Somewhere Beyond the Sea

I can appreciate everything Klune wanted to and did say. I love that we got good times and times of growth with this family. I recognize that narrative tension rises as a result of finding the characters confronting circumstances the reader wants them to get out of, resulting in a stronger sense of triumph and release when difficulties are overcome. I think maybe my personal anxiety levels just wanted the badness to be over a little faster. With that acknowledged bias, from a plot and pacing perspective, I think the section where the family has cooked up future plans and seems to embark on a campaign of pranks against the inspector was unnecessary. After Arthur's discovery of the ultimate plans involving Lucy from the overheard beach discussion, after his needed outburst, he could have gone to Zoe and conspired with the kids, banished the inspector immediately and still had the rest of the dominoes fall into place without drawing out time spent in proximity to a person who seems designed to make everyone miserable. An echo for real life people who don't seem to have any personal past that at least tangentially explains (like the interim director) why they have hate and prejudice, beyond being raised in a certain society and work climate, the inspector feels depressingly authentic, I guess it's a credit to the writing that I found every minute on page with her incredibly distressing. I'm glad for where the characters are at the end of the book, for the expansion of the sanctuary of magical people, the message of hope and change; I just felt so emotionally exhausted at the end, it made it harder to feel the joy and love that was so clear on the final pages. I think if you've recently read The House on the Cerulean Sea and you want to see a bit more of Linus and Arthur's happily ever after with all the caveats that worldly concerns can bring, as well as spend more time with the kids, and enjoy their resilience and growth, you'll enjoy this. I think I may have felt a stronger attachment if I'd recently reread the first book in the duology. Under The Whispering Door remains my favourite TJ Klune, but I'm still up for trying whatever he comes out with next. ⚠️ discussion of child abuse