Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

I love just about everything TJ Klune has written, and Somewhere Beyond the Sea is no different.

The House in the Cerulean Sea was such a warm hug of a book. I loved the kids and how Linus blossomed in the light and love of the island. I expected more of the same with Somewhere Beyond the Sea, and while it did have it’s moments, it wasn’t the warm and fuzzy comfort of The House in the Cerulean Sea. Somewhere Beyond the Sea was the strong love needed to use your voice and stand for the things that matter.

The family was as delightful as ever and I loved the addition of David to the group. This book made me giggle and cry, and left me feeling inspired and full of hope.

Book Description

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 headmaster of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six magical and so-called dangerous 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. And 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; Zoe Chapelwhite, the island’s sprite; 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 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.

Thoughts

It says in the synopsis that the book is a story of resistance. TJ Klune doesn’t try to pretend that this book is anything other than a call for inclusion, fighting for the life you want, using your voice, and standing up for yourself and others.

I was a little taken aback at first by how blatant the message was, but soon found it refreshing. Sometimes we need the problem addressed in no uncertain terms. Sure it is set in a world of magic, but there isn’t much difference in the prejudice and bigotry faced by people deemed ‘other’ in his world and ours. Of course, the people who probably need to hear the message the most won’t, but it will not be for lack of trying.

The first section of the book was frustrating and stressful. The false caring and empathy act put on by DICOMY felt all the more disgusting with the knowledge that it wasn’t entirely made up. Arthur working to face his past and being vulnerable with people he knew didn’t have his or the children’s best interest in mind, and to only have it used against him and their family made my heart hurt.

I loved the few chapters where everything was normal on the island before the inspector got there. Once she arrived, the kids interactions with her made me giggle. There was always this underlying stress of everything falling apart though.

Getting to know the kids more was a delight. The way they came into their own, took care of each other, and stood up for themselves was the antithesis to the heart hurt felt earlier.

I wanted more of Arthur’s phoenix. The times he burst forth were emotional and impactful. It gave such a good representation of the internal anger and fire that can build up. The rawness of his emotions once everything got to be too much was heart wrenching.

The final showdown made me want to cheer and the epilogue had me crying in my car. The love between the family comes right off the page.

The audiobook was outstanding. Daniel Henning’s narration brought every character to life in a way that felt like listening to a full cast production. He made it such an immersive experience. I miss the characters even more so because of it.