Book Review: "The Ten Thousand Doors of January" by Alix E. Harrow
“The Ten Thousand Doors of January” by Alix E. Harrow
Bookshop | Kindle
Publisher Synopsis: 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.
Rating (out of 5): 4.5
Review: Part historical fiction, part fantasy, “The Ten Thousand Doors of January” is a beautifully written novel that will make you long for Doors of your own (partly to escape the hellhole we currently live in, and partly just for the adventure).
January, a young woman on the cusp of adulthood in the early 1900s, is our protagonist and the novel is told through her lens. She has no recollection of her mother and her father is in the employ of a wealthy benefactor, often traveling the globe while January resides in the benefactor’s mansion. After she finds a strange book, the novel progresses into a “book within a book” format, and the book begins to reveal strange truths to January that she thought were only figments of her imagination.
January is an incredible protagonist. She’s strong-willed, opinionated, fierce, and definitely a woman ahead of her time. There’s no way you can read this and not root for her as she pushes back against her benefactor and his allies, who are all members of a mysterious archaeological society.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but the novel is layer upon layer of mysteries that slowly unfolds as you get deeper and deeper into it—and discover more Doors and worlds. And Harrow doesn’t shy away from themes of classism, sexism, and racism, which further add to its readability.
TL;DR: “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” but for adults? It’s a beautiful novel that explores complex themes through an other-wordly lens, with a main character who you will definitely be cheering for.
If you liked this, try:
“Ninth House” by Leigh Bardugo (Bookshop | Kindle) (Elizabeth’s review)
“The City We Became” by N.K. Jemisin (Bookshop | Kindle) (my review)
“An Unkindness of Magicians” by Kat Howard (Bookshop | Kindle) (my review)
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