Fantasy

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

  • Downloads：3195
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-04-29 10:54:57
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Alix E. Harrow
  • ISBN：0356512460
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

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。

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Reviews

Kym Daglish ，

Well， this was very different to the books I’ve read the last few years。 I’ve not delved into a book with touches of fantasy in quite some time。 I enjoyed it and am very glad I persevered。 Up until about the 150 page mark， I was a little confused with what I was reading。 Maybe I missed some crucial writing because I was tired？？ Once I realised that I was at times reading the words that my character was reading from her own book， all fell into place！！ This is the story of January and her father Y Well， this was very different to the books I’ve read the last few years。 I’ve not delved into a book with touches of fantasy in quite some time。 I enjoyed it and am very glad I persevered。 Up until about the 150 page mark， I was a little confused with what I was reading。 Maybe I missed some crucial writing because I was tired？？ Once I realised that I was at times reading the words that my character was reading from her own book， all fell into place！！ This is the story of January and her father Yule， who sailed through a door and lost their mother and wife along the way。 It’s the story of their journey to locate her once again。 Of adventuring through doors， and some of those doors being closed behind them， never to open again。 Who was permanently closing the doors and why？ A story of adventure， hope， love and loyalty。 A story that can take you to lots of places。 A story that allows you a trickle of I wonder。。。 。。。more

Andrea Meier ，

Slow start， but the last third of the book is beyond worth it！

Amy Jones ，

A very strong 3。5 stars！ Interesting and different， I enjoyed the fantasy and ode to books。 Reminded me a little of The Starless Sea， which was richer in symbolism than this one， but doors， both literal and figurative， were prominent in both。 A little disappointed in ending， which is why I couldn't give this a full 4 stars。 A very strong 3。5 stars！ Interesting and different， I enjoyed the fantasy and ode to books。 Reminded me a little of The Starless Sea， which was richer in symbolism than this one， but doors， both literal and figurative， were prominent in both。 A little disappointed in ending， which is why I couldn't give this a full 4 stars。 。。。more

LKay ，

This is my 3rd DNF of April， what is going on？ I am truly in a slump and just not finding books that I enjoy。I didn't really like anything about this book beyond the cover。 I didn't connect at all with the main character。 Just when I felt like I was almost settling in， there's a sudden shift to a book within the book。 I had a hard time keeping track of what happened in the main book vs。 what happened in the book within the book since the shift happened so suddenly - I didn't get enough time in e This is my 3rd DNF of April， what is going on？ I am truly in a slump and just not finding books that I enjoy。I didn't really like anything about this book beyond the cover。 I didn't connect at all with the main character。 Just when I felt like I was almost settling in， there's a sudden shift to a book within the book。 I had a hard time keeping track of what happened in the main book vs。 what happened in the book within the book since the shift happened so suddenly - I didn't get enough time in either story to care about either one and not much of anything was happening in them besides going off on random tangents anyway。I made it to 35% of the way through rather quickly， but I've decided that I don't want to continue with this book。 。。。more

Jessica Plowman ，

Interesting story。 Some parts dragged on a bit otherwise pretty enjoyable。

Tina ，

I had just read The Starless Sea， so I couldn’t help seeing all the similarities between this world and that。 This one is by far easier to follow and less confusing， but I felt less connected to any of the characters。

Julie ，

Slow to start， and lots of random things thrown in， but it picked up and got better at the end。 I'm unclear how to review it， to be honest。 It felt very random， and I'm glad I borrowed it from the library instead of buying it。 Slow to start， and lots of random things thrown in， but it picked up and got better at the end。 I'm unclear how to review it， to be honest。 It felt very random， and I'm glad I borrowed it from the library instead of buying it。 。。。more

Meghan Freeman ，

*4。5 - this is story that makes you believe in magic

Kama ，

I’m not usually a fan of fantasy， but this was very good。 People who do like fantasy will love it。

Raquel V ，

So beautiful and so hopeful that I didn't care about some of the plot holes！ But there are some trigger warnings: （view spoiler）[There is violence， lots。 But it all turns out OK。 At one point there is tremendous violence against an animal， but the animal doesn't die。 It's a spoiler， but I would have liked to know。 （hide spoiler）] I should also say I'm extremely sensitive to that， and I still think the book is worth it if it interests you。 So beautiful and so hopeful that I didn't care about some of the plot holes！ But there are some trigger warnings: （view spoiler）[There is violence， lots。 But it all turns out OK。 At one point there is tremendous violence against an animal， but the animal doesn't die。 It's a spoiler， but I would have liked to know。 （hide spoiler）] I should also say I'm extremely sensitive to that， and I still think the book is worth it if it interests you。 。。。more

CarlyGrace ，

Not a totally horrendous book。 But not one for the ages either。 I lost interest at about page 100 and at that point it was a chore to finish it。 The writing technique was exquisite。 Just not something I’d recommend。

Rachael ，

I love a good story within a story。

ALMIRA ，

I couldn’t put the book down and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read your book。 I suggest， If you have more great stories to share like this one， You can join in NovelStar writing contest with a theme "WEREWOLVES" Prices are amazing！ https://author。starlight。ink/essay/in。。。or just email any of the following editors;hardy@novelstar。topjoye@novelstar。toplena@novelstar。top I couldn’t put the book down and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read your book。 I suggest， If you have more great stories to share like this one， You can join in NovelStar writing contest with a theme "WEREWOLVES" Prices are amazing！ https://author。starlight。ink/essay/in。。。or just email any of the following editors;hardy@novelstar。topjoye@novelstar。toplena@novelstar。top 。。。more

Jennifer S ，

I loved this book， which had a similar feel to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue。 At the turn of the 20th century， January Scaller lives in VT as the ward of a rich antiquities collector， Mr Locke， while her father searches the world for treasures to bring back。 But she is a curious child and discovers at age 7 a door to another world - which results in her being grounded and molded into a more compliant child， until at age 17 she begins to learn the truth about doors and other worlds。 Some echo I loved this book， which had a similar feel to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue。 At the turn of the 20th century， January Scaller lives in VT as the ward of a rich antiquities collector， Mr Locke， while her father searches the world for treasures to bring back。 But she is a curious child and discovers at age 7 a door to another world - which results in her being grounded and molded into a more compliant child， until at age 17 she begins to learn the truth about doors and other worlds。 Some echoes of Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy with a dash of Narnia。 Full of wonder， heroes and villains， adventure and true love - and the writing is luminous。 。。。more

Dalene P ，

3，5 stars

Liv ，

Everything from the storytelling to the pacing and the artful prose of this novel was beautiful。 It was totally captivating。

Jordan ，

Absolutely loved it from the very beginning。 I really hope there’s more to come from these worlds。

Jess Wolferz ，

It took a little for me to get into it in the beginning， but once I was about a quarter of the way through， I couldn’t put it down。 So unbelievably good！！ I loved it！

Brandi ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 January writes words which unlock doors to other worlds， like every writer。

Taylor Tyng ，

An instant classic， it feels like this book was written long ago。 My 12yo daughter loved it as well。 Lush and vivid with strong voices。 It about everything you'd expect in a dark （southern） gothic fairytale。 An instant classic， it feels like this book was written long ago。 My 12yo daughter loved it as well。 Lush and vivid with strong voices。 It about everything you'd expect in a dark （southern） gothic fairytale。 。。。more

Brad Hough ，

4。5 // Really enjoyed this book。 Not sure why， but I’ve been craving this kind of story recently。 Alix Harrow grounds her main fantasy element—hidden doors that connect vastly different worlds—in a way that feels real and almost primal。。。 possibly because I’ve wanted doors that lead to other worlds to be real since I was 5。 Characters were imperfect and believable， and there was a satisfying conclusion that did justice to the heartache at the story’s center。

Maria ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 AUDIOBOOK-Despite a promising synopsis and a somewhat alright plot in general， I found myself drowning in all the smilies that felt too purposefully ‘out there’。 It simply became too much in the end。 Plot wise the dual narrative was captivating。 The trajectory of each was a bit unclear to me until halfway through， but still mesmerizing enough for me to cheer on a happy ending。 Yet as it arrived， it felt off。 It seemed too fantasical and too fairytale-y。 However， kudos to the imaginative worlds; AUDIOBOOK-Despite a promising synopsis and a somewhat alright plot in general， I found myself drowning in all the smilies that felt too purposefully ‘out there’。 It simply became too much in the end。 Plot wise the dual narrative was captivating。 The trajectory of each was a bit unclear to me until halfway through， but still mesmerizing enough for me to cheer on a happy ending。 Yet as it arrived， it felt off。 It seemed too fantasical and too fairytale-y。 However， kudos to the imaginative worlds; to mythical and mystical creatures and characters; to the inclusiveness of the vastness of worlds; and to adventure and the spirit of imagination - may we all continue to seek the first and keep exercising the last。 。。。more

Mary ，

"It's like ten thousand doors， when all you need is a knife。。。 🎶" "It's like ten thousand doors， when all you need is a knife。。。 🎶" 。。。more

Eric Edwards ，

This book was perfectly well written， it just didn’t strike any chords with me。 From the description I thought that we would be introduced to a multitude of interesting and alien worlds but it turns out this mostly takes place on our Earth but in the earlier 1900’s so The Colonialism connection can be more blatant。 I’m always up for a good “down with the white patriarchy” book but I struggled to connect with the main character and a lot of moments in the book fell flat。 I think the really descri This book was perfectly well written， it just didn’t strike any chords with me。 From the description I thought that we would be introduced to a multitude of interesting and alien worlds but it turns out this mostly takes place on our Earth but in the earlier 1900’s so The Colonialism connection can be more blatant。 I’m always up for a good “down with the white patriarchy” book but I struggled to connect with the main character and a lot of moments in the book fell flat。 I think the really descriptive writing maybe fed into that for me。 Also keep in mind that I’m not a huge fan of romantic novels and I’ve gotten burnt out on the YA feel。 。。。more

Haruko reads ，

I try not to compare books too much because I don't think it's fair to them， but in this case I think it's actually helpful to explain why I had trouble connecting to this story。 Also， the comparisons between Harrow's The Ten Thousand Doors and Morgenstern's The Starless Sea are so plentiful it's uncanny:★ Both books came out in 2019。★ Both are aimed at adult fantasy readers。★ Both are portal fantasies that start with the main character finding a door in their youth only to have the story proper I try not to compare books too much because I don't think it's fair to them， but in this case I think it's actually helpful to explain why I had trouble connecting to this story。 Also， the comparisons between Harrow's The Ten Thousand Doors and Morgenstern's The Starless Sea are so plentiful it's uncanny:★ Both books came out in 2019。★ Both are aimed at adult fantasy readers。★ Both are portal fantasies that start with the main character finding a door in their youth only to have the story proper begin when they are young adults。★ Both have secondary， "story within a story" narratives about a star-crossed couple in search of each other through the doors。★ Both have flowery， poetic language that is going to be either loved or hated。★ And， oddly， both （might） have biracial leads （although Harrow's lead is explicitly mixed race while Morgenstern's is just arguably coded that way） although they are written by white authors。 More on that later。For the most part， The Starless Sea worked much better for me - it has a deliberately fairy tale quality enhanced by the many different original fairy tales interwoven into the main narrative。 In contrast， The Ten Thousand Doors has a more straightforward plot with just two narratives to follow。 Because of this， I can see a lot of readers preferring TTTD， but I preferred TSS because it felt more expansive and unknown， which felt appropriate for a portal fantasy about many doors。 TSS's characters felt more lifelike and memorable - although both stories have a main character who falls in love， TSS spent more time with the characters getting to know one another before they commit themselves to each other， whereas TTTD felt like most of the relationship development happened off-page。 This is true of many of the relationships in TTTD - we are told that the characters spend time together and care for each other， but we rarely see them express affection until the plot takes off and we are supposed to believe they are already committed。 I had a hard time feeling invested in TTTD characters because they felt like characters following a script rather than individuals driven by their desires and reacting to their environment。The structure of TTTD was also less successful， in my opinion。 While TSS interweaves many stories throughout the whole of the book， and felt fairly evenly paced， TTTD sporadically inserts a secondary story （with a reveal that was very predictable） and drags until the last 20% or so。 Although I did enjoy TTTD， I felt like I had to force myself to pick up the book quite a bit。I'm starting to notice a trend in white-authored books where the main character will be biracial。 This character is always biracial， NOT multiracial， and always partly white。 I think this reflects a fairly limited understanding of race and diversity in literature - I appreciate white authors trying to diversify their books， but it feels intentional that they are writing mixed leads as opposed to monoracial ones， almost as though they think mixed race characters will be easier to write because they will share "part of" the character's identity。 I can promise， as a biracial person with a white parent， this is an inaccurate understanding of race - sharing partial heritage with a POC does not give a white author insight into that POC's identity。 This is part of a larger conversation that can't be thoroughly addressed in this review， but I do want to note that I was a little apprehensive going into this book as a mixed race reader because I knew the main character January was mixed but written by a monoracial person。 Overall， I think Harrow did a good job - it's clear she did research into how a POC's experience would be different from a white person's， and in particular I appreciated her acknowledgment of how white proximity changes her character's interactions with others。 However， I do think January still reads as a fairly flat mixed race character。 January often refers to herself as "in-between" and "odd-colored" and even at the end of the book she doesn't seem to view herself positively as a mixed person。 Obviously many mixed people do have complicated relationships to their identity， but it feels needlessly pessimistic for a monoracial author to add to these negative stereotypes without doing anything to let her mixed character ultimately embrace her identity。 I do think this is a decent book despite this， but I think it's worth noting that white authors writing about POC's internalized racism is difficult， and arguably outside their lane entirely。 I think this is an example where the author clearly wrote without mixed readers in mind。 And I would challenge white authors to ask themselves， if you aren't writing mixed characters with mixed readers in mind， who are you writing for？ Are you using a group of marginalized people's experiences to uplift and support them， or for consumption and spectacle？ 。。。more

USARunner ，

Pretty darn cool！ this was pretty similar to Erin Morgenstern's "The Starless Sea"。 Also an incredibly fantastic book。 Don't read those two at the same time。 Pretty darn cool！ this was pretty similar to Erin Morgenstern's "The Starless Sea"。 Also an incredibly fantastic book。 Don't read those two at the same time。 。。。more

Ev ，

4。4 starsSpoiler free review:Where do I begin？ I don't think I can be cohesive in this review so I'll just write it as my thoughts come。January is such a great main character！ Sure she's done one or two things that I facepalmed at， but at the same time I probably would've done the same were I in her shoes。 Even with those very occasional moments she was a really enjoyable character to follow and though I'm not a fan of first person POVs usually， she managed to make me interested in the story and 4。4 starsSpoiler free review:Where do I begin？ I don't think I can be cohesive in this review so I'll just write it as my thoughts come。January is such a great main character！ Sure she's done one or two things that I facepalmed at， but at the same time I probably would've done the same were I in her shoes。 Even with those very occasional moments she was a really enjoyable character to follow and though I'm not a fan of first person POVs usually， she managed to make me interested in the story and feel for her instead of cringing every paragraph like I normally would。 All the characters were also quite believable and I enjoyed that the villain（s） of the story were not these caricature cartoon villains， but actually had their reasons as to why they were doing what they did。 I really like that。 Samuel was also such a perfect character。 He was like a breath of fresh air away from the classic brooding， mysterious bad boys the YA fantasy genre seems to filled with （I know that this book is technically more like a whimsical magical contemporary but still）。 He was a sweetheart and I absolutely adored him from page one！ Jane was also amazing。 She was the kind of character I imagine when someone tells me 'a strong， independent female character'！ Now this book also made me cry and be super emotional which I was not expecting， but wow- that romance， Ade and Yule's I mean， that's just wow！ The definition of a great romance really！ I really liked how the whole story didn't revolve around January and her love life though。 That I also found quite refreshing， the romance was very low-key and believable。Now you might be wondering why didn't I give it 5 stars if I keep gushing about it so much。 The beginning seemed rather boring to me。 I've heard some people thought the middle was dragging but personally I didn't notice that。 The beginning however was a bit slower。 I understand why， we're basically seeing January's entire life and some defining moments throughout it， but I wasn't as engaged with the beginning of the book as I was with the rest。Regardless though I loved the world building， the characters and the poetical writing style as well！ 。。。more

Barbara Lovejoy ，

I had not heard of this book until my niece recommended it for our mini family book club。 In spite of the fact that I became lost a few times while reading it as there were a number of stories weaving in and out， I feel it is an amazing book。 I would probably enjoy the book even more with a second read。

Kim ，

Adventure， mystery， danger， friendship， loss， love and magic。 It was like two of my favorite series （Harry Potter， chronicles of Narnia） rolled into one。

Mike Swallow ，

Not a fast paced book but I enjoyed it none the less。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Ten Thousand Doors of January

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Ten Thousand Doors of January&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Ten Thousand Doors of January&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0