The Doorway and the Deep, sequel to K. E. Ormsbee’s The Water and the Wild, starts off with Lottie and her friends living in Wisp territory, where Lottie is taking lessons to sharpen her ability to heal others. She knows her friend Elliot will need her skills one day, and she wants to be ready.

But when the head of the Wisps makes a deal that sends her to the North, she once again sets out on a journey with her friends. There are dangers to be sure, and Lottie goes against her will, yet she’s also lured by the promise of finding out more about her parents.

The Doorway and the Deep should delight fans of the first book in the series, leaving them eager to read the next title. While there’s less exploration of Lottie’s relationship with her friends, there’s an expanding cast of fascinating characters and adventuresome exploits. Once again, Lottie has to determine who to trust and how to act on her own instincts. The book ends in a cliffhanger, but one that feels more satisfying than cliffhangers often are. It will be interesting to see where Lottie’s tale goes next. I recommend the series for readers aged 9 to 13.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.