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hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
An electric symphony of diversity, and dismantling oppressive systems of power. All wrapped up in Klune's own brand of cosy fantasy full of colourful characters!
If you haven't read the first book in this series, it follows a group of magical children in an oppressive orphanage system designed to take away their power and make them "normal". But despite this, the orphanage leader rebels, trying to bring joy and light to all of the children's lives. The cast of characters includes: a seaslug boy who wants to be a bellhop, a little girl who is a garden gnome, a teenage boy who shifts into a tiny Pomeranian dog, the actual Antichrist, and many more!
So much of this book was reality instead of fantasy. The trial which T.J Klune based on the horrific trial of the family of a trans child felt terrifying to read. Both because of the reality and parallels, and also because of a certain judge keenly modelled after a certain transphobic, sinister children's author. It was a heart-wrenching and so so grounded portrayal of systems of oppression and the people who run them, as well as those who fight back.
But alongside that, the beautiful queer and magical joy that Klune portrays brings so much light. We can kill them with kindness, kill them with words, with proof of their abuse. We can bite back by showing our queer joy, by being ourselves, being a community, being a family. All of us together.
The characters were electric as always, I loved getting to build on what I knew of old characters, and get to know new ones. My favourites are still Chauncey and Sal, but I truly love all of the Marsyas family.
I was also keenly following along with Klune's retro music references, adding them to a playlist as I went along, which really added to the ambience of the book! Despite all of the tension and worrying events, so much of this book gave a beautiful ambience. It is perfect to read on a summer day in nature, or nursing a chilled drink with Ella Fitzgerald on in the background. I would recommend making a day of reading some of it with the matching vibes! It will not disappoint.
All in all, a great queer read if you want a mix of tension and stakes, with a cosy and hopeful undertone. It will leave you with a glow, and a penchant for rebellion.
If you haven't read the first book in this series, it follows a group of magical children in an oppressive orphanage system designed to take away their power and make them "normal". But despite this, the orphanage leader rebels, trying to bring joy and light to all of the children's lives. The cast of characters includes: a seaslug boy who wants to be a bellhop, a little girl who is a garden gnome, a teenage boy who shifts into a tiny Pomeranian dog, the actual Antichrist, and many more!
So much of this book was reality instead of fantasy. The trial which T.J Klune based on the horrific trial of the family of a trans child felt terrifying to read. Both because of the reality and parallels, and also because of a certain judge keenly modelled after a certain transphobic, sinister children's author. It was a heart-wrenching and so so grounded portrayal of systems of oppression and the people who run them, as well as those who fight back.
But alongside that, the beautiful queer and magical joy that Klune portrays brings so much light. We can kill them with kindness, kill them with words, with proof of their abuse. We can bite back by showing our queer joy, by being ourselves, being a community, being a family. All of us together.
The characters were electric as always, I loved getting to build on what I knew of old characters, and get to know new ones. My favourites are still Chauncey and Sal, but I truly love all of the Marsyas family.
I was also keenly following along with Klune's retro music references, adding them to a playlist as I went along, which really added to the ambience of the book! Despite all of the tension and worrying events, so much of this book gave a beautiful ambience. It is perfect to read on a summer day in nature, or nursing a chilled drink with Ella Fitzgerald on in the background. I would recommend making a day of reading some of it with the matching vibes! It will not disappoint.
All in all, a great queer read if you want a mix of tension and stakes, with a cosy and hopeful undertone. It will leave you with a glow, and a penchant for rebellion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
Moderate: Body shaming, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting
Minor: Transphobia
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Physical abuse, Abandonment
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book takes the strong undercurrent from the first book, and turns it into a tidal wave.
Discrimination is front and center in this book, handled with care and grace but also spoken about unapologetically.
While the first book is mostly from the point of view of Linus, this book shifts more to follow Arthur and we are taken on an emotional journey as he struggles with his past trauma, and the threats facing him and his family.
I think this book was beautifully written. While it wasn’t the same warm hug of the first book, it put into words the fights that many readers are fighting on a daily basis. It shows these readers that they are not alone, and I feel that it gives insight to those that are privileged to not have to fight the same discriminations.
Plus. Being back with the children of Marsyas Island is THE BEST THING EVER. I adore these children. I laughed out loud so many times through the course of this book, and sadly had no one to share in the humor with me! I sincerely hope for another book with these kids. Klune captures the ridiculously and wonderfilly bizarre things that kids say in the best way possible (and Daniel Henning brings them to life with the most incredible voices!) please please please bring me another book with these kids!!
Discrimination is front and center in this book, handled with care and grace but also spoken about unapologetically.
While the first book is mostly from the point of view of Linus, this book shifts more to follow Arthur and we are taken on an emotional journey as he struggles with his past trauma, and the threats facing him and his family.
I think this book was beautifully written. While it wasn’t the same warm hug of the first book, it put into words the fights that many readers are fighting on a daily basis. It shows these readers that they are not alone, and I feel that it gives insight to those that are privileged to not have to fight the same discriminations.
Plus. Being back with the children of Marsyas Island is THE BEST THING EVER. I adore these children. I laughed out loud so many times through the course of this book, and sadly had no one to share in the humor with me! I sincerely hope for another book with these kids. Klune captures the ridiculously and wonderfilly bizarre things that kids say in the best way possible (and Daniel Henning brings them to life with the most incredible voices!) please please please bring me another book with these kids!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
It's a delight to return to the children on this island – they are truly the highlight of this series for me – but I found book 2 more challenging to get through than the first. I understand and appreciate the metaphor of this story and the importance of the message, and I also acknowledge how privileged it is of me to be able to put the book on pause when the xenophobia became too much. But I guess ultimately for me, living in a timeline where our own DICoMY is winning, it's hard to go into a world with the same battle. Like my same issue with Cloud Cuckoo Land, I read to escape.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Xenophobia
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The first book was a beautiful story of found family, the second was everything I loved most about the first and even more.
Giving many moments of heart warming, eye watering, sweet childhood and familial love. Joyous and comedic moments bright in nature. And emotional depth that only made it all more compelling and tear jerking to read.
With very happy idyllic endings for the characters I already loved and now love even more.
Giving many moments of heart warming, eye watering, sweet childhood and familial love. Joyous and comedic moments bright in nature. And emotional depth that only made it all more compelling and tear jerking to read.
With very happy idyllic endings for the characters I already loved and now love even more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
A little on the nose trying to reflect the current moment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture