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Wayward Children #8
Lost in the Moment and Found
Welcome to the Shop Where the Lost Things Go.
If you ever lost a sock, you’ll find it here.
If you ever wondered about favorite toy from childhood... it’s probably sitting on a shelf in the back.
And the headphones that you swore that this time you’d keep safe? You guessed it….
Antoinette has lost her father. Metaphorically. He’s not in the shop, and she’ll never see him again. But when Antsy finds herself lost (literally, this time), she finds that however many doors open for her, leaving the Shop for good might not be as simple as it sounds.
And stepping through those doors exacts a price.
Lost in the Moment and Found tells us that childhood and innocence, once lost, can never be found.
If you ever lost a sock, you’ll find it here.
If you ever wondered about favorite toy from childhood... it’s probably sitting on a shelf in the back.
And the headphones that you swore that this time you’d keep safe? You guessed it….
Antoinette has lost her father. Metaphorically. He’s not in the shop, and she’ll never see him again. But when Antsy finds herself lost (literally, this time), she finds that however many doors open for her, leaving the Shop for good might not be as simple as it sounds.
And stepping through those doors exacts a price.
Lost in the Moment and Found tells us that childhood and innocence, once lost, can never be found.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 10, 2023
219 people are currently reading
17292 people want to read
About the author
Seanan McGuire
507 books17.1k followersHi! 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).
I do not check this inbox. Please don't send me messages through Goodreads; they won't be answered. I don't want to have to delete this account. :(
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).
I do not check this inbox. Please don't send me messages through Goodreads; they won't be answered. I don't want to have to delete this account. :(
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,846 reviews
January 19, 2023
every book should be 100 pages long and about weird magic kids.
sure, i've been a bit disenchanted with the last few books in this series, but that's one reason to love it - you may always love the next one.
there's always some kind of a balance here between tragic backstory and magic, and good and evil, and this struck it perfectly for me- and i had missed the magic school and here we glimpsed it.
i loved antsy and i loved her world and the only downside (which is the best and worst downside of this series) is that i want more of her story!
bottom line: good problems to have.
(thanks to netgalley for the e-arc)
sure, i've been a bit disenchanted with the last few books in this series, but that's one reason to love it - you may always love the next one.
there's always some kind of a balance here between tragic backstory and magic, and good and evil, and this struck it perfectly for me- and i had missed the magic school and here we glimpsed it.
i loved antsy and i loved her world and the only downside (which is the best and worst downside of this series) is that i want more of her story!
bottom line: good problems to have.
(thanks to netgalley for the e-arc)
March 3, 2023
1.) Every Heart a Doorway ★★★★★
2.) Down Among the Sticks and Bones ★★★★★
3.) Beneath the Sugar Sky ★★★★
4.) In an Absent Dream ★★★★★
5.) Come Tumbling Down ★★★
6.) Across the Green Grass Fields ★★★★
7.) Where the Drowned Girls Go ★★★
;___; for sure my favorite or 2nd favorite wayward children tale yet. i really loved this even though i felt like i was constantly crying or experiencing the feeling of being on the verge of crying from the author note to the very last page.
all these novellas focus on a very important, but newly introduced theme, while also maintaining the overarching message of finding the place(s) you belong - on your terms, with your health and safety as the number one priority. but the theme of this short story is losing your childhood - in all the ways imaginable. from loss and grief, to feeling unseen and unheard, to being manipulated by people you trust... and they are all very heartbreaking but so very real.
besides this book being very important and feeling very thankful it is in the world, antsy + seanan do an amazing job letting people know they aren't alone and they were never at fault... for anything <3
authors note warnings: grooming, gaslighting, reassurance nothing physical happens (very important and very much impacted my reading experience in a very positive way because of the reassurance)
additional trigger + content warnings that i wrote down while reading: loss of a parent, heart-attack, pedophilia, panic attack, mention of making a small cut to see magic, grief, loss of a sibling, child abuse
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2.) Down Among the Sticks and Bones ★★★★★
3.) Beneath the Sugar Sky ★★★★
4.) In an Absent Dream ★★★★★
5.) Come Tumbling Down ★★★
6.) Across the Green Grass Fields ★★★★
7.) Where the Drowned Girls Go ★★★
“Travel can be hard. It wears on the heart, even when it’s done on purpose, and there’s always a cost and a consequence.”
;___; for sure my favorite or 2nd favorite wayward children tale yet. i really loved this even though i felt like i was constantly crying or experiencing the feeling of being on the verge of crying from the author note to the very last page.
all these novellas focus on a very important, but newly introduced theme, while also maintaining the overarching message of finding the place(s) you belong - on your terms, with your health and safety as the number one priority. but the theme of this short story is losing your childhood - in all the ways imaginable. from loss and grief, to feeling unseen and unheard, to being manipulated by people you trust... and they are all very heartbreaking but so very real.
besides this book being very important and feeling very thankful it is in the world, antsy + seanan do an amazing job letting people know they aren't alone and they were never at fault... for anything <3
authors note warnings: grooming, gaslighting, reassurance nothing physical happens (very important and very much impacted my reading experience in a very positive way because of the reassurance)
additional trigger + content warnings that i wrote down while reading: loss of a parent, heart-attack, pedophilia, panic attack, mention of making a small cut to see magic, grief, loss of a sibling, child abuse
blog | instagram | youtube | kofi | spotify | amazon
February 3, 2023
Definitely in my top 3 of the entire series. Maybe even top 2. This was so, so good
January 24, 2023
Seanan McGuire is NOT scared. This book might center around young children but she doesn’t hesitate to go dark. She will give you whimsy then throw in gore without a second thought.
This book in particular is very jarring and triggering. There is a beautiful authors note in the beginning with trigger warnings so everyone can go in with eyes wide open.
When Antoinette “Antsy” is five years old, something is stolen from her. On the heels of that grief, something just as precious is taken - her innocence. This is a story about how vulnerable and important childhood is. And once it’s gone, you can never get it back.
There is grooming, gaslighting, manipulation of adult/child dynamics, and much more. While that is incredibly heavy, McGuire handles it realistically and beautifully. She just has a ‘way’ of writing the feelings that adults don’t think children understand, much less face.
Horrifyingly, this is something that happens to children every day. And books need to be able to discuss it in a helpful and understanding way. To show children that they shouldn’t trust adults just *because* they’re adults. They don’t need to be quite and polite if they feel unsafe. Sometimes running is the best choice you have.
Loved it as I love this entire series. I want her to keep writing these forever.
This book in particular is very jarring and triggering. There is a beautiful authors note in the beginning with trigger warnings so everyone can go in with eyes wide open.
When Antoinette “Antsy” is five years old, something is stolen from her. On the heels of that grief, something just as precious is taken - her innocence. This is a story about how vulnerable and important childhood is. And once it’s gone, you can never get it back.
There is grooming, gaslighting, manipulation of adult/child dynamics, and much more. While that is incredibly heavy, McGuire handles it realistically and beautifully. She just has a ‘way’ of writing the feelings that adults don’t think children understand, much less face.
Horrifyingly, this is something that happens to children every day. And books need to be able to discuss it in a helpful and understanding way. To show children that they shouldn’t trust adults just *because* they’re adults. They don’t need to be quite and polite if they feel unsafe. Sometimes running is the best choice you have.
Loved it as I love this entire series. I want her to keep writing these forever.
February 24, 2024
#1 Every Heart a Doorway ★★★★★
#2 Down Among the Sticks and Bones ★★★★★
#3 Beneath the Sugar Sky ★★★★★
#4 In An Absent Dream ★★★★★
#5 Come Tumbling Down ★★★★★
#6 Across the Green Grass Fields ★★★★★
#7 Where the Drowned Girls Go ★★★★★
#8 Lost in the Moment and Found ★★★★★
I think every book in this series is my new favorite, but I'm going to say it yet again: this was my favorite Wayward Children novella so far. This was absolutely incredible. It gave me the most wonderful Howl's Moving Castle vibes in some ways, and Antsy is one of my favorite protagonists from the series that we've met so far. I also felt that this was the saddest and perhaps the heaviest story so far.
There was so much she didn’t seem to know. It was like her father had taken all the answers with him when he left, and now she had to live in a world that didn’t have any answers in it at all.
Antsy's story is a tough one nearly from the start: we begin with a little girl who's as happy as can be until her father suddenly dies right in front of her, and her entire world is turned upside-down. Shortly after enters a stepfather whose motives seem concerning at first and downright horrific with time (though, as the author's note tells us at the beginning, Antsy runs before anything is set into motion), and it's no wonder that Antsy is very sure when she finds her door.
"Someone loves you. Someone has been taking care of you. And then something bad happened. Something bad enough that you looked at all that love and all that care and decided that they weren’t enough to balance out the size of the bad thing."
Antsy's door leads to the Shop Where the Lost Things Go, which is easily one of my favorite settings I've ever visited in a book. As the name implies, it's a shop where missing things turn up, and it has doors that open within it to lead to other worlds where the shopkeepers can come and go to buy supplies and seek out items to resell. It reminded me a lot of the door in Howl's Moving Castle, with the doorways leading sometimes to better or worse places than others, and it was so much fun to get little tastes of a variety of Doors through this one experience.
Nothing comes free; ask them what it costs you.
Of course, there's more to the story than it seems, but I'll save that surprise for you, friends. All I can say is that Lost in the Moment and Found reminded me of how beautifully Seanan writes not only children, but also how well she captures the feeling of adults betraying the children in their lives, and the resounding impacts those betrayals can have. While I adore this entire series and always recommend reading them all, this is one of the stories that can be read on its own, so wherever you start, start somewhere and give these gorgeous novellas a try. They're worth every ounce of the hype and I'm forever grateful that they exist (and, as always, very eager for the next installment).
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
Buddy read with the lovely Ash! ♥
✨ Content warnings for:
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January 8, 2023
getting my hands on a new wayward children book is the only reason i look forward to january every year.
December 31, 2022
I always love this series, but this was a rough one to get through at times. Not because it’s bad, but because the topics are really heavy.
The story begins with Antsy witnessing the death of her father, and then deals with grooming and gaslighting. While she runs away (into another world of course) before anything serious can happen, it’s still disturbing to read. But I also think this is an important story to tell and I thought it was handled with the care it deserves. The author has been candid about her own experience with grooming and child sex abuse and it’s clear this was a story that meant a lot to her.
While this is a fantastical story with doors to other worlds, it’s really about how abuse and trauma can force kids to grow up long before they are ready and steals their childhood from them. It’s a short book but it packs a punch. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
The story begins with Antsy witnessing the death of her father, and then deals with grooming and gaslighting. While she runs away (into another world of course) before anything serious can happen, it’s still disturbing to read. But I also think this is an important story to tell and I thought it was handled with the care it deserves. The author has been candid about her own experience with grooming and child sex abuse and it’s clear this was a story that meant a lot to her.
While this is a fantastical story with doors to other worlds, it’s really about how abuse and trauma can force kids to grow up long before they are ready and steals their childhood from them. It’s a short book but it packs a punch. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Read
October 5, 2023Given three more books were announced, could they perhaps be Kade, Chris, and Eleanor’s? 👀
Lbr just gimme Kade’s k thx 💕
edit: FYI this review was written in May 2021, before there was a title for it (what do we think of the title? they all seem to be pretty top notch imho) or "Where the Drowned Girls Go" was released. Which, as of Jan 2022, I haven't gotten from the library yet, so eagerly awaiting that so I can speculate more about this installment!!
FYI x2 I still want Eleanor, Chris, and Kade's books. GIVE ME PRISM (where I think my door would go to) OR BUST!!!!!
edit #2 on 7/21/22: CONFIRMED: as folks speculated in the comment of this review, this book is about Antionette!
The other two books are still unannounced though I assume the next will follow a lot of random women we met in Where the Drowned Girls Go and more of Cora's journey in the current timeline.
So that leaves Book 10 as someone's backstory, which seems like it could be anyone's at this point, so I'm sadly not too optimistic about it being Elinor or Kade or Chris' just yet. I think the series is starting to wane though, so not sure how many more books can possibly come out without the plot being too dragged out....TBD I guess.
Lbr just gimme Kade’s k thx 💕
edit: FYI this review was written in May 2021, before there was a title for it (what do we think of the title? they all seem to be pretty top notch imho) or "Where the Drowned Girls Go" was released. Which, as of Jan 2022, I haven't gotten from the library yet, so eagerly awaiting that so I can speculate more about this installment!!
FYI x2 I still want Eleanor, Chris, and Kade's books. GIVE ME PRISM (where I think my door would go to) OR BUST!!!!!
edit #2 on 7/21/22: CONFIRMED: as folks speculated in the comment of this review, this book is about Antionette!
The other two books are still unannounced though I assume the next will follow a lot of random women we met in Where the Drowned Girls Go and more of Cora's journey in the current timeline.
So that leaves Book 10 as someone's backstory, which seems like it could be anyone's at this point, so I'm sadly not too optimistic about it being Elinor or Kade or Chris' just yet. I think the series is starting to wane though, so not sure how many more books can possibly come out without the plot being too dragged out....TBD I guess.
June 8, 2024
“It’s never belonged to anyone, but it belongs to her.”
Lost In the Moment and Found is genuinely a fantastic installment in this series. Magical metaphors for abuse can be so fascinating when well done. Here, the use of Antsy's gaslighting via magic forgetting, and growing up too fast via magic, ties into her backstory as a survivor of abuse.
I was extremely impressed, as I often am, by the kindness with which McGuire treats Antsy, and the kindness with which she treats narratives of abuse. Being gaslit is an experience in alienation from the self: It is an experience, in its own way, of losing access to yourself. Antsy is lost from the real world both literally and figuratively, a barrier placed between her and the rest of the world. Any truth she tells will not be believed, so what does the truth matter? What is the real world, or is it lost forever?
One of my favorite novellas in this series. I desperately wish I'd had this book when I were younger.
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March 22, 2023
4.0 Stars
Video Review: https://youtu.be/Xx3Rl43hpkQ
For context, I read the first book in this series but haven't kept up with the middle of the series. Thankfully, this newest one is a fantastic jumping in point. I know I missed some references in the second half because I haven't read all the other books. This four star read could easily be a five-star read for diehard fans of the series.
I really appreciated how this novella handled the abuse and gaslighting in this story. It was a really powerful narrative that created a good reason to escape into another world. I felt deeply for our young protagonist.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it to readers, even those who haven't read all the previous novellas in this series. I am now very interested in filling in the gaps by reading the previous books.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I review books on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheShadesofOrange
Video Review: https://youtu.be/Xx3Rl43hpkQ
For context, I read the first book in this series but haven't kept up with the middle of the series. Thankfully, this newest one is a fantastic jumping in point. I know I missed some references in the second half because I haven't read all the other books. This four star read could easily be a five-star read for diehard fans of the series.
I really appreciated how this novella handled the abuse and gaslighting in this story. It was a really powerful narrative that created a good reason to escape into another world. I felt deeply for our young protagonist.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it to readers, even those who haven't read all the previous novellas in this series. I am now very interested in filling in the gaps by reading the previous books.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I review books on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheShadesofOrange
November 18, 2022
Check out my Booktube channel at: The Obsessive Bookseller
[4.5/5 stars] One of my favorite Wayward Children installments yet!
In an Absent Dream remains on a pedestal as my favorite of the series, but Lost in the Moment and Found made a strong case for itself. It was yet another one where the setup story (before the child finds her door) and the new realm exploration were perfectly balanced and I’d be hard-pressed to tell you which section I liked more.
I’d only intended to read a chapter a day, but was so struck by the author’s note at the beginning and absorbed by the story that it quickly turned into a binge-read. So much for my plans to savor these once-a-year gems. McGuire discussed in her author’s note some of the themes for the story and noted trigger-warnings for readers. Y’all know I hate spoilers for books, but in a rare instance, it didn’t bother me here, and in some ways made the story more poignant. It gave me the impression that the author infused a piece of her own past traumas into the book, making it more personalized and meaningful. Overall I found the entire thing heart-wrenching and continue to appreciate this series for putting some of these hush-hush childhood traumas into the limelight.
By focusing on the heavier aspects in my review, I might be giving the impression that these books are total downers, which is definitely not the case. They somehow manage to tackle difficult topics while still maintaining a good level of exciting adventure, fairytale whimsy, and charming characters. My favorite aspect is the sense of discovery as each child finds their door, and I especially loved what was behind the one in this story. It really appealed to my librarian/archivist nature – such a cool concept! My only lament is that we didn’t get to spend more time exploring the place, so I hope it makes an appearance in future books.
It amazes me how McGuire is able to pack so much substance into such a relatively short page-count. New books in this series are among my most anticipated releases each year. At this point I’ve no idea where the it’s headed next, but an overall arc is starting to take shape and I am SO onboard for the ride.
Recommendations: pick this up for bite-sized stories that pack a lot of punch!! It’s the perfect balance of meaningful themes and exciting discoveries.
I’d like to thank TOR and Seanan McGuire for the chance to read and review an early copy of Lost in the Moment and Found!
Thank you to my Patrons: Filipe, Dave, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Katrin, and Melissa! <3
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
[4.5/5 stars] One of my favorite Wayward Children installments yet!
In an Absent Dream remains on a pedestal as my favorite of the series, but Lost in the Moment and Found made a strong case for itself. It was yet another one where the setup story (before the child finds her door) and the new realm exploration were perfectly balanced and I’d be hard-pressed to tell you which section I liked more.
I’d only intended to read a chapter a day, but was so struck by the author’s note at the beginning and absorbed by the story that it quickly turned into a binge-read. So much for my plans to savor these once-a-year gems. McGuire discussed in her author’s note some of the themes for the story and noted trigger-warnings for readers. Y’all know I hate spoilers for books, but in a rare instance, it didn’t bother me here, and in some ways made the story more poignant. It gave me the impression that the author infused a piece of her own past traumas into the book, making it more personalized and meaningful. Overall I found the entire thing heart-wrenching and continue to appreciate this series for putting some of these hush-hush childhood traumas into the limelight.
By focusing on the heavier aspects in my review, I might be giving the impression that these books are total downers, which is definitely not the case. They somehow manage to tackle difficult topics while still maintaining a good level of exciting adventure, fairytale whimsy, and charming characters. My favorite aspect is the sense of discovery as each child finds their door, and I especially loved what was behind the one in this story. It really appealed to my librarian/archivist nature – such a cool concept! My only lament is that we didn’t get to spend more time exploring the place, so I hope it makes an appearance in future books.
It amazes me how McGuire is able to pack so much substance into such a relatively short page-count. New books in this series are among my most anticipated releases each year. At this point I’ve no idea where the it’s headed next, but an overall arc is starting to take shape and I am SO onboard for the ride.
Recommendations: pick this up for bite-sized stories that pack a lot of punch!! It’s the perfect balance of meaningful themes and exciting discoveries.
I’d like to thank TOR and Seanan McGuire for the chance to read and review an early copy of Lost in the Moment and Found!
Thank you to my Patrons: Filipe, Dave, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Katrin, and Melissa! <3
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
October 20, 2025
I'd say this is by far the most intelligent book in the Wayward Children series yet. I went into this expecting a mostly lighthearted story, but it wasn't and I mean that in a good way. Antsy's story is mostly sad up until the end and it's made up of a lot of metaphors. We also get a more interesting dynamic with the Doors which I absolutely loved. Overall, it's another fantastic book in the series and one that I think a lot of people will relate to.
*thank you to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
*thank you to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
August 17, 2024
In which five year old Antsy, who has lost the innocence of childhood, finds the doors which feature throughout this series, and discovers the Shop Where Lost Things Go. This is the eighth book in the Wayward Children series and the one I like best so far.
This author is not afraid to tackle the big issues although she does open this book with a warning and a reassurance that all will be well. I welcomed that because Antsy is the kind of sweet little girl who does not deserve bad things to happen to her.
I enjoyed every delightful moment of this short book and was delighted to see the next in the series features Antsy too. I will be looking out for it.
This author is not afraid to tackle the big issues although she does open this book with a warning and a reassurance that all will be well. I welcomed that because Antsy is the kind of sweet little girl who does not deserve bad things to happen to her.
I enjoyed every delightful moment of this short book and was delighted to see the next in the series features Antsy too. I will be looking out for it.
January 5, 2023
Star Rating: —> 5 Stars
A giant thank you to Tordotcom/Macmillan-Tor/Forge & NetGalley for the ARC ! All Opinions are my own.
After every single one of these lovely novellas, I come out thinking… This one was my absolute FAVORITE!, & Lost in the Moment and Found, of course, was no different! There was so, so much to love in our brave little heroine, Antsy. There were endless adventures contained in one BEAUTIFUL, gorgeously written novella, and so many amazing, quite literal treasures (from worlds visited or talked about in previous books ), including cameos (!) left for us to find.
Antsy is probably one of my favorite characters I’ve met thus far! Her story is a troubling one, and deals with some awful occurrences that Seanan handled gently, and with grace. I don’t know how she happens to be able to do this every time, with any subject, anything!
This is a must read, and I have a feeling we will be seeing more, more, more Antsy in the future! ( one can only hope!)
Oh! Oh! ALSO! (So exciting!!!) Amazingly, we finally find out more about the Doors (Be Sure 😉), and it is utterly fascinating! My lips are zipped on that! I can’t wait for other Wayward Children lovers to read this, I really can’t! It was SO INCREDIBLE that it brings tears to my eyes.
Beautifully done, McGuire, as usual.
1000 times over recommend !
________________
🎉 WOO HOOOOO! We have a title! Now we need to get to guessing whose story THIS book is! Aaaaand GO!
🧐🤔😉
A giant thank you to Tordotcom/Macmillan-Tor/Forge & NetGalley for the ARC ! All Opinions are my own.
After every single one of these lovely novellas, I come out thinking… This one was my absolute FAVORITE!, & Lost in the Moment and Found, of course, was no different! There was so, so much to love in our brave little heroine, Antsy. There were endless adventures contained in one BEAUTIFUL, gorgeously written novella, and so many amazing, quite literal treasures (from worlds visited or talked about in previous books ), including cameos (!) left for us to find.
Antsy is probably one of my favorite characters I’ve met thus far! Her story is a troubling one, and deals with some awful occurrences that Seanan handled gently, and with grace. I don’t know how she happens to be able to do this every time, with any subject, anything!
This is a must read, and I have a feeling we will be seeing more, more, more Antsy in the future! ( one can only hope!)
Oh! Oh! ALSO! (So exciting!!!) Amazingly, we finally find out more about the Doors (Be Sure 😉), and it is utterly fascinating! My lips are zipped on that! I can’t wait for other Wayward Children lovers to read this, I really can’t! It was SO INCREDIBLE that it brings tears to my eyes.
Beautifully done, McGuire, as usual.
1000 times over recommend !
________________
🎉 WOO HOOOOO! We have a title! Now we need to get to guessing whose story THIS book is! Aaaaand GO!
🧐🤔😉
September 25, 2022
Oof, this is a tough read but is characteristically rich in metaphor and things to ponder. The author's note at the beginning gives a good warning that I would recommend reading & contemplating before journeying forward. I really enjoyed a further exploration of how and why the Doors work the way they do, and this gave me much to think about on the nature of innocence lost and the way time changes our perspectives. Another great installment!
June 6, 2023
Wow. This was fantastic and heartbreaking—one of, if not my most favourite, of the whole series so far.
"Some children need to escape from places that will only hurt them, or grind them away until they're nothing. And some children need to go somewhere else if they're ever going to grow into the people they were meant to be."
This instalment had a gut-wrenching, horrifying start, and I'm grateful to the author for her compassion in including a warning about the content for her readers. This felt perfectly crafted and paced, and as evidenced by the extreme care and vulnerability in the way she explored the subject matter (and the author's note), it came from a very personal place for her.
The setting of this story was entrancing, though that's not a surprise. McGuire's imagination and skill with world-building are some of my favourite aspects of her work. I fell in love with Antsy from very early on and was deeply invested in her journey, rooting for her and aching for all she had to endure.
I appreciated the hopeful tone of the ending and would love to follow more of Antsy's story in future instalments - she deserves a happy ending, just as all children who have been failed by the very people who should protect them deserve the chance to heal in safe, loving, supportive environments.
"That was the fourth thing she lost: the belief that if something made her unhappy or uncomfortable, she could tell an adult who loved her and they would make everything better."
My heart hurts for all children who have reason to be afraid in their own homes. If books like these allow even one of them to see they aren't alone and there's hope, they will have been worth it.
Author’s Content Warnings: grooming, gaslighting (she also makes it clear that Antsy escapes in time)
Further Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent, grief, emotional abuse of a child, manipulation, pedophilia
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Original review upon finishing: Wow. This was the best instalment of the series by far. Full review to come when I get a second to process it all.
"Some children need to escape from places that will only hurt them, or grind them away until they're nothing. And some children need to go somewhere else if they're ever going to grow into the people they were meant to be."
This instalment had a gut-wrenching, horrifying start, and I'm grateful to the author for her compassion in including a warning about the content for her readers. This felt perfectly crafted and paced, and as evidenced by the extreme care and vulnerability in the way she explored the subject matter (and the author's note), it came from a very personal place for her.
The setting of this story was entrancing, though that's not a surprise. McGuire's imagination and skill with world-building are some of my favourite aspects of her work. I fell in love with Antsy from very early on and was deeply invested in her journey, rooting for her and aching for all she had to endure.
I appreciated the hopeful tone of the ending and would love to follow more of Antsy's story in future instalments - she deserves a happy ending, just as all children who have been failed by the very people who should protect them deserve the chance to heal in safe, loving, supportive environments.
"That was the fourth thing she lost: the belief that if something made her unhappy or uncomfortable, she could tell an adult who loved her and they would make everything better."
My heart hurts for all children who have reason to be afraid in their own homes. If books like these allow even one of them to see they aren't alone and there's hope, they will have been worth it.
Author’s Content Warnings: grooming, gaslighting (she also makes it clear that Antsy escapes in time)
Further Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent, grief, emotional abuse of a child, manipulation, pedophilia
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Original review upon finishing: Wow. This was the best instalment of the series by far. Full review to come when I get a second to process it all.
January 10, 2023
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Every Heart a Doorway ★★★ 1/2
Down Among the Sticks and Bones ★★★ 3/4
Beneath the Sugar Sky ★★★★
In an Absent Dream ★★★★
Come Tumbling Down ★★★ 1/2
Across the Green Grass Fields ★★★ 1/2
Where the Drowned Girls Go ★★★★
Lost in the Moment & Found ★★★ 1/2
Thanks for the publisher for providing me an E-ARC through Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review.
Lost in the Moment and Found started in the best possible way for me. The first third of the story was very well written and I found myself in awe again of McGuire's pros and ability to get me into a story. What I noticed is that this third was the "contemporary" or introductory part where we are introduced to the protagonist and how they find their door. In this case, it is Antoinette who is going through abuse and grooming as a child and from the author's note it seems like these are personal topics for her that she has gone through so beware of that while going into the story.
However, as soon as Antsy finds her door to the shop where lost things are found the story took a different role for me. The writing was not as solid, and it became stagnated in the middle picking up again towards the ending. Looking retrospectively, I think that is a common feeling I got through these stories. For some reason I prefer the contemporary elements over the fantasy ones and that is a weird thing to say in a fantasy series.
If you liked the previous books then there is no reason for you not to enjoy this one. Once again, all the elements from previous books are there including a magical world that shows that everything's got a price and Antsy discovers that slowly and pays the price with her childhood leading her to finally get out of her shell.
Summary: I immensely enjoyed the first third of this book but then the momentum was lost in the moment and never found (see what I did there). It delves into important topics as mentioned above. Funnily enough, this book made me want to read a full contemporary novel by McGuire without fantasy elements.
Every Heart a Doorway ★★★ 1/2
Down Among the Sticks and Bones ★★★ 3/4
Beneath the Sugar Sky ★★★★
In an Absent Dream ★★★★
Come Tumbling Down ★★★ 1/2
Across the Green Grass Fields ★★★ 1/2
Where the Drowned Girls Go ★★★★
Lost in the Moment & Found ★★★ 1/2
Thanks for the publisher for providing me an E-ARC through Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review.
Lost in the Moment and Found started in the best possible way for me. The first third of the story was very well written and I found myself in awe again of McGuire's pros and ability to get me into a story. What I noticed is that this third was the "contemporary" or introductory part where we are introduced to the protagonist and how they find their door. In this case, it is Antoinette who is going through abuse and grooming as a child and from the author's note it seems like these are personal topics for her that she has gone through so beware of that while going into the story.
However, as soon as Antsy finds her door to the shop where lost things are found the story took a different role for me. The writing was not as solid, and it became stagnated in the middle picking up again towards the ending. Looking retrospectively, I think that is a common feeling I got through these stories. For some reason I prefer the contemporary elements over the fantasy ones and that is a weird thing to say in a fantasy series.
If you liked the previous books then there is no reason for you not to enjoy this one. Once again, all the elements from previous books are there including a magical world that shows that everything's got a price and Antsy discovers that slowly and pays the price with her childhood leading her to finally get out of her shell.
Summary: I immensely enjoyed the first third of this book but then the momentum was lost in the moment and never found (see what I did there). It delves into important topics as mentioned above. Funnily enough, this book made me want to read a full contemporary novel by McGuire without fantasy elements.
December 10, 2023
✩ 5 stars
~
🔻TW: gaslighting, grooming🔻
~
“Antsy runs, before anything can actually happen, Antsy runs.”
•
“He’d given her a lesson to learn and she had learned it well. To well to see how false and cruel it was. To understand that had she gone to her mother, her mother who had a better understanding of the world and all its dangers. Would’ve taken her side.”
•
“Antsy’s heart desired more than to stay here forever and to never never ever go home. In that moment she was finally sure.”
•
“Being bruised doesn’t make you bad. Unless you’re a peach and even a bruised peach is good for making jam.”
•
“It was her’s and she had never agreed to give it away.”
~
the author’s note had me bawling…that’s it💗
~
🔻TW: gaslighting, grooming🔻
~
“Antsy runs, before anything can actually happen, Antsy runs.”
•
“He’d given her a lesson to learn and she had learned it well. To well to see how false and cruel it was. To understand that had she gone to her mother, her mother who had a better understanding of the world and all its dangers. Would’ve taken her side.”
•
“Antsy’s heart desired more than to stay here forever and to never never ever go home. In that moment she was finally sure.”
•
“Being bruised doesn’t make you bad. Unless you’re a peach and even a bruised peach is good for making jam.”
•
“It was her’s and she had never agreed to give it away.”
~
the author’s note had me bawling…that’s it💗
February 13, 2023
Things Seanan McGuire doesn't do well: 1) subtlety; 2) young children. Both of these crop up in Lost in the Moment and Found, and I found myself wondering, yet again, how I can admire McGuire's creativity and writing ability while being acutely irritated by her flogging-a-dead-horse messaging.
The first part reads like the author looked up gaslighting and grooming with the intent to educate readers on how it starts and where it goes:
Lots of this, which makes Antsy (short for Antoinette) sound less like a six-year-old child and more like a vehicle for teaching about gaslighting. It's been a while since I was six, but I'm positive that I didn't have this level of introspection or ability to understand the motivations of adults.
Things get better once Antsy opens a door to a marvelous shop of lost things. The shop has, in turn, endless doors to other worlds that Antsy and her new companions from the shop can visit - a marketplace teeming with cat-people (don't move too quickly, or they might pounce), fields of sentient plants, a creepy (and familiar!) world with a red moon and looming castle. But there's also an undercurrent of something sinister, and McGuire is nothing if not good at sinister. "Nothing comes free; ask them what it costs you," warns a mysterious note that appears under Antsy's pillow one day. The ultimate revelations are foreshadowed too heavily to be all that surprising, but I did like the resolution and the way it ties into the main storyline.
Better and more substantial than the last couple of entries in the Wayward Children series, but it might well be the last one I read.
The first part reads like the author looked up gaslighting and grooming with the intent to educate readers on how it starts and where it goes:
When she heard that tone in his voice, she had her answer. He'd done it on purpose, just like he'd ordered her to set the table with real plates on purpose. He was trying to get her into trouble. He wanted her mother to be angry with her, and her to be begging and pleading for her side of the story. She just couldn't figure out why a grownup would want to have a fight with a first-grader.
Lots of this, which makes Antsy (short for Antoinette) sound less like a six-year-old child and more like a vehicle for teaching about gaslighting. It's been a while since I was six, but I'm positive that I didn't have this level of introspection or ability to understand the motivations of adults.
Things get better once Antsy opens a door to a marvelous shop of lost things. The shop has, in turn, endless doors to other worlds that Antsy and her new companions from the shop can visit - a marketplace teeming with cat-people (don't move too quickly, or they might pounce), fields of sentient plants, a creepy (and familiar!) world with a red moon and looming castle. But there's also an undercurrent of something sinister, and McGuire is nothing if not good at sinister. "Nothing comes free; ask them what it costs you," warns a mysterious note that appears under Antsy's pillow one day. The ultimate revelations are foreshadowed too heavily to be all that surprising, but I did like the resolution and the way it ties into the main storyline.
Better and more substantial than the last couple of entries in the Wayward Children series, but it might well be the last one I read.
January 9, 2023
This story had me in a chokehold the moment I read the dedication and my heart was immediately broken into bits -- which reminds me, there is an author's note and content warning so please be mindful before picking this one up. Due to the one-connected, one-standalone pattern, this particular instalment isn't part of the main storyline and instead focuses on Antsy, a young girl who runs away from home rather than face the horrors that await her at the hands of her stepfather, and, stepping through a door (which also happens to be a Door), finds herself in a junk shop housing lost things; of which she, herself, has become one.
Unlike most instalments, main plot or otherwise, this doesn't have a lot going on. It's a very quiet book which is incredibly fitting considering the subject matter of the beginning and also the themes for the rest of the story. And while I didn't break down and cry (though I foresee one particular scene maybe being cause for many a tear, though I'm not sure why I didn't shed any myself!), this somehow still packed a punch.
This series had been on a downward trajectory for me up until the last book and I'm delighted that I've loved one of these enough to again award a four star (only the second ever). I hope that means we only continue to go up -- though I'd be just as happy to stay steady here! -- because I do love the concept of this series, I admire the themes, and often I'll even enjoy the characters. And yet somehow they never combine into a win. But this time? They did.
As this reads as a standalone, even if you aren't invested in this series already, I would highly recommend it.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
Unlike most instalments, main plot or otherwise, this doesn't have a lot going on. It's a very quiet book which is incredibly fitting considering the subject matter of the beginning and also the themes for the rest of the story. And while I didn't break down and cry (though I foresee one particular scene maybe being cause for many a tear, though I'm not sure why I didn't shed any myself!), this somehow still packed a punch.
This series had been on a downward trajectory for me up until the last book and I'm delighted that I've loved one of these enough to again award a four star (only the second ever). I hope that means we only continue to go up -- though I'd be just as happy to stay steady here! -- because I do love the concept of this series, I admire the themes, and often I'll even enjoy the characters. And yet somehow they never combine into a win. But this time? They did.
As this reads as a standalone, even if you aren't invested in this series already, I would highly recommend it.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
December 7, 2023
Star Rating: —> 5 Stars
A giant thank you to Tordotcom/Macmillan-Tor/Forge & NetGalley for the ARC ! All Opinions are my own.
After every single one of these lovely novellas, I come out thinking… This one was my absolute FAVORITE!, & Lost in the Moment and Found, of course, was no different! There was so, so much to love in our brave little heroine, Antsy. There were endless adventures contained in one BEAUTIFUL, gorgeously written novella, and so many amazing, quite literal treasures (from worlds visited or talked about in previous books ), including cameos (!) left for us to find.
Antsy is probably one of my favorite characters I’ve met thus far! Her story is a troubling one, and deals with some awful occurrences that Seanan handled gently, and with grace. I don’t know how she happens to be able to do this every time, with any subject, anything!
This is a must read, and I have a feeling we will be seeing Antsy in the future! ( one can only hope!)
Oh! Oh! ALSO! (So exciting!!!) Amazingly, we finally find out more about the Doors, and it is utterly fascinating! My lips are zipped on that! I can’t wait for other Wayward Children lovers to read this, I really can’t! It was SO INCREDIBLE that it brings tears to my eyes.
Beautifully done, McGuire, as usual.
A giant thank you to Tordotcom/Macmillan-Tor/Forge & NetGalley for the ARC ! All Opinions are my own.
After every single one of these lovely novellas, I come out thinking… This one was my absolute FAVORITE!, & Lost in the Moment and Found, of course, was no different! There was so, so much to love in our brave little heroine, Antsy. There were endless adventures contained in one BEAUTIFUL, gorgeously written novella, and so many amazing, quite literal treasures (from worlds visited or talked about in previous books ), including cameos (!) left for us to find.
Antsy is probably one of my favorite characters I’ve met thus far! Her story is a troubling one, and deals with some awful occurrences that Seanan handled gently, and with grace. I don’t know how she happens to be able to do this every time, with any subject, anything!
This is a must read, and I have a feeling we will be seeing Antsy in the future! ( one can only hope!)
Oh! Oh! ALSO! (So exciting!!!) Amazingly, we finally find out more about the Doors, and it is utterly fascinating! My lips are zipped on that! I can’t wait for other Wayward Children lovers to read this, I really can’t! It was SO INCREDIBLE that it brings tears to my eyes.
Beautifully done, McGuire, as usual.
January 12, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for the gift of an advanced copy. Below is my honest review.
This series is something special. It really delves deeply into the human experience - pain, belonging, family, loneliness, feeling an outcast, jealousy, anger, love, pride, courage - through the use of fantasy themes and amazingly well-constructed worlds. And it does it in such short tales, which makes it all the more impressive.
This one started with a warning from the author. I was a little taken aback, as that is perhaps bordering on spoiler territory. But as I read, I was glad for that warning. This story takes on some very dark, very traumatic things, and I believe that the warning was necessary and kind.
I absolutely love this series, and I love seeing this story lead one character to where she needed to be. One of the strongest in the series, backstory-wise.
Highly recommended, but please read the rest.
This series is something special. It really delves deeply into the human experience - pain, belonging, family, loneliness, feeling an outcast, jealousy, anger, love, pride, courage - through the use of fantasy themes and amazingly well-constructed worlds. And it does it in such short tales, which makes it all the more impressive.
This one started with a warning from the author. I was a little taken aback, as that is perhaps bordering on spoiler territory. But as I read, I was glad for that warning. This story takes on some very dark, very traumatic things, and I believe that the warning was necessary and kind.
I absolutely love this series, and I love seeing this story lead one character to where she needed to be. One of the strongest in the series, backstory-wise.
Highly recommended, but please read the rest.
January 24, 2023
2.75 stars.
This was okay but it kinda dragged in the middle. I really liked the writing in the beginning while the character was subjected to loss and abuse (which was agonising to read) but that didn’t hold up as the story progressed. This book expanded the world a little differently than the others. Loved the references to the previous books and characters. Nothing mind blowing but fans of the series will enjoy this one.
This was okay but it kinda dragged in the middle. I really liked the writing in the beginning while the character was subjected to loss and abuse (which was agonising to read) but that didn’t hold up as the story progressed. This book expanded the world a little differently than the others. Loved the references to the previous books and characters. Nothing mind blowing but fans of the series will enjoy this one.
January 10, 2023
This is darker than some of the other books in this series, but just as wondrous. The authors note at the beginning is important and provides a content warning that I think everyone should be reading before venturing into this one, especially if you may be triggered by grooming/abuse. Though I feel like this will be a hard read for anyone, no matter your experience. It's a heartbreaking and powerful book and once again Seanan McGuire's writing is wonderfully atmospheric and tender while being so so clever.
This instalment dives more into the dynamic of the Doors and it was so interesting learning more about them. I love the way that all the characters in this series are so deep and complicated and this book especially took that even further and brings to light many things to ponder. From the first page to the last I was gripped and completely lost in Antsy's character, she has quickly become one of my favourites from the series. I can tell this is a book that will stay with me and that I'll be revisiting many times in the future.
•Thank you so much to Tor and NetGalley for providing an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
1) Every Heart A Doorway: 4⭐️
2) Down Among The Sticks and Bones: 3.5⭐️
3) Beneath The Sugar Sky: 5⭐️
4) In An Absent Dream: 5⭐️
4.5) Juice Like Wounds: 3⭐️
5) Come Tumbling Down: 3⭐️
6) Across The Green Grass Fields: 5⭐️
7) Where The Drowned Girls Go: 5⭐️
7.5) In Mercy, Rain: 3.5⭐️
7.7) Skeleton Song: 4⭐️
8) Lost In The Moment and Found: 5⭐️
This instalment dives more into the dynamic of the Doors and it was so interesting learning more about them. I love the way that all the characters in this series are so deep and complicated and this book especially took that even further and brings to light many things to ponder. From the first page to the last I was gripped and completely lost in Antsy's character, she has quickly become one of my favourites from the series. I can tell this is a book that will stay with me and that I'll be revisiting many times in the future.
•Thank you so much to Tor and NetGalley for providing an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
1) Every Heart A Doorway: 4⭐️
2) Down Among The Sticks and Bones: 3.5⭐️
3) Beneath The Sugar Sky: 5⭐️
4) In An Absent Dream: 5⭐️
4.5) Juice Like Wounds: 3⭐️
5) Come Tumbling Down: 3⭐️
6) Across The Green Grass Fields: 5⭐️
7) Where The Drowned Girls Go: 5⭐️
7.5) In Mercy, Rain: 3.5⭐️
7.7) Skeleton Song: 4⭐️
8) Lost In The Moment and Found: 5⭐️
January 13, 2025
What an entry in this amazing series!! Even at book 8 McGuire still manages to bring in further understanding of the doors, other worlds, and magic. I’m astounded at how well she creates a whole other element in the magic that fits perfectly (did she plan it all along?). I love an author that really understands the magic world they have created and ensures they play by the rules even as they introduce new things.
Be warned, as many of these books, this one starts out bleak. Maybe one of the bleakest. All I will say is that our leading gal gets away before it gets to an unbearable point; but it’s barely tolerable by the time she does. It breaks my heart to think of any child (and knowing it happens all the damn time) going through events like this little one does. And it enrages me to think of the damage done. So I appreciate McGuire circling back a tiny bit and easing my anger and frustration. I hope every parent or adult that reads this is reminded to always take their kids seriously when they tell you things. It would be very rare for a child to lie about something happening to them; they’d be more likely to lie and say it didn’t out of fear. My PSA for today.
You could enter this series at this point if you wanted. A few cute nods will be lost on you but that won’t matter. In fact it might be fun to start here and later read the earlier stories that would explain items like the Candy Sceptre and Harp made of Bones (my two fave references to past stories)!
Overall I loved this instalment and continue to adore every small minute I get in these worlds via the novellas.
Be warned, as many of these books, this one starts out bleak. Maybe one of the bleakest. All I will say is that our leading gal gets away before it gets to an unbearable point; but it’s barely tolerable by the time she does. It breaks my heart to think of any child (and knowing it happens all the damn time) going through events like this little one does. And it enrages me to think of the damage done. So I appreciate McGuire circling back a tiny bit and easing my anger and frustration. I hope every parent or adult that reads this is reminded to always take their kids seriously when they tell you things. It would be very rare for a child to lie about something happening to them; they’d be more likely to lie and say it didn’t out of fear. My PSA for today.
You could enter this series at this point if you wanted. A few cute nods will be lost on you but that won’t matter. In fact it might be fun to start here and later read the earlier stories that would explain items like the Candy Sceptre and Harp made of Bones (my two fave references to past stories)!
Overall I loved this instalment and continue to adore every small minute I get in these worlds via the novellas.
January 13, 2023
This 8th volume was darker in several ways. I mean, there's always been death and heavy-hitting topics, but the beginning of this one ... *shudders* Let's just say I'm glad the author gave a trigger warning and a comforting outlook before the actual story began.
The story is that of Antoinette, nicknamed Antsy for being so lively and never holding still, who grows up in a loving family. However, one fateful day, her father dies of a severe heart-attack while he is out shopping with Antsy. As if that trauma wasn't enough, her mother soon after meets and falls under the spell of a ... my good upbringing forbids me from telling what he is. Anyway, things change dramatically, which is disorienting and frightening, but nothing is so frightening as Antsy's stepfather's ... appetites!
So Antsy runs and fast and of course there is a door there for her because this is a Wayward Children book and we can't have one of those without A Door.
Antsy's door leads her to a very peculiar shop - the shop where the lost things go. However, the old store is more than meets the eye and staying there is about more than trading lost and found things and sometimes, I'm not sure where the kids go is actually such a good place. Sure, they learn stuff, but the price. Oh, the price!
So the very big theme of this installment is abuse. Lies, manipulation, gaslighting - you name it. McGuire has never shied away from telling about the true horrors of this or any other world.
What makes this volume special, though, is that we finally get at least some vital background information on the doors and the "magic system" powering them!
It took quite a while for this book to make the connection to the others in the series but when it did, the implications were not only meaningful, but almost jaw-dropping. I mean, ?! This also means it'll be very interesting to see whether Antsy talks to and helps her find her way back or not. Or if all the encounters simply served as a way to get Antsy to find the school.
Frankly, I'm ready to finally not get any more flashback-books showing us the stories of the kids we got to know in the first volume but one where everything is coming together and we see a new day in Eleanor's school. Not that I didn't enjoy the flashback books, but I am ready and looking forward to new things. Maybe we'll get just that in the next volume. *crosses fingers*
The story is that of Antoinette, nicknamed Antsy for being so lively and never holding still, who grows up in a loving family. However, one fateful day, her father dies of a severe heart-attack while he is out shopping with Antsy. As if that trauma wasn't enough, her mother soon after meets and falls under the spell of a ... my good upbringing forbids me from telling what he is. Anyway, things change dramatically, which is disorienting and frightening, but nothing is so frightening as Antsy's stepfather's ... appetites!
So Antsy runs and fast and of course there is a door there for her because this is a Wayward Children book and we can't have one of those without A Door.
Antsy's door leads her to a very peculiar shop - the shop where the lost things go. However, the old store is more than meets the eye and staying there is about more than trading lost and found things and sometimes, I'm not sure where the kids go is actually such a good place. Sure, they learn stuff, but the price. Oh, the price!
So the very big theme of this installment is abuse. Lies, manipulation, gaslighting - you name it. McGuire has never shied away from telling about the true horrors of this or any other world.
What makes this volume special, though, is that we finally get at least some vital background information on the doors and the "magic system" powering them!
It took quite a while for this book to make the connection to the others in the series but when it did, the implications were not only meaningful, but almost jaw-dropping. I mean, ?! This also means it'll be very interesting to see whether Antsy talks to and helps her find her way back or not. Or if all the encounters simply served as a way to get Antsy to find the school.
Frankly, I'm ready to finally not get any more flashback-books showing us the stories of the kids we got to know in the first volume but one where everything is coming together and we see a new day in Eleanor's school. Not that I didn't enjoy the flashback books, but I am ready and looking forward to new things. Maybe we'll get just that in the next volume. *crosses fingers*
April 6, 2025
Reread 2025: Still a wonderful story that slightly touches on my own childhood with the themes of loss. I always thought I'd go to Lundy's Goblin Market, that was my door, but there's a lot of this world that appeals to me. It's a world that thrives on sentiment and memory, and it drew me in. Just as good a story on reread.
Original review: 4.5 stars.
This reminded me of In an Absent Dream more than any other book in the series, and I love that we're seeing the drawing together of the over arcing worlds and the mystery of the Doors. It's incredibly satisfying to finally get some kind of answers, without the story loosing it's whimsy and elusive feel. The beginning of Lost in the Moment and Found spends a lot more time in 'our' world, which worked to really open up Antsy's story. It touches on some hard topics, delicately probing and showing the reader the life that Antsy could have ended up living had she not found her door and fallen into a new destiny.
As always I wanted more. I wanted more tales of the markets and Doors and Ansty's growing relationship with her fellow shop keepers. However, this one was quickly climbed to the top of my favourites from the series.
Original review: 4.5 stars.
This reminded me of In an Absent Dream more than any other book in the series, and I love that we're seeing the drawing together of the over arcing worlds and the mystery of the Doors. It's incredibly satisfying to finally get some kind of answers, without the story loosing it's whimsy and elusive feel. The beginning of Lost in the Moment and Found spends a lot more time in 'our' world, which worked to really open up Antsy's story. It touches on some hard topics, delicately probing and showing the reader the life that Antsy could have ended up living had she not found her door and fallen into a new destiny.
As always I wanted more. I wanted more tales of the markets and Doors and Ansty's growing relationship with her fellow shop keepers. However, this one was quickly climbed to the top of my favourites from the series.
March 7, 2023
can't really explain it but these books feel the exact same way that weighted blankets do
January 17, 2023
Lost in the Moment and Found
By Seanan McGuire
I am glad the author gives the warning in the beginning of the book. The book starts out like something bad is going to happen to the little girl by her step-father but we are warned that she runs and runs. I don't know if I could have finished or tried to finish if I thought she was going to be hurt.
The girl does run and is safe. She runs to a door of a shop so she can call her grandma. But this isn't any shop. There is a talking bird and a very old woman. She can't open the door and return to her home, she opens the door but what she finds is different worlds with different creatures.
Great story with an unusual twist.
By Seanan McGuire
I am glad the author gives the warning in the beginning of the book. The book starts out like something bad is going to happen to the little girl by her step-father but we are warned that she runs and runs. I don't know if I could have finished or tried to finish if I thought she was going to be hurt.
The girl does run and is safe. She runs to a door of a shop so she can call her grandma. But this isn't any shop. There is a talking bird and a very old woman. She can't open the door and return to her home, she opens the door but what she finds is different worlds with different creatures.
Great story with an unusual twist.
February 12, 2023
This is perhaps the darkest book in the Wayward Children series. There is a personal note from McGuire at the beginning to reassure readers who have experienced similar trauma. She makes it quite clear that she is writing from personal history here. I would even speculate that she has been writing this entire series just to get here, where she could tell her own story with a better outcome.
This is the book in which we get to see behind the curtain so to speak. We learn about the nature of the Doors, how and why they work, plus the price of using them. When Antoinette (Antsy) runs away from home and opens a Door incautiously, she finds herself in the Shop of Lost Things. She meets an older woman and a talking magpie who introduce her to the rhythm of the Shop world. From this safe base, she can open many doors and explore many worlds with assistance to return to the shop.
But, as Robert A. Heinlein was fond of saying, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Antsy does her best to avoid this lesson, but some things just cannot be ignored. She would also probably agree with the sentiment that ‘you can't go home again.’ These are short little novellas, but each packs a punch. Even at number eight and despite their distressing subject matter, I find them irresistible.
This is the book in which we get to see behind the curtain so to speak. We learn about the nature of the Doors, how and why they work, plus the price of using them. When Antoinette (Antsy) runs away from home and opens a Door incautiously, she finds herself in the Shop of Lost Things. She meets an older woman and a talking magpie who introduce her to the rhythm of the Shop world. From this safe base, she can open many doors and explore many worlds with assistance to return to the shop.
But, as Robert A. Heinlein was fond of saying, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Antsy does her best to avoid this lesson, but some things just cannot be ignored. She would also probably agree with the sentiment that ‘you can't go home again.’ These are short little novellas, but each packs a punch. Even at number eight and despite their distressing subject matter, I find them irresistible.
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