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Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, 1)

Winner of the Hugo Award, Hugo Award for Best Series, Alex Award, Locus Award, and Nebula Award
Nominated for the World Fantasy Award, British Fantasy Award, and Tiptree Honor List

"A mini-masterpiece of portal fantasy — a jewel of a book that deserves to be shelved with Lewis Carroll's and C. S. Lewis' classics" —NPR

New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire presents a fresh take on the portal fantasy genre that blends Alice in Wonderland, The Magicians, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children
No Solicitations
No Visitors
No Quests

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Nancy tumbled once, but now she's back. The things she's experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West's care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.

But Nancy's arrival marks a change at the Home. There's a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it's up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of things.

No matter the cost.

The Wayward Children Series
Book 1: Every Heart a Doorway
Book 2: Down Among the Sticks and Bones
Book 3: Beneath the Sugar Sky
Book 4: In an Absent Dream

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Published Apr 5, 2016

176 pages

Average rating: 7.65

95 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *Every Heart a Doorway* offers a unique, darkly atmospheric take on children returning from magical worlds, with rich themes of belonging ...

Groundhogcat
Oct 24, 2025
6/10 stars
I did not like the grusome nature of this book. I am just not interested in reading about children who commit guresome acts.

A horror version of Alice in Wonderland.
raeallic
Oct 09, 2025
8/10 stars
marvelous
leannawalks
Aug 15, 2025
This is one of my all-time fav series, even though they're novellas. I reread them every year when the newest one is published!
RealLifeBelle
Jan 12, 2025
8/10 stars
I recommend this book for people who like dark fantasy with a little bit of horror mixed in. Great read! Real page turner!
katietopp
Jan 01, 2025
10/10 stars
Interesting concept and likewise an interesting story. I think it’s lovely that all of the “Wayward Children” have a place to go and discuss their other worlds freely. I am undecided on the next installment but since they are so short I’m sure I’ll read it at some point.

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