Review by electricshe - Somewhere Beyond the Sea

electricshe 's review for:

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

4.5

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

I was a bit worried after not really liking ‘In the Lives of Puppets’ that this sequel would disappoint me, but it was absolutely phenomenal! It does the job of letting the characters we’ve come to love really shine while also telling a story that is relevant and so important to our world right now. Klune makes no secret of the parallels he seeks to draw between the fight for the rights of magical beings and those of trans/queer people, saying it outright in the dedication and acknowledgments. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that story antagonist Jeanine Rowder’s middle name was Katherine or Kristine or Kimberly, either. It’s obvious but still massively enjoyable.

Despite having a clear stance, Klune makes a point of, through the telling of the story, engaging with questions like “why can’t we just force people to see things our way, if it would bring about net good?” and “is any echo chamber safe or productive to be in?” The story doesn’t get lost in preaching, but is made vibrant through the struggles and triumphs of the characters. The stakes do feel higher, and you do understand that the world isn’t magically set right in the end—but it is, somehow. I loved getting to see more of Linus and Arthur and everyone else, and having the story from Arthur’s perspective was so excellent. I felt his fire—in the anger, fear, courage, and love—and couldn’t have asked for more.

Content Warnings