Thank you to Tor for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! Somewhere Beyond the Sea is such a beautiful title and it really encapsulates TJ Klune's writing. These kids... these characters... what can I say other than they are to absolutely die for? Every moment in TJ Klune's books is earned in the most earnest of ways.

A great snippet of the book. Obviously I wish it would have been the whole thing. Thank you I purchased this now that it is out and read it. I loved it just as much as book 1.

Absolutely loved being back in this world. TJ Klune has such a magical way with words. I feel like I am truly in every story he writes. This novel pick up right where The House in the Cerulean Sea left off. Once again we are immersed in the world of Arthur Parnassus and his children. This book follows Arthur and the children as they once again try to just live a normal life. I felt like Klune did such a great job of using the so called "monsters" to represent minorities in today culture and the daily struggles they face just to feel like they belong. The story is filled with humor, sadness, and hope for the future. I will read anything Klune writes, but these children hold such a dear place in my heart.

THRILLED for this sneak peak sequel! It was such a joy to be graced with this cast of characters again and I can’t wait to read the full book!

This was good story. Not great, but good. I struggled a bit and I know this is a classic case of, “it’s not you, it’s me,” since everyone I know that read it, loved it.

Thank you, Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books for the excerpt. This will be one of favorite books of '25.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune is a beautifully crafted, heartfelt journey that explores love, loss, and self-discovery with Klune's signature blend of warmth and emotional depth. The characters are richly developed, and the romance at the heart of the story is tender and slow-burning, allowing for deep emotional connection between the protagonists. As always, Klune’s ability to write complex, authentic relationships shines through, offering moments of both heartache and joy. Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a love story that goes beyond the typical romance, exploring themes of healing, family, and finding home in the most unexpected places.

* Thank you to @netgalley and @torpublishing for providing an ebook in exchange of a honest review.

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What a perfect addition to The House In athe Cerulean Sea. It was such a pleasure to reconnect with all the caracters and to get to know more about them. This is exactly the kind of story I hope every children will get to read while growing up.

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Returning to Marsyas Island and reuniting with the orphanage of magical children under Arthur Parnassus's care feels like coming home. In Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune, we find ourselves once again amidst a world where magic and family blend seamlessly. This time, the arrival of a new child, a young yeti named David, brings fresh excitement as he joins the other magical children in their joyful routines of school, chores, and imaginative adventures. However, their idyllic life is soon threatened by a new leader at DICOMY (the Department in Charge of Magical Youth), who has sinister plans to seize the children's magic for her own power. With the help of the powerful island sprite, Zoe Chapelwaite, Arthur, Linus, and the children must unite to defend their home and family from these looming dangers.

Days on Marsyas Island are filled with warmth and wonder as Arthur’s children create a world where magic and love are woven into daily life. But as DICOMY’s influence grows under its new leadership, the stakes are raised, forcing the islanders to fight for what they hold dear. The children's joy, infectious personalities, and strong family bonds bring this story to life. As they face challenges together, Arthur and Linus’s devotion to the children and the lengths they go to protect each other are both inspiring and heartwarming. Klune's narrative highlights how family is defined not by blood but by love and loyalty, showing that even in the face of darkness, unity can be the strongest form of magic.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a feel-good story that lightens the heart, delivering both adventure and warmth as Arthur, Linus, and the children fight to keep their family intact. Their support and love for one another are inspiring, making you root for them every step of the way as they face the mounting threats from DICOMY. TJ Klune’s endearing characters and uplifting message celebrate the magic of love and unity, inviting readers into a world that is as enchanting as it is heartfelt. This story’s joy and resilience leave you with a powerful reminder of the bonds that hold us together, and it’s a journey worth taking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the eARC and the opportunity to continue this series!

I loved returning to the little house on the Cerulean Sea and seeing more of our favorite kids. This story focused a lot on Arthur and his story - both past and present as he fights for his family. Like other Klune book's I've read the story was filled with hope, love, found family, and fun.

i enjoyed having a book more from Arthur’s POV. The characters and narration are charming as always. However, I’m not sure whether a sequel was necessary as there seems to not be much to the plot this time around.

I’ve been looking forward to this book ever since I heard it was in the works. This except made me even more excited to read the full book once it was released.

TJ Klune does it again. I wasn't as big of a fan of this sequel as I was it predecessor, The House on the Cerulean Sea, but coming back to characters that I love while also meeting those who are new was a treat. I love this little found family and their love for one another. 3.5/5

As always, an amazingly beautiful tale that I know I will reread regularly and obsess over. Thank you, TJ Klune!

TJ Klune did you know that you have my whole heart? I LOVED this sample and it inspired me to go out and buy the book and I was NOT disappointed. Holy cow, what a sequel to one of my favorite books!!!

The House is the Cerulean Sea was my favorite book of 2020! I loved it and I was overjoyed to hear about this sequel. This book takes us back into Arthur and Linus’ world where they hoping to adopt their six strange and wonderful magical children. Insert a bunch of politics and drama with The Department of Magical Creatures and the family is soon fighting to protect their family. ⁣
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⁣Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a delightful and charming little book, but it felt like it was missing some of the magic of the first one. It was great to reunite with beloved characters, but the overall messages of the novel were not subtle. It felt preachy and like the author was trying to convince us to love magical creatures— when we obviously already do. ⁣
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⁣I still enjoyed this book, but it didn’t blow me away. Four stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I missed the bit where this was an excerpt only, so I waited until the full book came out. I knew I wouldn't just be able to read a bit and then have to wait again! But what an absolute joy this was. The same kind of warm blanket feeling that the first book gave, and quite frankly, just being around these characters again was all I needed. I love them so much, there are no words for it.

I do feel the story of the first book was stronger. It doesn't matter because the feels and vibes are there regardless, but the story of this second book combined with the arrival of David didn't work for me. It felt like because of the storyline we didn't get to know David as well as the others and it made me a bit sad.

this book was just as charming as the first. while i still find klune's themes to be very heavy-handed, i still find them a joy to read. these books also feel so warm and inviting while dealing with incredibly difficult subjects. it's not hard to see the parallels to the real world, and I think he does a great job of dealing with those intricacies.

It feels weird to review an excerpt as opposed to an entire book - I can’t wait to read the full story.

These characters are so familiar and precious - from what I have read, Klune has kept the spirit of the first book and is continuing that legacy, so I really hope that I see that from start to finish once I complete the whole book.

If you loved The House in the Cerulean Sea, you’re probably anxious to know whether the sequel will meet your expectations. I can happily tell you that I enjoyed every minute of this book, just as much as the first one. And I was very happy to learn more about Arthur Parnassus.

Is it full of cute, precocious youngsters? Yes. Is it excessively sentimental? Yes, very. And normally those two things would have me running for the hills. But this book, as with the first one, just works. These are stories about tolerance and accepting others’ differences, and we can all use more of that.

The book begins with Arthur and Linus heading into the city for a hearing on the Care of Magical Youth. Arthur is determined to share his story with the world, to prevent further abuses of children. But he also knows he’ll be speaking to a hostile audience, which could jeopardize their petition to adopt their six foster youth. Plus they’re hoping to open their home to one more child: David, a Yeti.

Audio narrator Daniel Henning is brilliant at voicing each character distinctively, even Theo who only speaks Wyvern. Though at times he gets a bit over-excited, in my opinion, this is not a toned-down kind of book (if you’re looking for subtlety, this is not the book for you). Also, there’s quite a bit more action in this book compared to the first one. The descriptions of Arthur as Phoenix are fantastic.

In truth, this book isn’t quite as good as the first, because it’s quite repetitive and the characters are all either very good or very bad. I preferred the moral ambiguity that Linus struggled with in the first book. But I still really enjoyed the mix of action, humor and heart, and I really liked the new character of David. One of the interesting issues Klune raises is how one can define themselves and “own” what makes them different. What if being a “monster” isn’t a bad thing?

I won’t tell you more than that, since if you’re a fan of the first book you’re probably already planning to read (or have read) the second one.

Two additional notes: there’s an interesting afterword to this book by author T.J. Klune, primarily about the transphobia of J.K. Rowling. I also read about a controversy relating to Klune’s inspiration for this series, which was the abusive residential school system for indigenous youth in Canada. The concern seems to be that 1) he’s written very cutesy books about horrific abuses and 2) he’s appropriating and profiting from another group’s story.

While I can see those concerns, these are books about hate and fear and abuse towards people who are different. I don’t see Klune exploiting specific cultural references, and sadly there’s more than enough abuses of children to go around. Klune’s interview with John Scalzi is here and I’d be interested to hear what you think.

I will also note that I received a preview (not the full book) from NetGalley.