Cora has returned from the Moors but feels the Drowned Gods whispering to her. They want her back. Feeling too close to open doors at Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children, she asks to be transferred to its sister school. There, students are not searching for their doors or a return to other worlds. They are being taught to fit into this one, to leave all that behind. Seeing how determined Cora is, Eleanor reluctantly lets her go. But Eleanor knows how awful the Whitethorn Institute can be.
Once there, Cora tries to fit into its rules, but they are stifling. And one girl who is about to graduate suddenly has a change of heart, telling all who listen how wrong the school is. Cora has lost herself a little, but as she gets to know her new schoolmates her strength starts to return. And when a familiar face appears in an attempt to persuade her to come home, Cora begins to think escape might be possible after all. From Whitethorn, and from the Drowned Gods.
I enjoyed this much more than the last one, although I did enjoy seeing Regan again and finding out more about what happened to her. McGuire packs a lot into these short books, managing to introduce us to many new characters, with their own doorway stories and worlds, and make us care about them. Plus there’s the background of the school and headmaster. It makes for a very entertaining and quick read. Still enjoying them, still gonna keep reading. Definitely start at the beginning for most enjoyment.