This was a very emotional story. This novel is about a lonely girl who finds a magical book and gets lost in many stories. The novel is very well-written and lyrical. I really loved January. She was a very lonely girl who longed to have friends. There were some violent scenes but overall was a powerful novel with a message that focuses on the theme of inner strength and self-discovery. I recommend this fans of The Garden Spell, Love in the Time of Cholera, and The House of Spirits. Full review to come!

Summary
January lives in a large mansion full of mysterious treasures from around the world. But despite the luxuries her guardian, Mr. Locke, has provided, January never stops feeling out of place. Her father is constantly traveling, looking for new treasures, and she is left alone.
One day, she finds a book hidden inside a secret chest. The book tells the story of mysterious doors to other worlds and a love story for the ages.

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

Overview
This is told in letter format to an unknown recipient from January's POV.
Content Warnings: Racism, Death of a parent, Abuse, Abandonment

“It’s a profoundly strange feeling, to stumble across someone whose desires are shaped so closely to your own, like reaching toward your reflection in a mirror and finding warm flesh under your fingertips. If you should ever be lucky enough to find that magical, fearful symmetry, I hope you’re brave enough to grab it with both hands and not let go.”

What I Liked
1. Alix E. Harrow's writing is out of this world beautiful. I was pulled into this magical world and never wanted to leave. By the end I couldn't believe this was a debut novel - I can't remember the last time I was swept up by such beautiful prose. And I don't want to get this misconstrued as "flowery" writing. Harrow doesn't waste time overly describing unnecessary scenes (although there is a lot of talk about the scent of things). But the descriptions she does use are captivating that it feels like you are getting pulled through a magical door yourself.
2. This concept and world were so unique and alluring. Every time we "visited" a new world I wanted to know everything. Every world was different and fully fleshed out. They had their own histories and people and cultures.
3. The commentary on modern society and culture was woven so perfectly throughout this. While it was set in the early 1900's the parallels to today's world were definitely there. But never did it feel heavy handed. Harrow let both sides speak for themselves.

What I Didn't Like
1. There was nothing about this book I didn't love (hence the 5 star rating).

“May she wander but always return home, may all her words be written true, may every door lie open before her.”

I did want to mention that this book is not an action-based story. This is, at it's core, a love story to readers. It is character and world driven. It's a commentary on society and modern culture. If you're looking for a quick moving, action filled plot, this is not the story for you. But if you want deep, developed characters, rich, complex worlds, and some of the most beautiful prose, this will most certainly not disappoint.

This is a beautiful historical magical realism book that I found hard to put down. Doors open to other places and different places await.

This book is amazing. It was hard to follow at first as the chapters in the beginning had the narrative of multiple individuals you aren't acquainted with yet, but once you establish that it's so easy to get sucked into the magic of this book. The characters are likeable and at times tragic while following along a unique fantasy tale you begin to wish were true. The concept of worlds within hard to find doors is so cool and the villains shocking! Must read book for sure.

An epic tail through worlds full of beauty and mystery. Sone parts were slow but it overall it is a well crafted, unique and wonderful ride.

All of the buzz I've heard about this book up until this point seems to be 100% correct. I absolutely loved this book.

But before I go into why I loved it, can we talk about that cover?? As of right now, I don't know that the cover has been finalized, but...can we just go ahead and do that? This wins. Full stop. It's beautiful! As soon as I saw the cover on Net Galley I knew I needed to try to get this book. And honestly, you guys...the story lives up to the promise I feel is made by a beautiful cover.

So, the synopsis given by the publisher is this:

In the early 1900s, a young woman embarks on a fantastical journey of self-discovery after finding a mysterious book in this captivating and lyrical debut.
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.
Then she finds 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 turn reveals impossible truths about the world and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.
Lush and richly imagined, a tale of impossible journeys, unforgettable love, and the enduring power of stories awaits in Alix E. Harrow's spellbinding debut--step inside and discover its magic.

As promised, this book is capital 'L' Lush. I cannot believe that this is a debut novel. Harrow writes like someone who has written, I don't know, TEN THOUSAND stories before. Her ability to tell a story is something really wonderful to bear witness to. It reminds me of a combination of Cornelia Funke's Inkworld series combined with Clive Barker's Imajica and Weaveworld (to my mind that is very high praise indeed since I LOVE every one of those books). I actually struggled to complete my college-assigned readings because I didn't want to put this book down. The characters and the worlds she built are beautiful, complex, and truly wonderful. I fell a little bit in love with January, and most especially with Bad.

My determination: 5 out of 5 arbitrary items of rating. This book is slated for release on September 10 - exactly 1 month. Go buy it - you won't be disappointed. Honestly, I'm going to buy the physical copy myself because I already feel like I want to re-read it when I finish school next month.

This. was. so. good. Seriously. So, so good. If you love an epic tale, filled with magical realism and abounding imagination, then run out and get this book. If you love a tale filled with emotion and the hurtful, raw edges that come with grief and lost love, then run out and get this book. If you love a tale that leaves you yearning to spend more time with all the amazing characters you just met, then run out and get this book. You absolutely will not be disappointed.

I think it's possible I may have loved this book, with its florid self-awareness and confident unreality. But...books and people find each other at the right times...or they don't, and I'm too consumed with a personal situation involving my soul pup, the love of my life, to have any relevant takeaway other than: The dog was treated as a friend, which I appreciate deeply.

(quote) Doors, he told her, are change, and change is a dangerous necessity. Doors are revolutions and upheavals, uncertainties and mysteries, axis points around which entire worlds can be turned. They are the beginnings and endings of every true story, the passages between that lead to adventures and madness and—here he smiled—even love. (quote)


Wow... The Ten Thousand Doors of January was a book. It took me an entire week to read it, not because it was incredibly long or bad, but because I had to keep stopping to save quotes from the beautiful writing and to just absorb each chapter or section. It will be a book that sticks with me for a long time. 

At the heart of The Ten Thousand Doors of January is the heart of life itself. Life is about the love and adventures we find. It's about the stories we tell and the stories we stumble upon. The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a story that spans over time, generations, and many many worlds. The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a love letter to readers. If you ever come across this book, I recommend picking it up. 

The only series I can even think to compare it to is Seanan McGuire's Every Heart a Doorway series. 

(quote) Perhaps it is in the end, I happen to believe every story is a love story if you catch it at the right moment, slantwise in the light of dusk. (quote)


(quote) If you’re some stranger who stumbled over this book by chance—perhaps locked in a dusty traveling trunk or published by some small, misguided press and shelved mistakenly under Fiction—I hope to every god you have the guts to do what needs doing. 
I hope you will find the cracks in the world and wedge them wider, so the light of other suns shines through; I hope you will keep the world unruly, messy, full of strange magics; I hope you will run through every open Door and tell stories when you return. (quote)


Trigger Warnings: racism, animal abuse, self harm

***Quotes are taken from an arc and are subject to change.***

It is a rare thing to relate to a book’s character in such a way that similar situations evoke empathy across your lives. Enough parallels can be drawn to feel almost as if the book is catered specifically toward you in some existential way. I have not read much portal fantasy, but I have always felt a feeling of smothered repression through my youth that has tamped down my will to explore. Instead, my portals to elsewhere revealed themselves in books and stories at an early age, and they’ve been with me ever since. Alix Harrow captures this feeling of finding oneself through the stories we share in her stunning and unforgettable debut novel The 10,000 Doors of January. It is a beautifully written and lovingly crafted adventure about the strength of love, the importance of stories, and the timeless power of words.

I’ll be brief with the plot synopsis; the less you know ahead of time, the better. The book is set at the turn of the 20th century. January Scaller is young ward to an unfathomably rich benefactor; her father travels the world working for him. As January approaches the end of her youth, she thinks about her early carefree days and wonders if she’ll ever reclaim that feeling of freedom and wanderlust. And then a book comes into her life that might change everything.

Harrow’s gift of prose is immediately apparent within the first few pages of the story. The writing is accessible and wise, thoughtful and humorous. Stories within stories allow for opportunities to dance around different character voices and the cast feels genuine and lifelike after only a short time of knowing them.

Trigger warning: towards the end of the story, there is a promise that January makes to a long-time companion in a letter. “So will I,” it ends, and you, too will sob uncontrollably while repeating that phrase to yourself over a tissue box.

At the risk of sounding redundant, this is a remarkable novel that I plan to revisit again. This is a rare fantasy book that I can recommend with confidence to my friends and family who don’t normally read the genre. Read this book before the inevitable Hollywood film is made. It deserves to be fully experienced from within.

10 / 10

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Like the cover to this book, the innards are lush, romantic, and adventuresome. Beautiful prose, much better story, and ten thousand open doors to other realms awaiting us.

Eventually. The first part reads mostly like a Secret Garden type story, complete with the right time period. This may be a bonus to a lot of you, but to me, it was quite simply okay.

When we get word of her father's demise, however, everything picks up pace. I particularly loved how vast swaths of plot were wrapped up in neat lyrical bows, how other subplots were either supplanted, charmingly, or given a rich kiss before returning to the main thread.

But what is it about, you ask?

Not, precisely, about imagination and books... but THROUGH the books, or rather word-magic, through half-seen doors will we fly. Alternate realities, perhaps timelines, brutal places, rich places, and in them all, January quests.

It is about family.

And I admit I did more than tear up a little at the end. It was particularly gorgeous.

4 stars

A girl writes herself a door to another world...and it opens.

Concept: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★ 1/2
Plot: ★★★★
Emotional feel: ★★★★

The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a book that sits precariously on the edge of multiple genres, just like its protagonist sits on the edge of multiple worlds. It's a heady blend of fairy tale, spoken parable, historical fiction, letters, and fantastical portal fantasy.

I was coming for the portal fantasy and the fairy tale. With that in mind, I think it's important to note that The Ten Thousand Doors of January is going to be a hard read for fans of Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children books and other tales of action-based portals opening to new worlds. It was a hard read for me due to that reason, coupled with the fact that I am not a historical fiction reader and stories told through letters are not my thing.

This is a slow tale, and it takes its time.

To be honest, I found it took a bit too much time at the beginning. As in, the first 50% of the novel is heartachingly slow. It is also told through two narratives: the narrative of January, the young girl at the heart of this story, and The "Ten Thousand Doors of January," a book that January spends alternating chapters reading and discovering the narrator's true identity.

January Scaller is an in-between girl with russet brown skin living in a white man's house in turn of the century New England. She's a precious possession, the daughter of a dark-skinned adventurer who leaves her at home with his benefactor and a girl with the itching of wandering in bones.

This wandering comes to a head when she discovers a Door while on a trip with Mr. Locke, the benefactor. It's a Door in the middle of a cornfield that smells of the sea, and January realizes, painfully, that these Doors exist and that she wants to know more about them. So when January discovers a book detailing the the history of Doors and the life of a woman who traveled through them all, January is hooked.

But all is not well in her world of in-between, where the color of her skin leaves her a prisoner to the whims of Mr. Locke and his Society, who seem to know all about the Doors and have an agenda of their own....

Opening like a slow-moving flower from narrative to narrative alternating between January's action and the book's passive telling, The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a story that I've never experienced before. It carries with it the hint of the Other, the grit of American dirt, the smell of the sea, the frisson of danger, and the caress of a love story between a wanderer and the road.

I'd caution fantasy readers to set their expectations at the door (ha!) when they pick this up, and I'd encourage historical fiction readers to give it a second chance. January and her tale might surprise you.

If you recognize that socially-conscious fiction is a necessary addition to the canon of The Hero's Journey, and you also loved Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus, this is the perfect book for you. Combining the exploration of other worlds and peoples that makes the writing of Octavia Butler and Ursula LeGuin so compelling with a kick-ass and self-consciously modern WOC hero, The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a whirlwind adventure story that openly discusses the tropes of its genre. It's a beautiful conversation between burgeoning adulthood, representation, magic, time travel, and spirit.

The plot is highly recognizable, and I would guess that most readers will see many of its twists coming long before our dear protagonist. It was an aspect that I found comforting and engaging and then immediately interesting as Harrow made pointedly alternative decisions at key points, often illucidating tired Victorian "truisms" with pithy footnotes.

Harrow's prose is direct and fresh. If it is occasionally homogeneous in its approach to the various characters, this tendency is overshadowed by it's beautiful nods to the adventure story genre, including many hilariously over-dramatic moments. (I especially enjoyed the discussion of Adelaide becoming pregnant and Harrow's quip about personal choice. Three cheers for extra feminism.) This artful treatment made the book fly by, and I've already suggested it to readers of all types as a prime example of modern fiction's ability to address some of our internal and interpersonal narrative concerns by providing a variety of experience in our fictional worlds. Orbit totally nailed it with this one. I cannot wait to see the finished product.

I LOVED this one!! I am a huge fan of the world-within-the-world concept, and this book offered that to the nth degree. Add to it a fabulous and wholly engaging storytelling style, marvelous characters you can't help but love and connect with, and a plot that carries you along a winding, twisting river of machinations, secrets, and misdirection, and you wind up with a perfectly marvelous story that I couldn't put down!

The concept of doors - excuse me, Doors - is not a new one, but in Harrow's skillful hands the construct plays out brilliantly. There is a mystery underpinning the mystery, and the author teases out the parallel plot lines masterfully. January is a wonderful protagonist, offering just the right blend of sass and smarts, and her escapades are, for good and ill, full of wonderment and magic and devastating consequences.

January is a wonderful protagonist, offering just the right blend of sass and smarts. The concept of doors - excuse me, Doors - is not a new one, but in Harrow's skillful hands the construct plays out brilliantly. There are fantastic opportunities for future related stories and I for one hope like crazy that the author decides to go in that direction. If not, I will DEFINITELY be on the lookout for whatever she serves up next. Her writing is as refreshing as a cool drink from a mountain spring, and I just as satisfying!

I don’t know if it was my mood, the complexity of the story, or something else, but the first 15% of this story didn’t catch me.

So imagine my surprise when somewhere along the way, The Ten Thousand Doors of January leapt onto the list of my favorite books ever! I’m completely in awe - everything about this story is perfect. The characters, the little observations about society, the rich world-building, the two storylines crashing together, the mysteries, and above all, the absolutely stunning prose.

This story is vastly unlike any other I’ve read. Yes, it’s a portal fantasy. But it’s so, so much more than that. There’s a kind of depth, a magical fairytale quality, and an unexpectedness to it that completely blew me away. Every paragraph, every word, is as exquisite as the stunning book cover. The ultimate escapist fantasy book — one that will capture your heart and never let it go!

Highly recommended for anyone who:
- has a heart full of wanderlust,
- has read all of Laini Taylor and Madeline Miller’s books and craves another story written in beautiful prose,
- falls for characters whose will and love cannot be contained,
- has watched The Princess Bride and Breakfast at Tiffany’s countless times,
- believes in magic and true love,
- seeks diverse YA historical fantasy reads
- prefers nuanced stories containing imperfect characters,
- and connects with unapologetic misfits - the ones who are and always will be themselves, no matter the time or place.

READ. THIS. BOOK!!!

Advanced copy provided by Redhook/Orbit Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Review posted to Goodreads and Instagram. Will also post to Amazon on release day!

January Scaller is growing up in Locke house as the ward to Mr. Locke. Her father is an employee of Mr. Locke's who travels the world collecting items for Locke's collection. When her father disappears several things come to a head and January must peel away the lies and discover the truth; the truth of her father's disappearance, what really happened to her mother and the mysterious Society the Mr. Locke and others belong to. And other truths. Who is January herself? Is she a 'good girl' or an obstreperous girl? Is she an heir or a pet of Mr. Locke? Who is she becoming underneath her perfect persona?

This book was terrific! In one novel it discussed the turn of the century (19th to 20th), race relations, gender relations and also was an homage to dime novels! You'd think that the 'messages' would overcome the story but in no way does it! January is firmly in control of her narrative and as she figures everything out you are along for the ride!

January is an engaging heroine. She's stuck in between; in between colored and white, in between youth and young womanhood, in between her father and Mr. Locke. January is also coming of age in a difficult time when women's options are much narrower than they are now and she is finding it difficult to find her own place. When she begins uncovering the truth of the Doors, from that first Door she found as a child to the Doors she begins discovering with the help of a found book, she finds how they relate to her own family and her family's history.

This is a book that once you pick up you don't want to put down! It's magical and the language is beautiful. January, her friends and their love of genre fiction shine through every page! As they begin traveling to find other Doors and pass through them the book picks up tension and doesn't let go! This is a book full of adventure but not non-stop action, this is a character driven book told firmly from January's point of view but doesn't skimp on the other characters. Her journey in many ways reflects her father's journeys around the world but even though she only travels through the eastern part of the US as she finds the magical Doors, the magic of this world and others shines through.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review. This book is five stars all the way! I already pre-ordered it and I'm chatting it up to all my friends and family! Can't wait to see what the author comes up with next!

A stunning debut, The Ten Thousand Doors of January is exactly the sort of book that my Narnia-loving teenage heart would have been obsessed with and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is not to say that it is a YA book, but it is a lushly written coming-of-age story and portal fantasy set in early 1900's America with a lyrical writing style that is reminiscent of Victorian literature, yet with thoroughly modern sensibilities. Thematically, this is a book about love, about the importance of change, and also about privilege, gender bias, wealth inequality, racism, and multi-racial identity. All wrapped up in a magical tale that, at times, feels a bit like a fairy tale.

January Scaller has grown up as the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke while her father travels the world seeking out oddities and valuables for Locke's collection. But January discovers a Door to other worlds, and happens upon a book titled The Ten Thousand Doors that recounts tales of these other worlds and research into their existence and qualities. As she reads the book, this becomes a sort of story within a story with alternating chapters and I loved the progression of both stories leading to a conclusion that was very satisfying, even if it wasn't one that I found surprising. (note that the plot went the way I suspected it would quite early on, but I wasn't bothered by that because I wasn't reading this as a mystery.)

Layered into this story we get a nuanced handling of substantive issues including class, wealth, racial, and gender inequality. January is of mixed heritage, described as having copper skin, and her father is much darker. We see the inconsistencies of how she, her father, and other characters of color are treated and the ways that geography and appearance of wealth or lack thereof impact that treatment. January spends the book grappling with her "in-betweenness" and this is represented in a variety of ways, but ultimately serves to demonstrate the ways that the world places people in categories and get uncomfortable when they can't, and how this can affect your own sense of self. We also see the dramatic power inequalities between the poor and wealthy and between women and men. At one point January is committed to a mental institution where women were sent when they didn't conform to societal expectations, or to hide the product of an affair. This is only one example of gendered inequalities and I appreciate how the existence of other worlds serves to demonstrate how many different ways things can be done.

I could go on because this book is so rich, but suffice to say I think it is brilliantly written and also very enjoyable, particularly if you get along with the writing style. (Victorian with modern sensibilities and a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor and lyrical descriptions). This is one that will be going on my shelves. I received an advance copy for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Approved on Netgalley for an unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this - I think it took me a little bit to get into it but once I had I couldn't put it down. This is definitely different than anything I've read before. The story bounces around from past to present. You wonder what's real and what isn't for a while. Then you realize that this story and January are magical. This story isn't a happy one for most of the tale. Racism, sexism, the cruelties of a society that doesn't accept what's different. Unfortunately, something that still is prevalent today.

January begins to unlock her past and realizes that she doesn't have to be the locked up "good girl" any longer. She begins to blossom and she is punished for it. It's sad and it's harsh. But, you want her to become a fighter - you see her grow. Her magic is of course interesting and knowing there are other worlds is fascinating. But deep down this story is about people who look different struggling to find a place in a world that doesn't want them. The only way they are accepted is by escaping. I enjoyed it wholeheartedly. It was a beautiful story however very sad. I recommend it as it's eye opening and magical at the same time.

4 stars
The authors writing is beautiful. I feel that this book was very detailed and had a lot of fantastical elements to it. However, it was a slower read for me so I took my time and read a little at a time, which ended up working out for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for my review copy

This was one of my favorite reads this year! I knew immediately from the description that I would love it, and it did not let me down. I've posted a vlog about it on my channel and included it in my most recent wrap up.

I will be pre-ordering this book and will probably do a deeper dive video once it gets closer to the review date. THANK YOU FOR PUBLISHING THIS BOOK. It came at exactly the right time. It's the right amount of escapism mixed with real commentary on our world, and I have to admit, I came away from it feeling a bit more hopeful and willing to take action.