BOOK REVIEW: Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
Sequels are not as good as very first moments experienced in a world, but this is a heartwarming follow up to the beloved original.
I know I wasn’t the only one who was anxiously anticipating the release of this book - the Sequel to one of my favorite books, The House on the Cerulean Sea. I grabbed this one up on release day and devoured it immediately. Was it as good as its predecessor? No. Did I love it? ABSOLUTELY!
I was so excited to revisit Marsyas Island. To see the kids again. To see Linus and Arthur again. To see all the amazing and eclectic side characters in the little town again. **sigh** I miss them all already…again.
This is, just like the first book, a character driven book. While there is a solid plot and the conflict is woven throughout and actually drives the characters on both sides of it. The characters breath life into these pages. I would be happy with a book just filled with the day to day interactions they have. This is how masterfully Klune has created and brought them to life.
I’ll start with the one thing that I found, not bad, but, just different, I guess. A structure or approach that I wasn’t expecting. While House on the Cerulean Sea focused mainly on Linus and his character arc, this one focused more of Arthur and his past. This was a catch-22 for me. I absolutely loved the flashbacks and learning about how and why be developed such a fierce passion of this kids and what he was doing, but as a result of the present day events, the court scenes specially, I though that he came across a little … unstable? I’m not even sure what the right work would be. If you’ve read the book, hopefully it makes sense.
Linus told me something once, and I think about it a lot. He said it’s okay to not be okay, so long as it doesn’t become all we know.
As the book progressed, he did begin to calm down and regain some of the control that we saw in book 1, but we also got to see how he evolves through it all and becomes an even better, even more engaged and present father to these kids. But, it’s not just Arthur. This book really epitomizes the concept that it takes a village to raise children. The community on the mainland of Marsyas rally around these kids and Arthur and Linus. It’s heartwarming and emotional to see the extremes that everyone will go through to shut down and shut up the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. For me, this department is so awful, traumatic to children, and evil that Dolores Umbridge should be the one running it.
No matter how up and down I may feel about the adults in this book, the children carry the story. The innocence and tenacity of children never ceases to amazing me. And these are magical children who have been beaten down by an unforgiving world and slowly finding their value and worth through Arthur, Linus and the community. We see a new character join the clan - David, a yeti. I LOVE David. He fits in so perfectly with the rest of the group. It is through David’s welcome and transition to his new home that you can see how much kids value each other and the differences they each have.
The kids themselves have tremendous growth. Sal in his maturity, Lucy in his exploration of his value, Chauncy in just growing up, Talia in her need to form a deeper connection to Arthur - becoming a daddy’s girl through her tough exterior. But, they all are so amazing in how they defend themselves, each other, their parents and their home. The brutality that the world can hold for them never diminishes their love and fight for where they belong.
“It’s hard.” “What is?” “Being alive.” “It is,” Arthur agreed. “But perhaps that’s the point: the trials and tribulations of life weigh heavily upon us, but we find people to help lighten the load
I don’t like politics and political agendas, and while I did feel that at times it was a little over-emphasized, I was able to push it aside to focus on my love for these kids. But, definitely be aware that their is a political message threaded throughout the book.
Zoe Chapelwhite as the island sprite filled my heart as well.
Where does this book land on my bookshelf?
Absolutely the top shelf. While it was not as good as House on the Cerulean Sea and was a little more politically driven, it was still freaking amazing!! As long as you know what you are walking into with this book, I think that you will love it. Definitely make sure you read the first book first!
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