If you’ve read The House in the Cerulean Sea, you’ll understand why I was so incredibly excited to read Somewhere Beyond the Sea – its sequel. But, as I always am with any form of sequel, I was quite nervous that it wouldn’t be as good as the first one, or that the story would go in a direction I didn’t like. It’s always a risk reading a sequel, particularly if you loved the original book with your entire heart as I did The House in the Cerulean Sea. It was one of my favourite books I read in 2021, and quickly became an all-time favourite. So you can understand why I approached this book with a lot of excitement, but no small measure of trepidation.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea picks up right where The House in the Cerulean Sea leaves off, more or less. We get to see the same characters, go back to Marsyas Island, and see what has changed and what has stayed the same. Which is exactly what I wanted, because I didn’t want to miss a single bit of the story through time skipping!
Now there will be spoilers for The House in the Cerulean Sea, so if you haven’t read it I’d highly recommend going and doing so IMMEDIATELY then finishing reading my review when you’re done. Or just, you know, skip the next bit.
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SPOILERS FOR THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA START HERE
I was thrilled that Linus has given up his old position and returned to Marsyas Island – not only because he loved it there and the children won him over, but because of Arthur. Let’s face it, this is a romance story for the ages! As we return, Linus is settling into living on the Island full time, and becoming part of a wonderful family that is more than a little unique.
SPOILERS FOR THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA END HERE
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But in addition to this, there’s an impending new addition to their group, because there’s a new magical orphan who is in need of a safe place to call home and people (etc) who can help him fit in – David. This story is a continuation, but also has new challenges that must be faced. Arthur’s past, only given brief time in the first book, is one of the central plotlines in this book. Not only do we learn about it, but the Department In Charge of Magical Youth (under new – and horrible – leadership), is planning to use it against him in an attempt to not only close the orphanage on Marsyas Island, but block Arthur’s attempts to formally adopt the children in his care.
If you didn’t already, this book will really make you hate the Department. With every fibre of your being. But, as in the last book, you will also be filled with joy and love when you see what each member of this found family is willing to do to keep it together. I won’t say any more about what happens because you really don’t want any spoilers, but I will say it’s an epic battle worthy of true heroism, and heroism is what you will find.
I loved this book. It was exactly what I had hoped for, and more. It didn’t disappoint me in the least, and it didn’t let down a single one of these amazing characters that we grew to know and love in the first book. If anything, it makes you love them even more. I laughed, I cried (a few tears, but still, that’s rare for me) and I didn’t want it to be over. If you loved The House in the Cerulean Sea, you absolutely need to read this book. If you haven’t read either one yet but love cozy fantasy books like Legends & Lattes or The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, then this is absolutely the series you should head to next. 10 stars, fully recommend!
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.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it. – Goodreads
Book Title:Â Somewhere Beyond the Sea
Author:Â TJ Klune
Series: Yes – Cerulean Chronicles #2
Edition:Â Audiobook
Published By:Â Tor Books
Released:Â September 10, 2024
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Family, LGBT+
Pages:Â 416
Date Read:Â September 18-21, 2024
Rating: 10/10
Average Goodreads Rating:Â 4.24/5 (68,164 ratings)