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Last month, I wrote a post Books to Read Based on my Zodiac Sign: Saggitarius (November 22 – December 22). I planned on picking one of the books to read before December 22nd and based on reviews I read, I selected The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow and chose to listen to the audiobook as it was available at my library. I really enjoyed it and am glad that is the one I selected. Scroll down for my thoughts.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, January LaVoy (Narrator)

Published September 10th 2019 by Hachette Audio, Redhook

Synopsis (From Goodreads): In the early 1900s, a young woman embarks on a fantastical journey of self-discovery after finding a mysterious book in this captivating 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.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

5 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Young January Scaller is the ward of Mr. Locke, a wealthy man who employs her father to scour the world and bring him artifacts from all over. It appears that January is a curiosity herself, and is often “put on display” for his friends and colleagues. Mr. Locke is kind to her, she is lonely and wants her father to come home. When she finds a strange book, it tells secrets of other worlds, adventure and danger. She realzies that she can open doors that aren’t there and travel to new worlds. Her goal: To find her father.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow was an enjoyable and interesting read. I was not sure what to expect when I started reading this one. It is a story within a story. January is a great main character. I felt empathy for her from the beginning and I loved seeing her progression through this story. She starts off as quite a meek, sheltered little girl, but a few nasty occurrences and meetings with some questionable characters soon changes her into a confident young woman who’s able to stand up for herself. I am impressed that this is a debut book. This is intelligent, gorgeous writing, with unique characters that include a fiercely loyal dog and true friends, which had me disappearing into her world while reading. There is a complex and twisty plot, combined with situations of racial and class prejudice, powerful men who make rules to benefit themselves, and other social issues. It’s a lot of different genres mixed together which works incredibly well and results in a highly entertaining and enjoyable read! I read this book as my selection for “Reading my Zodiac” this year. This is a book recommended for Sagittarius. The audiobook was wonderfully narrated by January LaVoy. I always enjoy listening to this talented voice actress.

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