Somewhere Beyond the Sea
The No. 1 New York Times bestseller and heart-warming sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea
-
-
3.9 • 16 Ratings
-
-
- £5.99
Publisher Description
A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.
The number one New York Times bestselling sequel to TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea.
Winner of the 2024 Goodreads Choice Award for Fantasy
Arthur Parnassus has built a good life on the ashes of a bad one. He’s headmaster at an orphanage for magical children on a peculiar island, assisted by the love of his life, Linus Baker. And together, they’ll do anything to protect their extraordinary and powerful charges.
However, when Arthur is forced to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself fighting for those under his care. It’s also a fight for the better future that all magical people deserve. Then, when a new magical child joins their island home, Arthur knows they’ve reached breaking point. The child finds power in calling himself a monster, a name Arthur has tried so hard to banish to protect his children. Challenged from within and without, their volatile family might grow stronger. Or everything Arthur loves could fall apart.
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.
‘An enchanting sequel about found family’ – The New York Times
‘Like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket’ – V. E. Schwab, author of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, on The House in the Cerulean Sea
***
Readers love Somewhere Beyond the Sea:
‘This beautiful, thoughtful, queer, magical story of chosen family has left me with joy leaking from my eyes’
‘These characters are like a hug for your brain. I adore them all and love watching them change and grow’
‘A beautiful story of hope, love and change, plus a message against prejudice, it’s the ideal comfort read’
‘One of those rare books that stays with you long after the last page’
‘If I could give this book a million stars I would’
Somewhere Beyond the Sea was a number one New York Times bestseller w/c 16 September 2024
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Klune's sweet, satisfying sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea finds Arthur Parnassus, a man with the power to shape-shift into a phoenix, hopeful that his testimony about his abusive treatment under government care as a child will soften hearts and ease restrictions on all magical beings. But during the hearing before Parliament's Council of Utmost Importance, he succumbs to goading from arch conservative Jeanine Rowder, who threatens to dispatch an inspector from the Department in Charge of Magical Youths to the remote island where Arthur lives with his fiancé, Linus Baker, and the six magical foster children they're hoping to adopt. Arthur and Linus return to their home with David, a melodramatic 10-year-old yeti, to prepare their six young wards—gnome Talia, forest sprite Phee, wyvern Theodore, semiaquatic oddity Chaucey, shape-shifter Sal, and son of the devil Lucy—for the investigation. The stern inspector, who claims she does not feel fear, notes every deviation from regulations while the children waffle between trying to appease her and lashing out at her intolerant views. When Arthur uncovers the real motivations behind her visit, the action careens to a tense showdown. Though slightly more preachy and less sophisticated than book one, this follow-up still bursts with charm, wit, and endearing scenes of magical found family, complete with timely messages on acceptance and fighting oppression. Fans will be gratified by this heartfelt return.
Customer Reviews
Disappointed
I absolutely loved cerulean sea it’s so fresh and exciting. Like no other book I’ve ever read. This one is not fresh or exciting. The story premise is good but the long monologues, preachy tone and some completely inexplicable events in the context of the story was just a damp squib. Wouldn’t recommend.
I’m sobbing
Such a great way to expand the story and still have a light at the end of the tunnel. Switching the perspective to Arthur was perfect and I’m so glad I got to exist in this world a little longer.
First book was fresh, lively, romantic and emotional. This book was not,
This book didn’t have the magic the first book had. Just felt it was wrote to capitalise on the success of the first book which is an amazing read.