by Seanan McGuire
Series: Wayward Children #5
Narrator: Seanan McGuire
Length: 3 hours and 52 minutes
Genres: Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Narration: 2 cups Speed: 1.0x
The fifth installment in Seanan McGuire's award-winning, best-selling Wayward Children series, Come Tumbling Down picks up the threads left dangling by Every Heart a Doorway and Down Among the Sticks and Bones.
When Jack left Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children, she was carrying the body of her deliciously deranged sister - whom she had recently murdered in a fit of righteous justice - back to their home on the Moors.
But death in their adopted world isn't always as permanent as it is here, and when Jack is herself carried back into the school, it becomes clear that something has happened to her. Something terrible. Something of which only the maddest of scientists could conceive. Something only her friends are equipped to help her overcome.
Eleanor West's "No Quests" rule is about to be broken.
Again.
Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire is the fifth Wayward Children audiobook. Diversity, OCD, and a dangerous quest await you as McGuire closes threads and spins her tale.
This is a continuation of Jack and Jill’s story arc from Down Among the Sticks and Bones and their return to the moors in Every Heart a Doorway. It is at times dark, so be prepared.
I have come to love this series from the vivid worlds to the children and I was quickly pulled in. It appears Jill, who wants to become a vampire has stolen Jack’s body and poor Jack who suffers from OCD doesn’t feel right in her skin. Of course, the children agree to help Jack save the Moors and get her body back. McGuire did a great job with giving readers the backstory, but it slowed the pacing down until we arrived at the Moors.
I loved the gang and their conversations, particularly Jack and Christopher. Kade kept the group together, and each faced challenges and questions. Alexis Jack’s girlfriend added to the story, and I enjoyed her role.
The view of the Moors this time was splendid, dark and creepy but the world is a hot mess thanks to the actions of Jill. An exciting tale, that closed threads, finishing Jack and Jill’s story. It shed light on why some children abandoned their doors and left the door open for more stories about the Wayward Children.
McGuire has narrated two of the novellas in this series, the first Down Among the Sticks and Bones and this one. I loved her narration of the first, but it pains me to say that there were issues with this one. Her voice felt rushed and indeed I had to keep the speed on low as her words sometimes felt as if they ran together. There was a whistle at the end of words that wasn’t present in the first narration and this felt more like a reading. I missed the different voices. While normally this series demands to be listened to this was sadly a disappointment.
Come Tumbling Down delivered an atmospheric tale with characters and a world I find mesmerizing. McGuire writes magic pure and simple.
Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire concludes Jack and Jill's story as we return to the Moors. #audiobook #Fantasy Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Melanie Simmons
Another author I really want to try. I love her writing as Mira Grant. Now I just need to try this pen name.
Olivia Roach
I have this series on my tbr but I intend to read them in print. However, I am sorry that this audiobook wasn’t up to par with the other ones. When you have had a full cast before it is always a bit disappointing to go back to normal narration :/
Debbie S Haupt
Yes this is still on my list but it did just go a rung or two higher 🙂
Thanks for sharing Kim
Ailyn Koay
a little bummed that the audio was not to your expectations. But is that Jack and Jill from the poem? how interesting!?
Jenea's Book Obsession
Sorry to hear the narration wasn’t as good as your were hoping it would be but at least the story itself sounds it was really good.
sherry fundin
i know you do a lot of audios, so i can see how that would affect the story. at least the story itself was a winner and that counts a lot when an author gets that far into a series.
Stormi Johnson
I really need to try this series!
Mary Kirkland
Sorry to hear you didn’t like listening to this one as much as the others.
Melliane
I’m late in this series and I need to read it!