The Ten Thousand Doors of January

By: Alix E. Harrow

Narrated by: January LaVoy

Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

"A gorgeous, aching love letter to stories, storytellers and the doors they lead us through...absolutely enchanting." (Christina Henry, best-selling author of Alice and Lost Boys)

Los Angeles Times best seller!

In the early 1900s, a young woman embarks on a fantastical journey of self-discovery after finding a mysterious book in this captivating and lyrical debut. 

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. 

Lush and richly imagined, a tale of impossible journeys, unforgettable love, and the enduring power of stories awaits in Alix E. Harrow's spellbinding debut - step inside and discover its magic. 

©2019 Alix E. Harrow (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

Finalist for the 2020 Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Awards 

"The Ten Thousand Doors of January begins as a simple adventure, but like its mysteriously transportive doors, leads deeper and deeper the further you read. Each page dazzles with things to be discovered: a mansion of priceless artefacts, a secret journal, a tantalizing quest through strange and beautiful places, and a love story that spans time, worlds, and magic. I couldn't put it down." (Peng Shepherd, critically acclaimed author of The Book of M) 

"Many worlds, vanishing doors, mind-cracking magic: I clung to each page, searching for answers. This is one of the most unique works of fiction I've ever read!" (Tamora Pierce, New York Times best-selling author) 

"A gorgeously written story of love and longing, of what it means to lose your place in the world, and then have the courage to find it again. This book is a door I'm glad to have opened." (Kat Howard, author of An Unkindness of Magicians) 

A princess in a castle can't fend for herself

Occasionally overly verbose. A neat concept, but with a main character who is a straight up idiot.

I really tried to like this

I really tried to like this book. The reviews were so encouraging . . . . . but the meandering vagueness of the storyline, and the changing point of view were just too much. Written for adults, it felt like more of a child's twisted fairytale. I really tried-- repeatedly. The narrator was good.

Magical

I haven’t discovered a book that took me to a more wondrous magical place since Harry Potter. I couldn’t stop listening to it and wasted a whole day. Please please Alix Harrow get busy writing more books! This story swirls and loops and soars and plummets. The characters are maddening and fantastic; brave and pitiful. I will start listening to it again as soon as I finish writing this review and will be just as bereft when I finish it for a second time.

A thrilling tale about love and family

This was a thrilling and fun read for me!
I think that this is one of those rare books that you read, and feel a fairy-tale-like atmosphere that hunts you and gives you the feeling your entering a different world each time you pick it up and read some more. But unlike fairy-tales, this is not a children's book nor YA - it is a book for people who enjoy to "jump" into a book and dive in it's world for hours and hours. If you're a bookworm - this one's for you!

The Basic Plot follows January Scaller, an only child, raised by a wealthy benefactor - Mr. Locke in the early 1900's. When January was a baby, her mother had a terrible accident and died, leaving her and her father alone in the world. By chance, Her father met Mr. Locke, who offered to take them both into his estate in Vermont, in exchange for January's father becoming Mr. Locke's employee.

As the years go by, January is being raised more by Mr. Locke than her own father, since her father is consistently absent on the behalf of Mr. Locke, for whom he is searching archaeological artifacts around the world. January reads a lot of adventure novels and fantasizes on going along with her father to his expeditions around the world discovering new things and boldly go where no man has gone before.

When January turns 7, she accidentally stumbles into a DOOR. This DOOR is not a usual door that leads from one place to the other. This DOOR is a door that leads to a different world. At this point I'll stop the plot review and move to the next phase.

Phase Two - admiration and shameless superlatives.
Wow! What a wonderful book. All that was missing from this book is for the author to write at the start "This book is dedicated to Nimrod". I mean it basically was! Lovable Heroine? Check; The Heroine loves reading? Check! (She even read and referred to two book I've just finished re-reading a few days before I started this one - 'Robin Hood' and 'White Fang'); A story within the story? Check!; Beautiful metaphors on doors and passageways we go through in life and how they change us? Check! (OK, so maybe this one is a bit too specific for stuff you look for in a book - sue me :-) ); A love story? Check! A wonderful feral dog? Check!
And all of these wonderful themes and characters are woven together elegantly and lovingly, by a writer who obviously loves reading, loves her characters, and wants to share her love of the literary world with her readers.

This is the first book I've read since my kids were born, that made me want them to be old enough, so I could already read it to them, and talk with them about which part they loved the best <3
So I can sum it up by saying "I don't hate it" :-)

About the Audio version - I listened and read simultaneously, and really LOVED the work January Lavoy did here. It was perfect. She did different accents, and really HIT the right tone of the characters. It felt like she identified completely with the characters as she spoke their lines full with emotions and small nuances that made me feel I'm actually there listening to January Scaller and her adventures.

good characters, except for the lead

The premise is not that unique. I did not enjoy the main character. It took her a while to get it. There were times that she felt a bit entitled -- she could only see her own victimisation as a half-Black woman, but not of the bigger struggles of other people of colour. Because she did grow up in privilege. That was a bit hard to get through. Especially in the context of what her parents went through.
I loved the other characters though. Tough Adelaide. Persevering Julian. Kick-ass Jane. Kind Samuel. I think I would have been more happy with a story from their perspective, rather than January's.

Rip off of the golden compass

Not a very original story, and very familiar in fact! A lot in common with His Dark Materials series.

Addicting Story

The beginning is a little slow but becomes a story you can't put down. I wasn't sure what to expect from the summary, but was surprised by this gem. I did find myself a bit frustrated by the main character January, and her complete lack of self preservation when presented with almost any challenge. I'm sure it was because of her age but her lack of response became a bit predictable.

Disappointing

The author's prose is smooth & often extremely beautiful. So imagine my surprise when the storylines never quite delivered. She didn't create characters that I cared anything about. In fact, the mother & daughter who were supposed to be strong & independent, "fell in love" with the first boy each one ever sees. The plot was more weird than magical, so not satisfying at all. The narrator did a nice job with all characters but Yul & Samuel...Somehow, she equated "foreign" voices with old-sounding voices. This made the love relationships less believable. All in all, I'd not recommend this book.

This “White Lady” Is Out

As a white lady, hearing the term “white lady” used derogatorily is getting old. Quickly.

I love this book.

If it calls to you, just step through and listen.
It is resonant and beautifully rendered.