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adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-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: Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Colonisation
After an enjoyable first book, Somewhere Beyond the Sea was a disappointment. The story is clunky, the writing saccharine, and the plot a confusing mix of modern political bigotry with a middle-grade-esque (very unrealistic) fairy tale ending. The pacing dragged then rushed and some of the messaging was very inconsistent. The work of liberation is long, messy, and filled with rage, community, grief, and hope and it feels disrespectful to have erased all that with an overly neat saviour-story. I think Klune was a bit trapped by the need to write another "cozy fantasy" book while also balancing the heavy topic and journey the characters were set up for in the previous novel.
Overall, I think the first book was wrapped up beautifully with more work to come that we could use our imaginations on and the sequel felt like an unplanned superfluous addition.
Would not recommend
Overall, I think the first book was wrapped up beautifully with more work to come that we could use our imaginations on and the sequel felt like an unplanned superfluous addition.
Would not recommend
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
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: Child abuse, Physical abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Xenophobia
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a joyous, exuberant, triumphant warm hug of a book. It features love in all its many forms, found family, people standing up for what is right, good overcoming evil, the joy of being unapologetically yourself and being loved and accepted for that, a place where all children are safe and nurtured, and advocates and celebrates the ability to be free, regardless of who you are - queer, neurodivergent, or any other type of "different". If you are in despair about the state of the world - and who isn't? - then this book is a perfect dose of literary medicine. It'll remind you afresh of the sort of world you want to live in and reinvigorate you to do what you can to bring it to fruition. And that dedication? 😘
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Xenophobia
Moderate: Body shaming
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Xenophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War
slow-paced
Ugh this is a tough one to rate because I loved the first book and I still love all the characters but this book felt quite clunky and cringe to me and while there were cute moments between characters, I was also quite bored in parts. There were so many moments that pulled me out of the book where it felt like a long tweet or an exert from a psychology textbook, even more jarring having it come out a 7-year-old’s mouth… I felt so aware of the author’s presence and there was such a prescriptive nature to the resolutions. The author’s acknowledgments were fire though 🔥
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Xenophobia
Moderate: Death of parent
There is a whole chapter in a courtroom from the perspective of someone testifying
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
TJ Klune has done what he set out to do; he has written another beautifully moving queer story while standing loud and proud as the antithesis to the bigots and TERFs who would let their fear and insecurity-masquerading-as-superiority create a world built on contempt.
This book is soul balm for anyone whose lives and loves have been weaponized by those with limited imagination. Read it and hope. Cry a little if you’re moved to. Then get on with the life-giving business of letting your joy shine bright and channeling your rage to build the better world this heart-swelling story represents.
This book is soul balm for anyone whose lives and loves have been weaponized by those with limited imagination. Read it and hope. Cry a little if you’re moved to. Then get on with the life-giving business of letting your joy shine bright and channeling your rage to build the better world this heart-swelling story represents.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Classism
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Abandonment
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
Just a warm hug of a book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, Classism