The House in the Cerulean Sea

As Linus would say, “oh dear, what a DELIGHT!”

You know how sometimes the fantasy genre uses a different world, species, or place as an allegory for marginalization and the discrimination people face in a world that is systemically against them? Well, this book sure has that. And you know how, despite the message they're trying to send about people's differences being beautiful and something to be celebrated, sometimes those books include nothing but straight, white, cis people and the “monsters,” a dichotomy that works against the message itself? Well, this book sure does NOT have that.

Linus Baker is a rule-abiding human caseworker for DICOMY (the Department in Charge of Magical Youths), tasked with visiting the isolated orphanage on the island of Marsyas, where the most dangerous and uncommon types of magical children are looked after by their master, Arthur Parnassus. Linus's goal is to reside at the orphanage for one month, and ultimately decide if the orphanage should remain open, or be closed down. Linus is a wonderfully drawn character. Though frustratingly uptight and obsessed with the government issued book Rules and Regulations, the way he opens up and learns while on the island is beautiful and heartwarming to watch.

The children are so vibrant and unique—not just because of the kinds of magical beings they are, but because of the depth with which they are written. Instead of blending together into an amorphous, annoying blob of childhood, they each have their own personality and voice. There's Talia, a gnome with a fierce heart and a beautiful garden. There's Phee, a forest sprite who has lost everything, but who can pull the beauty of nature from the bare soil. There's Chauncey, a green blob with tentacles instead of arms, whose sole dream in life is to become a bellhop. There's Theodore, a wyvern who collects buttons and other treasures. And there's Lucy, the Antichrist, the literal son of the devil, a 6 year old who loves to cook, listen to his old records, and most of all, his brothers and sisters.

And Arthur. The master of the orphanage, a man with a painful past, and a father figure to all of these children. Arthur is everything Linus is not—open-hearted and unconventional, adventurous and spirited. The way these two men learn from each other and develop feelings for each other is so lovely to watch. They help each other stand up for what they believe is right. It's also a true slow-burn!!! Finally!

A recurring question in this book is “Don't you wish you were here?” So—at a time when things are difficult and uncertain, when the world is scary and you just need something to make you feel warm and hopeful—I ask you, don't you wish you were here, reading this book?

This is a very poignant, sweet story about being different in a world of rules telling us how to be the same. The story was very reminiscent of [a:Random Riggs 14003271 Random Riggs https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children or [a:Seanan McGuire 2860219 Seanan McGuire https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1245623198p2/2860219.jpg]'s Wayward Children series or even X-Men but it's from the POV of an outside adult that comes to the island as a government worker to observe and, ultimately, decide the fate of the home for a variety of outcast children with different supernatural abilities and their teacher. Linus Baker had been a caseworker for 17 years for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth [DICOMY] that regulates all the “orphanages” in this non-specific world. He observes or investigates each of his cases with an air of separation as outlined in a Rules and Regulations book he follows to the letter. Out of the blue, he's given a month-long assignment from the very top that turns out to be a little more complicated than any he's had before, that will change him in ways he would have never thought possible. Each “species” of children is interesting and the author gives human traits to them all, even the ones without a humanoid form. There doesn't really seem to be rhyme or reason to the type of creature Klune decided to include, but did give them his own rules to make them fit into the story. There's a wyvern (type of armless dragon with bird traits), gnome, sprite (faerie), literal son of Satan, a weredog/shapeshifter, a slug... thing?, and a phoenix so rather than the children just having powers, they are literally supernatural beings. Some of it doesn't really make much sense and the world needs to be explored a bit more outside of this story to give it a little more grounding, but it's still enjoyable to dip your toes in. I would definitely read further books if this turns into a series.

This was a very satisfying read and it served as a balm in troubled times for me. Linus, a mild mannered case worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth is given a classified assignment to investigate an orphanage on a remote island where six seemingly dangerous children reside along with their mysterious caretaker. Shenanigans ensue...

It was not hard to predict how the story would play out and the moral is not subtle, but the book is filled with so much heart that none of that matters. I was just happy to be along for the ride.

TJ Klune has written something truly wonderful here – a positively delightful book that warms the heart and soul. Each page brims with life and joy and it gives me hope for a better world. I'm not sure what else you can ask for from a book.

See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.

I've given into the TJ Klune hype at this point. I know eventually I will read everything he writes and I know I'm in for a good time. This book here?? Much like the front cover says, it is close to perfect. 


I do believe the beginning is a little slow and a little sad. I just felt so bad for poor Linus and his dull life. He obviously has no idea what he is getting into and it is like the book goes from gray to magnificent color as Linus' life and his thoughts change. It happens so slowly, so softly, it pulls at the heartstrings. This book had my heart in it's grip, and even thinking about this book brings back bittersweet pain. It is so lovely, it actually hurts a bit. 

I'm afraid if I continue gushing and get specific about how funny some characters are or how much I cheered them on in their adventures and goals, this review could end up being book-length, so let me wrap it up here. 

This book is like hot chocolate on a stormy afternoon. It is peaceful, but harsh reality is still there and can still hurt. I highly recommend this one to everyone.