Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire Narrator: Jesse Vilinsky
Series: Wayward Children #9
Published by MacMillan Audio on January 9, 2024
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Length: 4 hours, 40 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: NetGalley
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Antsy is the latest student to pass through the doors at Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children.
When her fellow students realize that Antsy's talent for finding absolutely anything may extend to doors, she's forced to flee in the company of a small group of friends, looking for a way back to the Shop Where the Lost Things Go to be sure that Vineta and Hudson are keeping their promise.
Along the way, temptations are dangled, decisions are reinforced, and a departure to a world populated by dinosaurs brings untold dangers and one or two other surprises!
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known is the ninth book in the Wayward Children series. This is a series that follows different characters each book, of children who do not fit into this world we live in quite right, and sometimes find doors to other worlds/realms where they really belong. While normally I would say you could read most of these stories as stand-alones to really understand this one and all the additional characters in it you would have needed to have read at least Lost in the Moment and Found to get Antsy’s origin story. But it would be better to have read all the prior stories as so many characters from previous books are in this one as they go on a very interesting quest together.
Antsy lived in a between world where lost things go; she can find anything needed which has made her a bit of a target at the School for Wayward Children full of kids who have lost the doors to the worlds they were in and most want to go back. Befriended by some former leads in books we have read, they are about to go on an accidental quest opening doors and walking into new worlds together. Antsy will see what has become of the shop in the in-between she left has become and have some decisions to make now that she knows all the rules.
I liked that we got to go on a bigger quest in this book with some of my favorite characters. Cade, Christopher and Cora will assist Antsy in finding her world again and will end up making a few important stops along the way. We finally get to see that world of dinosaurs we have heard about in other books, though we don’t get to linger there for long. I always enjoy seeing the different places the kids end up. I liked learning more about how the doors really work and what the real cost is to go through though them.
There were some sad moments as we say goodbye again to some characters as they find their true homes once again, it is happy and yet bittersweet. As always though I’m excited to see the new imaginings in Seanan McGuire’s head and the worlds she has dreamed up for this series.
Narration:
Jesse Vilinsky was a fantastic choice for this series. She was perfect for the voices of Antsy and all the Wayward Children. I have loved her narrations since I first noticed her narration of Swordheart. She is able to capture the emotion and humor of a story and deliver it flawlessly. I always know which character is talking and they all have depth to their voice more than just a new tone. Mislaid in Parts Half-Known was another fantastic performance by Jesse Vilinsky. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Jesse Vilinsky
A trained actress from the USC School of Dramatic Arts, alumnus of the prestigious British American Drama Academy, and accomplished voiceover actress lending her talents to numerous film and television productions, Jesse now brings your stories off the page with nuance and grace, and now and again – the appropriate dose of humor.
Jesse specializes in realistic teen and children’s voices, as well as a proficiency in many accents, including: New York, Boston, Southern, British, Irish, Russian, German and Italian.
About Seanan McGuire
Hi! I’m Seanan McGuire, author of the Toby Daye series (Rosemary and Rue, A Local Habitation, An Artificial Night, Late Eclipses), as well as a lot of other things. I’m also Mira Grant (www.miragrant.com), author of Feed and Deadline.
Born and raised in Northern California, I fear weather and am remarkably laid-back about rattlesnakes. I watch too many horror movies, read too many comic books, and share my house with two monsters in feline form, Lilly and Alice (Siamese and Maine Coon).
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I enjoyed this too, but I’m ready for the series to be over, I think. The dino world was a little underwhelming for some reason.
Well, we unfortunately didn’t get much time in it. It was just a brief side journey and then the kids were back again. No time to really explore like in the other books. It seemed like it would have had some very interesting things to explore though.
I do understand your point though. Seems like maybe it is leading that way with the comments about Lundy and I think Cade will eventually get a choice too.
I’m glad we get to see more of Antsy in this one.
Me too. After spending the last book entirely with her I didn’t really think her story was complete, so it was good to see her with the main cast of kids figuring her life out.
I really need to catch up to this series — I only read Across the Green Grass Fields for the first time quite recently. I’m so behind! This one sounds fun… 🤔
Ah yes the Centaur world. There are some very fun adventures to be had after that.
These books are always nice!
Yes. They are about the perfect length for a good time read that you don’t have to dedicate a lot of time to.
Dinos!
I think everyone looks for a time in their lives to say “Welcome to Jurassic Park”
The dinosaur is what grabs me on this, but I still need to read something by this author. Great review!
She has a lot of great stuff to pick from when you find the time.