The Ten Thousand Doors of January

Oh my goodness, this book!! I just loved everything about it. I have no complaints, only love. The characters were so well-built. January had such depth and strength to her. There were a few times in the book where I was like, “No January, that’s going to hurt” but she did what needed to be done. Always. The villains were true villains, making me hate them the more I got to know them. The supporting characters were wonderful. They all had their own story, and yet I didn’t feel like we spent much time on backstory. Alix Harrow just weaved their stories right in and never missed a beat. The narration is written with the main character, January writing her story down, so she is speaking directly to the reader. I really enjoyed this point of view. There were times where she had me smiling at the way she spoke directly to us, and other times where I felt her heart break. It was so well done. The story is just amazing. January is writing her story down and in her story, she finds a book, which she also writes down. So, there is a book within a book. The very first time we dropped into the first book I was a bit skeptical, but all of a sudden, I was invested in both stories. The writing did not disappoint. Speaking of the Writing, I was blown away by Alix Harrow’s descriptive story. Her words just draw you in like nothing I have read before. I have quotes sprinkled into this post to give you a feel for her writing. I found it utterly beautiful and meaningful to me. Overall, the entire book was wonderful. I am SURE this will end up on my 2020 Top Reads list, and it is only January. With powerful writing, strong characters, and a story that will knock your socks off, The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a wonderful read! Content Warnings: There is one small scene with animal harm in it. It’s brief, but here’s the warning. To Read or Not To Read: You will enjoy this book if you like fantasy built around the world as we know it. Historical fantasy lovers will be very happy to have read this book as well! What's This Book About Anyway? January Scaller lives with Mr. Locke, a guardian of sorts, while her father travels the world finding treasures. She is constantly missing her never-present father, and often looks to Mr. Locke as a secondary father. Thankful when given any praise or small gift, she finds herself craving a family with a mother and a father, together under one roof. January finds a book hidden away in one of the many rooms in Mr. Locke’s mansion. She is sure it is another gift from her guardian, but as she reads, she is whisked away into stories of fantastic proportions. Doors that open leading to new worlds are filled with exciting adventures and as she dives into this new book, she finds there may be more truth to it than she originally thought.

This was my selection for my book group's read for this month. I selected it due to a few factors: 1) Needing a break from historical fiction (particularly WWII !) 2) Fantasy is outside my comfort zone so I thought it would be a good stretch read 3) Highly recommended by a book reviewer/blogger I highly respect 4) The cover is gorgeous (not a big factor, but it did play into my attraction to the book) Even though fantasy isn't a genre I normally gravitate toward, much of this reminded me of a more grown-up Harry Potter, and I ADORE HP. It may be due to my extremely high expectations, but those were not met even though I enjoyed the book. The premise is fantastic and I love the idea of Doors (with a capital 'D') which open into other worlds. There is a lot of creativity in the storyline which was pleased about. The writing is good and the intertwining plot lines are clever. As my headline states, my bookgroup was mixed. Two of the group got bogged down and didn't finish. Of the group who finished, half didn't like it and the other half rated it as a 7 or 8/10. The general consensus is that it is more similar to the Narnia books than the HP books. It also caught me off guard about how YA it felt much of the time. I have since learned that some bookstores are shelving it in the YA section which makes a lot of sense to me. Bottom line: Good enjoyable read, but fell short of being fabulous.

On rare occasions, a book speaks to your heart as well as your intellect, ‘The Ten Thousand Doors of January’ is just such a book. Its author, Alix E. Harrow is a “wordworker” of note. Not only does she write in beautifully poetic language, but also creates characters who invade your life and remain in memory long after your reading is over. A memorable fantasy writer must build a credible alternate world with words. This author certainly achieves that, (in fact - many worlds). Not since finishing J. R. R. Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Old Kingdom’ series by Garth Nix have I been so totally immersed in a fantasy story. But in addition, the author of Ten Thousand Doors writes with authority on social issues such as racial and sexual discrimination, male dominance and colonial power struggles; subjects she weaves into the fabric of her story without ever becoming preachy or condescending. This story is a fantasy, a quest, a mystery, a coming-of-age story, a love story and a social commentary, all rolled into one sensational book. January Scaller, daughter of Ade and Yule Ian, is raised to be an obedient, polite girl in the privileged home of rich Mr.Locke, her guardian. Her mother is missing, presumed dead; her father employed by Mr. Locke as a traveling gatherer of rare collectible items. But January, true to her heritage, retains a wild, wandering streak, which no amount of discipline is able to suppress. When she discovers that she possesses the power to open portals to other worlds, like her mother before her, the drama builds into a wild ride. The reader of this story is swept along with January, her faithful dog Sinbad (Bad), and her friends, Samuel and Jane, on a journey to worlds beyond the veil of the dark threshold. Haven’t we all wished on occasions in our youth to open a Door into another magical world? Haven’t we wanted to kick over the traces of convention and run free? If you still dream of magic, read this story. I wanted to start re-reading this story as soon as I had finished. I found this clever, whimsical book totally captivating. 5 Golden stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The aesthetic of this novel evokes the charm and intrigue of a Victorian curiosity cabinet, brimming with eclectic displays of oddities, scientific specimens, artifacts, and natural wonders, reminiscent of the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City. This setting serves as a metaphor for the labyrinthine world into which the protagonist, January Scaller, is born—a world she must navigate and ultimately escape. Unbeknownst to January at first, she exists within the figurative glass case of her guardian, Cornelius Locke. To Locke, January is merely a curiosity to be contained, a pawn in his overarching plan to minimize threats and exert control over the world. As an ex-historian, the author, Alix E. Harrow, resists the tendency in fiction to treat history as mere backdrop, instead embracing its complexity, realism, and often painful truths. The experiences of Harrow’s characters are thus both enlightening and harrowing. January confronts forces determined to close doors to her discovery and exploration, while these same forces impose doubt and demand subservience from her and those around her. Subservience and Control At the top of Locke's pyramid of subservience lie gilded cages, reserved for the privileged few who comply with his rules. For January, this existence feels like "borrowed privilege," wrapped in a veneer of wealth that separates her from the rest of the world. She compares her life to "Cinderella at the ball," aware that her finery is conditional, dependent on her adherence to unwritten rules. Under Locke's system, January faces relentless pressure to trade her autonomy for proximity to power—a bargain that grates against her nature. This defiance exacts a steep social price. Positions at the pyramid's base are vulnerable, and January is warned of the "different standard of living" awaiting her if she resists. Yet, the cost of submission is even higher, for it would mean placing herself back under Locke’s oppressive glass. As she reflects, “If you are too good and too quiet for too long, it will...always cost you in the end.” Despite having "everything any girl could want," January lacks the most essential freedoms: family and autonomy. Truth-Telling in a Twisted World January’s world is one where right and wrong are inverted, and truth comes at a heavy price. Her refusal to conform to Locke's narrative marks her as both a threat and an outsider. Speaking the truth challenges the illusions Locke cultivates, but in his system, truth-telling is easily dismissed as madness. "Most people can't tell the difference between truth-telling and madness," January observes. This societal gaslighting is reinforced by Locke’s persistent, insidious pressure to conform. "The will to be polite," January notes, "is fearfully strong. I wonder sometimes how much evil is permitted to run unchecked simply because it would be rude to interrupt it." Locke’s system distorts reality so thoroughly that people accept demonstrable falsehoods as truths. This collective complacency facilitates Locke’s mission to close doors—both literal and figurative—to broader perspectives and potential freedoms. January feels the weight of this suppression acutely, lamenting how easily a rich man can strip away one's voice, as casually as signing a bank loan. Thematic Exploration: Travel and Transformation A central theme of the novel is travel—not merely physical movement, but the transformative journey of crossing boundaries into other worlds and perspectives. January’s family discovers hope through doors that connect them to other people and places, where "things commonplace in one world may be perceived as miraculous in another." For January, true travel means breaking away from Locke’s oppressive guidance and plunging into the unknown. It’s an act of courage, requiring her to embrace exposure, change, and the risk of loss. Crossing thresholds often demands solitude. As January observes, some boundaries must be crossed alone, "like an explorer at the precipice of some new, wild world...entirely [oneself]...and entirely alone." Yet, once one has glimpsed another world, its existence can never be denied—a reality Locke and his agents strive to suppress. Challenging Power Structures The novel critiques systems that classify and control people, supporting power structures that deny individuals their realities. It doesn’t limit this critique to dominant power structures but extends it to any that perpetuate oppression and conformity. Locke's obsession with sealing doors to "magic, secrets, or forgotten spaces" reflects his fear of change and the unknown. His paranoia drives him to create a system that mirrors the very chaos he seeks to prevent, imposing subsistence, submission, and violence on others. January, however, embodies the potential of transformation. Her in-between social status, while isolating, grants her the resilience and adaptability to navigate doors to other worlds. She recognizes that "things can't just keep on forever the way they are" and urges others to embrace change, despite its dangers. “We should find our own power and write it on the world,” she declares, challenging readers to open their own doors to possibility. Application to Life and Legacy This novel ultimately celebrates the courage to dream, the curiosity to explore, and the strength to challenge oppressive systems. January’s journey invites readers to confront the limits of their own worlds and embrace the transformative power of change. As she boldly proclaims, “Be strong and shine powerfully, beautifully strange, raised in the light of ten thousand suns.”

Absolutely enchanting. This book sat in my "to read" list for far too long. I was immediately swept up in worlds with Doors. I honestly feel like a part of me has healed through this fantastic adventure. Definitely one of my favourite reads of the year so far!

I love me a good character-driven novel. If you aren't into that, well, perhaps The Ten Thousand Doors of January won't be for you. Harrow brings us deeply and intimately into January's mind. But this book isn't just about January, though we see most of the book through her eyes. January's character is so unique. To some, she might be frustrating, but she's learning how to break away from being a "good girl" -- a girl who must do what society expects of her at all times -- and become the woman she is meant to be. Watching her grow through these pages is wonderful. And Harrow's writing. It's lush, immersive, and eye-catching. I found I wanted to stop often to document quotes, but I didn't want to stop reading the text. Quite a few memorable lines were left undocumented in my reading. The Ten Thousand Doors of January opens to share this is January writing her own story. We find January's distinct voice and passion for not only word but individual letters immediate and enrapturing. When my book club discussed The Ten Thousand Doors of January, almost everyone mentioned pacing problems. And it wasn't until I listened to their perspective that this even occurred to me. Harrow's writing is leisurely. I never thought the book was slow in the moment. I devoured every word. But, hindsight is 20/20, and I think the first 150 pages or so could have been tighter. All in all, The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a beautiful stand-alone fantasy. Harrow's writing is exquisite. The novel honors adventure, the written word, and the power of stories. I will definitely keep an eye open for future works from Alix E. Harrow.

I love Alix E Harrow’s the Once and Future witches. Her prose & story telling is beautiful. This book is full of relatable quotes and swoon worthy prose, but it is very slow starting. The first 45% of the book was a muddy uphill trek for me, I was considering not finishing it because it was just arduous and confusing and bland. But I muscled through & WHEW! when all those pieces fit together and things started to make sense, I was hooked. The ending is beautiful & I enjoyed it. If I average out the first half’s low rating with the second half’s high rating becomes a 2.5 for me. I probably won’t reread the ten thousand doors of January, but it was worth finishing. Recommended to people who like puzzles, historical fiction & the movie Treasure Planet

I love this story but Im not impressed with the actual book. I bought it to give as a gift and it wasnt even trimmed at all by the manufacturer. The book ends are horribly uneven and are longer than the cover. Looks like I got it at the dump. But I paid full price. I chose 5 stars for the author, not the quality of the crap book manufacturing.

Las hojas no vienen bien cortadas y es mucho más notorio desde la parte de abajo. Aún no lo leo, pero esta edición me dejó decepcionada.

So far has me completely wrapped. So unique. Highly recommend

Great book

I'm 69 and a physical scientist and normally go for Jason Bourne / Jack Reacher class thrillers, but mainly Science Fiction. I also love Lord of the Rings! The BookBub blurb for '1000 Doors' caught my eye so I looked at the 3* reviews. These were intriguing enough to read the Kindle sample ... and I was hooked. Its a fantasy, but not the traditional elves/dwarves/GoT/LotR/Pern type. There is no magic per se - but the Doors (not doors) and the way they are manipulated to travel between worlds is definitely not Science but also not Magic. January's story is slowly but fully developed starting when she is 7 years old and discovers her ability to use 'Doors', jumping several years until she is old enough to break free and begin to control her own destiny. The development of the world(s) she lives in and explores is handled well with enough revealed to keep you hooked but neither overwhelmed nor bewildered nor feeling that the author is stuffing info down your throat. Character development is handles at an appropriate rate so that the characters' behaviours work for the worlds and stage of their journeys they find themselves in. The rate of the story development, similarly, makes sense - giving good hints about where we are being lead without spoiling the 'reveals' and twists and turns. The characters are accessible and though in no way perfect are worthy of your interest and support, Rarely seen in modern books, but welcome, is that the baddies are really bad, but believable within their own view of what they are doing. Though I couldn't empathise, nor agree, with their ethos and behaviour, I could see where they were coming from; a sign of a good Baddy is that you can see why they think that they are a Goody! The authors writing and craft skills are excellent, and somewhat to my surprise I quickly got caught up in January's and Samuel's and Adelaide's quests. Another nice thing nowadays is that the story is complete, and not the start of an interminable sequence of 'adventures' This is a story that is worth risking Much to my surprise

Ein Buch was überrascht. Die Geschichte ist durchgehend spannend und die Charaktere sehr lebhaft und glaubwürdig. Es ist ein schöner fließender und bildlicher Schreibstil. Egal, welches Genre man bevorzugt, ich würde dieses Buch jeden leidenschaftlichen Leser empfehlen. Eine Geschichte, die mich sehr berührt hat.