In an Absent Dream

Katherine Lundy, a solitary young girl in the 1960s, discovers a portal to the Goblin Market - a realm governed by strict rules of fair value and exchange. The daughter of a school principal, she finds herself drawn to this orderly world that offers an escape from her lonely existence. The Goblin Market operates on precise laws of fairness and debt, where every transaction must be balanced and names hold power. This supernatural marketplace allows children to visit multiple times until age eighteen, when they must choose between permanent citizenship or returning home forever. Between ages eight and eighteen, Lundy moves between her mundane life and the Market, forming a deep friendship with a girl called Moon and embracing the Market's logical systems. Her story sets up the character who later appears as the therapist at Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children. The novella explores themes of choice, fair value, and the price of belonging, asking what we're willing to trade for the places that feel like home. It examines how rigid rules can offer both comfort and constraint, particularly to young people seeking their place in the world.

Readers emphasize the emotional impact and bittersweet tone of this fourth Wayward Children novella. The story's exploration of choices, consequences, and fair value resonates with many fans. Liked: - Katherine Lundy's character development - The rules and logic of the Goblin Market - Clear, precise prose style - Themes of childhood vs. adulthood - References to classic literature Disliked: - More detached narrative style compared to other books in series - Less interaction with characters from previous books - Some found the ending rushed - Several readers wanted more world-building detail "The story hits harder because we know where it ends," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another mentions: "The Market's rules are fascinating but frustrating, just like they're meant to be." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.27/5 (31,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (1,100+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (300+ ratings)

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow A coming-of-age tale follows a girl who discovers portals to other worlds through mysterious doors while navigating her place between realities.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern This story weaves together underground libraries, secret societies, and magical doorways in a narrative about choices and stories.

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire Children who have returned from portal worlds struggle to readjust while at a boarding school for others like them.

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins A woman raised by a god-like figure in a vast library learns to navigate cosmic powers and the price of knowledge.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune A case worker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth visits an orphanage of dangerous children and discovers the meaning of family.

🌟 The Goblin Market concept originates from Christina Rossetti's famous 1862 poem "Goblin Market," which explored themes of temptation and sisterly devotion. 🌟 Seanan McGuire also writes under the pen name Mira Grant and has won multiple Hugo Awards for her work in science fiction and fantasy. 🌟 This book is part of the Wayward Children series, but uniquely focuses on the story of a character's parent rather than the children who typically populate the series. 🌟 The 1960s setting reflects a time of significant social change for women in America, providing a meaningful backdrop for Katherine's choices between traditional expectations and an alternative world. 🌟 McGuire incorporated elements of game theory and economic principles into the Market's rules of fair exchange, drawing from her interests in mathematics and logic.