Somewhere Beyond the Sea
By TJ Klune
A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.
Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one.
He’s the master of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six dangerous and magical children who live there.
Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. He is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department In Charge of Magical Youth. And there’s the island’s sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite, and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children.
But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve.
And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home—one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name that Arthur worked so hard to protect his children from—Arthur knows they’re at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart.
Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur’s story.
My thoughts:
Welcome back to Marsyas Island! I was a little (or maybe a lot) late to the TJ Klune party, but I was all in once I boarded the train! I devoured “The House in the Cerulean Sea” and “Under the Whispering Door” within weeks of each other last year. This year, I read “In the Lives of Puppets,” “Wolfsong,” and I plan to finish the Green Creek series very soon. When I saw that a sequel to “… Cerulean Sea” was to be released, I preordered it immediately. Thanks to TOR, I even got to read a sneak peek earlier this summer. After reading the first few chapters, I was eager to sink back into this world, and as soon as my preorder came in, I pushed everything else aside and made space for this one. As you may have guessed, just as Klune’s other books have, this novel is a heartwarming tale of love, found family, and resilience when living in a world that wants to make you disappear.
Whereas the first book focused more on Linus’s POV, this book is more focused on Linus’s now boyfriend, Arthur Parnassus, the master of a unique orphanage on a beautiful island where six magical children reside. With the help of his now partner, Linus, Arthur is determined to give these children the love and care they deserve, shielding them from the darkness of his past. But wouldn’t you know it – the government feels as though anyone who isn’t “normal” needs to be monitored and controlled (or maybe even done away with altogether) because God forbid the world be a place of open minds and diversity. Because of their perceived differences, Arthur is called upon to speak at a congressional hearing and defend his orphanage, causing him to have to confront his history in a very public way. It’s not long before he, Linus, and his kids are once again fighting for their family’s future.
What I loved most about this book was the way Klune highlights current issues and events through a magical lens, bringing forward a message of resilience and acceptance. The current attacks on trans rights, drag queens, and basically anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community are exhausting. Why do we constantly have to fight for a right to exist? Why are we used as weapons simply because someone thinks we’re “not normal”? This book is not just a story, it’s a call to action, a reminder of the importance of standing up for what’s right and fighting for acceptance.
As Arthur and his chosen family navigate the challenges that come their way, we see them grow stronger and more united, facing their fears and insecurities head-on. I loved revisiting these characters, and I especially loved seeing how they have grown since the first book. I especially loved seeing the bright and confident young man that Sal had become. The addition of a new character was also very sweet and added a nice new dynamic to these characters’ lives.
I could gush about this book all day, but then I might get into spoilers, and I don’t want to do that. If you were a fan of the first book, then you definitely need to pick this one up! TJ Klune has once again delivered a story that will stay with you, reminding you of the power of love, found family, and the importance of never giving up. They may want to knock us down, but together we can prove that fear and bigotry are the real enemy.
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