Cover Image: Somewhere Beyond the Sea Excerpt

Somewhere Beyond the Sea Excerpt

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I was pleasantly surprised to see this snippet available. As a second installment, Somewhere Beyond the Sea expands on Arthur Parnassus, my favorite character, while maintaining the same whimsy and coziness of the original novel. I look forward to reading this book in its entirety once it is released.

Was this review helpful?

"Somewhere Beyond the Sea" is a heartwarming tale that delves into the life of Arthur Parnassus, the man behind a unique orphanage filled with extraordinary children. Arthur's past experiences as an orphan drive him to provide love and care to the children under his wing. Supported by his partner, Linus Baker, and other allies, Arthur faces challenges that test the strength of their unconventional family.

I absolutely loved reading an excerpt from "Somewhere Beyond the Sea" and can't wait to read the entire booK!

Was this review helpful?

This is one of my most anticipated reads of the year! I didn’t realize it was only an excerpt, but so far I’m loving it and I can’t wait for the full release so I can dive back into this magical world. Love!!

Was this review helpful?

Reading the sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea feels like coming home. The excerpt made me even more excited to read the sequel than I was before.

Was this review helpful?

I always want more of Linus and Arthur, and this little snippet delivered. These characters continue to grow on me, and I loved them from the beginning.

Was this review helpful?

What an exciting continuation and extension of a story I love. I’m so excited to read all of it - this tasting was just not enough!

Was this review helpful?

e-ARC excerpt review:

I got to read the first 4 chapters and i’m so excited for this book. already such wholesome and cute goodness and new characters unlocking that i’m excited to know more of. i love the parallels to irl issues already coming up. Even in just 4 chapters it’s setting up for some interesting drama to go down.
can’t wait for the rest!
thanks for the preview!

Was this review helpful?

This book was amazing and I devoured this book in just a few sittings! I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

Was this review helpful?

All I can say is that I cannot wait for fall to get my hands on the whole book!!! This excerpt had everything I loved about The House in the Cerulean Sea and then some. The writing was more polished, the combination of humour and heartfelt was just right, and I was immediately swept away.

Was this review helpful?

I have dearly loved each of TJ Klune's novels and this sequel will be no different. I've had it on pre-order for myself as soon as I was able. Diving back into Linus and Arthur's feel-good lives was a welcome feeling and every bit of magic I felt in Cerulean Sea was present in this excerpt. His wonderful characters and lovely plot make reading an absolute joy. I can't wait to finish this novel. I will be hyping this up to all my friends, coworkers, and patrons for the next few months.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the excerpt I received! I found the prologue enticing. The first chapter was super cute and the right mixture of whimsical kids but also reintroducing who each character is because I don’t have a great memory. The concept of the story I’m really looking forward to - Arthur’s history! Can’t wait to read the rest

Was this review helpful?

I was psyched to read this excerpt provided by NetGalley. TJ Klune's engrossing tale features the return of the lovable characters from The House in the Cerulean Sea. Fall can't get here quick enough. From what I read it seems like a fantastic continuation!

Was this review helpful?

Picking up this book instantly reminded me why The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my favourite cosy fantasies!

We are transported back into the world of whimsy that is Marysus Island, and the adorable heartfelt interactions of the characters encompass you in a sense of warmth and security within the first few pages. I am so deeply attached to the found family at the heart of the novel, and all their little intricacies, as well as the relationships between the characters. This novel is written in the perspective of Arthur, which adds a new layer of intrigue, and the premise of the novel seems bound to make me laugh and cry in equal measures as with the novel's predecessor.

Whilst it’s hard to review a novel that you have only read the opening chapters of, the start of the novel has left me even more excited for the sequel's release as it is shaping up to be another go to comfort read!

Was this review helpful?

This one feels more conscientious than the previous installment, a lot more careful with Arthur and Linus explaining things and even the children seeming to take a lot of care with their words. It feels true to how some of these conversations SHOULD go in real life, but it also feels ever so slightly preachy. The target audience isn’t likely going to need an explanation to the level of detail that is provided.

I’m also very intrigued by the choice to have Arthur narrate when Linus narrated the previous one. So far it doesn’t feel super different from the second half of Cerulean Sea (after Linus shed his government drone persona), but there’s potential for a lot of change as the book goes on.

Was this review helpful?

TJ Klune never misses. I am just ecstatic and so excited to buy this book. Under the Umbrella bookstore would love to do something with TJ Klune someday!!

Was this review helpful?

Strong character development. Wholesome moments. Witty dialogue. High stakes in a short time span. Familiarity mixed with the unknown. Awkwardly placed prologue that could be improved with a more clear starting point. Rich worldbuilding. Discloses hope alongside the fear of rejection. Recommended for those in search of a space they belong in. Overall, an average read.

Was this review helpful?

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC excerpt of Somewhere Beyond the Sea. This is the highly anticipated sequel to TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea.

While this excerpt only included the first four chapters, they give off the same cozy vibe that Cerulean Sea did, and TJ’s sarcastic and hilarious writing style shines through once again! If there is one thing I know I can count on with TJ’s books, it is that I will literally laugh out loud, and Somewhere Beyond the Sea was no exception to that!

Yet despite that, there are some more serious topics that are touched upon, but they are handled with care and grace. I’ll be honest that one small section of this excerpt even made me cry because it was so lovely and heartfelt.

As of right now, I would give what I’ve read a solid 4⭐️, but I am hoping that the full story will bump it up from there! I am anxiously awaiting the release of this book come September, and I can’t wait to add to this review once I get my hands on the full copy!

Thank you to Tor Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Heartwarming in a way that makes you feel hopeful about the world again. First few chapters I got to read made me smile so big I must have looked like a big dork.

Story: 5 Characters: 5 Engagement level: 5

Highlights
- Such sweet endearing characters forming a loving family.
- Linus' gift and especially Sal's poem was everything.
- Great teaser for a big legal fight for good

Lowlights
- Disoriented with the opening pages and what time frame they were in until chapter 1 started
- I want to read the rest of the chapters now!

Notable quotes:
"I am going to use my voice for you and for me. Hate is loud. We are louder."

"I fear we're on the cusp of either salvation or destruction."

"Rebirth. Perseverance. Color. Life. Everything important in the smallest of packages."

"So many people want to eat my food. This must be what it feels like to be God."

"I'm not a monster.. And I'm as handsome as crap."

"I accidentally reversed gravity when I was trying to measure butter."
"That makes sense. I bet that happens to a lot of people because cooking is hard."

Was this review helpful?

I was provided with an excerpt from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was thrilled, as a newer NetGalley user, to be granted an opportunity to read a 60+ page excerpt from Somewhere Beyond the Sea, Klune’s newest novel following his wildly successful, House in the Cerulean Sea.

(Disclaimer: The first installment is a cinnamon roll of a book and I was happy to eat it UP. Absolutely loved it! I also loved The Extraordinaries series as well, which is in my top favorite book series of all time.)

I really enjoyed the excerpt I was able to read. Cozy, yet deep, with a familiarity to the first novel that I was happy to see again. The prologue got me instantly hooked getting to see Arthur’s perspective from the jump (and a really interesting timeline shift).

I instantly recalled his story from the first novel and was transported back to hearing the pieces of his story and having so much empathy for him and how he handled it all. Starting the book this way got me all in my feelings!

Can’t wait to read the entire book because from what I read I can see it definitely is on par with the first in the series!

Was this review helpful?

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is the sequel to the House in the Cerulean Sea that we've all been waiting for. The story is told from the point of view of Arthur Parnassus and follows his journey as he testifies before the government that oversees magical children. He is fighting for his orphanage which is home to magical children that possess different magical abilities. He is joined by his lover, Linus, who previously worked for the government and now lives on the island with Arthur. The pair are fighting to overcome stigma and prejudice against magical children and to create a safer world for the kids they love so much. This excerpt is gripping, emotional, and funny all at once and I can't wait for the full book!

Was this review helpful?