Somewhere Beyond the Sea

I expected The House in the Cerulean Sea would be stronger as a standalone, and after completing this sequel, it didn't change my mind. Even if a sequel means more Chauncey.

This book takes place after the original story, but with more insight into Arthur Parnassus instead of Linus Baker. This time, they are facing a pair of Temu knockoff Umbridges that have as much depth as a dinner plate. Just like in the original, DICOMY are coming after his children, this time worried he is building Dumbledore's Parnassus' army.

What left me baffled the most is that there were so many opportunities for real conflict that were left unexplored. I know, I know - these books are meant to be cosy, and they are - but actual conflict and stakes do matter. Just like the last one, the ending is just mediocre, relying partially on abilities not explored or properly hinted at throughout the book.

The writing also suffers from preachy dialogue, that really distracted me from being fully immersed in the story. Having a message in your story is paramount, and I totally understand the need to get it across, but it could have been done in a more subtle manner, fitting the world of the story just a bit more. Instead, the moralism is so blatant it ripped me right out of Marsyas and right back into reality.

I also made the mistake of reading the acknowledgements. What a way to end a ‘wholesome' story in a gross. holier-than-thou manner. It left a bad taste in my mouth and ruined the genuinely still-quite-enjoyable story I had just experienced.