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emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ugh, this is another in a long series of incredibly disappointing sequels to books I originally loved. House in the Cerulean Sea is among my favorite LGBTQ+, found family, magical adventure but Somewhere Beyond the Sea truly paled in comparison.
This pains me to write because I want to support queer authors writing queer stories, but it felt like Cerulean Sea was already complete story but the publisher wanted more and they decided to move forward with a sequel when it wasn't needed and there was no unique or compelling plotline.
It was heavy handed in its themes in a way that felt like it was tokenizing rather than about genuine representation. This may be a hot take, but coming from a queer person I'd rather queer authors write stories with queer love and queer families instead of writing a book just to say LOOK HOW QUEER THIS BOOK IS. The best way I can describe is that it felt like someone gave an AI bot Cerulean Sea and asked them to write another book from Arthur's perspective.
The best moments of this book - where TJ Klune continues to shine - is in developing the characters and the unique personalities of the children. They continue to be bright moments that truly made me laugh out loud throughout the book. The part wherePhee threatens to turn the evil government people into Bradford Pear trees genuinely had me in stitches . Without the hilarious interludes of the kids, I think I would have DNF'ed this book.
I don't blame people for wanting more of the sweet, charming, "wrap you up in a blanket" cozy fairytale vibes of Cerulean Sea. I wanted more of that, too! Maybe that's why this book was such a disappointment to me. It was missing the magic and I hope that for future iterations (if this becomes a series), that Klune and his editors will take more time developing a story worthy of the characters, who are beautiful and wonderful and deserve that time and attention.
This pains me to write because I want to support queer authors writing queer stories, but it felt like Cerulean Sea was already complete story but the publisher wanted more and they decided to move forward with a sequel when it wasn't needed and there was no unique or compelling plotline.
It was heavy handed in its themes in a way that felt like it was tokenizing rather than about genuine representation. This may be a hot take, but coming from a queer person I'd rather queer authors write stories with queer love and queer families instead of writing a book just to say LOOK HOW QUEER THIS BOOK IS. The best way I can describe is that it felt like someone gave an AI bot Cerulean Sea and asked them to write another book from Arthur's perspective.
The best moments of this book - where TJ Klune continues to shine - is in developing the characters and the unique personalities of the children. They continue to be bright moments that truly made me laugh out loud throughout the book. The part where
I don't blame people for wanting more of the sweet, charming, "wrap you up in a blanket" cozy fairytale vibes of Cerulean Sea. I wanted more of that, too! Maybe that's why this book was such a disappointment to me. It was missing the magic and I hope that for future iterations (if this becomes a series), that Klune and his editors will take more time developing a story worthy of the characters, who are beautiful and wonderful and deserve that time and attention.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Homophobia, Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Most loveable characters. Klune did not disappoint with the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Transphobia
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Classism
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Somewhere Beyond the Sea has just as many feel-good moments as The House in the Cerulean Sea, if not more -- I probably teared up at least 10 different times.
However, this sequel dives more deeply into the institutional and historical roots of oppression, and the impacts of the resulting traumas on both individuals and communities. Both books emphasize the power of forming small pockets of safe spaces to heal within a world of persecution, but in Somewhere Beyond the Sea, the characters additionally take steps to dismantle systems of oppression.
It's worth addressing the criticism the author received for drawing inspiration from the historical and ongoing genocide of First Nations people by the Canadian government. In particular, Cerulean has been criticized as a white savior narrative, and for the allegory of magical ability as race coming across as simultaneously trivializing native peoples and othering them as non-human. These critiques are not unfounded. At the same time, I believe the sequel effectively addresses at least two of these issues: First, the centering of a magical character as narrator emphasizes that while allyship is valuable, oppressed people are in the best position to understand their struggles and needs, and are quite capable on their own; second, the explicit and implicit references to oppression and abuse make clear that there is no whimsy in trauma.
Ultimately, while The Cerulean Chronicles initially appear to be only fairytales where love conquers all, the second installment reveals the underlying darkness.
Is it fancifully optimistic wish fulfillment? Yes. Are the characters all wise beyond their years and incredibly emotionally intelligent / well emotionally regulated despite having barely begun to heal from their trauma? Yes.
And so what?
However, this sequel dives more deeply into the institutional and historical roots of oppression, and the impacts of the resulting traumas on both individuals and communities. Both books emphasize the power of forming small pockets of safe spaces to heal within a world of persecution, but in Somewhere Beyond the Sea, the characters additionally take steps to dismantle systems of oppression.
It's worth addressing the criticism the author received for drawing inspiration from the historical and ongoing genocide of First Nations people by the Canadian government. In particular, Cerulean has been criticized as a white savior narrative, and for the allegory of magical ability as race coming across as simultaneously trivializing native peoples and othering them as non-human. These critiques are not unfounded. At the same time, I believe the sequel effectively addresses at least two of these issues: First, the centering of a magical character as narrator emphasizes that while allyship is valuable, oppressed people are in the best position to understand their struggles and needs, and are quite capable on their own; second, the explicit and implicit references to oppression and abuse make clear that there is no whimsy in trauma.
Ultimately, while The Cerulean Chronicles initially appear to be only fairytales where love conquers all, the second installment reveals the underlying darkness.
Is it fancifully optimistic wish fulfillment? Yes. Are the characters all wise beyond their years and incredibly emotionally intelligent / well emotionally regulated despite having barely begun to heal from their trauma? Yes.
And so what?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Xenophobia, Grief, Abandonment
Minor: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A great book. A little long-winded at times, but consistently thoughtful and intentional. While most TJ Klune novels I've read introduce the main character with a slew of flaws they eventually overcome, I was happy to love our familiar characters from the beginning. Klune brings pointed commentary regarding society's treatment of anyone othered, and as a trans Texan, it felt specifically poignant to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse
Minor: Physical abuse, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming, Homophobia
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ugh I'm so sad this is over. While this book infuriated me to my very core - looking at you Jeanine - my babies are happy, healthy, and so so loved. I adore them so much. I need the third one to come out so I can die happily.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racism
Minor: Sexual content, Violence, Gaslighting
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Clear allegory addressing politics today othering LGBTQ+ and acknowledging all the historical atrocities of government, including Indigenous colonization and genocide. So it resonated with me deeply, but what I loved most about this book is the promise that a third must be coming based on the ending.
I’m so distraught about the state of humanity in the US right now. This book tells me to remain hopeful and believe in the righteousness and goodness of people who will stand in solidarity with us. With elections only a couple of weeks away and the MAGA party (I refuse to call them Republicans) setting up to destroy and rebuild the country in its pre-Civil War image, hope is a hard resource to find right now. The most I hope for is that this author is right - that we have the right to hope that our citizenship will be defended and allowed to live in peace with the full authority to exist as we are - someday.
I’m so distraught about the state of humanity in the US right now. This book tells me to remain hopeful and believe in the righteousness and goodness of people who will stand in solidarity with us. With elections only a couple of weeks away and the MAGA party (I refuse to call them Republicans) setting up to destroy and rebuild the country in its pre-Civil War image, hope is a hard resource to find right now. The most I hope for is that this author is right - that we have the right to hope that our citizenship will be defended and allowed to live in peace with the full authority to exist as we are - someday.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury