Book Review: The House in the Cerulean Sea

The House in the Cerulean Sea (2020) by T.J. Klune

YA | Fiction | Fantasy | Romance | LGBTQ

Disclaimer: In every review that I complete, I try my best to avoid spoilers of any kind and include spoiler warnings when necessary.

About the book (from Goodreads)

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.

---

My Review

There are two types of AMAZING books that a reader can fall in love with. First, the type of book you absolutely cannot put down until you finish. And, second, the type of book that is just so great, you want to SAVOR it, so you read it as slowly as humanly possible so that you can make it last. Well, this book was the latter. I absolutely did not want it to end, so I read the last few chapters ever-so-slowly in an attempt to make it last. But of course, all books have to end, even the perfect ones. And that is what this book was: Perfect.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is an absolute masterpiece and should be treated as such. The main character, Linus, is relatable in a unique way, and each of the people he encounters is just as exceptional. I promise I didn't cry toward the end.

Why this book?

I originally chose to read The House in the Cerulean Sea after it was recommended for my 30-book friend recommendation challenge. I already messaged the person who chose this book to thank you, as I now believe that all should read this book.

Note: TJ Klune's Under the Whispering Door was also chosen for this challenge. I am currently seventh in line at the library for the paperback copy, and will post the review as soon as I read it!

The Good Things

1. The world-building (DICOMY, especially) is utterly fantastic.

2. Each of the primary/secondary characters, children and adults alike, is written so well that it is impossible not to love them all - even those you shouldn't.

3. Everything. Everything was good.

4. 
   

The Bad Things

1. I am having a very hard time finding anything bad to say about this book. Maybe that it's a standalone novel and not a series? I could read more. Much more.

My Final Rating

☆☆☆☆☆ (Goodreads)

☆☆☆☆☆ (Amazon)

☆☆☆☆☆ (Blog)

Please feel free to leave comments concerning how you liked -or didn't like, no judgment here- The House in the Cerulean Sea. I would love to hear your thoughts!