for YA BOTM!

I recieved this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In The Ten Thousand Doors of January, the eponymous heroine (who is biracial, something I'm not sure I've seen mentioned) lives as the ward of a rich white man as her father wanders the world in his employ. As January grows up she consiers the choice between a safe status quo and the infinite possiilities of explortion.
It may feel obvious to say that The Ten Thousand Doors of January is for fans of Seanan McGuire's Every Heart a Doorway, but it is true. However, the link is more than just the similarity of doors; the writen voice also speaks to those who may suspect that there is a world where they Should be, rather than where they are.
An extended version of this review was posted at Word of the Nerd.

3.5

Please proceed with caution, as this is an unfavorable review.

This is a story within a story. A story of a girl named January Scaller, whose father, Julian, was a field agent to a wealthy man who collected artifacts from all over the world. In return, the father's employer, 'Mr. William Cornelius Locke , self-made not-quite-billionaire', 'chairman of the New England Archaeological Society', took her under his wing, and hired nursemaids to take care of her.

The story within this story is the ten thousand Doors. One day, when January was running away from a busy street, she found a Door in an overgrown hayfield. And stepping into this Door, she was led into another world, which caught her breath and piqued her curiosity. But it all ended for her when Mr Locke, who wasn't very happy, found her and took her back to their hotel. Life was a bore and a chore until the day she turned 17; the day she found a book titled 'The Ten Thousand Doors'.

To all the fans of this book, please don't hate this reader. I tried really hard to enjoy this book, but only to find it so-so overall.

Pros first.

I loved the idea behind it - of doors and stories leading you to different worlds and beyond.

January is a great character. We watch her grow and mature from a girl of 7 to a young lady of 17, and, towards the end, became more certain of herself and her powers. (Sin)Bad, her dog, was great company too.

World-building was definitely her strength. I loved Arcadia and the City of Nin, so much so I wanted more of Arcadia and to get to know residents like Ms Molly Neptune and Solomon better.

I loved the idea behind it - of doors and stories leading you to different worlds and beyond.

Besides love and family, the author also explored themes like racism, discrimination, and oppression during between the Civil War and the First World War.

Now, the not so good parts.

I honestly found the lush imageries and description overly done, slowing down the pace. And January's reflections on being left behind by her dad, feeling lonely and pressured to having to behave around Mr Locke, I find it just too repetitive.

It also took a long while to get to the action of the story. The story only picked up when I was more than half way through. I honestly almost didn't finish it if not for the rave reviews.

And I find it so hard to connect to the characters. I liked January but not enough to feel attached. Julian and Adelaide didn't feel fully fleshed out too.

So yes, the writing is beautiful, and the author is talented for sure. But I find that the novel needed more editing and tightening.

I really wish I could give this a five star review and that I had enjoyed this book as much as the others. But this was just a so-so read for me. Gorgeous cover though!

Thank you Netgalley and Redhook Books for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Already familiar with Harrow's 'A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies' from the 2019's Best Short Story list for the Hugo Awards, I fully expected to be punched in the heart with yearning. Much like Seanan McGuire, Harrow writes that fervent need to explore other worlds and rattle at strange doors. Readers, after finishing, might find themselves looking at doorways differently, a wistful feeling deep inside for an adventure.

'The Ten Thousand Doors of January' does this and more,

Living in a time of great scientific and cultural progress, January finds a strange book by a ruined door. As she grows and struggles with the weight of the secrets her father and his boss keep from her, she finds herself reading the book that has a story so unusual, so familiar, that maybe, just maybe... And then she opens a door. With her father's past colliding with her present, she joins forces with her tutor and the local grocer's son to finish the tale before it's too late. Not all doors can stay open forever.

A spectacular debut meant to bruise your heart, fans of McGuire's Wayward Children series will be itching to read this portal fantasy.

I love portal fantasies. Hearing this compared to every heart a doorway led me to this book. It was a bit of struggle getting into this at first but once I reached the middle I was enjoying this a lot more. I do wish that there was more of the other worlds. I feel like we got a glimpse of them but never truly got to experince them and that was a shame. I did really love hearing about them but I would have loved to experience them a little more. All in all this was enjoyable and I’m glad I read it

This is the kind of book that makes you sit back in wonder and contemplate the intricacy and detail long after you've finished. It's a book within a book, a love story about the power of the written word and their ability to reshape reality. Through the years exploring my love of reading, I have never read a story quite like this one. Some might say it's odd or bizarre, but it's also absolutely brilliant. What this book achieves in less than 400 pages is far greater than many hefty epic fantasies. Not a moment or word is put to waste. It condenses this mysterious plot with so much symbolism and heart that it's near to bursting. At times you feel as if you've been aimlessly wandering down a windy path in search of your destination. Lost. You're given tiny breadcrumbs of clues to follow and as you collect them, the delicate layers fall in order, everything realigns into something solid, and you're astounded at what was in front of you all along.

This is a portal fantasy about alternate worlds with fantastical people and creatures, limitless possibilities and ideas. Just as those worlds are constantly reshaping, they can leak into ours bringing knowledge and evolution. January Scaller found one of these very doors when she was a child, but it was ruthlessly slammed shut before she could start to believe.

Once a bright and curious girl filled with rebellion, her spirit has been caged at Locke House by her father's employer. Cornelius Locke is the chairman of the New England Archaeological Society, a club for wealthy antique/artifact collectors. While her father is away finding Locke's treasures, January has been shaped into a lonely girl who is seen but rarely heard. She's timid, obedient, and seething with anger that she can't express. She feels abandoned and forgotten by her father, and out of place in the affluent circles her guardian is a part of.

The book alternates between her first person narrative from January's perspective and chapters of her leather bound book The Ten Thousand Doors. Within this book is the story of Adelade (Ade) Lawson and Yule Ian Scholar, two separated soulmates who are trying to find their way back to each other. It isn't until around chapter three of this book that the reader is given the information that Yule has compiled as a scholar in his world pertaining to portal doors. You also learn about his world of The Written, word workers, and how this bleeds into January's story.

As January becomes a young woman she starts to question everything she's been told to believe after her father suddenly goes missing. With her faithful dog, Bad, and her friends Samuel and Jane on her side they take a journey to find answers. It becomes an adventure filled with harrowing escapes, dangerous secrets, and enemies hiding in plain sight. You really have to take your time with this one and examine it from every angle. The written, implied and everything in between. I can't go any further into detail about the plot because it needs to be revealed in the way it was intended for the reader. I wouldn't want to let any magic beyond the threshold escape before it was time to be found.

The author's attention to historical detail and her stunning lyrical style of writing is so skilled that I never would have guessed she was a debut author. She set the scene accurately and exquisitely, making you feel as if you're experiencing it rather than observing. I have nothing similar to compare this to, which is one of the biggest compliments a seasoned reader can give. There isn't a cliché to be found in The Ten Thousand Doors of January. It stirs your curiosity, imagination, and speaks to a book lover's heart. I couldn't have asked for more.

In all honesty, when I read the synopsis for The Ten Thousand Doors of January, I naturally though of the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire. Which isn’t a bad thing considering I love everything about that series especially the doors. I can’t even begin to tell you the amount of times I’ve thought about the door that would open for me. Therefore, I knew that The Ten Thousand Doors of January and I were a match made in book heaven. Which I imagine book heaven is similar to a cloudy area in the sky with Mark Twain, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Charles Dickens (and the likes) picking out stories specific to each readers soul…..(yeah, clearly I like fiction). Anyways, I’m going to provide you with a list of reasons to check out this book.

If you like the unknown, check out this book. I mean who doesn’t love the idea of opening a door to a world that you couldn’t even dream up in the wildest of dreams.

Magical realism. This might be my favorite type of magic. Magic that is completely unexplainable. Yet there has to be some explanation. And there is. It is called Magical Realism. Just the term or genre classification is enough to get me interested.

The characters. They are versatile. They are resilient. They understand what they believe in. And they will do whatever it takes to achieve what they want. In some instances, they will do rotten things and other instances they do wonderful things. It all adds to the overall power of the story. But most of all watch out for the pesky dog. I love nothing more than a ferocious beast that reminds me of my own dog.

Villains. There is always a bad guy (or girl) in a story. These villains are sneaky and slimy. And quite unique. They push their views on everyone and use their wealth to do it. Hardly a new idea but a flawless one all the same.

And those are only the big ideas. Oh how there are so many little points that make this whole story enjoyable.

Overall, Harrow completed a well rounded adventure. She takes you on a ride full of magic, love, sadness and life. If you enjoy any of those things, I will suggest that you gives this book a shot. I think few will be disappointed in what they find.

Thank you NetGalley and Redbook Books for a copy of this novel.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January is one of those books that I was entranced by from the moment I saw it so many months ago. The cover, the synopsis, the air of magic the permeated it... everything called out to me. I was so excited to read this book and I'm pleased to say that it turned out to be just as beautiful as I'd hoped, if not more. If you're a lover of stories and ideas and imagination (which, I think it's fair to say that most of us readers are), then this book is for you. This is one of those books where it's obvious that it's been written by a lover of books for lovers of books, while at the same time acts as a love letter to those very books.

The story is told mainly from January's perspective, though the first three-quarters or so also feature excerpts from a book that January finds in the beginning of the story. I was immediately drawn to January's writing style, though I did struggle at first with the second narrative that we get. I can't really put my finger on why, as I thoroughly enjoyed the story the second narrative told, but for those first few chapters I kept finding myself distracted before I was able to become full immersed. However, once I finally did fall into this second narrative, I fell hard.

January is exactly the sort of character that I can't help but fall in love with. She has a difficult time growing up with only her father--who, incidentally, is almost always off traveling around the world--and she doesn't get a chance to really be a kid and feel the constant presence of a loving parent. She has Mr. Locke, her father's boss who takes care of her while he's away and treats her as his ward, but it's still a tenuous relationship at times that undergoes a lot of tribulations throughout as January grows up. She's intelligent and observant and is bursting with potential for greatness, but she spends a lot of her early life being taught to control herself and not to speak out. I loved watching her grow into her personality and discover who she is, as well as how she learns to develop her own voice--and a strong one at that. I actually found it rather inspirational for those of us who have also grown up as the more soft-spoken and passive type by showing how it is possible still to learn to be more confident and to stand up for what we believe in.

What most drew me to this book, however, was of course the doors themselves. The limitless possibility of doors that lead to anywhere and everywhere is one of the most thrilling and awe-inspiring feelings that stories can create and it filled my imagination with so much adventure and excitement. Harrow's creativity truly soars and I loved exploring this world with her characters. My only complaint (if you could even call it that) is that I wish we had gotten to explore more of these doors and seen what worlds lay behind them. Perhaps Harrow will one day write another story in this world?

The idea of escapism is one of the biggest themes of this book and it's one that I think will resonate the most with readers. Many of us read for a variety of different reasons, but I think it's safe to say that almost everyone has picked up a book with the goal or hope to escape into it and forget the troubles of their own lives. This is something that January regularly does and that essentially saves her from her everyday life and that provides such a strong avenue for connection with her. Harrow also tackles some themes relating to race and feeling lost in your own world and skin that I thought were remarkably well done and really stand out as such an important and prominent part of this story.

Lastly, the way in which Harrow deftly weaves together all the different threads and plotlines is truly magical and is the sort of thing that left me--and, I assume, all other readers--perfectly satisfied and a little in awe of how it all came together.

Overall, I've given The Ten Thousand Doors of January five stars! Despite the shaky start that I think was entirely on me, I really grew to love the characters, the magic, and the sheer possibility that acts as a constant presence.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

For a long time you couldn't get a portal fantasy for love nor money, most particularly not for money, as I'm pretty sure the fanfic ones were out there for love. But for several years, portal fantasies were out of fashion for adults. They seem to have come back in the last few years, but in a self-aware, self-examining iteration.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January is one instantiation of that. It is full of portals--the title is no exaggeration--but almost all the action takes place in this world, or a version of it. January Scaller has spent her entire childhood puzzling over various mysteries of her existence--when her father will make one of his brief returns from his assorted travels, for example, or what happened with the mysterious and magical door she found in Tennessee as a child, what the coin she picked up beyond it meant. The other people she meets are her guardian's house are varied in age, race, expertise, but none of them seems ready to answer her questions.

And then as January comes closer to coming of age, everything seems to happen all at once. Her guardian tells her that her father is dead, that she must adjust to a new role in the world--and all of the things that she has hoped and known about her guardian shift out from under her. The world opens up new possibilities, many of them terrifying--many of them worlds themselves. And her own power and control are simultaneously beyond what she dreamed and woefully inadequate for the task at hand.

So it's a good thing she's made some loyal friends along the way.

Thank you to NetGAlley for allowing me to read this ARC. It was an interesting read. The author breaks the fourth wall right from the beginning, talking straight to the reader. The writing is beautiful and the story is magical. I highly recommend it to anyone who as a deep love for stories that involve portals and far off places.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a beautifully written and enchanting tale that follows the life of January Scaller, a mixed-race child of unknown origins who is the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke. January knows that she doesn’t fit into Mr. Locke’s world since people who are anything but white in the 1900s are considered inferior. She knows that she’s just another collector’s item to be gawked at in the Locke mansion.

With no mother and her father continually absent on business travels on Mr. Locke’s behalf, January yearns for a life outside of Locke mansion. Everything changes for January when she discovers a book about Doors that lead to other worlds. Behind these doors awaits both adventure and danger, as well as the secrets to her past and family. Behind these doors, she may finally understand where and why she belongs.

As far as characters go, I absolutely loved January because of her independence and resilience. She refuses to be tamed or to play into the hands of a society that clearly did not accept her father for his blackness. January’s dog, Bad, who was gifted to her by Samuel was also an incredible sidekick. Bad was January’s protector and made it so that no one could threaten January otherwise the person would endure quite the attack.

Another facet of this story that I was really impressed with was the story within a story narrative. The story of January and the story of Adelaide and Julian were perfectly executed in parallel as well as when the stories converged with several surprises along the way.

Overall, Alix Harrow spins a beautifully illustrious tale with this story. If you love stories that have rich descriptions and prose and a fantasy world sprinkled with magical realism then you definitely want to pick this one up.

Thank you to Orbit Books for gifting me a finished copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

There is something about this title that drew me in the first time I saw it. It’s enchanting, mysterious, and inviting. I started wondering where the door came from or where it takes the characters once they go through it. What I didn’t have to wonder for too long is what color it is because this story begins with The Blue Door.

Thoughts:

In the first chapter we meet January at age seven. There is something rather enchanting and fun about the writing in the first chapter and you can even sense her seven-ness through it. It is at this age when she discovers her first Door. But before we find out about the door January explains to the reader how there are doors and then there are Doors and that this was clearly a Door. It is in the early 1900s and while her father is hunting for precious relics she lives with his boss, Mr. Locke. Mr. Locke would like her to be a proper little girl, but she struggles so much with that. She briefly discovers the magic of a new world through a door before she is called back to the one she knows. However, this nonsense about magical Doors does not fit with Mr. Locke and for the next 10 years he does what he needs to, to ensure she feels as if she is confined in a cage.

Although January tries very hard to be the perfect person Mr. Locke wishes her to be, she is growing more and more tired of trying fit into a mold that isn’t for her. She wants freedom and a life, which she has known very little of. This freedom starts slowly when her father introduces her to Jane to act as a companion. She also has a dog and someone her age that cares for her, but even those can both feel at times as if they can easily be taken from her.

Within The Ten Thousand Doors of January is another book that alternates between January’s story for about six chapters before it reaches its own conclusion. The story within is ‘…a Comparative Study of Passages, Portals, an Entryways…’, but mostly has the feeling of someone writing a story about someone they know – like a journal, but the journaling of someone else’s life.

Going in, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I initially suspected there might be some fantastical or whimsical element to it – after all, we are talking about 10,000 Doors. However, the story is much less about either of these than about a girl’s fight for freedom and peace and a fight for family and those you care about.

All in all, I liked this story very much. And although I didn’t love it, I can definitely recommend it for anyone to try because it is a beautifully written story.

Rating: 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Redhook Books for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Title: The Ten Thousand Doors of January
Author: Alix E. Harrow
Release Date: 9/10/2019
Review Date: 9/9/2019

In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place When she finds a strange book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger, January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.

Sometimes, when I start a new book something about the writing lets me know almost immediately that I am going to enjoy it, and this book did just that. It dragged me in from page one and every time I picked it up I got sucked back in. The duel stories throughout the book had me hooked. Going back and forth between the story of January and the book The Ten Thousand Doors that she finds in an old trunk was a rather interesting ride. As each story progressed and they entwined with each other and the pieces fell into place I couldn't stop reading. I did at times get a bit frustrated with all of the obstacles and thought the book could have been shorter, but that is my only complaint. Other than that it will probably end up on my top ten list at the end of the year.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for a review copy.

Listen I do not possess the words or writing abilities to even REMOTELY convey how ABSOLUTELY PERFECT this book is! It is so so gorgeous and so well written. I was left with a strong need to dive right back into this world, or worlds would be more accurate. January's story is so sad, yet hopeful and full of wonders. There was a perfect balance between the "magic doors" and regular life. The villains were perfectly villainous in the sense that seemed perfectly nice. This is like a fantasy/historical fiction/epic love story/magic door all rolled into one. And yes I think magic door should be its own genre. Before the rambling becomes non sensical, I am just going to reiterate how magical, gorgeous and perfect this book is. The last book that left me feeling this was was The Night Circus, so thank you for the dreams and I can't wait for more.

I requested an early copy of this book due to the cover (I mean, really!) but the writing, the story, the main character blew me away! This is one of my favorite books of the year. January is a young, lonely, semi-orphan, stuck with a rich old man as her guardian while her father explores the world, ostensibly looking for treasures. However, once January begins to read the secret book of his life, she starts to understand the magic portals that lead to adventures, secret lives, and danger. This author can seriously WRITE, and gives her main character a sassy authentic voice to tell her story. January is oh so human, making mistakes like many teenage girls, yet she surrounds herself with a heroic supporting cast. And the fact that January uses books to escape - isn't that what we all do when we bury ourselves in a book?? I could not put this book down. Alix Harrow transported me to worlds of magic, and swept me away from my mundane life. Thanks to Net Galley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.