Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire -> Restarting April 13th, 2024

[Andy]

55% (view spoiler)[It is a little sad that Antsy cannot decide to go home! But she will likely have a nice adventure! :) (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Finished: (view spoiler)[I am so glad she saw her mum again, and that they sent Tyler to prison! It is nice for Antsy to get to Eleanor's school, I think, different from the others. I don't think she has the same yearning to go back. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 1-3 (view spoiler)[Okay, these worlds sound interesting and I like how we hear about the old characters. I’m interested to see where this goes. (hide spoiler)]

[Kade]

So this is for the whole series right? So I can read and post about any of the books in the series out of order?!

[Ashlyn]

Yes

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 4-6 (view spoiler)[The one person staying behind was sad but it makes sense why they did it. (hide spoiler)]

[Kade]

I decided to just go ahead and reread book 1 to refresh my memories and such. I kept notes while reading earlier, so i'll be posting them all at once.

So starting with -

part 1 - up to 26%
(view spoiler)[

This is technically my third read of this book, the last time I read it back in 2022.

I'm still so partial to Kade honestly. I'm not sure what has ALWAYS drew my attention about him, but yeahh.

I am SO fascinated by the idea of different doors and different worlds. I think the concept of there being different worlds for different kids / people that best suites them makes SO much sense.
(hide spoiler)]

[Kade]

-

part 2 - up to 55%
(view spoiler)[

I always forget how .. emotional this part of the book is. Sumi was such an unique soul, and I hated that someone killed her. I was / am always envious of how.... unapologetically unique she is.
(hide spoiler)]

[Kade]

-

part 3 - up to 75%
(view spoiler)[

Seanan Mcguire's writing style is so brilliant. I seriously cannot even put it into words. It's so EASY to get lost in the worlds they build in their books.

Even as another murder is being described, the words used to describe and world-build almost make you forget how .. dark and drastic it is. ;x
(hide spoiler)]

[Kade]

-

part 4 - the end
(view spoiler)[

I'm sure that most won't be able to understand Jill and why she did / acted how she did. It was horrific and sad that she felt that's what she needed to do. but in some ways, I can understand wanting something THAT bad that you don't know how else to act or what else to do.

let me say jack and jill aren't and weren't my favorites in the series, but they are crucial characters overall.

And of course, Nancy succeeded in waht she wwanted, so that's wonderful for her.

i love this series, so i'm definitely biased in my opinions overall!

(hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Ashlyn wrote: "Chapters 4-6 [spoilers removed]"

Chapters 7-10 (view spoiler)[Its interesting what they are willing to do for Christopher, especially involving this Cake Queen person. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Finished (view spoiler)[the whole baker thing was super interesting and glad that they was able to bake the mom. This whole crosswords thing is a little confusing and I’m wondering if their lives will cross again since they are making it a big deal. (hide spoiler)]

[Kade]

Ashlyn wrote: "

Chapters 1-3 [spoilers removed]"

beneath the sugar sky was/is one of my favorites in teh series!

[Kade]

I've already read and reread most of the series, so I'll be skipping some books and reading out of order.


part 1 -
[ So I have to admit, this isn't my favorite in the series. To be fair, the twins just didn't and don't interest me as much as some of the other characters. So this is has been my 2nd read of this particular book, while it's my third or 4th of some of the others, haha. BUT I wanted to give it another shot. ]

(view spoiler)[
The first few chapters give a little insight on the parents and where one may see the ... 'issues' start to arise for why / how the twins are the way they are. I still feel ... so sad for the grandmother and that entire situation. ;/
(hide spoiler)]

[Kade]

part 2 -

(view spoiler)[
we get to see the beginning of their new lives, without their grandmother... and how one twin definitely struggled more than the other. One easily found a way to fit in.. people to fit in with while the other did not.
I really dislike their parents and how they treated them.. how they seemed to want them to ... dislike / hate each other?. I don't get it.
(hide spoiler)]

[Kade]

part 3-

(view spoiler)[

This is where I started to really.... not enjoy Jill's character as a whole. I mean, she did some pretty horrid things that didn't need to happen to get her to where / what she wa nted to be. Obviously she was blinded and wouldn't have seen that though.

(hide spoiler)]

[Kade]

part 4 / the end-

(view spoiler)[

Jack seems to be the more level-headed one, but will she always allow her sister to bring her down? Or rather, will she always save her sister even if it means she doesn't get ahead or get to live her own life? (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Ashlyn wrote: "

Chapters 1-3
I really don’t like the husband at all already. And I’m positive you can’t know the sex of the baby at 12 weeks with an ultrasoun..."
Okay, right. I actually paused to google it because I was like there is no way and sure enough.

[Jessica]

1-3
(view spoiler)[ God, their parents are terrible. I feel so bad for them, especially with this lie about their grandma. Their parents deserved to lose them. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Part Two
(view spoiler)[ Okay now I get why I was so confused earlier 😂. For the entire beginning I was like wait I thought Jack was the scientist and Jill was the vampire victim / murderer. If I had reread Every Heart a Doorway which is in retrospect I should have I would have figured it out. Instead it took Jill picking the doctor for me to go OH. The emphasis on choice and their preferences makes so much sense now. Looking back of course this is what they would choose. I wish Jill had gone away too, but sadly... (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Part Three
(view spoiler)[ These poor girls, I'm glad Jack is having a decent time, but she too has issues. Jill though, omg. I really hope that shopkeeper is okay. Why did they go back? Jack must have made Jill do it. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I had a feeling that was going to happen, but Jill you absolute idiot. I wish we had seen more of her life to better relate to her but I'm also glad we didn't because what we did see was deeply uncomfortable. This confirms that I need to reread the first one, but of course it's the only one with a waitlist at my library. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Part One
(view spoiler)[ This is a fun set up and I hope they are successful on this mission. I like that we are going to see Nancy again and it's fun to see Kade and Christopher again. (hide spoiler)]

Part Two
(view spoiler)[ Poor Christopher. This whole discussion about applying logic in a nonsense world was really interesting. I'm hoping they all make it back or to their worlds, but it's not looking good so far. I'm nervous about this capture. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Part Three
(view spoiler)[ LOL at I was dead and now I'm naked. Glad that that worked out and Sumi is saved. I enjoyed Kade's observations of the baker. she sure did put alot of effort into making it seem like the magic was just there and not something she used. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I'm glad they made it back and yay for Nadya finding her door. I hope the next one is Kade's story. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Part One
(view spoiler)[ It took me a while to realize who Lundy was. This is really interesting because her dad had been there too. I would suck at trying to follow these rules.
(hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Part Two
(view spoiler)[ Okay wtf dad. Like what was that? Send her off to boarding school so she can't go back. If you wanted her to stay wouldn't you want to be with her, not have her shipped off somewhere. Poor Moon, it's a bit terrifying that they turn into birds if they accrue too much debt, you'd think they'd have mentioned that to Lundy before. Glad they were able to easily work it off though. (hide spoiler)]

Part Three
(view spoiler)[ That deal was awful and I can't believe she ended up spending a year as a bird, oh my god. I like the emphasis on fairness and the critique of free market economics. Everytime there's talk of how the market provides and determines I can't help thinking about all the right wing the free market is god stuff I had to read in undergrad. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ Oh Lundy, why did you do that? You can't cheat the rules like that. I do feel bad for her, it was an impossible choice but she needed to chose and not just try to cheat it. Very interesting that the archivist made the market I hadn't expected that, I thought they were training Lundy to become the next archivist. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Part One
(view spoiler)[ It was nice to learn more about Christopher and see his POV. Love that Jack is back and yay for Alexis being alive. Elinor is very clearly over it and done and I think Kade is going to need to take over asap. I am all about the quests so am glad they didn't listen about that. (hide spoiler)]

Part Two
(view spoiler)[ As soon as there was mention of drowned gods I figured Cora would end up with them, so not surprised by this turn of events. LOL at these horses, and love how much Christopher loves the bone one. I hope Jack will be able to resurrect Dr Bleak. (hide spoiler)]

Part Three
(view spoiler)[ Kade letting go and falling was not something I expected. So glad they are both okay though. These Drowned God's are no joke. I liked seeing Mary again and having that moment with Jack. I almost want the AU where Jack stayed to learn how bad of a monster she would be, but given how Jill is, let's not. Poor Jack having to kill her sister for the second time, like my god. This time no resurrection though. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ Yay it worked. Also LOL when Alexis was like wish one of you had killed Jill instead. I really like Jill and Alexis, idk why would we would see them again, but I'd like to. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Part One
(view spoiler)[ I'm guessing we will meet Regan next book since we haven't seen her yet. I love the diversity of characters we get. Initially I thought with all the gendered talk that Regan was going to be non-binary, but I love to see this intersex rep. God, Laurel is terrible. I really wish Regan hadn't told her, but she's a kid. Poor Regan. (hide spoiler)]

Part Two
(view spoiler)[
The Hooflands are fun but that's an awful lot of pressure to put on a kid. I love Regan and Chicory's friendship. So glad she got to know what real friends are like. I knew the peace wouldn't last forever, but what a dramatic ending to this part. (hide spoiler)]
Part Three
(view spoiler)[ The queen wants her dead, that's not good. I'm so glad her family ran away and let her live instead of surrendering her to the queen. I'm guessing her saving the world will be to overthrow the queen that's why she's trying to Regan. I chuckled at how Regan used her delicate human ears to get out of tending to the foals. I'm happy Regan is going off to make things better but am also sad she's leaving her family since I know how this will end... (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ This whole last part was fascinating. I really enjoyed Gristle and I'm glad he got his meal in the end which thankfully wasn't Regan. The fake queen was awful. I hope we get to see the Hooflands again to see how it's going ruling themselves. (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Read one of the novellas tonight.



Thru 25%
(view spoiler)[
It's really interesting getting Dr. Bleak's opinion on Jack and what it was like having her as his apprentice.
(hide spoiler)]

Thru 50%
(view spoiler)[
Jack's germaphobia/OCD is really well described here and it was interesting watching it develop as she already fully had it in the other books she appeared in.
(hide spoiler)]

Thru 76%
(view spoiler)[
That's a neat twist, that the name of Alexis's phantom lover is the same name as Dr. Bleak's old lover. I wonder if it's the same person?
(hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[
I loved Jack and Alexis in the other books so I'm so happy we got to see the beginning of their relationship. Overall this one was a fun read and I enjoyed getting to read more about Jack.
(hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Part One
(view spoiler)[ I'm happy to see more of Cora but sad to see she's suffering so much over what happened with the Drowned God's, it makes sense but I hadn't thought about the impact until this book. Also poor thing with her childhood eating disorder, my god I hate our world. It will be intersting to learn more about this sister school. It definelty seems more sinister (hide spoiler)]

Part Two
(view spoiler)[ Yep Whitethorn is awful, but oh hey Regan that's why we met you last book. I hope she plays a bigger role than just this. Poor Cora just keeps suffering. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Part Three
(view spoiler)[ I liked getting to know these girls more - Seanan McGuire is so good at introducing and developing characters in such a small space. I'm glad they have a plan to get out. The headmasters story was interesting and makes his agenda make more sense, but what did Cora mean about him not actually being the headmaster? (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ This was one of my favourites (I keep saying this) but seriously it was such a great ride. That he took their names was awful but also so cool as a concept and I loved seeing that play out. I'm so glad they made it out and back to Eleanor's. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

This one emotionally destroyed me.
Part One
(view spoiler)[
This made me so uncomfortable. It was basically just grin and bear it and hope this part is over soon. Poor Antsy. (hide spoiler)]

Part Two
(view spoiler)[ Thank god she got out when she did. I wanted to throw up. Fuck right off Tyler. I'm guessing he'll be found out when they investigate her disappearance but also her poor mom. (hide spoiler)]

Part Three
(view spoiler)[ This nexus world is so fascinating. I like getting to visit all of these other worlds. Antsy fits right in and is having a good time but of course if couldn't be simple and goddammit why can't she catch a break. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ Fuck right off Vinetta. She went through five doors or something one day. I cannot fucking believe her. The exploitation is disgusting. Then omg that end, I sobbed so hard when she was with her mom. That conversation wrecked me. I could not. It was beautifully done but holy hell that hurt. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Chapters 1-3
(view spoiler)[ Uh oh Antsy is going to get into trouble with this and poor thing. I hope she opens up to them because this has got to be so hard to fake. I wish she had had the chance to meet Rowena because that's a unique experience others will never truly understand. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 4-6
(view spoiler)[ Serafina is so interesting and I love that she doesn't do anything for Christopher because he's so into skeletons. Poor Antsy, but I'm so glad it's out there now. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[ Oh shit, Prism. Poor Kade, that was traumatic. I had a feeling that was going to happen but ouch it hurt more than expected. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ Omg, I love Sumi, way to save the day. I'm happy Antsy is back at the store and Voneita is out of there. Poor Hudson so glad they saved him, it's a miracle he survived. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

I can't even I finally got a copy from the library after I finished only to learn I already had one it just hadn't downloaded properly.

Chapter Three
(view spoiler)[ Well crap this is just making me want to reread the series. Because I did not remember that Sumi had lost her faith. And seeing this intro of Jill knowing what happens is really interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Five
(view spoiler)[ This last little bit about where her door was is so rude. It was at home the whole time and her mom there was mourning her, so so rude. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Nine
(view spoiler)[ I forgot how much I loved Nancy, she really grows on you quickly. Christopher and Jack's dynamic is so fun, I'm glad we got to see it again. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ Poor Jack, I forgot that Jill had attacked her. It's nice to Nancy go back and be happy. When I initially read this I thought she was going to be the ongoing MC but this was a great intro into the world and her story is nicely complete. Even though I want to go on I gotta stop myself. Too many other books to read. I'll do a full series reread later in the summer (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

That’s the worst when that happens! I’m hoping to read the next one in the series tomorrow.

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 1-4 (view spoiler)[Okay, so it was interesting that they had to be sure before they could go through the doorway but then became very unsure once they passed. And I like how they are finding out that once they turn 18 they won’t be able to go through another door. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Part 2 (view spoiler)[Im really not sure how I feel about this whole thing so far. I really just feel like this series isn’t for me but also they are so short that I feel like I need to finish it. (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Read the next novella tonight.



Thru 26%
(view spoiler)[
I'm so happy we're getting Christopher's origin story as I love his character in the other books. The fact the Skeleton Girl is the one who saved him from being sick, which is how he ended up with his bone flute, is really interesting.
(hide spoiler)]

Thru 49%
(view spoiler)[
The world of Mariposa is pretty interesting. The fact Chris is the only non-skeleton there makes his situation quite unique. I love his relationship with the Princess.
(hide spoiler)]

Thru 78%
(view spoiler)[
Oh, that's really interesting that the Princess's mother was a traveler like Chris from another world. I wonder what the song will be? Obviously Chris leaves as this takes place before the series.
(hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[
That's sad that he ended up going through a door when he was bringing her skeleton back to the palace so she could kill him in order for him to stay.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Part 3 (view spoiler)[Oh wow! So for keeping the friendship and paying off the debt now they’ve has gone through a different door. Hope they are able to come back. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Finished (view spoiler)[Okay, the ending was so good! I wasn’t expecting her to try to find a loophole and stay 17 for longer and then it work against her. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 1-2 (view spoiler)[Okay, so Jack is in Jill’s body and then there is this new person named Alexis? Also there was some lighting short circuit thing happening that I didn’t quite understand. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 3-6

(view spoiler)[Okay so Jack can become a vampire? I’m still so confused. And what’s with the traveling with the lightning thing? I feel like I like it and it really shows how Jack doesn’t feel comfortable in someone else’s skin even if it’s their twin. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 7-9 (view spoiler)[Okay, that sounded so ominous that not everyone was going to make it home 👀 (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Finished (view spoiler)[Okay, the ending got a little intense there, but glad they were able to leave. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Ashlyn wrote: "
Chapters 1-2 [spoilers removed]"

Alexis is Jack's girlfriend in Down Among the Sticks and Bones. The one that (view spoiler)[ Jill kills, which is why they have to leave the Moors. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Jessica wrote: "Ashlyn wrote: "
Chapters 1-2 [spoilers removed]"

Alexis is Jack's girlfriend in Down Among the Sticks and Bones. The one that [spoilers removed]"

Okay, this makes more sense. I always get confused on names when I listen to audiobooks

[Jessica]

I feel that. I can't remember the bopk but one time I spent 90% of it thinking two characters were the same guy until they appeared in a scene together. Written they were very different but in audio it sounded the exact same to me.

[Ashlyn]

Yes! And when all the characters have the same narrator it gets even more confusing 🫤

[Ashlyn]

Part 1(view spoiler)[ I definitely feel bad for her, especially with how she is being treated by her so called friends. No one should be treated like that. I’m glad that her parents reassured her that nothing was wrong. (hide spoiler)]