Review: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E Harrow

Synopsis:

“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 artefacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored and utterly out of place.

But her quiet existence is shattered when she stumbles across a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. Each page reveals more impossible truths about the world, and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own”.

Review:

I really enjoyed this book and the author’s lovely whimsical style of writing. I was pulled into this magical world and completely captivated from the onset. I love the whole premise that there are portal doors all over the world, each one opening into other worlds. The whole concept is unique and very alluring and in each world visited I really wanted to know more.

“It is at the moments when doors open, when things flow between worlds, that stories happen”.

This is not a action-packed novel and moves along at an unhurried pace, however I had no problems engaging with the storyline and there was plenty going on to hold my interest.

The characters on the whole are interesting and appealing, however one or two stand out more than others. January’s character is really well depicted and I enjoyed seeing her character develop and grow from a timid girl into a strong young woman who fights for what she believes in. Jane is also a well described character with a great back-story, initially quiet and unassuming with an air of mystery, but soon becoming a strong and pivotal part of the story. I felt Samuel’s character could have been explored in a little more depth, the relationship between him and January was lacking in chemistry and could have been more fully developed.

I was expecting more of an impactful ending and so I was slightly underwhelmed, however everything was neatly tied up with no loose ends. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys magical realism, character and world driven novels and historical writing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 Stars

I hope you enjoyed this review, happy reading.

Karen ~