Seanan McGuire

A young girl discovers a portal to a land filled with centaurs and unicorns in Seanan McGuire's Across the Green Grass Fields, a standalone tale in the Hugo and Nebula Award-wining Wayward Children series. “Welcome to the Hooflands. We’re happy to have you, even if you being here means something’s coming.” Regan loves, and is loved, though her school-friend situation has become complicated, of late. When she suddenly finds herself thrust through a doorway that asks her to "Be Sure" before swallowing her whole, Regan must learn to live in a world filled with centaurs, kelpies, and other magical equines—a world that expects its human visitors to step up and be heroes. But after embracing her time with the herd, Regan discovers that not all forms of heroism are equal, and not all quests are as they seem... A standalone Wayward Children story containing all-new characters, and a great jumping-on point for new readers.

Across the Green Grass Fields

kelsey

Sarah Sammis

Given how short the book was, I wish more time was spent in the Hooflands. Regan's life from early childhood to the point she leaves was a bit of a slog. These pre-doorway scenes could easily be labeled as a prolog and left to the individual whether to read them or not.

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2021/comm...

Orphan	Home	Labyrinth	FF6699

4.5*! I loved this world, but it and the final reveal were so interesting that I really wish we'd gotten to explore more depth from it

A young girl discovers a portal to a land filled with centaurs and unicorns in Seanan McGuire's Across the Green Grass Fields, a standalone tale in the Hugo and Nebula Award-wining Wayward Children series. “Welcome to the Hooflands. We’re happy to have you, even if you being here means something’s coming.” Regan loves, and is loved, though her school-friend situation has become complicated, of late. When she suddenly finds herself thrust through a doorway that asks her to "Be Sure" before swallowing her whole, Regan must learn to live in a world filled with centaurs, kelpies, and other magical equines—a world that expects its human visitors to step up and be heroes. But after embracing her time with the herd, Regan discovers that not all forms of heroism are equal, and not all quests are as they seem... A standalone Wayward Children story containing all-new characters, and a great jumping-on point for new readers. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

fatru tamzil

Least favorite of the series on the account of being too didactic. Still love the series tho.

Nessa Luna

I really enjoyed this one, even if I'm not a fan of horses (yeah sorry not sorry). I liked Regan and the friends she made in the Hooflands, I'm also just a little bit sad because of the ending. The final bit felt a bit too fast-paced, though, and maybe a bit... well not disappointing, but I can't really think of a better word. But that is why this didn't get a full 5 stars. 

(view spoiler)[This was the first one, I believe, in which there was no reference to Eleanor West or her home for Wayward Children, but I'm pretty sure Regan will end up there at some point. Still would have liked to see it somewhere in the end. (hide spoiler)]

A middling entry in this series for me. I did not really enjoy the characters or the world of the Hooflands that much. Just not a horse girl I guess. I also felt the story was thin. The main character, Regan, is intersex. There is discussion about genetics not being destiny and different ways of being a girl and that she has always been a girl. It was done just fine. I was definitely not surprised by the plot reveal at the end, but maybe it was not meant to be a twist. For the horse people, this might be great. I enjoyed it enough to keep going, more for the sake of moving on with the series, though. Regan might become more interesting with more development and as she interacts with people at the school.

Cheryl Hedlund

Krystyna 

This is one of my favorite series. I fell in love with the concept, the writing, and the worlds. While this one presented some important issues and discussions, I just didn't love it as much as the others. I found myself a bit bored throughout this story. I usually inhale these novellas but that wasn't the case for this one. Out of all the books in this series so far, this one is my least favorite. I will still continue on with the series and I hope that I continue to love it.

Alexa M

2.5 maybe. an entire book about a horse girl is not a book for me lol

The end of most of these books usually makes me feel sad and this was no exception, I wanna stay in the worlds forever…

This one was a bit different from the  rest of the series but I loved Regan and her world just the same ♡

Izza

5 stars | ah! I think this might be my favourite one in the series as of now. Idk. I’d have to reread ‘In an Absent Dream’ to be sure, but I love Regan and Chicori and the Hooflands 💖 I love how this one is a true stand-alone if you just want to try out the series.

Can you retroactively be a horse girl? This book made me a horse girl retroactively.

Riley

Connor 

I loved this one and I realllllly hope we get more of Regan/the Hooflands at some point!

sophia n

i super enjoyed this as an additional installment in the wayward children series but it was definitely my least favorite so far unfortunately, and imo the weakest. regan was a great character but i had a hard time caring past the first 20% of the book. maybe especially because i was never a horse girl lmao but i was a little bored. still, looking forward to possibly seeing regan in later books and i really appreciate this book for the intersex rep. just further solidifying this series and the ya fantasy blueprint honestly.

Nicole Dykeman

The Wayward Children series is up there in my top 5 series ever. Every book blows me away with how creative and unique the world is. Every character burrows their way into my heart within pages. Seanan McGuire’s writing is unparalleled, I would read her grocery lists if she published them. She handles all kinds of difficult discussions about growing up, belonging, and gender and sexuality with grace and respect. I really can’t recommend these books enough. 

P.S. if you were a horse girl when you were little this one’s for you

Savannah Winchell

Listen this book actually had one of the more interesting conclusions but also Ive learned I’m prejudiced against horse people

Celeste Richardson

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher, Tor.com, in exchange for an honest review.

Over the past few years, I’ve come to love Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series fiercely. And thanks to the wonderful people at Tor.com, reading the newest installment a bit ahead of its publication date has become something of a Christmas tradition for me. These novellas are all beautifully written and poignant and full of heavy topics handled with a light but respectful touch. Across the Green Grass Fields is no exception to this rule. 
“Girlhood wasn’t destiny unless you wanted it to be, and she had accepted her destiny wholeheartedly. Anything to be normal.”
In this sixth volume of the loose series we meet Regan, a young girl who loves horses and lives in fear of being shunned for any reason. She tries to surpress anything about herself that might make her stand out, but it’s not enough. When Regan finds out why she doesn’t fit in easily with the other girls, her sense of betrayal drives her through a Door into a world she didn’t know she was searching for.
“…anyone who answered a friend’s honesty with horror and rejection had never been a friend in the first place.”
The Hooflands are populated by every hoofed creature imaginable. Unicorns, fauns, kelpies, selines, perytons, and minotaurs abound. But Regan finds her true home in a herd of centaurs, where she learns that being a strong woman doesn’t look the same for everyone. Within this herd, Regan finds love and acceptance and empowerment. Her human parents in our world also loved her fiercely and accepted her unconditionally and would have done anything to help her feel empowered, but something about the presence of hooves and furred flanks has cleared her vision enough to finally accept and love herself. 
“I can be beautiful and limited at the same time… There’s nothing wrong with being limited, as long as you have people around to make sure those limitations don’t get you hurt.”
This story, like all of its predecessors, deals with some heavy topics in lovely, respectful ways while never impeding the plot in any way. The tale at the heart of this book was meandering but compelling, and I enjoyed it immensely right up until I didn’t. The ending seemed incredibly abrupt, but as that’s how it would have seemed for Regan, I think that was the point. But even though I understand the choice, it still left me a teensy bit dissatisfied with the final pages.
“She still didn’t believe in destiny. Clay shaped into a cup was not always destined to become a drinking vessel; it was simply shaped by someone too large to be resisted. She was not clay, but she had been shaped by her circumstances all the same, not directed by any destiny.”
Across the Green Grass Fields is an achingly lovely story about a girl who loved horses but not herself, who finally found self-acceptance among the hoofed inhabitants of another world. It was a solid new installment in a series that resonates deeply with a multitude of readers, and I think they’re going to really love this one.

You can find  this review and more at Novel Notions.

great book for horse girls. i really like the plot twist at the end, i found it very classic modern fairy tale-y.

jana

perhaps a dumb complaint to have of The Horse Girl Book but i wish this had more preteen girl sociopolitics and criticism of monarchies and less hoofed creatures. basically parts 1 and 4 were [chef’s kiss!], and parts 2 and 3 were...there, i guess. i’m definitely biased tho bc horses Terrify me.

Francis Buggey

3.5 stars

this was not fun or magical :( it was good in the sense that i wanted to know what would happen, but i really was bored.

Sabetha Danes

I figured it out! I know exactly what these books are missing. . . more pages. 
*sobs at how fast I read this book*

Regan's story takes us through another door, to an unknown world, teaching us that we never needed a savor in the first place. We just needed take a deep breath, analyses the situation and save our own damn selves.

It was magical, and excited. Full of character growth, and self actualization. In short, another fantastic installment of the wayward children.

I love how Seanan can take the most neglected children and give them the tool they need to become a well developed person. When each of these books are done, these kids that would have been bullies, abused, or neglected are shining brighter than they ever would have living in our modern day society. 

The series is a testament to how every person has value, and a place in this world. We just need to be kind.

Note: Intersex Character. Trigger Warnings: bullying.

Flavia Louise

I absolutely loved this installment mainly because of the protagonist. 4.5 stars

Alexa Jade

this is definitely missing the wayward children magic i’m used to. :(

Florencia Sime

“Good. Let them learn that destiny’s a lie, and let them find the way to govern themselves, as they should have done from the beginning.”
 
Las frases que se lanza Seanan son ARTE
No es mi libro favorito de wayward children (el 4to es el mejor, obvio) supongo que es por que es un personaje nuevo. Pero siempre amaré las historias de los niños descarriados. 

Y si no le doy 5 estrellas a un libro de wayward children, no me llamo Florencia.
ASI QUE 5 ESTRELLAS PARA ESTA JOYAAAA.

Necesito el siguiente libro, y tmb un libro de Kade.

Amber Burwell

This is definitely my least favorite in the Wayward Children series to date. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the story, and the world was enjoyable to dive into, but I don't feel like this particular world was fleshed out as much as the ones in previous books. Also, the formatting of being given a back story of a character that we've never met in previous books seemed like a really weird choice. There's so many other character's stories that we could've gone into, so I'm not sure why she chose to focus on a character that we had no basis for up until this point. 

This one, more so than the rest of the series, really did feel like a true standalone to me. Overall, not a bad read, and I always enjoy McGuire's writing style, but it just seemed a little out of place in the series.

Across the Green Grass Fields

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