January 2025 Reread: “Katharine really was an excellent student. A little reserved, and a little overly fond of looking for loopholes, but still, an excellent student.”
 
This is my fourth read of a book that I would probably put in my top ten books ever, and yet it's only on this read that the significance of this early line hit me. The way that Lundy's devestating downfall is planted from the very beginning is just... Seanan McGuire, the writer you are. I also think it's masterful the way that Mockery is written. You never meet her, she's only mentioned once and then she dies. From that moment on, she exists only as a dear friend who Lundy mourns, and despite not knowing anything of her other than her name, her death hurts. Just truly incredible stuff. 


Review also found on my blog.


1) Every Heart a Doorway ★★★★
2) Down Among the Sticks and Bones ★★★★
3) Beneath the Sugar Sky ★★★★★


content warnings: bullying, violence, body horror (people turning into birds), loss of a loved one

I genuinely think I would lay down my life to get a copy of every single Seanan McGuire book, past and present. She's just such an incredibly masterful storyteller and I literally cannot get over it.

The fourth book in the Wayward Children series is a prequel book about Katherine Lundy, who at age six walks through a doorway to the Goblin Market. The book follows her over the years, as she continues to go between their world and ours, as well as her learning about fair value. 

I love absolutely everything about this book, but three things in particular 1) McGuire's writing, 2) Lundy's character, and 3) the themes. 

First, McGuire's writing. It's definitely not revolutionary to say that Seanan McGuire is a fantastic writer; she's won as many awards as she has for a reason. Her descriptions, her dialogue, her characterisation, everything is written to absolute perfection. There's a reason why I'm always excited to read one of her books, and it's not just because they all have amazing premises.

Number two, Lundy, who I'm pretty sure is me. She's a very quiet, intelligent person who realised very early that it was better to isolate herself because no one likes hanging out with the principal's daughter. The Logic world of the Goblin Market appeals to her perfectly, populated with people who don't know her and she can open up around. I've seen several reviewers say that they believe Lundy could be on the autism spectrum, and that definitely my personal headcanon. I also love seeing her character development from the first time she goes to the Goblin Market all the way to the last time, particularly how the interactions with her father changes. 

And finally, the themes, in particular the theme of fair value. The Goblin Market believes in fairness, that for everything you give you should receive something equal in return. It acknowledges context though; it knows when people are too young or too old to give the same as they are get, it knows when when someone doesn't have a lot to give, it knows when someone has already given so much. I can definitely see the Goblin Market being the land I would end up in if I were to go through a magical door.

In conclusion, Seanan McGuire's books (and this series in particular) continue to be perfection, and I already want an ARC of the fifth book right now.