Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Book Review: Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

 
Title: Somewhere Beyond the Sea
Author: TJ Klune
Series/Standalone: Cerulean Chronicles (Book #2)
Genre: Fantasy, Adult Fiction, Cozy
Pages: 416
Publisher: Tor Books
Year Published: 2024
Format: Audiobook

"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 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 Rating: 5/5

This story follows Arthur as he revisits his past and looks at how the past can truly shape one's future. For better or for worse. Exploring so many different elements of our current, far less magical world, and seeing how TJ Klune makes direct comparisons, is incredibly well done. While the content matter may feel heavy, the writing keeps it fast-paced and loving at its heart. Overall, I adored this book. I laughed, cried and gasped. For me, those are all signs of a great read. That and the ability to have those characters live with us as we remember the stories that help affirm who we are. 

Thank you for reading,

Sidny

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