A review by zaiphon
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

funny hopeful 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? N/A

4.0

If you were to ask me whether this sequel was truly necessary, a discussion I see floating around regarding this book, I’d say the answer is subjective. With that being said, it changed my perception on this series as a whole. I'm sold - and wouldn't be disappointed to get more of these characters! I found that it enriched "The House in the Cerulean Sea" for me, making me appreciate the original novel even more. This sequel delves deeper into the central theme of the first book—bigotry and bias toward magical beings and creatures versus ordinary humans—but expands on it with more insight into Arthur and his past. We dive further into this through different perspectives by the characters, and I felt I had a good understanding of the layers of each characters. We see through the eyes of the children - a younger generation who are full of hope and have plenty of fight in them and optimistic for the future. In contrast, through Arthur we see a character ravaged by effects of hate through the years and though still driven by the same ideals, seem to have become disillusioned, carrying a sense of frustration and anger. It was fascinating to see these contrasting viewpoints come together, and the addition of Kline's quirky, whimsical, and often hilarious characters made the experience even more enjoyable. This book did a fantastic job and creating realistic characters while also making me laugh out loud at something insanely hilarious a character said (looking at you Lucy and Talia, but what do you expect with a 7 year old antichrist 😂) 

So, while the sequel may not have been essential to some, it certainly added something meaningful for me, and I have no regrets. Now, I’m eager to revisit the first book in the series! 

P.S. (Slight SPOILERS ahead): 

I’m a sucker for a well-done epilogue, and this one did not disappoint. The wedding scene, Linus and Arthur’s vows, and the children basking in the warmth of a loving family left me with my heart full. It was the perfect, uplifting way to close the story. There's nothing like ending on a high note!