And Put Away Childish Things

Looks like Tchaikovsky is fully back in fantasy, after his previous book and now this slim homage to the old portal fantasies. This reads like a deconstruction of the genre; Tchaikovsky is very cheeky about the reader being fully aware of the famous stories like Narnia and sets the story in a current-day world with an urban fantasy feel.

I was a bit disappointed at the start, I must admit. I was reminded of the Marillier and McKillip portal fantasies- magic-infused stories with gorgeous prose and taking their world fully seriously. This book is not that. Tchaikovsky plays with the tropes, subverts expectations, and there is a lot of meta stuff in here. Though I ended up liking it by the end, I always found myself being reminded of other books with memorable scenes. I have a distinct urge to re-read WILDOOD DANCING now. Though I suppose I should get around to the sequel.

My conclusion is– this is a fun and enjoyable read, reminiscent of ONE DAY ALL THIS WILL BE YOURS. A cheeky take on its subject told in the expected Tchaikovsky way. Fans of Tchaikovsky will adore this, fans of portal fantasies will also be delighted by this; it's a good way to spend an hour or two.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.