The House in the Cerulean Sea Review

Hello, all!

Have you ever read a book and known within the first few pages that it was something magical? That's how I felt with The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. It quickly became one of my favorite books of all time.

Pub Date: 3-17-20
YA - Fantasy

Linus Baker is as quiet and unassuming as they come. Not one to ruffle any feathers, he keeps his head down and does what he's told. Especially when it comes to his job as a caseworker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, where he evaluates the well-being of special children at government-sanctioned orphanages. So when Linus is unexpectedly called up to meet with the Extremely Upper Management, he's as shocked as anyone. He's sure he's about to get sacked for something, but instead, he gets chosen for a very classified job: investigating the Marsyas Island Orphanage to determine whether or not the place is safe to hold the dangerous children that live there. When he arrives at the island, Linus finds he was totally unprepared for what he meets.

The children housed here are unlike any he's ever encountered before: there's Theodore, the wyvern with an affinity for treasure; Chauncey, a tentacled species of unknown origins who desperately wishes to become a bellhop; Talia, a cranky but lovable gnome; Phee, a feisty sprite; Sal, a quiet anxious boy who turns into a Pomeranian when startled; and Lucy, a precocious 6-year old who loves belting along to oldies records who also just so happens to be the Antichrist. And at the helm is Zoe, the sprite guardian of the island, and the master of the orphanage, Arthur Parnassus, a charming man who keeps throwing Linus off-kilter. At first, the kids unsettled Linus, but as he spends more time around them, he starts to see these "dangerous" charges for who they truly are: special kids who are just trying to make the best out of what they were given. Soon, everything Linus has come to know, all his rules and regulations he's spent his whole life following down to the T, get thrown to the wind and for once in his life, Linus finally learns what it means to be alive.

Oh. My. God. This didn't just pull at my heartstrings but instead made it burst into a million little pieces. It was the most charming, whimsical, enchanting, beautifully written/crafted stories I've read in a while. While I adored Linus and Arthur and how entirely sweet they were, the kids are what truly shine. They are the heart of this story and it's so lovely. Each one is so different, but they all blend to make this adorable little family. If I had to pick, my favorites were Lucy and Chauncey because anytime they opened their mouths, I was either smiling or laughing. This is really a story about found family and never letting the prejudices of others cloud how you see yourself. It's so hilarious, heartwarming, and wholesome, and I can't recommend it enough.

Rating: 5/5

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts