Another amazing instalment to the Wayward Children series.
This is the perfect closure to Antsy story but also delves into the background of other children’s doors and overall give so much more depth to the magic system of this world weaving in lore and the history of characters to form a truly enlightening plot.

I thoroughly enjoy returning to these characters, each have such unique and interesting traits and they feel like such a family unit in this book.

As always the world building from McGuire is absolutely beautiful, venturing this time to the land of dinosaurs amoungst others, the world becomes richer with every book added to this series and as always I ate it up it one sitting.
My biggest criticism… I’d have love more dino action.

Thoroughly enjoyable and lots of representation here to be found. Forever one of my favourite authors and series.

Thank you for supplying me with a arc for review.

Once again, Seanan McGuire returns us to the magical doors and alternate worlds of the children at Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children. Longtime school residents and some newer faces are once again unexpectedly forced to break Eleanor’s third rule-No Quests. Visiting some new worlds we haven’t seen before, a few that we have, and 1 that has long been mentioned but unseen, we get to know all those involved a bit better, and some a great deal more.
I have enjoyed every one of the books in the Wayward Children series, but as with any series, especially one with multiple volumes like this series (short as those volumes are), there are always some that I enjoy more and some less. This is definitely on the more side. Not at the top, but easily in the top 4 or 5.
It seems like some of the characters are coming to the end of their story arcs, and while I am sad to see where they end up, knowing it’s unlikely they will be back for any appreciable length of time, I am also happy to see them finding what they need. I am also sad to find the series winding it’s way to a conclusion, but very happy that I discovered it almost 10 years ago and have been able to follow along as each volume came out. When it does eventually reach the end, I can only hope that Seanan McGuire chooses to return on occasion, even if it’s only an occasional short story to let us know what these amazing children of hers are up to, wherever they end up.

Great addition to the series, even if I wouldn't count it as one of the strongest entries. It was truly fun to read and the fans should not be disappointed. Recommended.

A Wayward Children School Day Outing

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known is book 9 in Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series. It follows two seriously serious (I meant to do that) books Where the Drowned Girls Go, in which we saw the inside of the Whitethorn Institute, a a seriously depressing opposite to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, and Lost in the Moment and Found, in which Antoinette (Antsy) Ricci escaped a seriously awful home. Thus we are due for a lighter touch, and we get it.

Antsy and the Whitethorn escapees Cora and Emily are now at Eleanor's along with old friends Christopher, Sumi, and Kade. Antsy has the much-coveted gift of finding Doors. Escaping a couple of girls who want to make use of her, she finds herself trapped in Kade's attic with the students named above. She finds a Door in the back of the attic that allows them to escape. This is the beginning of what I'm calling their school outing, although in fact it is not the whole school along, just the six mentioned. They bop around between various worlds -- Antsy's Door-finding gift is put to use -- and they have adventures. Although some of these adventures appear to have high (e.g. life-or-death) stakes, it all feels like a good, fun adventure.

Now, I am always willing to score a book high for Pure Fun. This one falls a bit short, however, because the Fun is not quite Pure. There is a lot of discussion of the metaphysics of Doors -- what are they, where are they, where are they when they are not, do they have plans or intentions, or motives, are merely desires. This honestly gets a bit tedious and even has somewhat the feel of an Internet comment thread.

But, altogether, it's a fun little novella, and like all the Wayward Children books, a quick read. I enjoyed it.

I thank NetGalley and Tor for an advance reader copy of Mislaid in Parts Half-Known. This review expresses my honest opinions. Release date 9-Jan-2024.

I’m sure. I’m always sure. Well, I’m always sure I’m ready for a new Wayward Children book by Seanan McGuire!

For those who don’t know the series: Wayward Children is about a school where kids who have been thrown out of their fairy tale world go when they come back to Earth; its a safe haven for kids who don’t fit in anymore. The series alternates between a school book and then a stand alone otherworld book. Sometimes the stand alone book is about one of the kids we already know and sometimes we are introduced to a brand new character. The school books usually feature the same characters we know with maybe some new characters too.

The series has one book a year released. I’ve been very lucky to read two Wayward Children books this year! I bought Lost in the Moment and Found in January and received an early copy of Mislaid in Parts Half-Known from Netgalley recently. Pretty exciting.

Lost in the Moment and Found was a stand alone book. Next year’s Mislaid in Parts Half-Known is a school book and a direct sequel to Lost in the Moment. Its not always the case that one Wayward Children book leads into the next. This time Lost in the Moment and Found and Mislaid in Parts Half-Known are very connected.

I won’t give spoilers about Mislaid in Parts Half-Known other than that is a sequel to the previous book. Mislaid isn’t out till next year. All I’ll say is that it does deal with some left-over plot elements from Lost in the Moment and it also deals with some stuff from previous Wayward Children books too. Its not a very long book, but it is a very good book.

If you haven’t read Lost in the Moment and Found, at least, you will be really lost with Mislaid. Though, its highly recommended that you read all of the books so far before reading Mislaid in Parts Half-Known. This book is not an entry book to the series at all. Even as someone who has read all the books, sometimes I had to think back a lot about the previous books to totally understand what was going on.

I do wish Mislaid featured a recap at the beginning of the book. It doesn’t. The stand alone books are very easy to get into but the school books are very much “you must read all the books to really understand this one”.

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known is a really fun book though. If you’re a fan of the series, you won’t want to miss this book! Seanan McGuire is an excellent writer and I’m totally hooked on this series. If you’ve never read the Wayward Children series, you should check out the recent Be Sure book that collects the first three books!

I’m already sure I need the next Wayward Children book. What a wonderful series.

Plot- or character-driven? Character (but with a great plot!)
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Another amazing addition to my favorite series of all time! I am so glad we got more of Antsy’s development throughout this book! We also learned more about Kade’s world, Prism, which I thought was wonderfully done. I always love to read about the wayward children’s quests together and the cameos from characters we’ve met in previous books. I especially loved their adventure into a world of dinosaurs, as seen on the cover of this book! I am always impressed with McGuire’s beautiful writing and diversity inclusion. I could absolutely read 80 books from this series!!!

I’m so grateful to have received an early copy from Tor (via Netgalley) in return for my honest review! I

This latest book in the series was beautifully written, as always, but felt written for a slightly more mature audience than the previous few (especially Across the Green Grass Fields, which felt suited to a early- to middle-grades audience rather than YA). I loved the world in the last book, about a sort of Nexus between all the worlds, and getting to explore that a bit more was exciting!

This latest book felt slightly plot-less - the “quest” was less quest and more an incidental outcome of running away from a specific situation. Nothing with regards to their original reason for leaving had actually changed at all by the end of the book. But this book offered closure for a couple of other characters, and some more insight into Kade’s character.

This is a strong entry into this series of novellas.

The Wayward Children series seemed to be spinning its wheels for a little while but now it seems to be moving forward with a greater plot. This book gives us a bit more information about Cade (at last!) although it looks like there will be quite a bit more to Cade's story. Sumi is a strong presence and I liked her a lot in this book, although I think her nonsense was toned down. Chris and his affinity for the dead were of use. Cora was also part of this book and I think I liked her best in this one.

The book is truly Antsy's, though. After coming to the School for Wayward Children, Antsy has a hard time finding a place for herself. She looks older than she truly is and doesn't know how to fit in. After running afoul of some mean girls she and the regular crew do a bit of door-hopping. There's not quite as much dinosaur stuff as the cover might lead you to believe. The girl in the dinosaur world was one I didn't really remember but it's been a long series and I've probably lost track of some characters.

This book continues the theme of Antsy pushing back when adults take advantage of children by not giving those children the full story, by gaslighting them and telling them that they are their protectors while actually exploiting those children. Antsy comes into her power here and I wonder if we are going to see a trend of children beginning to find their true places.

Every door has "Be Sure" written somewhere on it. I've never really understood that but in this book it's finally explained a little better. Our Wayward Children all have had a moment where they were uncertain. I think that being bounced out of paradise is a strong price to pay for having doubt, especially as when these children grow up they are going to develop a more mature and nuanced outlook on the worlds they have found. It's not wrong to doubt but these children seem to suffer a lot for it. I hope the author eventually addresses this too.

One last thing: the author does like to throw in the most villainous villains sometimes. I'm over mean girls who are special in the wrong way.

Another great entry in the wayward children series, featuring yet another quest, though it's a bit different from the rest. I really enjoy the quest plots, mostly because the scenes where all the kids are interacting together are some of my favorites, since it highlights just how different and impactful their experiences were. This book focuses on concluding Antsy's plotline, as well as a few others. Once some of the students realize that Antsy has insider knowledge of the doors, how they work, and can likely find the right ones, the situation quickly gets out of hand, leading to her, Kade, Sumi, Christopher, and Cora escaping through a door. They go through a few doors, all leading to places that have been discussed before, but not yet seen, so that was cool. The plot itself, more so than any others, felt like a conclusion. A lot of plotlines are tied up, or close to ending, and it feels like the next books will be leading into a new arc of sorts, with new characters. At this point though, i'm still really hoping for a Christopher-centric book, he's been a crucial character since book one and we haven't got much of his story yet.

This was definitely the closure we needed from Antsy's story. Wise and well-told, I just wish we'd gotten more dinosaurs.

After how much I loved book eight, I am super bummed to be here with this particular rating, feeling this particular way about the follow-up. Because as happy as I am that Antsy found her place and purpose, this whole instalment just felt.. all over the place and kind of meandering. Which is annoying because it did have some one or interesting observations but the problem became we had to hear them repeated over and over -- or at least it felt that way to me.

Even though I don't reread these like a lot of other fans of the series, I've never really felt the lack of that. But this one I think really needs a refresher or at least a solid understanding of the who is who and all the various dynamics. And so having so many people around, all with their little injokes and references (there's even a joke about this!), wasn't doing much for me because there were too many characters floating in and out of the page at any given moment.

But despite all this I think there's some fun stuff on the horizon (is something going to go down with Eleanor?) and I will continue to pick up this series.

2.5 stars

"Mislaid in Parts Half-Known" by Seanan McGuire is a captivating addition to the Wayward Children series that continues to explore the enchanting yet perilous world of portals and the unique abilities of the students at Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children.

The story revolves around Antsy, a new student at the school, whose remarkable talent lies in her ability to find anything. However, this ability attracts the attention of the school's mean girl, and Antsy is forced to embark on a journey with a small group of friends to find a way back to the Shop Where the Lost Things Go. Their quest takes them through a variety of worlds, each with its own beauty and dangers, and along the way, they encounter challenges that reshape their perspectives and lives.

Seanan McGuire's writing continues to shine with its imaginative world-building and well-developed characters. The author seamlessly weaves together themes of friendship, self-discovery, and the consequences of seeking what one desires. The narrative is filled with twists and turns that keep readers engaged, and the exploration of both the physical and emotional landscapes adds depth to the story.

One of the strengths of this series is how it delves into the multifaceted nature of characters and the intricacies of their experiences. In "Mislaid in Parts Half-Known," the characters undergo growth and transformation, and their interactions are both heartwarming and thought-provoking.

While the story is rooted in fantasy and portal exploration, it also explores relatable human emotions and challenges. It prompts readers to reflect on the concept of finding what one truly needs rather than simply what they want. The blend of whimsical elements and deeper philosophical themes makes the book accessible to a wide range of readers.

Overall, "Mislaid in Parts Half-Known" is a delightful continuation of the Wayward Children series that offers an engaging adventure filled with magic, discovery, and self-realization. Seanan McGuire's storytelling prowess shines brightly, making this book a must-read for fans of the series and those who enjoy stories that seamlessly blend fantasy with profound human experiences.

I wanted more dinosaurs, but even so,this book and series are still 5 stars for me. The premise is lovely and evolving. The Every Heart a Doorway series continues to grow and nurture its worlds and their children. I am here for the journey.

This series is just so, so brilliant. Loved being back with the Waywards. This may be the best book in the series.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

In this tale, Antsy leads her new friends in an quest zipping from world to world, exploring the idea of what it really means to be home and "be sure." I had to keep putting it down just because I didn't want to finish it.
McGuire's lore is expanding, enriching, and - terrifyingly - feeling like it might start to settle. I loved every moment of this installation. While focusing on characters we already know, the story still gives plenty of room to get to know and love them even more - something I didn't quite think was possible when it came to Kade, Sumi, Antsy, and the rest of the gang.
Seanan, please keep them coming. I'm sure.

I love love love this weird series. I maybe should have done a re-read of all of them to remember things, but I might do that anyway just because I love them. They're all thoughtful and weird and quirky and so clever.

Thank-you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars

Each installment of the Wayward Children deals with a heavy theme with a whimsical air and this one is no different. I took away a theme surrounding the doors and the difference between them calling you home and you forcing your way home. And extrapolating from there, what it is to be valued and desired vs just present in relationships, friendships etc.

Antsy is a new student at Eleanor's Home for Wayward Children and she can find anything... including missing doors. In Mislaid in Parts Half-Known we also get a bit more insight into Kade's story and his time in Prism, which I love. This is indeed another quest wherein the rules clearly state none are allowed.

The Wayward Children books rank up there as some of my favorite books ever because they touch my heart like nothing ever has. I used to dream of finding a door and stepping through, and Seanan McGuire captures perfectly what it's like to need that escape so bad you can almost taste it. Her stories are whimsical and magical and also haunting because she perfectly captures the hidden costs things can have and what it's like when the things you love and take for granted are taken from you.

Be sure.

This is not my very favorite of the Wayward Children books - that would be in an Absent Dream followed by Where the Lost Things Go. The stories like this one, that are quests rather than self-contained stories about a world, are a little harder to pinpoint as favorites because it's a continuous storyline that doesn't really have a clear beginning and end like the standalones do.

But saying it's not my favorite is like saying nectarines aren't my favorite fruit. I still love them more than just about anything else that's not fruit. Is this my favorite Wayward Children book? no. Is this leagues above most of the books I love that *aren't* Wayward Children books? yes.

I love that we get to see Antsy again and explore what happens after she leaves her world. I love that we get to see her accept what she lost and gain the confidence to go back and make changes. I love that we get more Kade and Cora and Christopher and Sumi and Emily.

The story Seanan McGuire has been telling throughout the whole series is still building, and each new puzzle piece we get to add broadens the view a bit and brings it a little more into focus. And have I mentioned how much I love it?

Every time I think she can't make me love her world and characters more, and every time I am proved wrong. And every time I *feel* the story so much that I end up crying and getting chills.

Seanan McGuire's writing is absolutely gorgeous. I highlighted so many quotes. I will be going back and listening to the audiobook once it releases (I preordered it the moment it was available). Actually I might listen to the whole series. They're short enough for it. And I want to experience the whole story (so far).

15/10 Highly recommend.

My favorite part of this series is always these stories in between, back at the home, where we get to experience this wide range of people get to find their joy, their places again, and also look back on our original cast and how they're growing and maturing and following on these new adventures.

I really really love Antsy and the pathway she took and the lessons her adventures taught the other cast were so well done. I particularly loved how many new worlds we explored in this book and the reappearance of some familiar faces! Seanan McGuire continues to expand on this endlessly exciting universe and makes me love every character introduced for their unique personality and perspective of the world.

Another fantastic continuation of this series :) I'm particularly glad about the last scene (no spoilers), the character deserved their happy ending and I'm glad they got it.