The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

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✨ Book Review: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

⭐ Rating: 3.5 out of 5 ⭐
Genre: Fantasy / Historical Fiction
📖 Format Read: Hardcover
📦 Buy on Amazon (affiliate link)

First Things First: A Fantasy Hater’s Confession 😅

Let me just say it: I don’t like fantasy. Or, more accurately, fantasy doesn’t usually like me. But somehow, The Ten Thousand Doors of January slipped through my reality-loving defenses. Maybe it's the concept (any fellow Portal fans out there?!)—a story about jumping through doors into magical new worlds? That’s the kind of fantasy I can get behind.

And this book? It’s like reading poetry on a breeze. Harrow’s writing is gorgeous, magical, and slow in the best and worst ways.

🚪 Spoiler Warning! Full plot breakdown ahead. You’ve been warned.

🌀 Overview

Published in 2019, The Ten Thousand Doors of January is the debut novel from Alix E. Harrow and blends historical fiction, magical realism, and portal fantasy. It’s a coming-of-age story wrapped in lyrical prose and layered timelines.

📚 Plot Summary

A Girl, a Door, and a Book Within a Book...

January Scaller, a young girl growing up in the early 1900s, lives under the care of Cornelius Locke—a wealthy collector of rare artifacts. Her father, Julian, travels the world finding treasures for Locke, leaving January lonely in a lavish, stifling home.

Everything changes when January stumbles across a strange blue door in a field. She opens it, steps through, and sees a whole new world by the sea. Locke quickly shuts that door—literally and metaphorically—punishing her into obedience.

Years pass, and January finds herself a prim, “proper” girl... until she discovers a mysterious book titled The Ten Thousand Doors. It tells the story of two lovers—Adelina (Ade) and Yule Ian—who search across worlds for each other, through magical Doors. Sound familiar? Yep—turns out they’re her parents. Plot twist!

When January learns her father is missing (and presumed dead), she clings to the book as her anchor. Then, in classic gothic-fantasy fashion, Locke has her locked in an asylum.

Using her special silver pen (and some faith-fueled magic), January writes herself out of the institution—literally—and escapes through another Door to reunite with her friend Samuel and loyal nursemaid Jane.

But Locke’s secret society (very creative name: The Society) is dead-set on closing all the magical Doors. Why? Control, of course. And fear. They think crossing worlds will ruin everything. January, however, is the living proof that the Doors bring connection, identity, and family.

Cue a series of cross-world escapes, a showdown with Locke (who turns out to be the villain and kind of her captor?), and a final leap of faith through the blue Door to find the world her father once called home.

Eventually, she meets her mother, reunites with her father, and embraces her power as a Door-opener and world-bridger. She sets off with a mission: to reopen every Door that the Society has sealed shut.

🌟 What Worked for Me

  • The writing is gorgeous. Like, you want to highlight every other sentence. Harrow knows how to create mood and magic with language.

  • The world-hopping idea is fun and surprisingly emotional. I’ve always loved the idea of stepping into another world—maybe that Portal obsession never left me.

  • The cover. Shallow? Maybe. But it’s BEAUTIFUL.

🤯 What Didn’t Work

  • The middle-to-end lost me. Somewhere around page 200, I found myself reading but not grasping. I wasn’t skimming, but my brain was sliding off the story. There were just so many worlds, layers, and histories that I struggled to stay emotionally anchored.

  • The pacing. That beautiful prose comes at a cost: it’s sloooow. I don’t mind a leisurely pace, but I expected a little more urgency in some places.

  • Some characters felt underdeveloped. I wanted more dimension from the villains, and even Jane (who kicks serious butt) could’ve used more backstory.

🚨 Trigger Warnings

Contains themes of:

  • Loss and grief

  • Imprisonment / mental institution

  • Parental separation

  • Psychological manipulation

  • Threats of violence

📖 Final Thoughts

The Ten Thousand Doors of January is like a dreamy walk through a museum full of locked doors—and if you’re willing to walk slowly and soak it in, it’ll reward you. But if you're looking for fast-paced action or a grounded plot, this one might feel a little too floaty.

That said, I still recommend it—especially to people who usually hate fantasy. It’s smart, reflective, and beautifully written. Just be ready to feel a bit lost (in more ways than one).

🔗 Book Details

📘 Title: The Ten Thousand Doors of January
✍️ Author: Alix E. Harrow
🗓️ Published: 2019
📚 Buy the Book on Amazon

📚 You Might Also Like...

  • ✨ The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern — another lyrical, portal-ish fantasy with deep bookish vibes.

  • 🔍 The Midnight Library by Matt Haig — what if you could visit different versions of your life?

  • 📖 The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab — lyrical, moody, and packed with emotion.

  • 🚪 Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire — weird and wonderful portal fantasy with bite-sized charm.

Would you walk through the Door? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 👇

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