Title: The Ten Thousand Doors of January
Author: Alix E. Harrow
Publisher: Redhook
Release Date: September 10, 2019
Pages: 385
Book Source: NetGalley
“In the early 1900s, a young woman searches for her place in the world and the mystery behind a magical door in this captivating 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.” – Amazon
Jessica’s Review
This review is truly a hard one for me to write. I guess I should start by saying that going into The Ten Thousand Doors of January, I knew it was different from what I find myself typically attracted to. Now, just because it isn’t my typical read, doesn’t mean I shouldn’t step outside my “comfort zone” and read something different, right? Right.
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow is very highly-praised and I understand why. It is beautifully written and the descriptions the author uses really bring aspects of this book to life. The whole concept of the book is very unique and that I enjoyed.
I do have to admit, the book was rather slow for my taste. I found myself having a hard time getting immersed in the story. I believe I was at about 20% completed when I considered DNFing this book…but I keep trudging along.
The story goes back and forth between January’s physical day and a book she is reading called “The Ten Thousand Doors” which she found in an old trunk. January is looked down upon by most people due to her race and lives a secluded, structured life in a mansion that belongs to her caretaker/father’s employer, Mr. Locke. January’s father’s job is to collect “treasures” aka artifacts for Mr. Locke who is a collector. Through reading “The Ten Thousand Doors” is when January’s adventure unfolds.
Like I mentioned above, the story is unique, colorful, and written well…it just wasn’t my cup of tea. The adventure wasn’t as “adventurous” as I would have liked and the time it took to get to the adventures seemed long and winding.
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