The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

Book Description

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.

Review

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow is a captivating portal fantasy.

Set in the early 20th century, the story follows the life of January Scaller, a young woman living in the wealthy estate of Mr. Locke, her guardian. Isolated and estranged, January finds solace in the discovery of a mysterious book that tells tales of Doors—portals leading to other worlds. As she delves deeper into the book, she realizes these Doors are more than fictional tales.

They exist. *Shiver*

You all know I love a good portal fantasy, and boy does this novel deliver. But wait, there’s more!

Doors and Gorgeous Prose?!

Harrow’s writing is nothing short of magical. Her prose is graceful, vivid, and so, so beautiful. Detractors may say the prose borders on purple, but I found the way Harrow writes nearly as compelling as the story.

And what a story!

Throughout the novel, Harrow intertwines the worlds within the book with the world we know, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. Each page unravels new layers of depth. While some readers might find the story’s pacing slow, I enjoyed it. Not only was it fun to wallow in Harrow’s prose, the gradual unfolding of the story allowed for a deeper connection with the characters.

The characters of The Ten Thousand Doors of January are memorable. January is a brave and resilient protagonist, defying the expectations of her time and embarking on a quest for self-discovery. Her strength lies not in physical prowess but in her unwavering determination and love for the written word. The supporting characters were equally well-crafted.

At its core, this book is a celebration of storytelling and the power of dreams. It encourages readers to embrace their uniqueness and reminds us that there are endless possibilities in the world if we only dare to step through a door.

Read this book for the portal adventure. Or, read to be enchanted as the story transports you into a world of wonder, magic, and boundless imagination. Read this book if you appreciate the beauty of the written word. Whatever the reason, this isn’t a book to miss.

Content Warning

Abandonment, Animal Cruelty, Child Abuse, Discrimination, Kidnapping, Loss, Suicidal Ideation, Violence

The header photo is a composite image. Base image by Mārtiņš Zemlickis on Unsplash