I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire Series: Wayward Children #7
Published by Tordotcom on January 4 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 160
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: With familiar characters and a new setting, the seventh book in McGuire’s portal fantasy series shows us a different side of what happens to some children when they return.
Since the Moors, her dreams were still full of water and waves, but the sea she swam in while she slept was no longer remotely kind. It was filled with teeth, and colder than she would have believed the water could be.
For the first time in Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series, we discover that Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children isn’t the only “home” out there for those who have gone through a doorway into a different world and then returned. Where the Drowned Girls Go revolves primarily around Cora, who we met previously in several other books. I remember she was a side character in Under the Sugar Sky, and I was eager to learn more about her world and what she went through. Here I sort of got my wish, but instead of focusing on Cora’s time in the Trenches, the watery world where she lived as a mermaid, we focus on her return to our world and her attempts to cope with normalcy.
Cora is trying her best to adjust after leaving the Trenches, but she’s struggling. In her dreams, she hears the Drowned Gods calling to her, begging her to return. Determined to rid herself of them for good, she asks Eleanor if she can transfer to the Whitethorn Institute. Their methods are more harsh than Eleanor’s gentle guidance, but Cora knows that’s just what she needs to heal.
But the Whitethorn Institute is more like a prison than a school. Surrounded by tall walls and a dense forest, Cora is intimidated by the strict rules and heavy-handed teachings of the Matrons, not to mention the menacing Headmaster Whitethorn, whose face she can’t seem to remember. Before she can figure out whether their methods are working or not, Cora is surprised by the arrival of an old friend who is determined to help her escape.
This installment is different from the other books in the series, because readers don’t get to visit any of the portal worlds. Instead, McGuire takes us into the Whitethorn Institute, a truly terrifying place for kids to recover from their experiences in other worlds. Whitethorn’s methods of rehabilitating children reminded me of conversion therapy in some ways. Students are forced to do the opposite of what is natural to them. For example, in order for Cora to forget the Drowned Gods’ watery world, she’s forbidden to swim or take baths, both activities that bring her comfort. This radical type of therapy seems to be working, though, as students who prove they have reintegrated back into the real world can “graduate” and go home.
Like the other books in the series, McGuire tackles some serious themes in Where the Drowned Girls Go. I especially loved the focus on Cora’s self image and how she deals with bullying. Cora has always been treated poorly by family and friends because her body size and shape don’t fit the “norm” of what girls are expected to look like. During her time in the Trenches, she took on the appearance of a mermaid, with beautiful blue-green hair and pearlescent skin. She became beautiful not only to herself, but to others. But that magic is fading now that she’s back in the real world, and Cora is once again struggling to be accepted for who she is. The series is known for the message “be yourself,” and Cora’s issues with body positivity illustrate this message perfectly.
I enjoyed seeing characters from some of the other books in the series as well. Sumi makes an appearance, as well as Regan from the last book (Across the Green Grass Fields). Other characters seemed familiar to me, but I’ve forgotten all the details and characters of the previous six books, so I can’t be sure without going back and rereading the previous books. This is one reason you should probably read this series in order, because the characters grow and change over the course of the series.
But as much as I enjoyed this book, I can’t help but feel a sense of “same same” creeping into the overall series. The story itself was good, and I do love learning more about some of my favorite characters. But after reading seven books, I’m starting to see repetitive patterns in each one, and I feel like the magic of the series is waning. I was also disappointed that we didn’t actually visit Cora’s world, the Trenches. McGuire alludes to Cora’s dark times there, with menacing imagery and terrifying memories, but hearing about events second hand like that just doesn’t have the same impact.
Still, if you are a Wayward Children fan like I am, you’ll definitely find things to love about this book. We all have our favorite worlds, though, don’t we? For me, it’s the Moors, and if McGuire wants to return there for any reason at all, I’ll be the first in line.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
I read the first book of this series a while ago and it wasn’t really my cup of tea so I never continued but that makes me sad because I know so many readers that do enjoy the books.
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…My TBR List: January 2022 — Choose My Next Read!
The whole series has been mixed for me. Some I’ve absolutely loved and others just didn’t work at all. Oh well!
“hearing about events second hand like that just doesn’t have the same impact.”
It does happen with this series from time to time, doesn’t it? I understand that it’s a side effect (so to speak) of their being novellas, because not everything can fit in such a short page count, but sometimes it can be frustrating.
Very thoughtful review!
Roberta R, recently posted…Offbeat Offline: December 2021
Thanks Roberta:-)
Maybe this’ll be the year I actually start this series. 🙂
At least the books are short, it will be easy to add to your schedule.
I’d think that after seven books you would see repeating themes and situations. But OMGosh, the Whitethorn Institute feels like sandpaper to my thoughts the way you described it. Personally, I love water, swimming, hot baths, and stuff, so Cora’s experience there would be terrifying to me!
Priscilla Bettis recently posted…One Sentence Reviews: My 4th Quarter 2021 Reads
I really did love the addition of Whitethorn, it’s sort of diabolical!
A very intriguing change of pace for this series, and one I’m eager to see for myself, although I’m somewhat worried by your mention of repeating narrative patterns . This was the main reason I fell out of love with McGuire’s Toby Daye series, since the latest books felt very formulaic and offered nothing new both in characterization and story. Let’s hope that this series does not suffer the same fate!
Thanks for sharing!
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…My Year in Books (and more…)
For me it’s also getting hard to remember all the characters, who did what, what world they came from, etc. Maybe I’m just too old for a long series, lol.
Yay!! We get to see some old friends! That makes me happy. My copy won’t get here until Thursday – I’m so anxious!
Jennifer | Book Den recently posted…Recent Updates and Currently Reading | January 2
I hope you love it!
I love the idea of visiting other worlds, and especially the concept of kids doing so and then having to readjust, and the “be yourself” message appeals to me as well. It’s too bad a little repetitiveness is creeping in, but it sounds like these have a lot to offer.
Greg recently posted…Best Books of 2021
I think it’s to be expected with a long running series.
Holy cow there’s 7 of those now!? I read the first one a while back and don’t remember anything about it. I didn’t read the review because I didn’t want any spoilers, but I’m glad to see you liked it!
Ash @ Essentially Ash
Ash recently posted…2022 Goals + January TBR
Yes, seven! Crazy right?
I’m determined to start this series this year. I’ve had it sitting on my kindle for way too long. It sounds so good, although a bummer that it’s starting to feel repetitive this many books in.
It seems like it would be hard to keep such a long series fresh and new. For the most part she’s succeeded:-)
This one sounds really intense–and definitely a bit different from the others since we don’t visit any of the portal worlds. I’ve worried about a repetitious note growing in these series, so they may become a bit of a bummer, but it does feel somewhat inevitable so I think I tend to just enjoy it for what it is. 🙂 The Moors is my favorite world as well, but I’m definitely excited to give this installment a read hopefully soon!
I hope you enjoy it!
I haven’t managed to read this author yet, although I own some of her books. Robin usually reviews these.
I’ll look for her review:-)
It’s a shame I didn’t continue with this series, I really enjoyed the first book but then the age old problem of ‘falling behind’ snuck up on me and now look – I’m six books behind.
Lynn 😀
Skimmed this review because I haven’t got my copy yet and want to go in knowing as little as possible. I was hoping this volume would inject something new to the series, which I feel like it could really use, but it sounds like the story still sticks closely to the structure/style of the other books in the series. I have been struggling with that criticism. I generally love the books and want more of them, but at the same time I’m starting to grumble about how ‘same same’ they are? ? Perhaps I need to acknowledge I am asking for a grand feat – “Give me the same thing, but new and different”.
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I’d definitely read more about the Moors! Down Among the Sticks & Bones remains my favorite of the series, although I love the whole thing. Good comparison re Whitethorn being like conversion therapy!