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emotional
hopeful
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
If you liked the first book you'll also like this book.
My only critique is that Saul often seemed like a container for a message and less like a character and that the book felt a bit "explanatory" sometimes. Sometimes children just rattled of the definition of a word or phrase and so did Arthur a few times. In real life people don't say: "oh you meant x, commonly defined as y? It felt a bit off to me and like the author tried to squeeze in a mini lecture.
My only critique is that Saul often seemed like a container for a message and less like a character and that the book felt a bit "explanatory" sometimes. Sometimes children just rattled of the definition of a word or phrase and so did Arthur a few times. In real life people don't say: "oh you meant x, commonly defined as y? It felt a bit off to me and like the author tried to squeeze in a mini lecture.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Hate crime, Death of parent
None of the content warnings are endorsed by the author. The story is about fighting many different types of bigotry.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Another immensely enjoyable and profoundly moving novel. Having to take a break halfway through did not diminish the book, rather made the themes all the more devastatingly important for those who cannot put the book of their lives down and take a four month break. Wonderful and illuminating as always.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Classism, Deportation
emotional
funny
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: Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Colonisation
Minor: Confinement
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
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:
Complicated
This book was like coming home. I loved every minute reading it. It is just as wonderful as the first in the duology. It definitely tugged at my heart. I loved the messages speaking to the issues we face in day to day life, and I hope it makes people think. Then again, the people who should read this book won't.
Absolutely perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting
emotional
funny
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
This was both stinking cute and also so infuriating. I loved the main characters, especially the kids and it was made more enjoyable because the kids each had distinct voices (applause for the voice actor). It was infuriating in that campaign against magical children could be an analogy for literally SO many marginalised groups in the real world 😠😔 I'm excited to see how the author continues the world especially with Zoe making the town and island one area again and enforcing the old treaty
I also laughed at the whole anti-J.K. Rowling part at the end, hell yeah!
I also laughed at the whole anti-J.K. Rowling part at the end, hell yeah!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia
Moderate: Confinement, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Colonisation
Minor: Body shaming, Homophobia, Transphobia
adventurous
challenging
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:
Complicated
This book was pretty much everything I needed it to be. Klune's writing is just beautiful, and his characters are so well developed that stepping back into this world felt like greeting old friends. This book certainly has a slightly darker tone in places than the first book, digging deeper into the prejudice and hate that the characters face from the wider world. Reading the story from Arthur's point of view was a real treat, and it allows the reader to gain much needed insight into the complexities of his character.
My only criticism is that the ending felt a bit abrupt and rushed, with a lot thrown at the reader in a very short space of time. However, the rest of the book, and the deep love I have for Arthur, Linus and their kids kept this from being too detrimental to the story. At the end of the day, I love everything that this book represents, and salute the Anti-J.K. Rowling for continuing to put these important stories out into the world. I'll be revisiting Marsyas Island for years to come, and will be encouraging as many people as I can convince to do the same.
My only criticism is that the ending felt a bit abrupt and rushed, with a lot thrown at the reader in a very short space of time. However, the rest of the book, and the deep love I have for Arthur, Linus and their kids kept this from being too detrimental to the story. At the end of the day, I love everything that this book represents, and salute the Anti-J.K. Rowling for continuing to put these important stories out into the world. I'll be revisiting Marsyas Island for years to come, and will be encouraging as many people as I can convince to do the same.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting
Minor: Sexism
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i love this book for what it is, which is a love letter to trans and queer kids and fan service to die hard cerulean sea lovers. i meannnn, Arthur’s POV with wholesome found family ooey gooey two-dads-adopt-their-foster-kids antics?? what’s not to love.
however as a sequel i love it less because i do have issues with the pacing and repetitiveness. i think this book and books like it are super important, but it just felt like core points of the book are repeated ad nauseam and the pacing felt off. it took me weeks to get through the first 75% of the book but a few hours for the rest, unsure if this was a me thing or pacing in the book.
i love this world and as much as i don’t think this sequel was necessary, i liked it. definitely will reread the epilogue when i want to cry again.
however as a sequel i love it less because i do have issues with the pacing and repetitiveness. i think this book and books like it are super important, but it just felt like core points of the book are repeated ad nauseam and the pacing felt off. it took me weeks to get through the first 75% of the book but a few hours for the rest, unsure if this was a me thing or pacing in the book.
i love this world and as much as i don’t think this sequel was necessary, i liked it. definitely will reread the epilogue when i want to cry again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Xenophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization
Minor: Body shaming, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting
adventurous
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
Title: Somewhere Beyond the Sea
Author: T.J. Klune
Series: Cerulean Chronicles #2
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: September 10, 2024
T H R E E • W O R D S
Magical • Wholesome • Repetitive
📖 S Y N O P S I S
A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.
Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one.
He's the master of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six dangerous and magical children who live there.
Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. He is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department In Charge of Magical Youth. And there's the island's sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite, and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children.
But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve.
And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home—one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name that Arthur worked so hard to protect his children from—Arthur knows they're at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I'll admit I was absolutely shocked when T.J. Klune announced Somewhere Beyond the Sea, the sequel to the much beloved House in the Cerulean Sea. I honestly didn't think it needed a follow up, yet I was definitely curious. My curiosity made it an easy add to my TBR and landed on my 2024 most anticipated releases list.
This follow up is Arthur's story and at times really read like a long monologue, which often took me out of the story itself. I'll admit is was like coming home to be back on Marsyas Island and I still absolutely loved all the characters. However, I felt like there was too much backtracking to the previous book and lots of things felt the same as in the first book. Additionally, I thought the narrative lagged as it veered into the preachy lane.
Yes it had the same whimsical and happy tone, yet sadly for me, Somewhere Beyond the Sea felt entirely unnecessary. The book isn't bad it just isn't the same and didn't feel as refreshing as I would have wanted it too. Maybe my expectations were too high, or maybe it just didn't need to be written. It was worth the read, but could also easily be read as a standalone without reading book one.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• good people doing good things
• the characters from The House in the Ceulean Sea
⚠️ CW: child abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, gaslighting, bullying, confinement, abandonment, xenophobia, racism, homophobia, transphobia, death, death of parent, grief, forced institutionalization, hate crime, violence, body shaming, religious bigotry, cursing
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"But I believe the greatest weapon we have at our disposal is our voices. And I am going to use my voice for you, and for me. Hate is loud. We are louder."
"There is magic in the ordinary, magic that has the power to change the world."
"Even the smallest of things can change the world, if only one is brave enough to try."
Author: T.J. Klune
Series: Cerulean Chronicles #2
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: September 10, 2024
T H R E E • W O R D S
Magical • Wholesome • Repetitive
📖 S Y N O P S I S
A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.
Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one.
He's the master of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six dangerous and magical children who live there.
Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. He is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department In Charge of Magical Youth. And there's the island's sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite, and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children.
But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve.
And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home—one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name that Arthur worked so hard to protect his children from—Arthur knows they're at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I'll admit I was absolutely shocked when T.J. Klune announced Somewhere Beyond the Sea, the sequel to the much beloved House in the Cerulean Sea. I honestly didn't think it needed a follow up, yet I was definitely curious. My curiosity made it an easy add to my TBR and landed on my 2024 most anticipated releases list.
This follow up is Arthur's story and at times really read like a long monologue, which often took me out of the story itself. I'll admit is was like coming home to be back on Marsyas Island and I still absolutely loved all the characters. However, I felt like there was too much backtracking to the previous book and lots of things felt the same as in the first book. Additionally, I thought the narrative lagged as it veered into the preachy lane.
Yes it had the same whimsical and happy tone, yet sadly for me, Somewhere Beyond the Sea felt entirely unnecessary. The book isn't bad it just isn't the same and didn't feel as refreshing as I would have wanted it too. Maybe my expectations were too high, or maybe it just didn't need to be written. It was worth the read, but could also easily be read as a standalone without reading book one.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• good people doing good things
• the characters from The House in the Ceulean Sea
⚠️ CW: child abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, gaslighting, bullying, confinement, abandonment, xenophobia, racism, homophobia, transphobia, death, death of parent, grief, forced institutionalization, hate crime, violence, body shaming, religious bigotry, cursing
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"But I believe the greatest weapon we have at our disposal is our voices. And I am going to use my voice for you, and for me. Hate is loud. We are louder."
"There is magic in the ordinary, magic that has the power to change the world."
"Even the smallest of things can change the world, if only one is brave enough to try."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Gaslighting
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Cursing