By TJ Klune
Rating: 5/5 stars
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy Romance
Spice: This is not a spicey book, it is appropriate for readers of all ages.
Blurb:
A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.
When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he’s given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.
But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.
An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.
I finished this book in a day, and the moment I finished it I wanted to restart it. The world is realistic with government agencies to manage every little thing including DICOMY the department in charge of magical use. I loved the contrast of the city and the island. I love how well described and vivid the settings are.
The characters are well developed, and the growth is beautiful to watch between our mmc Linus and the children he has been tasked with overseeing as a caseworker. I love that the main characters (minus the obvious children) are older and not your stereotypical teenager/twenty something year old.
This story uses fantasy elements to throw real life problems in your face, but it also shows how people who have dealt with things like bad fosters homes, bias, bullying, and hatred can heal from their trauma. It showed me that even if you are broken, you can get better. I love that message, how positive and uplifting it is. It’s a story of change, and how that change can start with a few people and grow into something bigger. Something that could change the world.
I loved everything about this book, I loved the writing style and how simple and beautiful it is. I love the characters and getting to know them.
Highly recommend to readers of all ages.