Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children has been 'home' to many of the children who have disappeared into the magical land on the other side of doors that appear for the children. But Eleanor West's is not the only school on the other side of the doors. There is also Whitethorn Institute - a school we know very little about.

For Cora, whose door appeared in part due to the fat-shaming abuse she suffered on the other side, life at Eleanor West's hasn't been as idyllic as she had hoped. She asks for a transfer to Whitethorn and Eleanor quite reluctantly agrees. Whitethorn is run quite differently - magic is to be discouraged and rejected and societal norms embraced.

This is a new way of thinking for Cora, as well as the reader. Right now, a new way of thinking is exactly what Cora needs, but is it going to help her in the long term?

Followers of my reviews will already know that I'm a tremendous fan of Seanan McGuire in general and that I've really liked this Wayward Children series so far. I have mixed feelings on this volume, however.

On the one hand, one of the things I like about McGuire is that she's willing to take chances and change things up. She doesn't seem to settle for a recurring formula.

On the other hand, when going in to a familiar series, with some familiar characters, it can be unsettling to suddenly have something very unfamiliar.

I've liked peeking in on Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children. As we learned in the first book, these are still school children and they still have to deal with many of the difficult aspects of being a school-aged teen. As a fantasy story, there was much to be admired about this schooling.

What I didn't like about going to Whitethorn was more about my personal taste. I didn't like the structure or strictness and I couldn't identify with someone who wanted to be there. But I recognize that there are people who prefer or even need more structure.

The book really addresses 'fat-shaming' and 'fatphobia' and this is SO important in a book that will be read by so many young adults and teens and pre-teens. For such a common (unfortunately) issue, the topic is not addressed nearly enough.

This is one of my least favorite books in the series, but I'd still rather read Seanan McGuire than just about anyone else.

Looking for a good book? Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire is the 7th book in the beautiful, lyrical Wayward Children series. The book takes a different path than the previous books in the series, opening some new doors for storylines and taking the reader out of a comfort zone.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Another stunning addition to the Wayward Children series. This one and Across the Green Grass Fields are now some of my favorite of the whole series. Regan broke my heart in this one--Whitethorn was the last place I thought I'd see Regan again. As terrifying and awful as Whitethorn was, the world building of that school and the expansion of this universe was perfection; every word had me hooked. I loved how they all came together to escape and the bit about the matrons and the false headmaster were so expertly done. Really, I just loved everything about this book, and I can't wait for more in this series.

I can never say enough about Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series. Each one is perfect as a stand alone but when they're all woven together it's just lovely.

I love the Wayward Children series and have been reading them all as they come out, but I was also like UH OH when I realized I was supposed to remember things that had happened in previous books here. But like, I got it, and once I was into it I really loved the way the world opened up here. Cora is such a relatable fat protagonist and I love her journey!!

This is the first book in the series where there was SO MUCH happening that I really felt like it would have been better served as a novel.

The good: Regan is in this book!

The meh: There were several times where I had to reread passages because I felt like there were just huge leaps being taken, and I needed to make sure I hadn't missed something important. Nope, nothing important, just...leaps. Part of it was certainly the enormity of introducing the new school and everything I wish had been included but that just...wasn't.

I still like the series' concept, but going from the Scholomance's detailed setting or L. Bardugo's rich ensemble casts to this spare (but lovely) book was a little jarring.

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing an e-arc for the next book in one of my favourite series!

Man I love this series, and how you pretty much always know exactly what you're going to get - almost a bite-sized fairy tale with tons of cool representation in the mix.

I also love how you never quite know whether you're getting a brand new plot or something that's interconnected to previous books! This one brought Regan in, which really made it feel a lot more cohesive.

The writing itself is always magical, whimsical and delightful. This book specifically takes you to a brand new 'magical school', which is very interesting as it provides a little bit of 'worldbuilding'.

I will continue to recommend this series and although I definitely have my favourites, this is up there on the list!

This is Cora's book. And the further into a series we get, the harder it is to write good reviews without spoilers, but I'll do my best.

I thoroughly enjoyed Cora's story. She is so powerful, and empathetic and seeing the world through her eyes and knowing her thoughts really made me happy. And I was honestly a little surprised by how much I enjoyed reading her perspective, because in the early books it was a little difficult for me to get a read on her. . . at least until that moment on the Moors a couple books back - she proved she was a real badass at that point. But there were consequences to that courage, it made her vulnerable, and this book is largely about dealing with that fallout. McGuire handles difficult topics, and interpersonal character struggles, with a beautiful brand of thoughtfulness, and Cora really shines all the brighter for it in this book.

As some icing on the cake, being in Cora's head means we also get to learn more about Trenches, where Cora learned to be a hero, and about what it means to be a Drowned Girl (with the capital letters). And now I really hope we get a book in Trenches.

This is a book about choosing a path for your own healing, as well as learning when to change to something else. It's a book about the best kind of friends, who let you go and then help you get back to yourself. It's also a book about learning to take care of the people you don't like much because it's the right thing to do. It's a book about the power of names, and belonging. It's a short book, but there's a lot packed in, and it's another great installment in the Wayward Children series.

I enjoyed the opportunity to see the second school that had previously been mentioned in the series, but I didn't enjoy this newest edition as much as others in the past. I can't really put my finger on why, perhaps it was my own timing in reading it. I do think that there will be fans of this book, particularly those who have enjoyed Cora's storyline!

There is another school for children who have returned through their doors: Whitethorn. Unlike Mrs. West's School for Wayward Children, it is a rigid, dismal place, designed to brainwash students into accepting this world as their best, right, true, proper home. Cora, once a mermaid, doesn't know that when she requests a transfer; she just knows that she needs to forget.

A worthy entry in the series.

I really enjoy that all of these stories on each other, but it also means I need to go back and either read or reference the stories that came before! Not that rereading is an issue! In Where the Drowned Girls Go, we visit the other school for children who have returned through their doors, the Whitethorn Institute. I think this book ultimately left me with more questions than answers, but was a fast and engaging read as usual. I'll always keep my fingers crossed that we will get more stories in the Wayward Children series!

McGuire can do no wrong, full stop, the end. This series is as perfect as it is heartbreaking, and honestly the questions it leaves you with are an absolute demonstration of mastery.

I don't want to give away too much, other than this book probably isn't what you expect it to be, and honestly this series gets better with every one.

I got a free ARC in return for an honest review.

Seanan McGuire has created such an amazingly rich, and inclusive world for in these School for Wayward Children books. In this latest one, her mermaid is fighting off the effects of the last battle and finds herself in a fight for her identity. Fast-paced, with a guest a appearance from a favorite candy princess, this book does not disappoint.

This has been my favourite book in the series so far, I think, though I love everything Seanan McGuire writes. It's worth noting that while this book does feature Cora (our mermaid, who we've met in previous books), we're not journeying to the Trenches (the world behind her door) - we're seeing her really struggling with the aftermath of the last rescue trip she went on to the Moors and the Drowned Gods continuing to call to her. As a result, Cora worries about somehow giving the Drowned Gods access to the Trenches if her door comes back for her, and thinks the only way to avoid this is by getting herself sent to the "sister school," designed to help children grapple with the idea that their doors aren't coming back and that their time on the other side was not real. And ooof is it even more terrible than I could have imagined.

We do get to see slices of Cora's backstory, of her life before her door. Cora is fat, and has dealt with fatphobia and bullying as a result. It's part of the reason why her door appears. She continues to encounter it throughout the book. Along with the themes of self-acceptance and understanding, this book said a lot to me about the curses and dangers of conformity, of unquestioning obedience to authority, of a lack of curiosity. I don't know, it just really hit home for me in a big way.

I definitely think there will be those who consider this too depressing (despite the first book in the series literally having several murders in it...), maybe because it's set in the "real world" and it's not fun to be faced with that reality. I, however, thought it really landed the message, and provided an interesting new place for the series to go for a bit after this.

CW: fatphobia, suicidal ideation/attempt,

#WheretheDrownedGirlsGo #NetGalley #Edelweiss
Another great read from Seanan McGuire! Where the Drowned Girls Go is a novella in the Wayward Children Series. It would be considered book two if you are keeping track. I love the fantasy of this series, but it is McGuire's way with characters that make this series a great read!.

I absolutely loved this installment of the Wayward Children series. In a world where children fall through doorways into magical worlds, they don't always want to come back and in this book, we follow Cora, a mermaid, who has appeared in other books in the series and is directly dealing with trauma she experienced in a previous book. I loved that we got a look into the darker school counterpart to Eleanor West's school and we got to see just how truly horrifying it was. I really liked Cora as a main character but mostly I just enjoyed getting to see a new group team up and bond together and find a way to make it through this school and the terrible things it is putting them through. I already love this series so it wasn't completely a surprise that I enjoyed this book but it is definitely one of my favorites in the series now and I can't wait to see what will happen next in future books.

I love love love this weird series. I think the different worlds are so clever, but this one isn't about those worlds. It's about the dangers in 'our' world and McGuire makes some very smart and sharp commentary.

ARC received by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book made me cry so hard. It gave me all the feelings which I did not need while on public transportation. Instead all I got were tears. There are so many parts of this story that I loved that I just don't want to share because it would spoil everything. Just know there is a lot of character growth and one of the past characters I was quite happy to see again.

There was just one complaint and I am not quite sure if it was just the format of the book on my kindle or what. Many times during a chapter the narration would suddenly shift to another character which was quite jarring. I am not sure if there were supposed to be breaks there or what was happening with that. Which is why I am not going to take anything off just in case it was just an error with the formatting of the book on my kindle.

This is a novella in the Wayward Children series that delves into Cora's life at Whitethron Institute. (Regan's in this one!). It was quick read (it's a novella!), and was way darker than the others in this series. Lots of trauma and oppressions. There should have been more to this one since we're in an entirely new setting, but it was still complete.

Where the Drowned Girls Go is definitely one of the darker entries into the Wayward Children series, but also my favorite of the last few novellas. The story follows Cora, who is finding herself unable to cope with the nightmares and other effects of her encounter with the drowned gods of the Moors. Things get so bad that she requests a transfer to the Whitethorn Institute, a school for those who want to forget their otherworldly experiences (or for those whose guardians want them to forget). Of course things at Whitethorn are not so simple, and Cora has to rediscover her courage and heroism in order to rescue herself and some new friends--including Regan, the protagonist of the previous novella.

Like most of the Wayward Children novellas this is a quick read, and I almost wish it had been expanded into a longer book since there's a lot going on here (especially with the introduction of a brand new school and a variety of new characters). There is also some obvious setup for at least one sequel.

Readers who are uncomfortable reading about abusive authority figures might want to be wary of this one, since the atmosphere of the Whitethorn institute is extremely oppressive and stifling. Think of the boarding school from the beginning of Jane Eyre, but creepier. If you can get past that then this is a great addition to the series that advances the main plot while also giving more insight into Cora and a few other characters. As always I was left wanting more.

This is by far the most depressing book in the Wayward Children series. It takes place entirely in the “real world” and focuses on Cora. I was really hoping to we would see her world and her as a mermaid but instead she goes to another school in an attempt get the Drowned Gods out of her head. I did love that Regan from the previous book, which I thought was going to be a stand alone with no connection to the other books, makes an appearance. Overall, not in my top favorites from this series but still a worthwhile read.