Seanan McGuire is a long-time favorite of mine. Some of her Mira Grant novellas top my Top 25 SFF Novellas list, and I’ve loved the Wayward Children series since the beginning. However, somewhere along the way – probably during the pandemic – I lost a bit of steam with this series. Reading Mislaid in Parts Half-Known was a bit like coming home after a long day. It felt like curling up on a couch and listening to old friends as they tell you a story. This series is magical, lyrical, and full of lovable characters. It’s not without fault, but it remains a series I’ll continue to look for year after year.
| Title: Mislaid in Parts Half-Known | Author: Seanan McGuire |
| Release Date: January 9, 2024 | Publisher: Tordotcom |
| Page Count: 160 | Genre: Fantasy |
Synopsis
Dinosaurs and portals, and a girl who can find both in the latest book in the Hugo and Nebula Award-Winning series.
Antsy 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.
Review:
I loved Antsy and thought the focus on her was lovely. Cade and Christopher were delightful, and their scenes were wondrous. Sumi and Cora are two sides of the same coin, and seeing them interact was bittersweet. Emily was criminally underused in this book, and I wholeheartedly believe she deserves an entire book.
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known slips a bit in its reliance on details. Its heavy focus on the rules of the shop and the Doors makes this book feel a bit dense compared with other novellas in the series. There is a theme of childhood trauma, which feels genuine and heartfelt. However, that theme doesn’t actually encompass much of the book outside of conversations in the shop.
Given the cover, I expected a whole lot more dinosaurs. If you go into this book expecting chapter after chapter of dinosaurs, you might find yourself disappointed.
Audiobook:
Clocking in at just over 4 and a half hours, this is the perfect audiobook for a road trip, a week of commuting, or a weekend of chores. Jesse Vilinsky narrates Mislaid in Parts Half-Known. You might know her narration from Allison Saft’s A Far Wilder Magic, Skyla Arndt’s Together We Rot, or Seanan McGuire’s previous entry in the Wayward Children series, Lost in the Moment and Found. Vilinsky managed to make every character’s voice distinctly different. That’s no easy feat when there are so many characters. I highly recommend the audiobook if you prefer that format or if you’re looking for a quick listen.
Final Thoughts:
I adore this world. I adore the characters. I adore the quests.
Even though I’ve skipped a couple of the Wayward Children books, I didn’t feel too lost reading this entry. The overall themes of generational trauma and abuse were concise and sharply done. There are very few dinosaurs, but there’s magical prose, sparkling dialogue, and lovable characters. This is pure Seanan McGuire.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for an advanced audio copy of this book for review. All the above thoughts are my own.
#COYER
Year of the Novella
Audiobook Challenge
Leave a Reply