Review Detail

Seanan McGuire’s YA/Adult crossover series, Wayward Children, returns to the land of the Moors in COME TUMBLING DOWN. The last Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children saw of twins Jack and Jill was Jack carrying Jill’s dead body through the door to the Moors to bring her back to life. Now, Christopher was minding his own business and daydreaming of his skeleton girl when the portal suddenly opens again. Jill’s body comes out...but Jack’s mind is in it. After stopping to let Eleanor know of their new quest, Christopher, Jack, Cora, Sumi, Kade, and Alexis (Jack’s love) head back to the Moors to get Jack back in her own body and stop whatever scheme Jill is up to.

The Wayward Children installments do so many things well, and my favorites are the voice and worldbuilding. From the first page, McGuire puts the reader right back into the world of Eleanor West’s school with characters you can’t forget. I am forever in awe of the amazing creation of this portal fantasy series and each unique world the characters traveled to. From Jack and Jill’s backstory book, DOWN AMONG THE STICKS AND BONES, we got a good look at what the Moors were like in general (sort of a Frankenstein meets Dracula Gothic landscape). In COME TUMBLING DOWN, we get a deeper look into what maintains balance in the Moors and what happens when that balance is threatened. I truly believe McGuire could write 30 books in this series, and there would still be a plethora of worlds and their functions to explore.

This is the first book we’ve had of Christopher, Jack, Alexis, Sumi, Kade, and Cora all together. Most knew each other from their various stays at Eleanor’s school, but others are brand new to the full gang. Christopher continues to be compelling, and I hope we get his backstory book someday. Cora is still missing her home among mermaids and wants nothing more than to go back. Sumi is, as always, Sumi, ready to adventure and have as much nonsensical fun as possible. I love the way these characters play off each other and work together.

As with every Wayward Children book, I finished this story both in adoration of a new favorite book and terribly sad over the close of another Wayward Children adventure.