Book Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Carry On
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Published: New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2015
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 510
Total Page Count: 187,030
Text Number: 549
Read Because: recommended by Amy, ebook borrowed from the Multnomah County Library
Review: In Simon's last year at Watford School of Magicks, everything must come to a head, from his long battle against the Insidious Humdrum to his ongoing rivalry with his handsome, cruel roommate. This is a YA gay romance, playing off Chosen One tropes and cloning Harry Potter (fandom) in particular; I knew that going in, and it fulfilled pretty well every strength and weakness that I expected from that combination. The headhopping first person PoVs make otherwise vivid and diverse characters sound samey, and the developing romance falls just a little flat—there's not enough room for both antagonism and attraction to be convincing. But the way the book lampshades its inspirations allows it to borrow depth, both for the core relationship and the characterization (I'm particularly fond of the way the Mage compares to other mastermind/mentor figures); it's less effective as a commentary on Chosen Ones, but coming in at the tail end of the story works well. This is playful and engaging; and it's insubstantial, but forgivably so.

Book Review: Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Title: Every Heart a Doorway (Every Heart a Doorway Book 1)
Author: Seanan McGuire
Published: New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2015
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 170
Total Page Count: 187,200
Text Number: 550
Read Because: interest in portal fantasies, ebook borrowed from the Multnomah County Library
Review: Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children is home to youths who have previously gone through portals into fantastic realms and now find themselves back in the mundane world, searching for a way to fit in—and to get back. As a piece of metafiction, this is captivating. I don't always agree with it (I wish there were more explicit discussion of folklore, the explanation for the gender differential is insufficient, I want more information the minor directions, and the way students judge some portal worlds feels like a betrayal—albeit, perhaps, an intentional one), but even my arguments indicate engagement. As a story, this is less successful. I love the diverse cast in theory but the execution is somewhat hamfisted; the mystery plot has a great tone, but otherwise distracts from rather than contributing to the premise. I wish that all of Every Heart a Doorway were as sublime as its concept, but the general thrust remains an unequivocal delight. I look forward to rereading this someday.