Borrow This Book: Curl up this winter with Caskey Russell’s ‘The Door on the Sea’
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 7, 2026
In the depths of winter there’s nothing better than an adventure you can enjoy from the warmth of home, and Caskey Russell’s “The Door on the Sea” is a perfect read for long, dark nights.
Russell originally started writing this story as a read-aloud for his two sons as a way to get them interested in their Tlingit heritage with the same zeal they had for “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.” That comforting narration and cliffhanger-filled pacing remain in this adult fiction book that was published in late 2025. Tolkien fans will find within an equally epic quest of world-saving proportions, an unlikely chosen hero, and a motley crew of warriors.
In a world somewhat like our own — you’ll recognize the towering evergreens, the thick fog, the rocky beaches, and place names like Point No Point and Deception Pass — we meet Elān, who has just trapped a salmon-stealing raven in his cupboard. This small act is the impetus for his journey to save his people from the shapeshifting Koosh invaders (the Kóoshdakáa of Tlingit myth) who have been terrorizing villages. For his freedom, the raven trades a secret: a Koosh dropped one of their powerful weapons, and only the raven knows where it is. Having such a weapon would change everything.
Elān is no warrior — he’s studying to be a teacher and can barely shoot an arrow — but it is now up to him to captain a canoe and retrieve the weapon. His crew? Human warriors, but also a human-bear cousin, an armored wolf, and the raven of salmon-stealing fame. The mission is a secret from all but Elān and the raven, whose cooperation hinges on plentiful salmon and everyone ignoring his constant insults.
Alongside this crew, the reader will encounter tense battles, stormy seas, cannibal giants and a world not quite as welcoming as it once was. “The Door on the Sea” asks questions about tradition, changing worlds, and historical perspective, and its steady pace and oral storytelling style will keep you reading just one more chapter until you turn the final page.
“The Door on the Sea” is available for checkout at the North Olympic Library System (NOLS) in book, eBook, Kindle and eAudiobook formats. Find it in the catalog at NOLS.org to place a hold with your library card.
Looking for more fantastic adventures to embark on this month? For something swoon-worthy and funny, check out “Swordheart” by T. Kingfisher. If a novella full of mystery, dragons and lady knights is more your style, try “Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame” by Neon Yang. “This is How You Lose the Time War” by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone delivers lyrical prose and a moving story told in letters written back and forth between time-hopping spies.
For personalized recommendations, ask staff at your local NOLS branch or use the library’s free BookMatch service by completing the online form at NOLS.org/bookmatch.
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Clair Dunlap is a librarian with the North Olympic Library System.
