House in the Cerulean Sea, The

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As weeks go by with Linus living (and loving) on the Island and getting to know the inhabitants better than he ever could have imagined, he finds himself facing a life-changing decision that will change more than just HIS life. Being queer himself, TJ believes it's important-now more than ever-to have accurate, positive, queer representation in stories. And as they all moved, tremulously, one step along the road between unknown and familiar, I found myself full of wishes for them—for that house in the Cerulean sea, away from the gaze of malice and a happily-ever-after. The story also encourages one to be brave, both in terms of standing up for those around you and challenging views, but also in terms of living one's own life. The lead character is not one of the powerful kids, but an older man, rare in fantasy books, and his journey of self discovery just warmed my heart.

Can you imagine if someone said this EXACT same thing but with using the holocaust, or slavery in America? J. Klune fans and those new to his writing, The House in the Cerulean Sea is a heart-warming, wholesome, diverse, ridiculous, and completely lovable fantasy story.

I read some reviews on goodreads to get an idea, but I mostly just read "feels like being wrapped in a warm hug" and that doesn't mean much to me. Without any idea as to exactly why he has been sent to the island, Linus sends his weekly reports, providing his employers with information about the children. J. Klune fan, as I'm sure many of you are, I know you are asking yourself what this book will be like now that T. And that’s kind of the theme of the whole book is, is to raise your voice for those who don’t have one.

However, Linus is assigned to a top-secret mission: to inspect an orphanage for five very special magical creatures and their leader, Arthur. Many who gave this book a 1-star rating had a huge issue with the references that Klune himself made when talking of the influences he had when writing The House in the Cerulean Sea , namely the Sixties Scoop in Canada. I know, deep within my soul, that it should not be missed by anyone, as it is so lovingly written for everyone. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they're likely to bring about the end of days. He never lets himself get attached to the children—until he’s sent to Marsyas Island Orphanage, run by a Mr.A shadowy bureaucracy that wants to keep magical children "safe" and away from the eyes of the general public. While there was a bundle of good messages at its core (don't be ashamed of who you are, don't judge others by outward appearance, change can happen) the story itself struck me as aggressively shallow. 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.

While there were occasional chuckles elicited, the plot remained unengaging, the characters uninteresting, and the whole reading experience a chore. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. There’s Talia the garden gnome; Chauncey the tentacle ‘monster’; Sal the were-Pomeranian; Theodore the wyvern; Phee the forest sprite; and Lucy, the son of Satan. I don’t feel qualified to comment on this as it’s not a part of history I have much (if any) knowledge of. But yes, those are the grown-up details that only occur after you finish reading it, or when you have to go back to real life and pay the insurance bill or something like that.Quirk and charm give way to a serious exploration of the dangers of complacency in this delightful, thought-provoking Orwellian fantasy from Klune. I think these days more than ever, with a pandemic ravaging every corner of the world, I understand more keenly how absolutely necessary it is to find the escape hatch in reality, to seek out a pleasant corner and while away the hours inside a story. The main character, Linus Baker, works for the department that is apparently in charge of taking magical children from their parents and imprisoning them in orphanages or schools. Touching, tender, and truly delightful, The House in the Cerulean Sea is an utterly absorbing story of tolerance, found family, and defeating bureaucracy.