ARC Review: Where the Drowned Girls Go

WHERE THE DROWNED GIRLS GO

SEANAN MCGUIRE

SERIES: Wayward Children #7

REPRESENTATION: Fat MC, Asian-American side character, queer side characters

GENRES/ SUBJECTS: Fantasy

GOODREADS

The Wayward Children books rarely disappoint and this one is definitely one of the strongest by far. It’s also one of the few ‘direct sequel’ books in the series, following Cora directly from the events of COME TUMBLING DOWN (#5) and bring in a character from the standalone ACROSS THE GREEN GRASS FIELDS (#6).

I’m always so impressed by how these books — which are relatively short (WHERE THE DROWNED GIRLS GO is about 150 pages) and have constantly changing casts of characters and settings — manage to make me connect so completely with each new protagonist and place.

WHERE THE DROWNED GIRLS GO is Cora’s book. Rather than exploring the world she visited (The Trenches, an underwater world where she became a heroic mermaid) or spending time at Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children, this book takes us somewhere completely new: The Whitethorn Institute. Whitethorn is sort of the mirror of Eleanor’s school, teaching the children to forget their doors and squash their differences, so they can re-enter the ‘normal’ world.

I loved getting to know Cora as a character. She’s one I’ve given a little less thought to in previous books, so I really enjoyed digging into her way of thinking. I missed seeing some of the regulars but enjoyed meeting some new and interesting students.

WHERE THE DROWNED GIRLS GO is fast-paced, with a claustrophobic, thrilling atmosphere that presses is as Cora, Sumi and their new friends survive the Whitethorn Institute.

An absolute must-read.

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Welcome to the Whitethorn Institute. The first step is always admitting you need help, and you’ve already taken that step by requesting a transfer into our company.

There is another school for children who fall through doors and fall back out again.
It isn’t as friendly as Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.
And it isn’t as safe.

When Eleanor West decided to open her school, her sanctuary, her Home for Wayward Children, she knew from the beginning that there would be children she couldn’t save; when Cora decides she needs a different direction, a different fate, a different prophecy, Miss West reluctantly agrees to transfer her to the other school, where things are run very differently by Whitethorn, the Headmaster.

She will soon discover that not all doors are welcoming…

A copy of this was provided free of charge from the publisher in return for an honest review.