In this four chapter excerpt of the sequel to A House in the Cerulean Sea, we begin with Arthur and Linus enjoying time with the children on their idyllic island. Then they have some serious conversations about growing up, adoption, and prejudice before the couple travels to the big city, where Arthur will be testifying to push for repeal of the laws oppressing magical children. It seems likely they'll also be meeting with those fostering David, the young yeti mentioned at the end of the previous book, to see if he can join their family.

It's impossible not to compare this book to the first. Despite its challenging subject matter, A House in the Cerulean Sea had a lightness and a fairy tale quality that gave it unexpected sweetness to balance the sadness. So far, Somewhere Beyond the Sea fails to achieve that. The way people with magic were treated in A House in the Cerulean Sea was clearly a metaphor for members of marginalized groups in our own world. In the sequel, only a few chapters in, we're learning about politicians who not only don't want to reform the laws against magical children, but also legislate against queer and trans kids and families. This explicit link with oppression outside of the imaginary world Klune is building feels heavy-handed in a way that doesn't serve the book.

Trying to write a review based on four chapters is difficult. A little more time with the story might have illuminated whether this would become more allegorical, like the first book, or continue to make connections for readers to the horrors of our current political climate, not trusting us to do it ourselves. As it stands right now, I'm disinclined to come back to the book when it's released.

Ok not fair! This was just an excerpt.
I need to read more now! I love these characters!
Please provide full novel and I will happily provide a full review ❤️