The Door on the Sea

What modern fantasy has shown is that you do not need to set your fantasy world in alternative medieval Europe. Our planet is full of varied and rich cultures that can be married with fantasy concepts to make alternative takes on the genre. The Door on the Sea by Caskey Russell is the latest unique fantasy novel and one that shows that the feel of Tolkien still works when based on indigenous stories from North America. 

Elan is the grandson of a famed warrior, but he is on a different path to becoming a teacher and a storyteller. That is until a crow turns up in his house and Elan strikes a bargain. The crow knows the location of a powerful weapon, a weapon that could change the tide of war between Elan’s people and the powerful enemy that is attacking their island homes. Elan is tasked with a quest to find the weapon with the aid of a fellowship of warriors from the various clans, and one annoying crow. 

Door is a book that throws you into Russell’s world. It is rich and feels different from most fantasy novels. The setting is a series of islands controlled by allied clans. There are also talking animals that can act as allies or enemies. This sense of magic and tradition are all well established and creates a rich tapestry to build a story. 

Here things are a little more usual for fantasy readers. For all the talking crows and complex clan relationships, Door is one of the closest books I have read in years that reminds me of Fellowship of the Ring. This will be because Tolkien would have been inspired by traditional tales, and this book takes from the same source. The journey there and back again with a diverse crew feels a lot like a fellowship, just with more angry, swearing crows. 

As a book, the style takes on some of the oral storytelling of the culture, as if Elan is narrating the tale around a fire. This can take a little getting used to, but you do become engrossed in the story. Once the action begins, the story becomes a traditional third-person narrative. 

The relationship between Elan and his crew is key to the story and the enjoyment of the book. He is a bookeater and not a warrior; he needs to build their trust and respect. All the varied characters bring a take on their culture, and the crew must evolve together if they are to survive. Learning more about the culture is also told well in the various stops that the canoe makes; former allied villages become foes as they fear a greater threat. 

With its mix of traditional storytelling and classic fantasy tropes, Door feels like both a refreshing look at the genre and a hark back. It will appeal to fans of the genre who like to explore different ways it can be tackled. With swearing and violence, this is more of a low fantasy novel but combined with the high fantasy of talking animals and magical creatures from beyond the sea.