A NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, and WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER! A 2021 Alex Award winner! The 2021 RUSA Reading List: Fantasy Winner! An Indie Next Pick! One of Publishers Weekly’s “Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2020” One of Book Riot’s “20 Must-Read Feel-Good Fantasies” Lambda Literary Award-winning author TJ Klune’s bestselling, breakout contemporary fantasy that’s “1984 meets The Umbrella … Award-winning author TJ Klune’s bestselling, breakout contemporary fantasy that’s “1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in.” (Gail Carriger)
Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He’s tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world.
Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place–and realizing that family is yours.
“1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in.” –Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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This was such a wonderful read, and with a beautiful ending 🙂
This is the story about a man named Linus that works going to different orphanages making sure magical children are being treated according to the law.
Linus lives a lonely life, and people in his work doesn’t care for him, until he gets a very particular assignment and goes to an island where he meets the most wonderful children he could imagine.
There Linus finds what he never thought he needed and tries to make the difference.
Definitely a must read.
This is undoubtedly one of my top reads of 2020. I was enticed by the good reviews I’ve seen so I went into this book only thinking it’s about an orphanage with magical youth. And it is that, but it’s also so much more.
It starts with Linus Baker, a case-worker for DICOMY (Department in Charge of Magical Youth). He conducts inspections at orphanages and ensures the well-being of the children. Things change once he was given a highly classified case: to spend a month at an orphanage with six “problematic” children.
I loved getting to know more about the island and the children along with Linus. Initially, the island seemed chaotic, but the more I read about it I start to see a strange yet definitive order just as Linus did. Linus then discovers these kids are more than his preconceived notions about them. As a caseworker, he must maintain a degree of separation and yet he finds himself growing fond of the people at the orphanage — the kids, Arthur, and Zoe — the more he gets to know them. He finds himself wanting to stay. It was SO heart-warming to see the moments he gets to have with the kids.
So many good messages in the book but revealed through these heart-warming moments with the characters. I found myself tearing up at a few scenes cos either a) it was just so damn sweet or b) it was sad. I finished this days ago but I’m still thinking about this found family
This is my first book by TJ Klune, but, I promise you, it won’t be my last. I was thoroughly impressed with this charming LGBT fantasy story. It’s about acceptance and discovering your family in the most unlikely of places. It’s about a loner who doesn’t realize how alone he is until he opens his mind and heart to this house of “different” kids, and especially their teacher/caretaker. I can’t recommend this book highly enough for a warm, imaginative and very positive reading experience!
I love a book with a message. And quirky characters and magical children. And a six year old Lucifer. And a hapless, grey mid level paper pusher who finds himself. This books lilts along on lovely writing. First of all, it celebrates common sense and manners which we could all use a little more of right now. And it celebrates inclusiveness, love and forgiveness, which we could use a heaping dose of. A fantasy for our times that harks back to many of my favorite British fantasies. Awesome cover too!
5/5 Stars
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This story is just so charming and sweet. While there’s just enough fantasy to keep this story interesting, it really is more of a story about finding your true self and surrounding yourself with those who hold your heart. This was such an easy and enjoyable read.
Klune did an amazing job at creating the world of Marsyas Island, with his charming and imaginative characters, each with their own unique personality. Little Lucy was by far my favorite character for this story, I loved his dark sense of humor and his overall unique character. There were so many beautiful life lessons sprinkled throughout this story, I just couldn’t get enough.
Such a fun and delightful book. One of my favorite, if not my favorite book of the year.
Oh man my heart right now. What an absolutely amazing, well-written and beautiful story. I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I started this (as I got it mainly for the cute cover ) but now I just don’t know what to do with myself. I’m seriously just sitting here savoring this book and trying to find the motivation to do…well anything. The House in the Cerulean Sea is calling me home …
This book made me happy and it was the perfect escape from reality.
“I’m afraid I don’t have magic.”
“You do, Mr. Baker. Arthur told me that there can be magic in the ordinary.”
This books follows Linus Baker, he lives a quiet and unexciting life. He’s a case worker and looks over children in orphanages, basically making sure they’re being well treated and cared for. One day Linus is suddenly assigned a very important task, to check in on six “dangerous” children living in the Marsyas Island Orphanage and their caretaker, Arthur Parnassus.
One of my favorite tropes is the found family one. And my gosh, this book was filled with it. These characters were so complex and electric. Most of them didn’t have much in common, but the loyalty, love, and support were always there. Arthur adored these kids, he would die for them, he made sure they were always happy and healthy.
“This is not an orphanage. This is a house of healing, and one I think is necessary.”
There were six children at the orphanage: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. I adored every single one of them. Lucy, the Antichrist, was such a drama queen, he’d say the most morbid things, but wouldn’t hurt anything. Chauncey basically turned me into the heart eye emoji every time he came onto the page. Talia made me laugh almost every time she opened her mouth. I just really, really loved all of them.
“Change often starts with the smallest of whispers. Like-minded people building it up to a roar.”
If anyone here is a fan of character redemptions, this is for you. Linus Baker from start to finish goes through one hell of a character arc. He goes from pushover, rule-following, cog in a machine type person to someone I really loved and respected. He learns so much, about himself and his job, throughout the story. He finds bravery through Arthur and the kids and it just makes him a better person.
“You’re too precious to put into words.”
Also, slow burn romance you say? Arther and Linus move at a glacial pace, but I don’t even care. Every conversation, every look, every touch meant the world. They were so formal with each other, but it was like you could actually see them fall for each other.
This was just a magical read. It was charming and enchanting. My heart was so full by the end.
What a magical story! Linus is set in his rules and regulations but when he encounters the house in the Cerulean sea, he is shown another way to the world. The characters were witty and charming, especially as they were portrayed as children. There were hidden messages throughout the whole story that can be related to every day life now. It gave me a hope for humanity and everyone should be required to read it.
It has been difficult me to find joy in reading these past few months. I constantly pick up books that would have otherwise delighted me and found my attention wandering. Not this book. This book is pure joy. I want to read it aloud to my children, to my neighbors, to the country. Accept differences. Address fear. Believe in love. Protect the vulnerable. Celebrate life. Honor your heart before life has passed you by. Aside from the message, the characterization is beautifully done, the story is engaging for readers of all ages and the writing is pitch perfect. Five stars and beyond.
Loved. Loved. Loved. One of the best books of 2020.
This book was awesome! The characters were believable with their own personality quirks. The humor was subtle and endearing. There of course was a moral to this story but it did not hit you over the head with it.
A truly lovely way to speak to what is happening in the world today. One of TJ Klune’s best–and I like all his work!
Reasons to read The House In The Cerulean Sea – Book Review <3
1)If you want a break, or an happy escape, The House In The Cerulean Sea will be your best friend. This book filled me up with constant waves of warmth and happiness, things I didn’t know I needed. I don’t think I’ve laughed so much while reading a book, like EVER.
2) The storyline is magical. Linus Baker, a case worker from the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, gets appointed to determine whether six magical children living in an orphanage are dangerous to the world or not. The rest is history.
3) This book is a package made of everything that is important in this world. The House In The Cerulean Sea is for most of the part, a very happy novel, but it’s the message that gets unfolded through the plot which makes the book so different. Blinded by existing stereotypes and norms, we find it hard to accept people who’re special. The heart of THITCS beats with the very same lesson. It will make you see injustice and differencism in a new light.
4) You’ll get to meet characters who you’ll treasure forever. I cried so much while reading the last chapters, I didn’t want to say goodbye to the characters at all. I miss them so much.
5) The House in The Cerulean Sea is the warmest hug in book form. If I had to describe my feelings about the book in a song lyric, it would be – ” I was Enchanted to meet you. ” (I chose a Taylor Swift song, obviously)
This was an enchanting story that brought laughter, tears and self hugs—totally wonderful read! I will look for more by this author.
I loved everything about this book. It was both hysterically funny and heartwarmingly sweet. I could not get enough of the characters, or of the book’s messages about love, acceptance, and finding a family. One of the most truly wonderful books I think I’ve ever read.
I was worried when I first picked this book up that my expectations for it might have been too high. I have only heard positive reviews about the book. I am happy to report that I was not disappointed.
Reading this book made my heart feel so full.
The best way to put it is that the book gave me hope in the middle of 2020. This book could not have been released in a better time.
Sorry, I know this is short but no words I write seem like enough to convey how much I loved this book.
I don’t think words will fully be able to describe just how much I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune but I am sure going to try! It might be a fantasy novel, but there are so many things that are going to resonate with readers, and it was an extremely timely piece of fiction. Klune touches on so many topics in this book – family, how other people perceive us, and prejudice just to name a few – and he handled them so beautifully and gave them the attention they deserve. This book broke my heart but at the same time is so filled with so much hope that it’s basically impossible not to love it.
And the characters! I loved so many of them so much. The children, Arthur, Zoe, and Linus all touched my heart and there are serious parts for sure, but The House in the Cerulean Sea is also hilarious. I love the way Klune infused serious subjects with wit and humor, and I almost constantly had a smile on my face. I would honestly LOVE to see this turned into a movie because it would be so wonderful to see these characters brought to life. J-Bone from the record store reminded me so much of the yak from Zootopia and it makes me curious if the author did this intentionally or if it was a happy (for me) accident.
I really can’t recommend The House in the Cerulean Sea enough and I know it’s going to a book that I’m not going to forget anytime soon. If you are a fan of the fantasy genre even just a little bit and want a timely but funny read I would highly recommend this one. It made me cry at the end and I was left feeling so satisfied with everything in the book. The imagery is just glorious, and I will now be reading anything and everything Klune writes!
This book is literal magic. All about opening your mind to new possibilities, to new understandings, to new adventures, and taking a stand for what is right.
Love Love LOVE