Every Heart a Doorway - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Down Among the Sticks and Bones - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Beneath the Sugar Sky - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

In An Absent Dream - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We've officially returned to Elenor West's School for Wayward Children and wow this may be my favorite installment in the series yet!

After all, I've come to ask for your help. But I warn you, this isn't a tale for the faint of heart. It is a story of murder, and betrayal, and sisterly love turned sour. 

—>characters<—

Jack - Jack has returned, just not quite herself, from the Moors and requests the help of Kade, Christopher, and Cora to set things right. Queer (unclear if bi or lesbian, in f/f romance), has OCD (depicted on page and identified as such

Alexis - Jack's betrothed that we met in Down Among the Sticks and Bones. Now resurrected twice and ready to help Jack set things right. Plus size, lesbian.

Kade - Second in command, helps Jack on her quest, Goblin prince. Trans-man.

Christopher - Happy to have a friend back, sad friends keep finding their doors. In love with the Skeleton Princess from Mariposa. Cancer survivor, Mexican-American, overall sweetheart.

Cora - Fiesty new(ish) character from the Land Beneath the Lake, former mermaid with blue/green hair. Plus size and cares deeply for her friends.

Sumi - She did die in book one, but was brought back to life in book three because prophecies and such. Japanese, one of the few people that loves and accepts Jack and doesn't find her *that* creepy.

It was, as it so often is, a dark and stormy night ... 

–>plot<–

At the end of Every Heart a Doorway, Jack returns to the Moors with Jill. Jill isn't so keen on not being able to become immortal anymore and tries to right this perceived wrong. Things go from there.

Really, that's all I can say without spoilers.

That being said, I loved the adventure in this book and I loved being able to get more of the Moors, currently, my favorite of the worlds the kids travel too, next to Nancy's underworld. Being able to explore some of the other parts of the Moors was so much fun and really helped this world develop more into the Lovecraftian horror movie it was inspired to be.

I also loved the snark in this book. The characters finding out Jack had a girlfriend or Jack and Kade having an exchange about the "wrong body" made me chuckle and also appreciate McGuire's nuance she's been able to put into her characters. These are short books, yet throughout the series, I feel like I really know these characters, these worlds, their struggles, and AH I WANT MORE.

Also, the discussion of mortality that was touched upon in this book was done so well. Jack needs to do some pretty crappy things and while her friends try to support her by acknowledging the suffering of the few helps the many, Jack is still able to recognize her monstrous deeds and is able to reflect on what that means for her.

Friends don't let friends go into danger alone.

Final Thoughts:

As mentioned before, this is probably my favorite in the series so far. I love how the books are becoming more interconnected and how each book is able to expand on the world and characters just a little bit more. I cannot wait to read more in this series.

Here's to hoping we get more worlds to explore, more characters to fall in love with, and more time to revisit our favorites.

You know what the problem with the books in this series is? They're not long enough! I absolutely adore this series, but I always want more. More of the characters and more of the worlds. It's fascinating!

Jack is in trouble. She has a bizarre problem and needs to make things right. Doing so is risky, but doing nothing is more dangerous. It's best to get into this blind. To say almost anything about this gives away major plot points. Most of it does take place in the Moors. This world was introduced in Down Among the Sticks and Bones. It's a disturbing and frightening place and more of it was explored. It was good to finally find out what happened to Jack and Jill after returning to the moors at the end of Every Heart a Doorway.

In this house we stan Seanan McGuire and this series is a major reason why. I am completely obsessed with her October Daye urban fantasy series and her hilarious InCryptid series, but something about the Wayward Children is just pure magic.

This series is primarily set in a boarding school for kids who have fallen into magical worlds through doorways or cupboards or wardrobes or rabbit holes, and then had to unceremoniously return home where everything is “normal” but nothing is right anymore. Led by the incomparable Eleanor West, this school allows these children to be loved and protected and fully themselves, as much as they can outside of their magical adopted-homes. Each one of these books is amazing — I think I’ve rated every one in the series 5 stars so far. McGuire’s imagination is incomparable — she has seemingly limitless numbers of magical worlds that these kids have returned from. Every character is beautifully, wholly drawn and perfectly broken in their own special way.

This book is book 5 in the series, and it was absolutely no exception. We return to some favorite characters, twin girls Jack and Jill, who fell through a dress up trunk into The Moors, a horrific world of vampires and mad scientists. McGuire does a masterful job of making both girls monsters, but in different ways because of the masters they found themselves living with. This is the third story to focus on Jack and Jill — we saw them return to The Moors at the end of Every Heart a Doorway and we saw their origin story in Down Among the Sticks and Bones. This meant that revisiting their story in this third book felt a lot like returning to old friends you’d lost touch with and catching up.

But like any good horror world, things have not been calm since we last saw Jack and Jill and now Jack needs her friends’ help to defeat her sister, who has stolen her body and intends to conquer The Moors. There are so many twists and turns, but at the end of the day, these books are a tribute to found family and friendship and this one was no different. The magical worlds and the fantasy elements are all really a stage to highlight the beauty that happens when supposed outcasts find their place in the world. It’s the relationships that are the stars here and throughout this series, and it’s done beautifully in this installment. I cannot wait for number 6!

Come Tumbling Down is the latest installment in the Wayward Children series, and really does not make sense as a starting point. We’re thrown into it as a girl nobody knows comes through Jack and Jill’s door, carrying the unconscious body of… Jill? And naturally there’s a whole new quest, despite all the rules.

I’ll admit to racing through this and definitely not lingering on anything. Jack is too close to home, with her serious OCD; I remember exactly what it’s like to worry that every inch of the skin of the body you’re in could be making you die any minute now. I also don’t enjoy the bits where she’s actually losing her entire mind as a result of the intensity of her OCD. I think I’m too close to it to fairly judge whether Jack’s behaviour seems right, but it didn’t feel right to me, at least not towards the end.

(Yes, I’m aware that Seanan McGuire is #ownvoices when it comes to OCD.)

I also wondered if it was intentional that everything the characters do actually enables Jack’s OCD, because I get the feeling it is intended to be read as supportive. And maybe it is, for someone with a very different view of OCD than I have, I’ll acknowledge that: I know that coming back from those compulsive behaviours is really hard, and some people don’t want to (and/or do not believe it is possible). But knowing how I came back from it, I can’t stand the way everyone enables it in this book, because I know that when I was in that position, people kindly caving to my compulsions made them worse.

For me, it really isn’t the epitome of love to create a map of someone’s freckles to show them that none of them are cancerous and help them monitor it obsessively — I can see that it’s actively making that person sicker. It’s not a matter of “wear gloves and you’ll be fine”; the gloves do not help, there’ll just be another step after the gloves (refusing to touch anything at all, perhaps). I remember my loved ones being torn between reassuring me and knowing they shouldn’t; it’s not an easy thing to do. But in my experience, OCD isn’t some kind of lifelong thing you just have to live with. There is treatment, you can stop being afraid. It’s rough, but it can be done, and the longer you delay doing it and engage in the reassurance behaviour, the harder it is. So it was pretty fraught reading all these things the characters do for Jack which seem kind and (for a real person) would probably just push her further into paranoia. Maybe Seanan McGuire experiences it a different way, but from my own perspective and a clinical understanding of OCD, I just cannot enjoy this the way I suspect it is meant to be enjoyed.

Also, I just really want to see Kade get a story for himself. Not somebody else’s quest, not somebody else’s happy ending. He’s enabled almost every other character’s story so far, without being given the chance to grow and find his own place for himself.

Reading this, I did enjoy it a lot, but the more I think about it, the less I do. There’s all kinds of interesting stuff going on with the balance of Jack’s world and meta-fictional stuff about stories, but… for me, this one was overshadowed by Jack’s OCD. And yeah, that’s probably a very personal thing, but that’s allowed.

Thanks to the publisher for this ARC. This is a lovely addition to this series. It brings readers back to Jack and Jill's world of the Moors. While, I don't think it was necessary to go back to Jack and Jill it did bring a conclusion to their story (hopefully) and defined Jack's character some more. The relationship between Jack and Alexis was good and I like how McGuire fully embraces characters as they are, not as the world would try to define them. It would be wonderful if Christopher's world was explored in another part of this series, as well as Kade's.

This was another fantastic addition to the Wayward Children series, returning to two of my most beloved characters. We get to further explore the horrors of The Moors as well as the mechanics of Jack and Jill's world. I loved the subtle nods to other gothic horror entitites and after seeing the Drowned Gods of The Moors I can't wait to finally visit an actual Drowned World.

This was a great continuation of the Wayward Children series. I had previously loved reading Down Among the Sticks and Bones so I was excited to get back to the story of Jack and Jill. The creativity that goes in to all these different worlds is pretty astounding. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

#ComeTumblingDown
#NetGalley #SeriesBooks
#Edelweiss
#Series #MustRead2020
Thank you to MacMillan for the opportunity to read and review Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire. As usual an excellent addition to her series of the Wayward Children. I can't say that I have ever been disappointed in anything that she has authored. The Wayward Children series continues to be captivating and interesting. The magic and blend of McGuire's storytelling make this series a treat! A must read for adults!

I loved loved this book. I have really enjoyed this whole series, but Down Among the Sticks and Bones was my favorite of the ones before this one, mostly because Jack was my favorite character. So, it was so great to be able to revisit this character. This book at the very least is now tied with Down Among... for my favorite in the series. It was a great addition to the series and I am already so excited to see what happens next.

Cuando Jack dejó el Hogar de Eleanor West para Niños Extraviados llevaba a cuestas el cadáver de su hermana gemela, a la que acababa de asesinar, de vuelta a Los Páramos. Pero en su mundo adoptivo la muerte no es irreversible y cuando Jack regresa al colegio no es la misma. Está claro que ha sucedido algo terrible y ahora el propio equilibrio de Los Páramos está en peligro. Se cierne un desastre que sólo sus amigas pueden ayudarle a evitar.
La norma de "Sin aventuras" de Eleanor West va a romperse de nuevo.

Gracias a la providencia la saga de Seanan McGuire no sigue una línea cronológica, como podéis ver: la segunda novela es una precuela, el tercero, Beneath the Sugar Sky, vuelve a la trama original, pero el cuarto, In an absent dream, otra vez es una precuela de un personaje poco importante. Un lío, vamos. Pero tuve suerte y el quinto por fin vuelve a Jack y Jill, ¡así que me moría de ganas de leerlo!

Las cosas parecen estar tranquilas en el Hogar de Eleanor West para Niñas Extraviadas. Al menos, hasta que una tormenta eléctrica en el sótano crea una puerta de otro mundo y, al contrario de lo que suele suceder, no está ahí para llevarse a nadie, sino para devolverla. Jack cruza la puerta junto a su novia Alexis, pero no son exactamente ellas. Jack tiene ahora el cuerpo de Jill, y tras una segunda resurrección complicada, Alexis necesita "recargarse" con electricidad o pierde la voz y las fuerzas.
Necesitan ayuda de sus antiguas compañeras para regresar a Los Páramos y derrotar al Maestro y a Jill de una vez por todas, quienes han asesinado al Doctor Blake e intercambiado los cuerpos de Jack y Jill para poder convertirla en una vampira, ya que su cuerpo original había sido resucitado y ya no servía.

Con este argumento, la fobia con la suciedad y el OCD de Jack cobran protagonismo. Ya había sido parte del personaje, incapaz de tocar nada sin guantes, pero ahora es imprescindible para la trama, ya que Jack no soporta estar en un cuerpo que no sabe dónde ha estado, llegando a compararlo con la disforia de Kade.

La trama no tiene muchas sorpresas y aunque se hace un poco pesada al principio, en seguida se recupera cuando viajan a Los Páramos. Como siempre, me encanta que se desarrolle en ese mundo, del que por fin vemos más. En el eje que hemos mencionado es un mundo de Lógica y Maldad, con magia basada en la ciencia y criaturas como hombres lobo y monstruos marinos Lovecraftianos, que cobrarán algún protagonismo en esta novela. Está claro que está basado en las novelas góticas, especialmente Frankenstein y Drácula, y Seanan McGuire hace un trabajo maravilloso representándolo en su narrativa tanto con el entorno como con el comportamiento del resto de habitantes.

"Los Páramos nos convirtió a ambas en monstruos. Pero hizo un mejor trabajo conmigo."

Pero realmente yo estoy ahí por el dramón familiar de Jack y Jill, y me quedé satisfecha al cien por cien. No sólo por cómo se resolvió, sino porque vimos en retrospectiva cómo podrían haber sucedido las cosas si hubiesen tomado distintas decisiones, si hubiesen seguido juntas, si hubiesen actuado como hermanas y no como rivales. Tal vez sea el final de la historia para Jack y Jill o tal vez no, pero para mí ha sido un final redondo.

I loved this book and this series. In a world where series are 400-600 pages a pop it is refreshing to have one that is small but done in a way that packs such a heartfelt and brilliantly done punch.

I love this series (except "Under the Sugar Sky" - judge me)! I started reading this one, not having any idea which characters/worlds it would be about. To my utter joy, IT'S JACK AND JILL'S WORLD AGAIN! Original, touching, dark, creepy, funny, "Come Tumbling Down" earned its spot on the top of my list of favorite books in this incredible series - right next to "Down Among the Sticks and Bones."

Come Tumbling Down is the fifth title in a series that has remained imaginative and full. Wayward Children is the perfect door for those returning to fantasy or newcomers. There is no stale storytelling here, McGuire transforms horror cliches and dismantles fairy tale tropes to create a story that is dark and hopeful and violent and full to the gills of cotton candy. I loved returning to the world of Jack and Jill with their lightening and windmills. I highly recommend reading Down Among the Sticks and Bones prior to this one as it's a direct continuation of their story.

There's a timeless quality to these stories that would speak to children as easily as it speaks to the child in all of us. We're all waiting for a door to take us home, to a place that makes as much sense as nonsense and is perfect for us. While I'm still waiting for mine I'll continue to pick up these titles and enjoy a little dark nonsense.

Thanks to Tor and NetGalley for this copy to review.

Seanan McGuire never lets me down; I loved this so much!! We finally go back to the Moors, my personal favorite world. This is a fast paced and short read. A great reason to pick it up!

Characters

This fifth installment is about characters that I already knew and loved. There were a few new characters introduced, which I also really enjoyed reading about. I loved the two horses, Pony and Bones, one has been pieced together and the other is a skeleton. I enjoyed being introduced to Alexis and her relationship with Jack. I really love Kade's character and I really feel for him in this book. Sumi is full of nonsensical ramblings and I really enjoyed her in this book too. I love their friendship and how they band together to support and help each other.

Story

I thoroughly enjoyed this next installment. The story was great, but I didn't love it as much as others. I think maybe it's because there was a lot of back and forth and the reader goes back to the Moors, which I love, but I wanted something new. I wanted to learn about a new world. I also felt like the other books in this series could stand on their own, and this one I think is too dependent on the others to be able to do that. Maybe that's why I felt this story was lacking a little something that I couldn't quite pinpoint. On the other hand, I really enjoyed how all the stories weave together.

Writing

The writing in this book, as always, is great. I love reading each one of these books and always jot down quotes as I'm reading them. Seanan McGuire has a way with words, for sure. She can capture so much in such a short span of a book. She evokes so many emotions with such few words. I don't even read the synopsis of these books anymore because I trust McGuire to deliver. Her ability to create these fantastical worlds and describe them so vividly is amazing to me.

Overall

I really enjoyed this book. As I mentioned earlier, it felt like it was too dependent on the other stories. So, maybe it's setting up for another book on down the line or it was the end of Jack's story, I'm not sure. But, it was still a really enjoyable read for me. I absolutely adore this series and I will be continuing on until it's finished. This was my most anticipated release of 2020 and it didn't disappoint. This book was also my very first pre-order, and I'm so happy to have it in my collection. I really love this world and these characters and I can't wait for the next one.

This is the 5th book in the Wayward Children series and after book #4 I am not too proud to write that this book is one of my most anticipated reads of 2020! This book did not disappoint-- you have to read the others to enjoy this one as much as I did, so if you are a reader of YA or appreciate an angst-y series, pick it up!

Someone mentioned on Goodreads that she hoped this series never ends, and I totally agree! The Wayward Children series is lovely, with just enough darkness for me.
If you haven't read this series, I highly recommend it, and I look forward to the next installment.

I adore this series but this one fell just short of the others to me. Still great though since we got to see the characters together and revisit one of their worlds. This story started out back at the Wayward school which I loved revisiting. Although it didn't stay quiet for long as Jack, a character who has already gotten her own book in this series, returns in Jill's body and needs her friends help to restore herself and her world. A quick adventure follows as the group returns to the Moors to help. I enjoyed seeing the dynamics of the characters as they worked together and how their worlds informed their personalities and actions. It emphasized how they didn't fit in Jack's world anymore than they fit in the world they were born in, but rather still longed for doors back to the worlds they fit in best. I love the descriptions of worlds and their importance and the details in the descriptions and character depictions are always amazing. Unfortunately, this one's plot felt slightly less compelling because so much of the short book was reviewing what we already knew about the characters and this world setting. But I still love this series and will read whatever the author wants to write for it.

My Review: I think the fun part about this series is imagining which world you would do well or which would suit you best. Besides the Goblin Market, the Moors would probably suit me best. I have really enjoyed every time we have gotten to follow Jack and Jill's adventures on the other side of their door, and this was just a step up. I loved the expansion of the Moors setting and it was great to have so many of my favorite characters on a forbidden quest. As the Moors are a particularly dark world, it is a bit spooky and gruesome and may not be for everyone, but my Frankenstein loving heart really enjoyed it!

My Rating: I so enjoyed this book, while it may not be a favorite in the series, I still loved revisiting the Moors and also getting to see some favorite characters again. I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag!

This is probably my favourite ongoing fantasy series right now and honestly I would be happy if it carried on forever. There are that many stories that are still to be told!
Creepy, disturbing, enchanting, and heartbreaking, Come Tumbling Down is an emotional instalment in the Wayward Children series. I'm glad we returned to Jack and Jill and the Moors and were able to see how their story played out. A lot of tough choices, some really well done discussions on mental health, and a further glimpse into many side characters (when are Kade and Christopher getting their own books?!) made for another highly enjoyable read by Seanan McGuire.