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A review by phoenixs
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
2.0
2.5 stars. I wanted to like this book, I really did.
First off, I love the concept. It’s more the execution of this narrative that bothers me. I will also echo another reviewer in saying that I was definitely not the target audience for this book. The tone felt very uneven to me, but felt aimed at a younger crowd primarily. For perspective, I didn’t enjoy the little I played of Life is Strange for similar reasons. There was so much high school drama and irritating banter. I’ve never been fond of narratives that centre around high school politics, but thought that the portal fantasy element would make this more tolerable. I was wrong. I now know my gut reaction is correct concerning most high school-based narratives; unless something is seriously shaken up concept wise, it feels very wash-rinse-repeat for me. And I’ve never wanted to revisit all the toxicity of high school. I already learned what I needed to learn, why rehash it?
My other problems with the story were that the characters, save Kade and Nancy, were more sketches of characters than fully-realized portraits. I get the feeling that since this is a series, this book is more of an introduction than anything to the cast. But that’s not a good enough excuse when the first book is a murder mystery. I barely knew who Sumi was before she was killed—I basically only saw one side of her and then heard one or two impressions of what she can be like in other instances. Why do I care that she was killed beyond the obvious, that I wouldn’t want anyone to be killed? Especially not a teenager who has their whole life ahead of them. There simply isn’t enough time in a novella to build significant empathy with everyone. I also didn’t connect with Jack and Jill much, they seemed interesting and offered a good glimpse of what some twins/siblings go through with controlling parents. But other than Jack being forced to grow up and act mature beyond her years as a mad scientist protégée, why do I care if she gets hurt? All I know is she has an almost cliche sociopathic disconnect from her experiments. She’s also detached enough that she’s okay of disposing of a fellow murdered classmate’s body in acid. I suppose maybe she was there in the text to represent neurodivergent individuals...? But if so, this seems a rather problematic way to rep that. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with neurodivergent people, but something didn’t sit well with how they portrayed them in this. Although I’m happy that they attempted to show how those individuals often find themselves in damned-if-you-do/don’t situations.
That brings me to my next point, the lgbtqia+ rep wasn’t the worst, but it felt ham-fisted or awkward to me. Kade’s trans rep seemed the most straightforward, but still rather heavy-handed. Nancy’s asexual rep often read like a pamphlet, despite the statements she gave being true for asexual romantic individuals. At times I was worried they were conflating asexual and aromantic, but on rereading the passages that discuss her orientation I realize that she was not. The author did confuse me on her orientation however, because I don’t know of any asexual person who thinks dating equals sexual relationships. A little more show and less tell would’ve strengthened her rep considerably.
Lastly, this murder mystery was predictable to me. By the time you get to the second victim, some of the speculation by the characters and the narrator practically tell you it’s Jill. Yet since Jill was absent for most of the novella, there’s again little suspense or dismay to be had with the revelation.
I like what this novella stands for. I’m happy that more writers want to strive for diverse casts. I was hoping I could’ve connected in the way some of my friends have connected to it, because its themes or home and belonging and tolerance are beautiful. But if all I connected to amounts to maybe a tentative empathy for two characters and an affirmation in the last pages of choosing your own destiny, I can’t be dishonest and say the reading experience was enjoyable.
I respect those who love this text, because it has great intentions. But the author’s execution left me mostly cold and indifferent to the fates of these characters. I’m disappointed I can’t recommend this one.
First off, I love the concept. It’s more the execution of this narrative that bothers me. I will also echo another reviewer in saying that I was definitely not the target audience for this book. The tone felt very uneven to me, but felt aimed at a younger crowd primarily. For perspective, I didn’t enjoy the little I played of Life is Strange for similar reasons. There was so much high school drama and irritating banter. I’ve never been fond of narratives that centre around high school politics, but thought that the portal fantasy element would make this more tolerable. I was wrong. I now know my gut reaction is correct concerning most high school-based narratives; unless something is seriously shaken up concept wise, it feels very wash-rinse-repeat for me. And I’ve never wanted to revisit all the toxicity of high school. I already learned what I needed to learn, why rehash it?
My other problems with the story were that the characters, save Kade and Nancy, were more sketches of characters than fully-realized portraits. I get the feeling that since this is a series, this book is more of an introduction than anything to the cast. But that’s not a good enough excuse when the first book is a murder mystery. I barely knew who Sumi was before she was killed—I basically only saw one side of her and then heard one or two impressions of what she can be like in other instances. Why do I care that she was killed beyond the obvious, that I wouldn’t want anyone to be killed? Especially not a teenager who has their whole life ahead of them. There simply isn’t enough time in a novella to build significant empathy with everyone. I also didn’t connect with Jack and Jill much, they seemed interesting and offered a good glimpse of what some twins/siblings go through with controlling parents. But other than Jack being forced to grow up and act mature beyond her years as a mad scientist protégée, why do I care if she gets hurt? All I know is she has an almost cliche sociopathic disconnect from her experiments. She’s also detached enough that she’s okay of disposing of a fellow murdered classmate’s body in acid. I suppose maybe she was there in the text to represent neurodivergent individuals...? But if so, this seems a rather problematic way to rep that. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with neurodivergent people, but something didn’t sit well with how they portrayed them in this. Although I’m happy that they attempted to show how those individuals often find themselves in damned-if-you-do/don’t situations.
That brings me to my next point, the lgbtqia+ rep wasn’t the worst, but it felt ham-fisted or awkward to me. Kade’s trans rep seemed the most straightforward, but still rather heavy-handed. Nancy’s asexual rep often read like a pamphlet, despite the statements she gave being true for asexual romantic individuals. At times I was worried they were conflating asexual and aromantic, but on rereading the passages that discuss her orientation I realize that she was not. The author did confuse me on her orientation however, because I don’t know of any asexual person who thinks dating equals sexual relationships. A little more show and less tell would’ve strengthened her rep considerably.
Lastly, this murder mystery was predictable to me. By the time you get to the second victim, some of the speculation by the characters and the narrator practically tell you it’s Jill. Yet since Jill was absent for most of the novella, there’s again little suspense or dismay to be had with the revelation.
I like what this novella stands for. I’m happy that more writers want to strive for diverse casts. I was hoping I could’ve connected in the way some of my friends have connected to it, because its themes or home and belonging and tolerance are beautiful. But if all I connected to amounts to maybe a tentative empathy for two characters and an affirmation in the last pages of choosing your own destiny, I can’t be dishonest and say the reading experience was enjoyable.
I respect those who love this text, because it has great intentions. But the author’s execution left me mostly cold and indifferent to the fates of these characters. I’m disappointed I can’t recommend this one.