TJ Klune invites readers back to Marsyas Island in Somewhere Beyond the Sea, the sequel to his beloved novel, The House in the Cerulean Sea. Here, Klune weaves a tale that’s as angry as it is heartwarming. He tells a story about the dangers of prejudice and the lasting trauma it can leave on a person; a story about the power of family – found or otherwise; and a tale about the lengths a father will go to protect his children – and to give them the future he always longed for. Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a gorgeous read in every sense of the phrase. All at once enthralling, heartwarming, deeply emotional, and endlessly thrilling. If the idea of a sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea gave you pause, rest assured that Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a worthy sequel in every conceivable way.

Trouble is Brewing in the Cerulean Sea

Welcome back to the island of Marsyas, where Arthur Parnassus and the love of his life, Linus Baker, hope to adopt the magical children in their care. But when he is summoned to a governmental hearing to unearth the secrets of his past, Arthur faces a crossroads. Everything in his life hinges on this hearing – his future, his family’s future, and the future of every magical being in the world. What could possibly go wrong? With the might of the entire government bearing down upon them and the arrival of a new child back at home, Arthur and Linus might just be up against a threat they can’t overcome. But where there’s a chance, there’s hope – and maybe that’s exactly what Arthur needs to cling onto. Packed to the brim with warmth, love, hope, and all-around good vibes, Somewhere Beyond the Sea offers a welcome reunion with these beloved characters.

Klune returns to the world of Marsyas Island as though no time has passed, picking things up thematically exactly where they left off. Somewhere Beyond the Sea might just be one of those rare sequels that’s not only as good as the original but even better. Here, Klune takes everything that worked about the first book in his Cerulean Chronicles series and doubles down on them. Did you love all of the found-family dynamics of the first book? Then buckle up for even more heartwarming shenanigans. Did you like Klune’s expert worldbuilding? Then you’re gonna love all the ways he expands the world here. As for those coming back for the heartwarming romance, prepare to have your hearts soar. If The House in the Cerulean Sea wrapped readers in a warm blanket, however, Somewhere Beyond the Sea lights a fire underneath their feet.

A Father’s Quest to Protect His Children

Somewhere Beyond the Sea feels like a much angrier book than its predecessor. It’s a book bristling with the consequences of prejudice and the injustice of being denied a chance to be who you are without fear of reprisal. But Klune takes that anger and weaves it into something that’s all at once hopeful, heartwarming, and emotionally true. Nobody can wash away their pasts; trauma rarely goes away completely. Healing is a long road, one filled with twists and turns and backward loops. But sometimes, that trauma can inform us and reshape our futures. Told entirely from Arthur’s point of view, Somewhere Beyond the Sea is largely about how he processes his trauma. Denied the right to a loving childhood where he could be free to stretch his wings and hope for a brighter future, Arthur strives to create a more just world for his children – whatever the cost.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is Arthur’s story through and through, and it’s all the better for it. Everything revolves around Arthur’s desire to keep those he loves safe from harm. But is that even something he should strive for, especially as his children get older? Or, like any parent, does Arthur need to allow his children the very thing denied to him – the chance to spread their wings and become who they’re meant to be? There’s no easy answer here, and it’s this balancing act that makes Somewhere Beyond the Sea so captivating. If the previous book focused on opening one’s eyes to the possibilities of life, then this one’s about all the ways we can cope with fear. It’s a tense, oftentimes angry story – but one that’s equally heartwarming and hopeful.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, Somewhere Beyond the Sea takes everything that made The House in the Cerulean Sea so good and improves upon them. Looking for heartwarming found-family dynamics? Look no further. On the prowl for biting social commentary about the ever-present shadow of prejudice and the ways lifelong trauma can sink into a person’s very bones? You’re well and truly covered here. Hoping for the next chapter in a heartwarming love story between a literal ray of sunshine and the epitome of a grump with a heart of gold? Somewhere Beyond the Sea‘s got your back. As a sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea more than succeeds. As a story in its own right, however, Somewhere Beyond the Sea absolutely soars. It’s gorgeous, heartwarming, timely, and wholly enthralling. It’s a warm hug mixed with the spark of revolution – exactly as it should be.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is available now in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook from Tor Books/Macmillan.

Disclaimer: A review copy of Somewhere Beyond the Sea was provided by the publisher. All opinions are the honest reactions of the author.