Nadya’s story will break your heart. McGuire deftly dissects foreign adoption, the agency of children and once again, how even the best intentioned parents can really screw up their kids.

This series is gentle while laying some uncomfortable truths about parenting out on the table. I know I’ve squirmed some while reading. Recommended for teens (tweens might enjoy it, but may be a little young for the subject matter), as always, don’t start the series with this one. It’s fairly stand alone, but the world will be richer if you start with the first book.

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S ADRIFT IN CURRENTS CLEAN AND CLEAR ABOUT?
One of the advantages (and, to be fair, aggravating parts) of this series is that each book can be from anywhere on the series timeline. Here in the tenth installment, we get the origin story of someone that we got to know in the third book ( Beneath the Sugar Sky ). Reality itself is wibbly-wobbly in this series, why not timey wimey?

We meet Nadya at birth—where a young Russian woman who is not ready to be a mother is rushing to give her up—even before she's freaked out that Nadya is missing an arm. As we watch Nadya growing up, she doesn't really seem to care about the arm she never had. But when a couple of Americans come to adopt a disadvantaged Russian child, it starts to become a factor in her life.

She's not comfortable with her new life in the States (yet?), but when a prosthetic arm is imposed on her (in the name of help—see below), she's made to feel incomplete as well as Other. Her only solace is the pond a short walk from her adoptive parents' home where she can watch turtles—an animal that has long fascinated her.

Before she knows it, she falls through a Door and ends up in a world she doesn't understand or recognize (but really isn't that much stranger than the change from a Russian orphanage to a Colorado suburb).

THE LOST AND THE LONELY
I probably shouldn't have—but I laughed when she got the "Be Sure" message. It's in a seemingly-cruel place, but it was original and it meant the story was progressing. I also found her Door rather intriguing.

But better than that was the way her arrival in Belyrreka, the Land Beneath the Lake, was explained to her. Sometimes people come to Belyrreka* because a hero is needed to do something. But sometimes, it's just that someone isn't at home in their world and they need a place to fit in. Nadya is the latter, so it seems. Given that most of the children we've seen go through a Door to do something heroic, it's nice to see this option.

This doesn't mean she's incapable of heroism, or of doing something important. It just means that she probably ended up in Belyrreka because she belonged there more than on Earth.

This is really a slice-of-life story. We just get to see how Nadya lives and matures in a place where she feels that she belongs, with family, friends, and a purpose. Yes, in the back of our minds, we know that something is going to happen and she's going to end up at Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children. But until then... This novella is like the years between Aslan coronating the Pevensies and the fateful hunt for the White Stag—nothing heroic, nothing particularly notable. Just...life. Regular, ordinary, day-to-day life.

Well, "ordinary" in a world that's described as Beneath a Lake, where everyone is underwater to one degree or another (breathing without gills), full of talking animals, and where a river can magically endow people with gifts/obligations. So it's a loose use of the word "ordinary."

* And by implication, other worlds

I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE THIS ONE IS FAIR
Many of the children we've met—particularly if we've met their parents, too—aren't all that fond of their parents. They're critical of them (even before their Doors appear, definitely afterward). By and large, I've been with the children in their critiques and evaluations of the parents—even when it's clear that the parents are doing their best (which doesn't happen as often as it should).

I'm not convinced that Nadya is entirely fair when thinking about the adults in her life. Her appraisal of the orphanage staff (at least after they arranged for her to get adopted) is harsh when they really just did what they could to help her get out of the orphanage (which she sees, but attributes it to less-than-altruistic ends). Her parents really don't understand her (beyond the language) and are clumsy at best in their attempts to help her fit into Colorado. It's hard to tell how much of the assessment of their motivations and attempts comes from the omniscient narrator and how much is Nadya's. But really, I think whoever is doing the assessing could be more charitable (without giving blanket approval).

Particularly her adoptive father—I really get the sense that his affection is real and that in time, he'd have become what she needs. I'm not so sure about his wife, however... On some level, they are trying to make life better. But her ideas of better and what needs improved differ.

Now, Nadya is a prepubescent child yanked out of the only home she ever knew, brought to another country and culture without warning (or consent), and forced into a mold and environment that she's unprepared for. So, sure, she's going to be less than charitable—it's justified and understandable. I just wish the narration did a slightly better job of showing that.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT ADRIFT IN CURRENTS CLEAN AND CLEAR?
That aside...I loved Nadya. Getting to know her like this was great.

This is a book about home. About acceptance. About finding your place in the world, with people who "get" you, who care about you, and who want the best for you—even if that best doesn't necessarily make a lot of sense to them.

It's nice, it's comforting, and it's reassuring to see Nadya find this for herself and getting to enjoy it for as long as she does. Yes, it's hard to see her end up back in the "real world" knowing that means some misery before Eleanor comes to her (at least partial) rescue.

There's a little less whimsy to this novella than many of the other installments in the series—outside of the construction of the world. But if I had to tag this with any description, I'd probably use "cozy." If I didn't know this series, I'd assume it would belong with Travis Baldtree or S.L. Rowland. Maybe Heather Fawcett. But I do know better—this series continues to transcend easy categorization. Wayward Children is its own subgenre.

McGuire brings the emotional depth that Nadya and her story need. Belyrreka is a great world that operates on its own (self-aware) logic—it's a place I'd love to visit (assuming I wouldn't panic at the whole living underwater thing, which I can't promise), but wouldn't want to live. But McGuire brings it to life and fills it with people I wish I could get to know more.

This is definitely one of the stronger books in this series that is on a great roll lately, I commend it to your attention. As with just about every book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone or as an entry point (but I strongly encourage reading at least Every Heart a Doorway before any of the others). I was sad when it ended—not because of the way it ended, I just wasn't ready to move on. I predict I won't be alone in that.

Now, excuse me...I need to go figure out a way to cram in a re-read of Beneath a Sugar Sky to my schedule.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Tordotcom Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.

Another beautiful installment from the Wayward Children series. Seanan McGuire delivers another unique story, this time we are shown Nadya’s backstory.. Nadya was born without an arm and raised in a Russian orphanage. She is adopted through a Missionary program that brings her to the States. Her new parents are great and provide everything that she could possibly want but don't take the time to get to know the real her. When Nadya is given the chance to enter through the door she does and finds herself in a magical world filled with water, giant turtles and people that understand the Drowned Girl.

This was so good and definitely hit me hard emotionally. This deftly addresses the topics of adoption and disability in a refreshing way that made this story one of my favorites. I love this series and never want to see it end. Plus it has giant turtles 🐢. what more could you possibly want??

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

5 ⭐️

Seanan McGuire’s Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear is the tenth installment in the Wayward Children series, and it continues to deliver the immersive and emotionally resonant storytelling fans have come to love. This time, we follow Nadya, a girl with three mothers—the one who gave her life, the country that poisoned her, and the one who adopted her. Struggling with the rejection of a prosthetic arm forced upon her by her adoptive parents, Nadya stumbles through a door into Belyrreka, the Land Beneath the Lake. Here, amidst its watery wonders and lurking dangers, Nadya finds herself truly seen and accepted for who she is: a Drowned Girl, finally at home in the embrace of the river and its people.

Even ten books in, this series remains a must-read for me. Nadya’s journey is both familiar and fresh, offering the hallmark themes of belonging and identity that define the series. Belyrreka is a mesmerizing world filled with vivid imagery, from majestic giant turtles to perilous child-eating amphibians, and I loved seeing Nadya navigate its depths. While we know how her story ends, this prequel sheds light on her beginnings.

However, my main critique lies in the pacing. It takes quite a while for Nadya to reach Belyrreka, with much of the story spent explaining the circumstances that led her to the door. By now, readers are well-acquainted with the mechanics of why doors appear, and I found myself wishing for more time in the magical world itself. The moments in Belyrreka were richly drawn but felt too brief compared to the buildup.

Despite this, Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear is another strong entry in the Wayward Children series. It balances heartache and wonder, crafting a story that reminds us why these books continue to resonate. Fans of the series will undoubtedly enjoy Nadya’s tale and eagerly anticipate what McGuire has in store next.

Thank you to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This series never steers me wrong and I absolutely love that about it. Though it feels quite different in atmosphere, Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear was still a banger of a book that I greatly enjoyed.

Oh this series. I hope more books keep coming out because I just love these so much. If you've been following this series, Adrift gives you the backstory of Nadya, a Drowned Girl. It's a bit slower to get going, but is absolutely delightful. It's short and magical and I can't recommend this series enough!

I am constantly amazed at Seanan McGuire's ability to conjure completely unique worlds for these Wayward Children to tumble into.

Adrift in the Currents Clean and Clear was swift and enchanting, and like many of these novellas, an absolute gut punch. Even though Nadya's story was resolved in a previous installment, reading about her fall in love with her Drowned World only to know that she's going to be torn from it is a special kind of dread.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the ARC!

Seanan Mcguire again uses the Weyward Children to explore complex issues. Nadya is an orphan born with only one fully formed arm and hand. But you can't miss what you never had, and Nadya doesn't see herself as anything less than whole. Until the day she adopted by two American Christians intent on doing their Christian duty to Nadya, which includes a prophetic arm, whether or not she wants it.

One day Nadya stumbles on to a doorway and finds the way to herself and her true home...at least, for awhile.

Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series never fails to evoke powerful emotions. Most of the time, I find myself crying in despair for these children and their lost place in a world that was once their own. But every so often, McGuire crafts such a beautifully intricate world that I’m moved to tears purely by its wonder.

Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear is an extraordinary example of this and has quickly become my favorite in the series. The depth and care put into this world are breathtaking. Exploring Nadya’s story has been a true delight. When we first meet her in Beneath the Sugar Sky, I found her a bit too hard-edged for my liking. Yet, her self-sacrificing nature stood in stark contrast to that initial impression, creating an intriguing juxtaposition. Learning more about her and her world has brought everything full circle, making her story all the more compelling. I’m desperate to see where her journey leads next—did she make it back to Belyrreka? I have to know.

On a technical level, McGuire is nothing short of a master storyteller. Her worldbuilding is so seamless, so layered, that I’m consistently left in awe. The way she weaves these stories together is nothing short of genius. Every Hugo Award she’s earned is more than deserved.

“Nadya Sokolov as she grew older would come to say that she had three mothers: the one who bore her, the country that poisoned her, and the one who adopted her. ”
Here are reasons to read the YA Fantasy book:

10th in Series - in this 10th book in the wayward children series
Russia - We follow a new character, Nadia, when she is born and abandoned in Russia
Adopted - She is then adopted by a family in America, which is where her true trouble begin
Door - until one day she finds her favorite animal, a turtle, and that familiar (to us) phrase: Be Sure.


These books are relatively short, coming in at under 200 pages. It’s always interesting to see what each new world is like, as some are comforting and some are terrifying. Nadya finds herself in a sea world with her favorite animal, turtles. And to me this book was calming. Until you get to the end and you get to a cliffhanger. We have seen this before where a lot of times it’s a 2 book arc where one book is in the world and the other is where the character finds the school for wayward children (or vice versa, where the children finds the main character). I still really enjoy this series so if you are looking for a short read, make sure you start with book 1!

Seanan McGuire somehow manages to create new worlds in a small amount of pages. I always have a clear picture of where I am and when it's over, those vivid pictures stay with me.

In this particular world, the water element is quite interesting. It's fun and cozy but with that edge of danger running through it as with previous worlds. It's perfect for lovers of nature and animal companions. I will keep coming back for more as long as the series continues.

Oh, boy, do I love this series!

Nadya is a girl we have met in this world/series before. In Beneath the Sugar Sky she was introduced as The Drowned Girl who was one of Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children's 'long-timers.' Now we get Nadya's story. In Beneath the Sugar Sky we learned that Nadya, abandoned by her Russian mother who didn't want a child, was adopted by and American couple.

Nadya was born with only one arm. Her adoptive parents insist that she's less than complete and MUST wear a prosthetic arm. Nadya doesn't understand this as she's always felt perfectly whole, but she wears the prosthetic arm to please her adoptive parents. The arm, though, is uncomfortable and burdensome.

One day Nadya feels extremely frustrated, though she can't exactly explain why, and she wanders off. This is when she falls through the magical door that opens for the wayward children. She finds herself in Belyrreka, the Land Beneath the Lake. It is a water-filled world with amphibious creatures - some friendly and helpful, some threatening (one eats Nadya's prosthetic arm).

It is in Belyrreka that Nadya understands who she is (The Drowned Girl) and finds her home. But even a magical world that is 'home' has dangers and Nadya will have to fight to protect what she loves.

This series, and this book, is so remarkable. Author Seanan McGuire brings a highly poetic quality to the writing here which really sets a great mood for the story. It would be easy, I think, for someone to take this idea and have the wayward children find perfect lives in their new, magical worlds, but McGuire shows us that these worlds can be as dark, or even darker, than the world they've come from. The difference is that they have more control over their own decisions in these worlds on the otherside of the doors.

I honestly didn't remember Nadya as I started this (I do read a lot of books each year) but I did recognize 'the drowned girl' and went back to see when we had first heard about her. I liked that McGuire ties these books together despite the individual nature of each story.

Nadya is a wonderful character. She's set up as incredibly bright and curious and she takes her arrival in Belyrreka in stride. Even when her arm is eaten, she reacts with more curiosity than fear or anger.

I read a lot of fantasy, but these Wayward Children books take me away more than any others. I get completely lost in McGuire's wayward world - it is perfect combination of language, story, and character.

I highly recommend this book, but I do think it's important to read the entire series.

Looking for a good book? Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear is the 10th book in Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series, bringing us a back story to a character we've met before. It's dark and marvelous.

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

This is the 10th novella in the Wayward Children series and Seanan McGuire never disappoints. Nadya, is a Russian orphan adopted into a family in the United States. Her new parents take care of her, but treat her like a prop to flaunt around. Nadya was born with one arm and she's comfortable and capable. She's forced to wear a prosthetic that makes her feel... well, not like herself. Like the other children in the series who feel like they don't belong, Nadya falls through a door into the land beneath the lake called Belyrreka .

This addition to the series fleshes out Belyrreka (a land of giant turtles, impossible ships, talking foxes, and numerous magical rivers) while making you feel like you're adventuring alongside the Drowned Girl and her turtle companion. Getting the chance to see Nadya's relationships evolve through adulthood in the world that she loved was such a treat. This might just be one of the best, most compelling stories of Wayward Children so far.

I really enjoyed reading about Nadya's story. Loved that we got to see her growing up and really get a feel for her character. Her origin in Russia, the harshness of her beginning with her mom giving her up for adoption because she was born with a missing arm, and living in an orphanage, which was tough because of the meager existence, but also clearly filled with mutual respect if not love. In contrast, her adoption and assimilation in the US, which was also tough in a different way, and her finding her door and her way into the magic and the World of Belyrreka. The World building was lush with detail - so much in such a short book. And like others have said - the ending gutted me too.

the 10th book in the Wayward series is a huge hit for me. Some of them have fallen a little flat, but I thoroughly enjoyed Nadyas story. These stories are always so emotional as we are dealing with children who dont fit their world. It always leads to self reflection, and in a broader way- what happens to those who dont fit the mold in society. It is always tragic, when the child eventually gets spat back into reality. But for a little while, they feel a sense of belonging, and thats what brings me back to this series every time.

As the tenth book in this series, endings are starting to become a little predictable... However, I liked reading Nadya's story. The ending broke my heart, even if a little predictable. 3.5 stars

My immediate thought after finishing this book was “Whoohoo, we are back on track!” I delighted in the worldbuilding and the focus on a ‘new’ character. I understand Nadya was a part of Beneath the Sugar Sky but I didn’t recall her at all. I think I only read that volume once, back when it was first released. ...okay, I just skimmed a summary of Beneath the Sugar Sky. Apparently Nadya was a way more integral character than I was imagining just now, lol. I should maybe give that one a reread, now that I have Nadya’s backstory.

Belyyreka is water world, with the majority of the story taking place underwater. But Nadya first arrives in a forest, an ominous forest where she encounters a massive turtle that attempts to eat her. While Nadya soon moves on from the forest to her underwater life, the forest and lands beyond her underwater city tug at her curiosity. I enjoyed both the watery world as well as the prodding at a world that’s wider that it at first seems to our protagonist.

We do get a few glimpses at some grander worldbuilding (ie relating to the mechanics of the doors and worlds and the children that stumble into them). The adults of Belyyreka are well-familiar with children coming from other worlds. They lay out plainly for Nadya several points which we readers may have guessed at but haven’t yet had confirmed. At least one adult inhabitant that Nadya encounters came from our world. But this is not the main focus of the story, as it has been in other recent volumes.

Upon further reflection, after letting out my “whoohoo!”… I’m not sure the ending was wholly satisfying. Why was Nadya sent back in the first place? What made her no longer sure? Was it her desire to see beyond the place where she apparently belonged (ie beyond the underwater city)? Or was there a greater reason, not particular to Nadya but rather particular to her world, that kicked her out? Whatever was going on in the forest lands of Belyyreka definitely had me curious. It seemed to hint at grander implications about the worlds and their borders. I hope we get some further information or resolution on that front.

Still… even after so many books… every time… I am stunned and saddened when our ‘heroes’ get pulled back to our world, haha.

💭 The Bottom Line: Probably my favourite volume of Wayward Children #6-10, Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear recaptures some of what I loved about the earlier books in the series. For seasoned fans of the series, this is a solid entry in the even-numbered volumes, which you may enjoy even if you’ve found the series flagging lately.

I’ve been raving about these novellas for years now - they are magical and charming yet dark and sad. They don’t necessarily need to be read in order but in my opinion it does help with some of the character connections and backstories.

The main theme of the series is that there are doorways to other worlds for a select few - very troubled children in particular. Those that find their doorways, will often return home months or years later quite different and then find their way to the School for Wayward Children. Each novella follows a different child to tell their tale.

Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear is about Nadya who was born in Russia missing one arm. She was adopted and brought to America where she falls through her doorway into an underwater world full of sentient creatures including turtles.

I said earlier that some of these stories are sad right? Ugh! Get your tissues out for this ending!

McGuire’s stories get me right in the Feels! Every. Single. Time.

I read the arc via NetGalley and cannot recommend it enough!

I so badly wanted to like this. It was fine, I know a lot of people really like this series, but maybe this one is just not for me. I enjoyed the first half of the book. The adoption story was interesting, but I was lost once she fell into the door and was riding turtles. Though I did find the writing beautiful.

You know how romances have a guaranteed HEA? The darkish novellas of the Wayward Children series are like the opposite of that: guaranteed anti-HEA. Neglected kid finds happiness in fantasy world, but by the end they're right back where they started...

This entry focuses on Nadya, 9-year-old abandoned child living in a state-run Russian orphanage. She's adopted by a godfearing American couple who seem most excited by the fact that she was born without a right arm and they can give her a "better life," including a prosthesis she hasn't asked for. One day she falls through a door in a pond into a fantasy world of water, where humans live with the assistance of their beloved turtle companions. Like most of the novellas in this series, we see the comparison between Nadya's mundane existence and the radical acceptance she finds in the fantasy world. For example, she's almost immediately adopted by a loving family, and it appears that the entire world will do whatever it takes to keep her around. Of course, this makes the ending just that much more gut wrenching.

If you're familiar with the series, you know what you're in for if you pick this one up! This is a solid entry in the series, and I'll be interested to see what happens to Nadya back in the "real world."

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novella.