The House in the Cerulean Sea | Book Review

Book: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Release Date: March 16th 2022
Tags: Adult | Adult Fantasy | Contemporary Fantasy | Orphanage | Magical Children| M/M relationship
Trigger/Content Warnings: Mentioned Child Abuse | Bigoted Adults
Other books in this author I reviewed
Wolfsong | Ravensong | Heartsong | Brothersong
Under the Whispering Door

Linus Baker leads a quiet life. At forty, he has a tiny house with a devious cat and his beloved records for company. And at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, he’s spent many dull years monitoring their orphanages.

Then one day, Linus is summoned by Extremely Upper Management and given a highly classified assignment. He must travel to an orphanage where six dangerous children reside, including the Antichrist. There, Linus must somehow determine if they could bring on the end of days. But their guardian, charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, will do anything to protect his wards. As Arthur and Linus grow ever closer, Linus must choose between duty and his dreams.

It was about time I read The House in the Cerulean Sea. It was just the kind of book I needed in the grey of December.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is a whimsical somewhat cheesy contemporary fantasy that makes you feel all the feels. Linnus is a grey character that has always been a rule follower as he learned in a society that always follows the rules. The only color in his life are his cat, his sunflowers and his music. He is a caseworker who investiages if the orphanges for magical children are safe. When he gets send to an orphange for a month to investigate he finds a lot more than he bargained for. All the colors in the world.

While it is a bit cheesy in places it overall seemed to fit with the feel of the whole story where the real world and the goodness of children collides. I wanted to hold all the children and keep them safe. But especially Sal. Such a beautiful mind that has been hurt so many times. And Lucy reminded me of my son with his energetic behaviour and wanting to get his way (except the whole doom of the world of course).

It is a book that you have to take at face value. Sprites that are quite a bit taller which is not explained, a wyvern on someone’s shoulder. Little things like that. And I’m usually a stickler for getting these things explained. But that wasn’t so important in this book as a whole and I could see past that to see the beauty of the story.