After Nancy was cast out of the Halls of the Dead and forced to enroll at Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children, she never believed she’d find her door again, and when she did, she didn’t look back. She disappeared from the school to resume her place in the Halls, never intending to return.
Years have passed. A darkness has descended on the Halls, and the living statues who populate them are dying at the hands of the already dead. The Lord and Lady who rule the land are helpless to stop the slaughter, forcing Nancy to leave the Halls again, this time on purpose, as she attempts to seek much-needed help from her former schoolmates.
But who would volunteer to quest in a world where the dead roam freely?
And why are the dead so intent on adding to their number?
In the next installment of the Wayward Children series, Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire is clever and intriguing. One of the aspects I liked the best was the return of Nancy, finding out how she was doing in the Halls of the Dead and adding in a very interesting mystery. I also like that we get more backstory about the Lord and Lady and their purpose with the dead.
What is most compelling is the idea of adventure not necessarily being fun but often necessary, especially to help our friends and finding out that reality isn’t quite what we expect. In this novel, in particular, we have the return of more than one character and some unexpected twists in how and why the dead are attacking the living in the Halls. I loved the ending and I find myself wanting even more about the School.
If you love Seanan McGuire’s writing and the Wayward Children series, you will love this next installment. Much like the others, you won’t have to be completely familiar with the other books but it will help your enjoyment and will certainly make the story easier to understand. While Seanan is a pro at filling in information, this is one that a working understanding of the first book in the Wayward Children series will absolutely be a benefit. I loved the return of Nancy, the clever and intriguing mystery and the resolution of the story. It is full of dangerous magic and fantastic characters.
Rating: 5 out of 5 moths.
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