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The Hotel Between #2

The Key of Lost Things

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With the help of a magical key, Cam searches for his missing friend—who just might be the Hotel’s newest enemy—in this thrilling sequel to The Hotel Between, which New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann calls a “rollicking magical adventure around the world.”

Ever since Cam was named Concierge-in-Training, he’s been struggling to keep up with the pace of The Hotel Between. It doesn’t help that his missing friend Nico keeps unleashing pranks—you try finding fifty-two cats scattered all over the world.

When a grand party goes horribly wrong, Cam learns his twin sister, Cass, may also be up to no good. Now Cam must set out to prevent Cass and Nico from endangering the Hotel and keep it from falling into the hands of Mr. Stripe, a horrible magician. If he fails, The Hotel Between could be lost. Forever.

352 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2019

15 people are currently reading
374 people want to read

About the author

Sean Easley

3 books77 followers
Sean Easley is the author of the middle grade fantasy adventure series THE HOTEL BETWEEN from Simon & Schuster BFYR.

Sean was born and raised in North Texas, but he's never owned a pair of cowboy boots or a ten-gallon hat. He can definitely tell you where to find those things, though.

Today Sean writes books full-time in his little office in Texas, where he lives with his wife and son. There may or may not be two dogs and a cat involved.

When he's not writing world-spanning adventure stories, Sean can be found checking out fictitious worlds in books, TV, and video games. He gets bored with only one world to live in, and he's glad that so many others have shared theirs with him so he can stop falling out of his chair from boredom.

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5 stars
59 (34%)
4 stars
67 (39%)
3 stars
33 (19%)
2 stars
10 (5%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Shari.
582 reviews32 followers
July 13, 2019
Did you love The Hotel Between like I did? Then you will love returning to the Hotel and joining Cam’s next adventure as Concierge in Training. Cam is so relatable as he strives to prove himself worthy by trying to do everything himself - oh, have I been there! His twin, Cass, wants him to quit protecting her, a hard habit to break. And all of his efforts seem to be continually sabotaged. Is his old pal Nico behind all the trouble, or is there something more sinister happening? As Cam works to solve the mystery, heal the Vesima tree, and find Nico, he learns about being a true leader, and the costs of fighting for what you believe in.
Thank you, Sean Easley, for the ARC! I hope book 3 isn’t too far out because I’m going to need it soon!
This book is a magical adventure with lots of heart!
Profile Image for Kateryna.
481 reviews94 followers
November 22, 2020
This is the second book in The Hotel Between series and I'm not really sure what happened between the first book and this one. I really enjoyed the first book, but this one felt way less interesting in terms of the plot - mostly it was pretty much a recap of what happened in the last book and it took way to long for this book to get into the plot part of the story. When it finally got down to some action - random elements and obstacles popped up with no explanation or justification. I had a really hard time staying interested and it felt like a chore to finish. Overall, this book really didn’t do it for me. I will pass on any further books in the series.
Profile Image for Julie ~.
397 reviews23 followers
February 5, 2022
Je gardais un bon souvenir, certes assez flou, du premier tome des Entremondes. Je me souviens avoir adoré l'histoire, le personnage principal et les relations qu'il tisse avec les autres enfants. J'ai lu un résumé spoilant pour me remémorer l'histoire du premier tome (résumé que je n'ai absolument pas compris ahah). Ma mémoire est revenue plus ou moins au cours de ma lecture x).
C'est très long à se mettre en place et je trouve que cela n'apporte pas d'éléments nouveaux à l'histoire. Cam est toujours surprotecteur avec sa sœur jumelle, Cass, mais cela se tient puisqu'il a toujours pris soin d'elle. C'est toutefois toxique et il met énormément de temps à s'en apercevoir. Les autres personnages font des apparitions mais on ne nous les présente plus vraiment... Même la menace et le méchant ne sont pas très présents...
On en apprend un peu plus sur la magie. Et franchement : ça n'est pas bien expliqué. On fait des paragraphes et après ? On ne comprend toujours pas comment elle fonctionne réellement (en tout cas, je n'ai pas compris).
Le livre devient réellement captivant sur... les 100 dernières pages où il se passe enfin quelque chose. Le reste du temps, Cam est énervant, tourne en rond les mêmes idées... Alors certes c'est un livre jeunesse, mais il est censé se surpasser et ce n'est vraiment visible que dans le dernier quart du roman...
Pourtant, le livre se lit très bien mais les explications et l'action ne sont pas au rendez-vous. A la façon dont se termine le livre, on s'attend à une suite. Je ne sais pas si je lirai la suite, tout dépendra du nombre de tomes dans cette saga : s'il y en a 3, je lirai, sinon je passerai mon tour.
Bref, assez déçue par ce tome.
Profile Image for Erin.
337 reviews
Read
November 7, 2019
I've never really had to wait for a book to come out before. Perhaps the wait made this book that much sweeter.
In The Hotel Between Sean Easley introduced us readers to his literally magical world of beautiful places and relatable characters. Now, in The Key of Lost Things he takes us further past the glittering facade as things start to... deteriorate in the Hotel. I found it sad, yes (I love that amazing Hotel), but I also really enjoyed this book.
Let me first say that I am in love with the world Sean Easley has created. It's enthralling, beautiful, dangerous, funny, and utterly unique. I love the magic and its complicated layers, and I love the characters who have real faults and real strengths.
In this book particularly, I liked the expansion upon the working of magic in the world, and though I found it confusing at times, I can't help but be excited to hear more about the magics in the next book (I'm assuming there's going to be one, because I will be very upset it there isn't).
One thing that the author does very well is expand upon Cam's thoughts and feelings, and I think he does a wonderful job of combining Cam's faults with his will to do good.
There was, however, a certain character whom I wanted to see more of and didn't get to(I won't say who).
Finally, the book wraps up with a beautiful theme of relying on and trusting friends.
In all, you can tell I loved this because I wrote an entire review with no (or, fine, very little) critisizing. Good job, Mr. Easley. Please keep writing.
Profile Image for Annie Hasita.
63 reviews
July 24, 2021
4.5

Do you love travelling? Do you love unique magical worlds? Then this book is for you. I had so much fun reading this book and I even liked it more than the first one. There is always something happening that you will never feel bored reading this books. Now, I can't wait for the next book to release and discover the upcoming adventures of Cam and his friends. ❤️
Profile Image for LuCioLe.
797 reviews7 followers
September 10, 2019
Je tiens tout d’abord à remercier Lumen pour l’envoi de ce roman. J’avais beaucoup aimé le précédent (critique ici) et j’avais même eu la chance de rencontrer son auteur Sean Easley au Salon du Livre Jeunesse de Montreuil, d’une gentillesse sans égale ! J’avais donc très envie de lire cette suite dont la couverture est absolument somptueuse, n’est-ce-pas ? Déjà que je trouvais la première très belle mais je crois que celle-ci me fait encore plus craquer.

On retrouve donc nos jumeaux à travailler dans l’hôtel. Cam est en formation pour devenir Majordome et Cass, elle, se retrouve à l’accueil. Cam est désespéré sur ce qui s’est passé avec son meilleur ami Nico. Il est persuadé qu’il n’est pas mauvais et qu’il est dans leur camp. Quand 54 chats déboulent dans l’hôtel accompagné de cartes à jouer il sait que ce “cadeau” vient de lui. Le soucis c’est qu’il ne comprend pas s’il fait des blagues ou autre chose. Commence alors une période difficile pour Cam. Il se met la pression, il a beaucoup de travail et en plus on lui en rajoute car il doit organiser le Gala de l’Ambassade. Le problème c’est qu’il ne sait pas délégué et il ne se fait pas que des amis à côté de lui, après il se monte aussi beaucoup la tête ! Même avec sa sœur les choses deviennent tendues et il n’arrive pas à trouver la solution pour s’excuser et que les choses redeviennent comme avant. Cam s’enferme alors dans sa bulle, il découvre des choses et n’en parle à personne. Erreur ?! Quelque peu en fait ! L’action monte crescendo et l’on apprend de plus en plus de choses au fur et à mesure de notre lecture. Avec ce second volume, on voyage beaucoup à divers coins du monde, c’est magique, ça fait rêver ! Au fur et à mesure, heureusement, Cam ouvre les yeux et se rend compte qu’il a été clairement bête avec les autres. On a envie de le secouer par moment pour qu’il avance et ne reste pas dans son coin. Par contre, j’avoue que je ne m’attendais pas du tout à cette fin ! J’ai été totalement prise au dépourvu et je n’aurai pas cru que l’histoire évoluerait de la sorte. On voit la préparation du troisième et dernier volet et on a bien hâte d’avoir la fin parce que les choses ne vont pas être simples !

En résumé, Les Entremondes La Clé des Trésors cachés est une excellente suite. Sean Easley nous plonge dans la magie de l’hôtel aux multiples destinations, un monde magique qu’il a créer et qui fait rêver ! Un second roman qui vient de sortir et qu’il faut vous procurer d’urgence !
Profile Image for Artemissia G.
1,632 reviews35 followers
October 8, 2019
Mon avis complet : https://wp.me/pii9h-OwC
Il est impossible de ne pas succomber à la magie qui émane autant de l’hôtel que du récit. J’ai tout aimé dans ce tome 2, que ce soit les protagonistes qui ont leur propre personnalité ou bien même l’univers richement décrit et merveilleusement bien travaillé. Un vrai régal. Et, impossible de ne pas éprouver de l’empathie pour Cam, le héros de l’histoire, même quand parfois il m’a semblé casse-pieds avec son manque d’assurance. C’est ce qui le rend si authentique ! Quant aux différentes aventures plus ou moins dangereuses que vont vivre Cam et ses comparses, c’est tellement passionnant qu’on ne voit plus les pages et les chapitres défiler. Un vrai page turners. Je dis bravo à l’auteur.
Profile Image for Robin.
877 reviews8 followers
February 25, 2021
Cameron Kuhn and his friend Nico helped save the magical Hotel, whose doorways connect places all over the world, from the fiendish Mr. Stripe. Cam's reward is to be appointed Concierge in Training – an apprentice to the Old Man who runs the place. But Nico's reward, or rather his choice, is to abandon the hotel and now, it seems he has become its enemy – unleashing cats, putrid slime and other mishaps just as Cam is trying to prepare for an important gala. Actually, Cam isn't doing a great job as a leader; he doesn't trust his co-workers to do their part, micromanaging everything himself. But then again, old Agapios isn't around much to guide him, and the enchanted book he left to answer Cam's questions is getting less helpful by the day. It's apparent that something is wrong with the Hotel and it's getting worse, and by the time Cam finally accepts that Nico may really have turned on him, the news that Nico actually isn't the enemy he seems to be only leads to discoveries even more grim.

I've probably spoiled enough with that synposis, right there. There's lots more to this book, including Cam's growing pains as a brother to the fiercely independent, though physically challenged, Cass; as a son who's just starting to get to know his long-absent father, and whose faith in him has taken a serious beating; and as the wielder of a very peculiar magic in an especially strange world in which magics are practically people unto themselves. By the time he figures out what's really afoot, the threat to the Hotel – and to far more than the Hotel – has become so serious that it's hard to see how this series will move forward.

The magic is wild and strange, the character development and relationships full of emotionally affecting touches. The setting of the hotel and all the far-flung places it connects makes for some fantastic scenery and one insane chase scene. And the final push to defend everything that matters against Mr. Stripe is full of suspense and (if I may say so) tragic nobility.

This is the sequel to The Hotel Between by a Texas-based author about whom I know nothing more. Folks who enjoyed this book, including me, will be waiting on the edge of our seats for a third installment.
Profile Image for Skye (Skye's Scribblings).
1,399 reviews70 followers
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November 17, 2021
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Read: November 2021
Format: Paperback
Genre: Juvenile/Middle School Contemporary Fantasy Adventure
Content: scary situations

I really enjoyed The Hotel Between (review) and was excited for this sequel, and it did not disappoint. I usually re-read the previous book beforehand but decided not to this time, and although once I'd started I wished I had since there were a few little things I didn't quite recall, for the most part Sean did a masterful job of sprinkling in the perfectly-worded recaps I needed not to feel completely lost. As with the first book the style was engrossing and imaginative, the story adventurous and thoroughly engaging if a little choppy as it tried to cram a LOT in while maintaining a decent word count. The magic got complicated to the point that I still don't fully comprehend it with its doors and keys and houses and rules, but it was original and interesting and added a lot of mystery and surprises. Cam continued to be somewhat frustrating albeit in a new way this book - his refusal to delegate made me want to SCREAM sometimes - but as before he learned his lesson and always did the right thing for his friends and family, the colorful cast that makes sure Cam's life is never dull. Overall this was another spectacular thrill-ride of a children's read with an engaging story and fun characters, and I look forward to re-reading it soon and would highly recommend it to children and adults alike.

Since this was called the "sequel" I thought there wouldn't be any more, but after this book's slightly cliffhanger end I'm happily looking forward to a third book! After how complicated the magic system got in this one though, I'll definitely be re-reading the first two before tackling it.
1,537 reviews24 followers
December 29, 2019
My name is Cass, and I wish my brother Cam would stop worrying about me. He's now Concierge-in-Training for The Hotel Between, but he still thinks he needs to control me. Sure, my spina bifida forces me to move about in a wheelchair, but my new one has all kinds of cool modifications. Plus, I have new abilities my brother doesn't even know about, and I need to do my part to prevent Stripe from taking over the hotel. Maybe I shouldn't sneak anyone like I do, and I'm a little sorry if it distracts Cam from his preparations for the Embassy gala. I'm not sure he was ready to become the event coordinator for Admiral Dare's 400th binding, but it would be easier if he'd learn to let others do their jobs. Strange things are happening around the hotel, and Cam needs to get it together.

You should read The Hotel Between before reading this one. A large issue in this book is Cam's attitude toward others. To him, asking for help is the same as admitting he's incapable of doing a job. However, part of being a leader is allowing others to do their jobs and working as a team. It takes Cam a long time to figure this out. In addition, Cam has problems with his father and twin sister. His father reappeared in the last book, but Cam hasn't accepted him with open arms. Cam was left to protect his sister, and he resents his father returning to offer advice. Cam compounds the problem by continuing to "protect" his sister even though she doesn't need it. The lack of trust creates a wall between them. The plot offers a few mysteries, as there's no clear explanation for the strange occurrences around the hotel. Cam assumes it's Nico, but it doesn't make sense. Cam also discovers a hidden area but doesn't fully understand it either. Overall, the series is entertaining, and I think you should give it a shot.
Profile Image for Diana.
46 reviews
July 16, 2025
This book was really good, just like the first one was! A few concepts were a bit confusing, but not as much as with the first book. The world building and plot were just as good as well! I really liked the new places and magical story elements that were added! At first I was really confused as to why some characters had different personalities than they did in the first book, but then I read the end and that made a lot more sense! I was glad that Cass had a larger role, as that was one of the things I was a little disappointed with in the first book. The ending was a huge cliffhanger, and heavily implies that there is or is going to be a 3rd book, but I've looked online and have absolutely NO IDEA if there's even going to be one! Does it even exist? WILL it ever exist?! I can't go on anticipating a 3rd book and satisfying conclusion to the series forever! How will they get back to the Hotel? Will they be homeless forever? PLEASE, Sean Easley! WRITE A 3RD BOOK! If it's already written, LIBRARIES, PLEASE ADD IT TO YOUR COLLECTION! Please hurry, as the cliffhanger ending might haunt my dreams forever until I get my hands on the 3rd book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sara W.
634 reviews
November 28, 2021
This was a solid sequel! It took a little bit to really remember some of the events from the first book so I don’t want that to count against it, but even though there were some things I didn’t remember, the storyline kept me interested anyway. I liked learning about the Hoppers and enjoyed learning about more of the side characters. I will say, something that bothered me with the first book was feeling like I didn’t have a solid grasp of some of the magic and that feeling stayed present in this book at times. Overall, I had a fun time and I can’t wait to see what happens next, especially with that cliffhanger!
10 reviews
September 12, 2019
This book was so much fun. It built on the world of The Hotel Between by adding new destinations and adventure. Once I started the adventure, didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to continue the journey with Cam, Cassie, Nico, and the other wonderful characters. Definitely want a third book soon.
Profile Image for Nakul.
71 reviews
November 4, 2019
Incredible. Marvelous. What a fantastic story and dare I say, better than the first book. I was engaged from start to finish and started to learn more about the characters and get closer to them. Hooray Sean Easley, for that dangling ending.
Profile Image for Madeleine44.
42 reviews
August 30, 2022
Super livre, j'ai pourtant eu du mal à avancer au début mais après ça allait. Nico reste toujours un de mes personnages préférés au cour des 2 tomes du coup le livre devient beaucoup plus passionnant quand il réapparaît. Et la fin laisse à suspense car Cam et ses amis n'ont pas d'endroits où aller après la fermeture de l'hôtel... j'ai hâte de lire le 3e tome !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Allison.
385 reviews4 followers
September 24, 2019
I just finished The Key of Lost Things by Sean Easley. This is the second book in The Hotel Between series. This is such a delightfully complex world. I really felt for Cam as he faced the challenges in this story. There must be a book 3, and I’m looking forward to it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.
Author 2 books2 followers
October 18, 2019
WHY!!!!!!!! The CLIFFHANGER!!!!!!! Where is Book 3!!!!!
Profile Image for Luana ☾.
267 reviews28 followers
November 5, 2021
Mon avis : Je suis partie avec une appréhension suite au premier tome qui m’a un peu déçue. Cependant ce deuxième tome fut vraiment meilleur que le premier !
L’intrigue étant déjà un peu ficelé par le premier tome, fut beaucoup plus fluide et intriguant que le premier !
J’ai vraiment retrouvée la magie et le mystère qui m’a manqué au premier tome.
Les personnages ont bien évolué, leur comportement est à mon goût beaucoup plus mature et « réfléchit ». L’auteur a plus travailler les personnages les rendant plus profond et plus attachant.
Nous avons toujours des doutes sur certain personnage. On ne jamais ce qu’il pense et donc ces intentions ce qui rends le texte un peu plus « piquant et intriguant »

Ce roman nous apporte également de belle leçon de vie sur les responsabilités, la confiance et aussi sur les handicaps !

La plume de l’auteur est assez « étrange » car elle est assez enfantine et adulte en même temps ce qui est un peu troublant mais moins que dans le premier tome. Il arrive également à faire des retournements de situation assez inattendu et à nous faire douter de pas mal de personnages tout au long du roman !

Ce fut une jolie lecture que j’ai dévorée dans les dernier chapitres pour savoir la suite et j’espère qu’il y aura une suite car la fin est très troublante !
Profile Image for Lucy.
78 reviews8 followers
May 3, 2020
I loved this sequel to The Hotel Between! Also a very good book! I loved the father-son relationship between Cam and his dad! The only thing I wish would have been different was Cass being more likable. I do get her point of view though, and think this would have been a great discussion for a book club. I LOVE this book and would definitely recommend it! I love the unique type of magic Sean Easley was able to imagine. I also loved learning his idea of what might have happened to the people of Roanoke.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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