REVIEW: A heartwarming tale and powerful sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea

“‘What’s stopping me from changing how others think?’ … Lucy [Lucifer] sat up once more, his tiny arms waving wildly. ‘People are scared of us. How we look. What we can do. They hate us because of it. If I wanted to, I could change their minds just like He snapped once.
‘Say you do exactly as you described,’ [Arthur said]. You force your will upon an unsuspecting populace. You tell yourself it is for the greater good, and it may very well be. Does that make it right?’
… Lucy hesitated, ‘I … don’t know?’”

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune is a heartwarming, hilarious, and poignant story about six magical orphans and the fathers they have found. It follows Arthur Parnassus on his journey to face the oppressive government and his own trauma; in order to find family, hope, and acceptance through his children, his boyfriend, and the people in the town of Marsyas.

This is the sequel to The House In the Cerulean Sea, which had many similar themes. Following TJ Klune’s release of the House in the Cerulean Sea, there were mixed reactions. Many felt that the book was heartwarming, with themes that were applicable to the real world and its problems, while others felt it made light of or glossed over trauma and oppression.

The first book follows Linus Baker, a strict case worker at the Department In Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY) on his journey to investigate six highly dangerous magical children and the orphanage in which they live. This highly classified assignment challenges his understanding of the world in profound ways, and introduces him to a family he would never have thought to find. A family that might just need him as much as he needs them.

It also introduces him to Arthur Parnassus, the master of the orphanage. Linus soon finds, however, that Arthur is not the master of these six strange and wonderful children, but the father, though not by blood. As the two grow closer together, Linus grows closer to a discovery that could change everything he thinks he knows about Arthur, the children, and his own place in the world.

The sequel is told from Arthur’s perspective, giving the reader a glimpse of his childhood and the secrets he has kept from the world. As he works through his past and its implications, Arthur finds peace through his chosen family; the six children he hopes to adopt, the love of his life, and Zoe, his close friend and guardian of the island the orphanage sits upon.

However, peace cannot last, and when DICOMY calls for Arthur to testify about his childhood in front of the world, he knows that their days of quiet fun are over. Additionally, there is a new child who hopes to find a place within the orphanage, one whose beliefs challenge Arthur to look beyond protecting his children from the world, and perhaps instead towards letting them show DICOMY, and everyone else, exactly what they are capable of.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is an extraordinarily inclusive book, with characters of all races, body types, genders, and sexualities. The author, TJ Klune, has said it is his mission to make sure queer stories are told and “to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.”

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is dedicated to Klune’s trans readers, with the message “You are vital, beautiful, and you deserve everything good in this world.” Klune works every day to spread messages of love, kindness, and inclusion. Including through his characters and stories.

In Somewhere Beyond the Sea, Arthur Parnassus said it best “I believe the greatest weapon we have at our disposal is our voices. And I am going to use my voice for you, and for me. Hate is loud. We are louder.”

When all is said and done, Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune is a story about the power of love, hope, and acceptance. It emphasizes that family is the most powerful force and that by staying true to yourself you can defeat any enemy, no matter how strong they seem.