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emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I ADORED the first book and this sequel is the perfect follow up! Sweet, tender, romantic.... This. Book. Has. Everything! It's the perfect salve after the wounds we have been suffering in this world lately. Thank you, T.J. Klune!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Transphobia, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
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
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
I love these characters so much. And TJ Klune and his writing (though, my dude, you can be a bit wordy). It was so easy to drop right back into this world with these hilarious and charming children.
TJ Klune is really good at taking current events and making them approachable in his stories, without too harshly triggering anyone. He took a very current issue, and applied it flawlessly to a fantastical world. It really highlights how WRONG certain points of view are, and how clear and easy it is to identify. These children, because that's what they are, are being scrutinized, judged and controlled because of the things that make them special. What we find out though, is that it is not just that simple, it does also come down to power, and being the person at the controls.
These characters are charming and safe, and just blissfully fun. It was a joy to be back here with them, though, like I mentioned before, these chapters were just too long to thoroughly enjoy. It was hard to get through, especially for someone who can only really handle a chapter or two a night for a typical length; having to stop after just one chapter every night was hard.
TJ Klune is really good at taking current events and making them approachable in his stories, without too harshly triggering anyone. He took a very current issue, and applied it flawlessly to a fantastical world. It really highlights how WRONG certain points of view are, and how clear and easy it is to identify. These children, because that's what they are, are being scrutinized, judged and controlled because of the things that make them special. What we find out though, is that it is not just that simple, it does also come down to power, and being the person at the controls.
These characters are charming and safe, and just blissfully fun. It was a joy to be back here with them, though, like I mentioned before, these chapters were just too long to thoroughly enjoy. It was hard to get through, especially for someone who can only really handle a chapter or two a night for a typical length; having to stop after just one chapter every night was hard.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming, Homophobia, Transphobia
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
Gorgeous. Must read. The perfect antithesis to JK Rowling. I’m
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Colonisation
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Physical abuse, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I'm sure I'm biased because I'm a fan of Klune, but I really enjoyed this sequel. It honestly wasn't what I expected, but who he dedicated this novel to immediately told me my assumption that this would be another extremely cozy, funny fantasy, was incorrect.
It's been a very difficult few years, as so many politicians, authors, etc have been extremely vocal about their disdain for specific members of the LGBT+ community. And I really felt like Klune was fed up and ready to use his skills as a writer to express this. That's what this book is. The politics are heavy, the analogy to real life is no longer charmingly blurred, and Klune does not mince words. I can understand why some people might find this repetitive and too in your face, but as someone who has watched friends suffer and fear for their own safety, some even having to leave their homes due to discriminatory laws- I didn't think it was over the top at all.
I laughed, I cried, and in the end, I'm left with the hope that change can happen if we fight for it. The children were just as delightful as the first book and their growth was realistic and sweet. There wasn't much romance in this one, but the little bits we did get were sappy and adorable.
It's a difficult read, which I didn't expect prior to starting. But I hope people will still give it a shot, because it's good. We need books like this. And I'm so happy it was Klune who took on the challenge.
It's been a very difficult few years, as so many politicians, authors, etc have been extremely vocal about their disdain for specific members of the LGBT+ community. And I really felt like Klune was fed up and ready to use his skills as a writer to express this. That's what this book is. The politics are heavy, the analogy to real life is no longer charmingly blurred, and Klune does not mince words. I can understand why some people might find this repetitive and too in your face, but as someone who has watched friends suffer and fear for their own safety, some even having to leave their homes due to discriminatory laws- I didn't think it was over the top at all.
I laughed, I cried, and in the end, I'm left with the hope that change can happen if we fight for it. The children were just as delightful as the first book and their growth was realistic and sweet. There wasn't much romance in this one, but the little bits we did get were sappy and adorable.
It's a difficult read, which I didn't expect prior to starting. But I hope people will still give it a shot, because it's good. We need books like this. And I'm so happy it was Klune who took on the challenge.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Sexism, Abandonment, Colonisation
emotional
funny
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:
No
This is a great sequel. In a very natural way, characters are reintroduced for those readers who only vaguely remember the first book.
This book caused me a lot of stress. All kinds of hate (xenophobia, transphobia, homophobia, and more) play a large role. It mirrored the current world and political climate too well to remain a cozy read. Thankfully the book ended in a heartwarming way.
At first I wondered if characters from the island and especially Arthur weren't acting too antigonistically at times. However, throughout the story I changed my mind. Why should they walk on eggshells when the government officials treats them without respect and hide behind rules and laws they themselves made up.
I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 due to lack of immersion. I feel bad about it, but there were many times where I didn't feel immersed. Often the characters said something which fit the situation a bit too well based on who they were without any big consequences. It made me think of the characters as puppets performing a play. I think it's also because the villains were very flat and unwilling to change. Though strong for this story, I prefer books with more nuance.
This book caused me a lot of stress. All kinds of hate (xenophobia, transphobia, homophobia, and more) play a large role. It mirrored the current world and political climate too well to remain a cozy read. Thankfully the book ended in a heartwarming way.
At first I wondered if characters from the island and especially Arthur weren't acting too antigonistically at times. However, throughout the story I changed my mind. Why should they walk on eggshells when the government officials treats them without respect and hide behind rules and laws they themselves made up.
I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 due to lack of immersion. I feel bad about it, but there were many times where I didn't feel immersed. Often the characters said something which fit the situation a bit too well based on who they were without any big consequences. It made me think of the characters as puppets performing a play. I think it's also because the villains were very flat and unwilling to change. Though strong for this story, I prefer books with more nuance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Transphobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Religious bigotry
Minor: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting
Most homophobia/transphobia is about political state and propaganda
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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
At first, I was a little annoyed that a second book came out after The House in the Cerulean Sea. I knew I'd like it because it's T.J. Klune, but I didn't feel it was needed.
I still don't think it was needed for the story, but the book has a bigger purpose than that, and I think it can serve as something incredibly healing for a lot of people. Not just the people he dedicated it to (which was beautiful, by the way), but anyone who feels like they didn't fit in as a child. It healed a little something even in me.
I don't think the book is perfect though. It was a little too cheesy at times, I felt Linus took a bit too much of a backseat, and some of the more villainous characters were a little too cliche in their villainy for my liking. However, I understand that making this book more realistic in that respect might make it too difficult of a read, and a little too challenging when it should be comforting and empowering.
Amazing writing as per usual though, the banter was perfect, and all the kids are amazing. I love each and every one.
For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Xenophobia, Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming, Homophobia, Transphobia