CW: interphobia, bullying, kidnapping

I've seen this described as "Narnia-esque" and I completely agree. It was magical and a good place to start if you're unfamiliar with the series/world. I would still recommend picking it up from the beginning though.

It was refreshing to see an intersex main character have an adventure that didn't fully revolve around her identity. The beginning did have a lot of discussion and there were some scenes that could be triggering so please tread cautiously.

It took me TWO WEEKS to read this 174 page book because I just couldn't get into it. I've been feeling slump-y in general, but this just wasn't working for me. The introduction dragged on forever and took SO long to get to the door.

Something is missing but I can't put my finger on it. I'm hoping that a re-read when I'm in the right mindset will do the trick.

One of my top three favorite reads of 2020, and maybe the best Wayward Children book so far, although I know those are fighting words...I've been told this one is for former horse girls, which I was NOT, so I think that says something too. It's a magical little book, a fast read, but also a poignant one, with an intersex lead, that isn't about traumatic sex or medical intervention or learning to love your body. No, it's about centaurs and unicorns and bullying and being heroic. I loved every page (though the beginning part, set in the real world, is so real, and so hard, it makes me wonder why we all bother).

This was so much fun! Definitely one of my favorites of the series. McGuire’s world building is always amazing, but I just really, really loved this world in particular. Such a wonderful, small, self-contained story that was thoroughly satisfying to read but left me wanting more stories set in that same world, and that’s a feeling I wish more books gave me. This series is just fantastic, never gets boring, and I love recommending it!

Across the Green Grass Fields is the sixth installment of McGuire's Wayward Children series, touted as being a jumping off point for readers new to the series. I think perhaps this is why I felt so underwhelmed by it in the end -- the novel follows the same basic set up as many of the others, where a child has a difficult time at home, then comes across a door and enters another world that seems perfect for them, only to wind up being sent back to their original world. As someone who has read the entire series, it just felt like taking a step back in how the stories have progressed from the first novel which introduced us to that set up.

Usually I find McGuire's imagination and creativity enviable, but here it fell flat for me. Maybe it's because I never went through a horse phase as a kid -- I think the closest I came was watching The Saddle Club on TV and maybe reading a few of the books -- but McGuire's worldbuilding was thin here. Regan spends most of her time hidden away by her centaur family, which is full of characters that are likable, but that causes the world to feel small. There's a bit of worldbuilding at the end but it's rushed, as is the third act of the novel. Regan doesn't get to explore the Hooflands, so it doesn't feel lived in.

I do however like that there was representation of intersex people in this novel. This is still one of my favorite series and I'll read whatever McGuire writes for it. Across the Green Grass Fields just isn't my favorite of the series, unfortunately.

Despite very little in her novels being actually “comfortable”, Seanan McGuire has been something of a comfort read for me the past few years as I have practically devoured nearly everything she has written. I’m still catching up on a few things (Boneyards, Indexing, her short stories), but I have straight up mainlined her longer fiction. It’s just that I feel better having read one of McGuire’s novels, which is something that I can say about any number of writers, but reading most of those other writers does not often create in me the desire to read ten more of their books in a row - but that's exactly how I feel about Seanan McGuire.

There is a certain expectation of style and - if we’re talking October Daye or Incryptid - blood, mysteries, and the expansion of her worldbuilding. McGuire's books are damned delights. Heartbreak is not uncommon (often mine), especially in her Wayward Children series, of which Across the Green Grass Fields is the sixth.

Across the Green Grass Fields is a story of found family, which is not unusual for Seanan McGuire. Despite having loving and accepting parents, which is somewhat unusual for this series, Regan still finds herself estranged from her life. Regan is intersex, and disclosing that to someone she thought of as a friend caused everything to fall apart. When Regan goes through the door she is sure, and that brings her to the hooflands, a world of equines and destiny. There Regan finds abiding friendship and, naturally, threats to her wellbeing. Across the Green Grass Fields is not a softer story, but it is an often quieter one. Beautiful and haunting and heartbreaking as always.

*4.5 stars* I still super love this series but this felt just a bit underwhelming. The atmosphere and plot undertones were of course wonderful as I’ve come to except with this series. Yet I felt the ending was a bit rushed and I wanted more. It did make me want to read the beginning books of this series again though

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

Whilst I felt that this was a very slow and less plot driven than the others in this series, it was no less entertaining and beautifully written. Reagan was a bit of a flat character, and the plot of the Hoofland Queen was weak compared to the other books - it felt more like an interim book whilst we wait for the next and last book.

This was a beautiful installment of the Wayward Children series. McGuire's world building is fantastic, and her character work is phenomenal. She has the ability to write poignant stories in a small number of pages. I cannot wait to read the next book.

I want to thank NetGalley & Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Again, these author’s stories don’t cease to amaze me and make me have an incredible time, I liked this book, I don’t think it’s my favorite, that will always be the fourth book for me, but still, I really enjoy its whimsical and inclusive style.


In this story we follow Regan, a little girl who’s facing many changes in her life, discovering more about herself as well as having a difficult time with her friends at school. But while she’s trying to deal with all that, she finds a door on the way to her home, a door that asks her to “Be Sure” before crossing it, and once she does everything changes for her since she finds herself in a magical world where she meets all kinds of magical equines, from centaurs to kelpies. And in her magical journey, Regan will discover that there are many ways to become a hero and the true meaning of destiny.

The message behind the story is extremely beautiful, I like how real things are discussed and it’s combined with highly magical environments, I think that in some way it makes that symbolism behind the message even more meaningful and has more impact when reading it. This story is beautifully written and we see how this little girl questions many things about herself as a person and also about the people around her. Watching her grow up was very interesting, and although I didn’t have a strong connection with Regan, I don’t think she was a bad character at all. On the other hand, I think the book needs a little more depth in other aspects that are also important, such as the magical world as a whole.

I’ve seen that in general people who have already read this book have this thought, that the book should have focused more on the fantasy world instead of lengthening the moments in the real world for so long, on the other hand, although I do share this point of view, I think what happens in the real world was wonderful, I think having a whole book just about a girl learning that she’s an intersex person and seeing how this affects or changes in some way her perspective on the world would seem extremely interesting to me since it’s not something that’s seen much within the genre. So, for my part, I loved the first part of the real world, and although there’s a bit of girl group drama and toxic friendships, I think it’s interesting to explore it to give more depth to the character.

The world of Hooflands, which is where Regan is transported, is extremely beautiful, and it doesn’t surprise me because the author never disappoints with her ideas to create new worlds. Although doesn’t take much time to describe everything because it’s a very short book, it still feels very vivid and dynamic, I enjoyed meeting the creatures that inhabit as well as their customs and lifestyles . There are many aspects of it that are very original and fun to read. This little novel has also made me laugh so that’s always something super positive, especially due to the honest personalities that the inhabitants of this fantasy land have.

The characters were good, I think they’re “real” enough but without having that impact that makes you feel like they cut through the story, I think that factor is one of my least favorites in the book. Although I did like Regan as a character, I don’t think she’s THAT amazing like I thought she will be. There are some interesting and fun characters in Hooflands, but none that really stands out this time, and I’m so sorry for that!!

The author’s writing style is always a delight to my eyes and that’s why I’ll continue to read her books forever. There’s something about her style that resonates a lot with my soul, and I love to read what comes out of her mind, she’s an extremely unique author.

So basically, I liked the book, I think it’s a great job and I’m sure that if you like horses and fantastic equine creatures then this is probably going to be a fave for you, on the other hand, I could recommend it anyway to others people who enjoy short stories with interesting plots and lots of diversity. I also think it has very nice descriptions, but I have to warn that the ending isn’t one of my favorites, I felt it superficial and kind of rushed, but that, of course, is just my personal opinion, so I hope you decide to give the series a chance if still, you haven’t done it because it’s a jewel!! On the other hand, you can also read this book easily as a standalone.

A fantastic addition to the Wayward Children series! The mantra "Be sure." has stuck with me ever since reading Down Among the Sticks and Bones, and seeing it being used from Regan's perspective added even more life to the world of the Wayward Children.

I am not too familiar with the Wayward Children series (I've only read book 3), but I enjoyed this novella for what it was. I found it to be a fun little portal fantasy that I think would be a very good read for younger girls that are interested in horses and unicorns. The fact that the main character is also intersex adds a touch of diversity to the book. I do feel that the ending was rather abrupt, but I did enjoy seeing Regan grow to love and become part of her adoptive family and finally accepting herself as she is (which I think is the main point of the story). Overall, I thought this was a fun, quick read and I will pick up other books in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor.com for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A weaker installation in The Wayward Children series. An enjoyable tale of a girl who ends up in a world of unicorns, centaurs, kelpies, kirins and other horse like mythical beings. One of the best aspects was the intersex rep. It has been years since I read a book which centres a intersex character so I’m really glad to have seen that here.

Overall the novella read like a fun middle grade fantasy. At times thing felt rushed and the final twist felt very predictable. The overall messages though about prejudice and what groups we consider to be persons and how we treat them are powerful. It also looks a lot at true and abusive friendships and how we navigate these things at a young age and what we realise and learn looking back on them when we are older.

I love this series, overall. This is a standalone book within a larger series, and I am interested to see how it is going to fit in. It wasn't my favorite, as I never really felt that I connected with the main character, Regan. Her journey was interesting, but it didn't consume me in the way that some of the other journeys have. Still, as I have found myself in some of the other characters, I think many readers will find themselves in Regan. I absolutely recommend this to any reader who has felt just that little bit out of place.

I haven't read all the books in this series but I do agree on that this is a good point for starting. I like it. It's cute and has unicorns but get more depth than I first thought. Short and easy to recommend to others who haven't started this series yet. Perfect to read while communiting.

For those who have yet to encounter this series I will say you have found a good time to get involved. Although this is technically the sixth published work in this series this is supposed to be a great ‘jumping in’ point. This series is (broadly) split into portal books and books about the home for wayward children – and this falls firmly into the former category. If you’re new to the series that would certainly be a positive since you’ll get a flavour for the tone of the books without feeling like you’ve missed some worldbuilding.

Personally I love the other side to the series a little bit more than the portal fantasy books but I’m willing to chalk that up to personal preference!

Since we’re dealing with one character rather than an ensemble piece I ought to talk about Regan. It took me a little while to warm up to Regan – possibly because of my own experience with teenage girls making it feel a little too close to home – but once we got ‘through the doorway’ she definitely grew on me. One of the things that I think is fascinating about this series is how different the main characters are and seeing where people who have read them find themselves within the story. Personally speaking, I didn’t relate to Regan but I appreciated her story.

A slight content warning here, the beginning of the book deals with some bullying specifically to do with Regan’s intersex identity – it’s not the theme of the entire book, more an event that takes place within that early portion of the story, but I can imagine it might be quite difficult to read if you are sensitive to such events. I obviously can’t comment on the ‘accuracy’ of the portrayal but what I will say is that it isn’t important within the plot, the focus is on other things.

I think one of the reasons I didn’t connect with this book as much as I did other books in the series is that I didn’t quite get the same level of worldbuilding as I had in other books – I’m wondering if when the Hooflands are contextualised with the knowledge of the various worlds it might be a bit clearer. Regan’s story is quite isolated within the world until nearer the end of the story and as such you don’t get a lot of detail as to how the world works outside of the small community Regan is in. I think you get enough worldbuilding I just found myself wanting more – always a tricky balance to strike in a novella.

It’s hard to review this because on the one hand I can imagine myself reading this without having read the other books and loving it – but because I have read them and naturally compare them it doesn’t quite match up. That’s with the enormous caveat of for me it doesn’t match up. So my review for the entire series continues to be ‘oh yes definitely read them they are amazing’. I’d be really interested to hear from anyone who does join the series at this book and to see what their thoughts and opinions are.

Seanan McGuire continues to craft imaginative worlds filled with characters whose identities we often find missing or misrepresented in this kind of story, this is well worth reading as an installment in that series but I will continue to hold my breath until the next ensemble piece.

My rating: 4/5 stars

I received a free digital review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley – all opinions are my own.

Across the Grass Green Fields is Available Now!

This is one of my favorite fantasy series ever. Across the Green Grass Fields is the sixth book in the Wayward Children series.
Regan loves horses. They have long been her favorite thing. One day, after a fight with her best friend, she finds a doorway that says "be sure" and she walks into a world of centaurs and unicorns. She's told that she's supposed to save the world, but she does not know how or if she can.
This is another great installment in the series and I can't wait for more from Seanan McGuire.

In this next installment in the Wayward Children series, a series I have invested many years to, we follow Reagan to a land of unicorns and centaurs, kelpies and queens. It reminded me of the horse based fantasy series I used to love as a kid but in a slightly more grown up way. This may be my favorite land of the whole series, although the Goblin Market is also up there.There were parts about this I lived for. Regan's need to fit in and conform. That heartbreaking scene with Heather's mom. I loved that her parents were good parents and her house a happy one and yet Regan still felt out of place.

The lessons in strength and building a family were wonderful.

But the world building fell short compared to the other wayward children novels. The ending came in a rush and the morality felt heavy handed.

Still, I adore Seanan McGuire. She is wickededly clever and this series in particular is so beautifully generous in its acknowledgement of the trials and tribulations of growing up.

Just as all the other books in this series before it, Seanan McGuire creates such fun, unique and wonderful worlds. I adore that these books always have a strong plot that revolves around a "learning experience" and about finding ones self. McGuires characters are easy to love and relate to, always with a fun twist. The worlds are lush with excitement and adventure making it easy to picture yourself there while also wanting to actually be there.

Regan was a strong diverse character. I enjoyed watching her find her way in the world, even if that world was not her original one. It goes to show that even if you feel like you don't belong or you feel like people don't understand or care about you, there is always a place that you can be your own unique self. I loved all of the magical creatures and how none of them were quite as Regan had always pictured them. It reiterated the fact that things aren't always as the appear, but that does not make them any less important or wrong in being just the way they are, how they were meant to be.

McGuire's works are so important and magical. I have always loved the door to another world concept and McGuire nails it every time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved this series and exploring the different worlds. This book was a bit of an outlier for me, mostly because I kept waiting for something to happen. I liked Regan and appreciate her journey to acceptance. I just wanted more. This book felt unfinished to me. I wanted more from the actual hero part of the journey and I wanted more of a conclusion.

The writing was good. The story was interesting. I just felt like it never actually got going and that left me disappointed.

It will surprise absolutely no one when I say that I loved this book with my entire heart. Seanan McGuire has such a gift when it comes to getting you to feel so attached and connected to characters in less than 200 pages and this book was no exception. I've said this a hundred times before but it is worth repeating: if you haven't read anything from the Wayward Children series yet, you ABSOLUTELY need to. I love this series so, so much and I hope that it never ends. My heart is so heavy but so full!!!!!!!!!

TW: interphobia, bullying