TITLE: Mislaid in Parts Half-Known
AUTHOR: Seanan McGuire
GENRE: Fantasy
AGE RANGE: Adult
PAGES: 146pg
PUBLISHER: TorDotCom
Tntsy is the latest student to pass through the doors at Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children.
When her fellow students realize that Antsy’s talent for finding absolutely anything may extend to doors, she’s forced to flee in the company of a small group of friends, looking for a way back to the Shop Where the Lost Things Go to be sure that Vineta and Hudson are keeping their promise.
Along the way, temptations are dangled, decisions are reinforced, and a departure to a world populated by dinosaurs brings untold dangers and one or two other surprises!
A story that reminds us that finding what you want doesn’t always mean finding what you need.
“You weren’t sure.”
“I’m sure now.“
I was a total dino kid. Jurassic Park is one of my all-time favorite movies, my shelves were full of dino encyclopedias, and I cried once because I realized I would never, in fact, get to watch a baby velociraptor hatch… so, needless to say, I went a little feral when the cover for this novella was released.
Wayward Children is my favorite series of all time and this novella reminded me of why: it’s full of so much heart and the most wonderful characters that I constantly find myself wishing I could pull into a big protective hug, and all of that takes place against the backdrop of these dazzling, brilliant worlds. We got to see a few different worlds in this installment, but my favorite was definitely the world of dinosaurs that Antsy & co. have to venture into! There was a hint in a previous book about a world of giant lizards, and I’d always hoped we would get to visit it someday. I only wish we’d gotten to see more of it!
This was an especially interesting piece to the series because I felt like it wrapped up a surprising amount of loose ends! I loved getting to spend time with so many different characters, though, and most of all, I loved watching Antsy come into her own as this brave, fiercely protective girl who refuses to pass on her trauma to anyone else. I was so proud of her and I really hope we get to see her again in a future book!
Buddy read with Misty! ♥
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
WARNINGS (click to expand):
children are emotionally abused and taken advantage of, vague hints of child abuse, grief, brief mentions of body-shaming
Kade is trans, Sumi is Japanese-American and bi/pan, Emily is Black, Cora is fat, Stephanie has albinism
— destiny ♥
Epsita
February 28, 2024This book sounds so good! Sadly, I have only read every heart a doorway. I should really continue with the rest of the series.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
March 10, 2024It’s such a good series! I hope you do continue it some time 😀
Lyana
February 28, 2024Man, I have to catch up with this series already.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
March 10, 2024It’s such a good series! ♥
ChapterMalliumpkin
March 1, 2024I think aside from Where the Drowned Girls Go, this is my secondly book that I’m most excited about and feel like I’m going to love with my whole heart. Plus, my copy just came in the mail as I’m making this comment hehe ♥
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
March 10, 2024The timing of your mail coming as you were commenting, I love it! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Jenna @ Falling Letters
March 9, 2024I feel like I need to reread this one already because I felt like I didn’t learn anything new in it??? But you’re not the only reviewer I’ve seen who’s mentioned the wrapping up of loose ends… I do wish we had gotten to see more of the dino world!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
March 10, 2024I feel like this one has really hit the fandom in such different ways! I’ve seen so many friends say they were disappointed or even bored, and then I’ve seen people say they loved it like I did – we’re all over the place on this one. 😂 I FULLY agree that I wish we had seen more of the dino world, though!