Come Tumbling Down, by Seanan McGuire

[Single]

★★★☆☆ Honorable mention

(Portal Fantasy; Wayward Children) Jack returns from the Moors and begs her classmates to help her steal her body back from her sister before the Master can turn it into a vampire. (40,029 words; Time: 2h:13m)

To properly appreciate this story, you need to at least read Every Heart a Doorway, if not the rest of the Wayward Children series. See related articles on Tor.com.

In an Absent Dream, by Seanan McGuire

[Single]

★★★★☆ A great exploration of obligation and duty

(Portal Fantasy; Wayward Children) Bookish Katherine enters a world ruled by the requirement to “give fair value,” ruthlessly enforced by magic. As she learns how to live there, she likes it. But does she like it enough to leave home forever? (41,427 words; Time: 2h:18m)

Although this is fourth in the “Wayward Children” series, it stands alone just fine and it does not spoil any of the earlier books to read this one first

Beneath the Sugar Sky, by Seanan McGuire

[Tor Novella]

★★★★★ Sweet, Exciting, Funny, and Moving

(Portal Fantasy; Wayward Children) Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children caters to children who went to a portal world, came back, and can’t cope. No one planned on the arrival of a child born in a portal world, much less one asking for help—from a dead person. (39,193 words; Time: 2h:10m)

It’s not strictly necessary to read “Every Heart a Doorway” before this story, but it will help. See related articles on Tor.com.

Down Among the Sticks and Bones, by Seanan McGuire

Find this story

(Portal Fantasy; Wayward Children) Twin sisters, Jack and Jill, escape from overbearing parents into The Moors, a fantasy land where werewolves and vampires are real. (39,787 words; Time: 2h:12m)

Rating: ★★★★☆ Grim Yet Oddly Touching

Although this is the prequel to “Every Heart a Doorway,” it will actually spoil that story if you read this one first. See related articles on Tor.com.

Every Heart a Doorway, by Seanan McGuire

Find this story

(Portal Fiction; Wayward Children) Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children helps kids who passed through a portal to another world and returned unable to cope with this one. (38,800 words; Time: 2h:09m)

Rating: ★★★★★ Award-Worthy

Recommended By: JStrahan Nebula Hugo Locus

See related articles on Tor.com.