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emotional
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia
Minor: Body shaming, Genocide, Death of parent
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
I adored these characters and want to be a part of their family. Sweet, funny, and painfully optimistic. Seeing the world through Arthur's eyes was so enjoyable and enlightening.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
This sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea, definitely lives up to the hype and is just as good as the original. I’m completely obsessed with the Baker-Parnassus family. The kids are so fun and creative and sassy and loving and the parents are just delightful and are exactly what parents should be. They love their kids unconditionally and work with them to understand right and wrong and give them the space to grow. I can’t say enough good things about this series, it’s hilarious and witty and has a beautiful message of acceptance and respect for all people, no matter their differences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Transphobia, Xenophobia
Moderate: Death of parent
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Complicated
No one should have to hide their light, their truth. Everyone deserves to be seen. The sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea, as beautiful and heart bubble bursting as the first. A book about found family, community, standing for what you believe in and not hiding who you are. I loved this book. It's beautifully written and it made my eyes leak. Arthur and Linus are together on the island with the kids, but members of the government have other plans for the children. I loved everything about this book. A running theme throughout the books is this poem "Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words -And never stops - at all -" - Emily Dickinson.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racism, Transphobia, Xenophobia
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was so good except for the ending.
Arthur is such a great character and an even more incrddible father. The way he navigated being a good father while protecting his children from the harm of bigots was very well done. It was nice to see the evolution of his relationship with Linus as well. They are both such well-rounded and flushed out characters that juxtapose and compliment each other so well. I loved learning more about his past and the trauma he still carries. It was nice to see more of the children and how welcoming they were to a new family member. The conga line of bigots who wanted to tear this family apart infuriated me in the most tantalizing way. Their circular arguments and unwillingness to see anything beyond their own points was infuriating, which meant it was spot on.
The ending, however, felt satisfying at first before devolving into a happily-ever-after that was too sugar coated. For a series that tackles the homophobia the community faces every day, the ending felt flat and too perfect. It felt like a fantasy, which is ironic since the whole premise is fantastical. I'm happy for the characters but dissatisfied by it at the same time.
Arthur is such a great character and an even more incrddible father. The way he navigated being a good father while protecting his children from the harm of bigots was very well done. It was nice to see the evolution of his relationship with Linus as well. They are both such well-rounded and flushed out characters that juxtapose and compliment each other so well. I loved learning more about his past and the trauma he still carries. It was nice to see more of the children and how welcoming they were to a new family member. The conga line of bigots who wanted to tear this family apart infuriated me in the most tantalizing way. Their circular arguments and unwillingness to see anything beyond their own points was infuriating, which meant it was spot on.
The ending, however, felt satisfying at first before devolving into a happily-ever-after that was too sugar coated. For a series that tackles the homophobia the community faces every day, the ending felt flat and too perfect. It felt like a fantasy, which is ironic since the whole premise is fantastical. I'm happy for the characters but dissatisfied by it at the same time.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent
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
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
The story itself was incredible. I found myself crying, laughing, and even ridiculously angry at one of the characters, which is quite impressive considering it takes a lot to get me to feel this deeply. Also the naration in the audiobook version is probably the best I have ever heard.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Minor: Body shaming, Homophobia, Transphobia