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.
Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire Series: Wayward Children #10
Published by Tordotcom on January 7 2025
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 160
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: Another magical and thought provoking entry in the Wayward Children series, Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear brings one character’s origin story to life.
This is the tenth book in Seanan McGuire’s magical—and slightly uneven—fantasy portal series, and I feel the need to not only review this particular book, but give you my thoughts on the overall series so far. I really enjoyed this one, especially since it’s mostly set in one of the “doorway” worlds.
Note: Minor spoilers ahead
Nadya Sokolov was born in a Russian orphanage and given up for adoption, because she was born without an arm. Seeing her “deformity,” her mother fled and left her in the care of the orphanage nurses. Nadya grows up to be a sweet, caring girl who thinks of others before herself, and her missing limb doesn’t stop her from learning to do everything a child with two arms can do. One day she’s adopted by an American missionary couple, who aren’t interested in having a child so much as looking good in the eyes of their church. Nadya must learn quickly how to speak English and adapt to her new life, and although her parents seem kind, her biggest joy is visiting the nearby turtle pond.
Nadya is fairly happy, until the day she’s taken to the doctor to be fitted for a prosthetic arm. The new arm is scratchy and hurts, and Nadya doesn’t need it. But her mother insists that it makes her a “normal” girl and forces her to wear it.
One day, sad and lonely and tired of being teased by the kids at school, Nadya visits her beloved turtle pond, only to fall into the water and through door. She ends up in another world, a place called Belyyreka, where people live underwater and ride in boats carried on the backs of giant turtles.
We originally met Nadya in 2018’s Beneath the Sugar Sky, after she was pulled back into the “real” world, so it was interesting to see her origin story and how she ended up in Belyyreka. This is a different book from the others in that we don’t see Eleanor West or her Home for Wayward Children at all, including any of the other characters we’ve met over the years. The story is focused solely on Nadya and the first nineteen years of her life, most of which take place in the magical, underwater world. Nadya’s life changes for the better once she falls through the door in the pond, and we watch her bond with one of the giant turtles, make friends and even fall in love, all while being accepted as she is, missing arm and all.
McGuire always addresses important topics in her books (which are often about acceptance and gender identity), and here she tackles Nadya’s lack of an arm and the way her parents insisted they “fix” her. Nadya knows that by forcing her to wear a prosthetic, she’s unable to make decisions about her own body, a very timely hot button topic that I’m always happy to see addressed.
Of course, if you’ve read the rest of the series, you know the fate that awaits her—she is pulled out of Belyyreka and winds up at Eleanor West’s Home, with other children who had similar experiences but in different worlds and doorways. So despite her wonderful, magical life, you just know her luck is going to change at some point, and that’s where the tension lies in this story.
As for the series so far, looking back over ten books that are all told out of order, I’m wondering how this series would read if McGuire wrote and published the books in chronological order instead of the haphazard way the series is laid out. Nadya isn’t the only character who gets this treatment, and it’s not always easy to get your bearings when starting a new installment. Maybe she’s mimicking the random way the doors themselves work, or she’s simply telling the stories as they come to her. If you’ve read all ten books, I’d love to know what you think.
There are still more stories to tell in this world, so I doubt McGuire is finished, although I haven’t seen any official announcements about possible next books. Still, I’ll be here when the next one comes out.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
I’ve still only read the first book in the series and reading 9 more seems so daunting now. I do love that the author addresses important topics like acceptance and gender identity which is so important nowadays.
Ha ha I know what you mean!
Great review. I could kick myself for not staying current with this series as I really adored 4 of the first 5. I need to restart but I know Beneath the Sugar Sky would stand in my way. I am glad you enjoyed this one so much.
Thanks Barb. Yep, Beneath the Sugar Sky was my least favorite.
I’m currently waiting for the copy I ordered to arrive…so I didn’t know that McGuire had gone for a slightly different story this time – with a slightly older protagonist (I don’t think Nadya’s age was addressed when we first met her) and without any cameo from the rest of the cast. I love multi-character stories, but it’s neat to get a change of perspective from time to time.
“Nadya knows that by forcing her to wear a prosthetic, she’s unable to make decisions about her own body, a very timely hot button topic that I’m always happy to see addressed.”
You’re right – there’s more to her story than refusing to wear a prosthetic because it makes her feel like she’s not enough..I didn’t realise that there was a bodily autonomy aspect involved as well, before I read your review.
I don’t have a theory about McGuire’s authorial choices in regards to this series…but I know she usually has her stories outlined far in advance, so I think the back-and-forth is intentional, and I have to say that it works for me, though I realise that other people may prefer a more “traditional” type of storytelling. However, your theory about “mimicking the random way the doors themselves work” is clever!
I think you’re right, she probably has the whole series planned out. I hope your copy arrives soon, I’m very curious to hear your thoughts!
Terrific review. I loved this one, and I agree, knowing Nadya’s story in book 3 creates so much tension in this one. Even when she finds true happiness in her life in Belyrreka, we know it can’t last. Great question about the chronology of the series. I wonder if she had a plan for all this at the beginning, or if she just follows wherever her imagination happens to take her. It’ll be interesting to see if she keeps exploring other characters’ backstories. I like your point about the randomness of the stories mirroring the randomness of the doors!
I’m hoping there are more books in the series! This one definitely didn’t feel like an ending.
I hope to read more of this author and try this series sometime.
She’s written so many books!
I’ve got several of her books on my TBR list, but have never read any in this series. Do you have a favorite?
From this series, I loved Down Among the Sticks and Bones the most.
Great review, Tammy! I can’t wait to read this one and I hope there are more in the future.
Thank you! I think there will be. This didn’t feel like an ending AT ALL.
Sheesh! I know they’re short so I have little excuse, but I’ve still yet to start this series.
At least the books are short! It might make more sense to binge read it, since it’s been going on for so long and it’s easy to forget details.
I haven’t heard of this one! I love a good lengthy series. The Katie Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, the Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh… it’s so nice when you can revisit the world through different characters.
I don’t read enough series, I just need to find one I love.
Still keep telling myself I need to read this series or anything by this author! Great review!
Happy to see this series is still going strong for you.
Lynn