Charming and quirky, The House in the Cerulean Sea is a light and joyously uplifting tale by Lambda Literary Award–winning author, T.J. Klune.

Linus Baker is a man who is fastidiously in love with rules. It makes him the perfect candidate for the bureaucratic job of investigating orphanages for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, DICOMY. When he is instructed by Extremely Upper management to investigate an orphanage on an island, occupied by dangerous youths, Linus’s small, grey, grim world as a cog in the machine of government agency is lit up in brilliant colors, if only he can be bothered to see it.

At first reticent, down right petrified and a little bit of a wet noodle, Linus discovers the occupants of the orphanage are more than their records imply. With hopes feelings, and dreams, these magical children, deemed monsters by some, weasel their way into Linus’s heart. So too does the calm and caring proprietor, Arthur Parnassus, whose fierce love and loyalty for these unique children is as endearing as his strange outfits and peculiar teaching methods.

Too long Linus has followed the rulebook, thinking he was doing his best for the magical children whom he has interviewed throughout his long tenure at DICOMY. With the help of Arthur and his wards, he begins to see he wasn’t doing near enough, and so his heart dares to start beating, and he finds that life should be lived in color, not at some dreary desk, under constantly grey skies.

At times reminiscent of the movie ‘Brazil’ by director Terry Gilliam, Klune paints his own picture of a man seeking out the true joys of life, the true joy of living at all really. Witty, fun, filled with laughter and so much hope, The House in the Cerulean Sea is a refreshingly brilliant novel, utterly enjoyable.

my review will be posted on my website on Feb 17/20
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One of the things I love about TJ Klune is the way that he continues to write new stories that surprise me. No one is as original in their storytelling as TJ and I would encourage everyone to read one of his books. Previously, my favorite of his books was "How To Be Normal"... I have to revise that now to say "The House In The Cerulean Sea" is now my favorite. It rings so true for me, and probably for many people.

This story is about finding your place. That's the long and the short of it. Found family is something that often appears in Klune's books. The people we love, the people who see us for who we truly are and accept us without hesitation, those are our families.

Linus Baker works for the government. He goes out to orphanages and ensures that the rules and regulations are being followed. He has a set routine. He has a home. He has a cat named Calliope. And then... he is sent to an island ... to an orphanage with some very unique children.

I'm not sure what makes this book more special, the children in the house, the Lovely spirt of Arthur Parnassus or the messages. As always TJ welcomes us to a world in which some characters are wonderfully unusual. They face prejudice, they have been mistreated, and they are still finding a way to be loving and unique and marvelous.

All the characters in this book have parts of them that could be considered to be flawed.. but are they really? As Sal says in the story, "Sometimes, things get chipped and broken, but there's still good in them."

Sal is a were pomeranian. That alone should be enough to convince you to read this book. How can you not want to know the story of that???? The children are all unique and lovely, I was brought to tears a few times by the interactions that Linus had with the children. My favourite is Theodore the wyvern. This character doesn't even speak and yet, Klune has created a little soul on the page that will tug at your heartstrings. And Lucy... the antichrist. What can you expect when you read about the antichrist as a six-year-old? You can expect to love him and laugh at his quirkiness. This is the way of TJ Klune.

Definitely add this to your list of books to read this year. It's a lovely story, full of valuable lessons and moments. I loved it.

Linus Baker is a drone. He knows this. His bosses know this. The only thing that makes the protagonist of T.J. Klune’s sweetly affecting novel, The House in the Cerulean Sea, different from all the other office drones is that he really does care about his job. Linus works as an inspector for the Department in Charge of Magic Youth, overseeing operations at various orphanages that house children with magical abilities. He is scrupulously fair about reporting his observations and always has the welfare of the children uppermost in his mind. Of course, once he leaves, it’s up to others to carry out his recommendations. Linus doesn’t think too much about that part. At least, he doesn’t think too much about what comes after his reports until he makes an extended visit to a special orphanage on a remote island.

Everything about Linus’ trip to Arthur Parnassus’ orphanage is unorthodox. Linus only has the minimum of documentation about Parnassus’ unusual wards (one of whom is apparently the Antichrist and another is, well, no one knows what he is). He has to take his cat with him because it’s too short notice to get a pet-sitter. Linus is supposed to spend a month at this orphanage, which is far longer than normal. It’s so long that Linus can’t help but get involved with Parnassus’ charges and see them as much more than the monsters they’ve been labeled as. It’s so long that Linus has a chance to understand Parnassus’ methods of treating his charges as the damaged, special people they really are—no matter what they look like. Unfortunately, it is clear to everyone but the obliviously upright Linus that he is not supposed to have a favorable report about Parnassus’ operation.

The House in the Cerulean Sea was just what I needed after reading something as heavy as Beloved. Although there are plenty of incidents of bigotry, this book was so full of love and acceptance that I nearly cried at its beautiful resolution. I adored the characters—from Linus’ intolerance of rudeness to Parnassus’ determination to Lucy’s (Lucifer) macabre sense of humor to Chauncey’s hope to be a bellboy to Theodore the wyvern’s horde to Sal’s fragility—and was so happy and relieved to see that there would be a happy ending for them. This book was a joy to read.

Full disclaimer! I am a huge fan of TJ Klune!! His writing style is very versatile and matches his characters and stories perfectly. I have been waiting for this book to come out since he announced it.
It did not disappoint!!!! This book is a breath of fresh air in this socio-political climate !!!!
It is funny and light but still deals with the topics of acceptance , open mind ness and discrimination.
It is a story about how we often let ourselves become part of a system that is not working properly and that we don’t agree with !!!!!
Linus could have been unlikable but is not because he is willing to learn an listen to other opinions then his own.
The children are adorable and the story is just told beautifully
Great debut in mainstream !!!
A Must read - 10/10 would recommend!!!!

Loved loved the uniqueness of this book along with the kids that were my absolute favorite. The setting, the imagination is just phenomenal by TJ.

Copy in exchange of an honest review.

I read this two weeks ago and I can't find the correct words who tels how I'm feeling with this.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is about Linus Baker and his big adventure in Marsyas Island Orphanage. He's a goverment Case Worker and he didn't know who will find until he is there. Yes, he is an specialist in magicals orphanages, but nothing compares with this house.

This is a story about how beautiful is the singularity, the friendship, and confirms that you can find a home where you least expect it.

This book is THE BOOK you want to read with childrens. It's about all types of love, respect, family, truth and friendship. Everything is so cute and epic and you can feel every character and the island where they live. I want to meet them and take care of the garden.

TJ Klune is one of my favorite authors and this is one of my favorite books right now.


Spanish and Goodreads version

Linus Baker es un empleado del Departamento a Cargo de los Jóvenes Mágicos y pasa sus días examinando el bienestar de los niños de los orfanatos estatales.
Un día, es llamado por sus jefes y se le asigna una misión ultra secreta en The House in The Cerulean Sea. Linus no sabe que o con quienes se va a encontrar en la isla, y todo será una gran sorpresa para nuestro querido protagonista.

Adopté a todos los protagonistas de esta historia. En total son unas diez criaturas de distintas especies y una más interesante que otra.

En esta novela, TJ Klune nos habla sobre discriminación hacia las minorías, bulling, y que siempre existirá un lugar seguro para cada quien. Lo difícil es encontrarlo.

Se exploran las historias de vida de todos los personajes y se explica por qué son especiales y necesarios en la trama. Sin duda alguna NECESITO leer sobre el futuro de estos niños.

La historia de este orfanato y sus cuidadores es de lo más bello que he leido en mucho tiempo. Cosidero a esta novela una muy buena obra para leer con niños y exijo que este presente en bibliotecas de todos los niveles educativos.

La narración de TJ es muy llevadera y se lee muy rápido.

I already finished this book yesterday and I’m still rather speechless. It’s like the most magical book I’ve picked up in a while and I do read a lot. You know that empty feeling when you finish a book and don’t know what to do with yourself. I want to make it my mission to make everyone I know read this utterly wholesome fantasy novel.

Linus Baker works for a company that checks on orphanages for children with magic and if they have the right to remain open. One day he gets that secret assignment to investigate Marsyas Island Orphanage. And that is how he ends up on this beautiful island in the Cerulean Sea with all these wonderful, mysterious children: Talia (a gnome), Phee (a sprite), Theodore (a wyvern), Chauncey (no one really knows what he is), Sal (a were-Pomeranian) and Lucy (the Antichrist)... and of course their charming caretaker Arthur. Always Arthur.

This stunning book that teaches us so much about acceptance, tolerance and what it feels like to do everything to protect your friends and found family will win you over in a heartbeat. And so will Linus, Arthur, and the kids.

The House in the Cerulean Sea had me in tears through the final chapters - in an absolutely good way. You can’t just not love these unique and stunning characters. They are such a delightful ensemble. Every single child is so special and their stories are so compelling and heartbreaking. I was so enchanted by everyone and it was impossible to put that book down.

I can honestly say I adore and would recommend this book with all my heart. I am a huge TJ Klune fan but he really did an outstanding job on this one. It almost reads like a love letter.

This is the sweetest and most wholesome book I have read in a long while. Magical children! Found Families! Changing the hearts and minds of those set against you! Learning about yourself! It sounds like a middle grade book, doesn't it? It could easily be handed to an older middle grade kid and enjoyed, I think. It was so tender and while I got a little heavy handed on some of the messages, a little sappy, sometimes you just need an extremely kind novel. It was also very funny and I found myself smiling constantly while reading it. If you're looking for a light, loving, and all around enjoyable read, this is the book for you.

Overall, this was an enjoyable story. The characters were well-developed and were more than just stock characters you could find in any scifi/fantasy story. The story itself starts out very well and immediately pulls you into Linus's world. I liked him a lot at the beginning, but became disappointed with his initial reaction to the children when he arrived on the island. Not that he should have immediately been comfortable with everything he was seeing, but he kept going on about how important it was to make sure the children were being well cared for and then he treats them pretty poorly. I thought his reaction to Lucy was a bit over the top and it made him a weak character (you could see why people tended to overlook him and treat him with indifference).

Linus Baker has an extremely boring life: as a caseworker assigned to supervise orphans he spends most of his days writing reports and reading the rulebook. Except the children who he’s tasked with protecting are magical, and his most recent assignment might just upset his regimented approach to his job. With whimsy and kindness, TJ Klune explores how the people around us make us want to be better, and what it takes to make a home. Whether sprite, wyvern, or human, the endearing characters in this book will make you just a bit more hopeful about the world, and what you can do with your place in it.

this book was SO. WONDERFUL. found family of weird magical children in a messed up world that they manage to make their own little home in :’) the main hero is a slightly naive investigator who goes to assess potential problems on their island (for a corrupt government agency) and finds LOVE 💗 my heart grew 3 sizes. what a lovely tale of acceptance and overcoming personal prejudices.

Absolutely delightful story! The characters were perfectly realized and the story was just great! Loved every page.

This book is a bit silly in the best possible way. The villains are caricatures. The heroes are sweet. The message is unmistakable. It is a good book to gently introduce otherness to those who have yet to encounter it for themselves.

What an amazing story.
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this...was this going to be crazy and out there or angsty and drama filled......well it’s a delightful mixture of both.
This story takes place in a time when there are magic beings around us. For “their” safety they are segregated as children and raised in”orphanages”. Linus, the main character, is a somber, joyless character. He seems to only take enjoyment in knowing he does his job (making sure the orphanages are run properly and that the children aren’t being mistreated) to the best of his ability.
When he is tasked with checking on a super secret orphanage, Linus doesn’t know what he’s in for.

The characters are so unique. I loved getting to know all the children and their caretakers. Linus absolutely steals the show though. He learns so much about himself and what he is capable thanks to a group of misfits.

This was a beautiful and heartfelt story that I cannot recommend enough!!!

4.5* rounded up.

Man, TJ Klune truly can do no wrong in my opinion. While I had some minor problems with this book, overall, I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to get a finished copy once it gets published.

This is a book about magical children, found family, discrimination, hope and finding out what "home" means when you least expect it.

Probably my biggest issue with this book is the setup. While I loved our, of course not at all lonely or miserable, main character Linus from the first page, I do think the setup for the story was a little lengthy. I was so excited for the actual story to start that I didn't want to read about Linus going to work, taking the bus home, going home, sleeping, going to work again etc., I was just waiting for something exciting to happen. And while I get that this is to get to know the world and the main character, there were just too many "transitional scenes" where Linus would be going from one place to another. But once Linus finally got to the island, I was completely hooked and didn't want to stop reading.

Which brings me to my next point: I absolutely fell in love with all the characters! All the children's personalities were so unique and different, I had no problems keeping them apart at all. I really enjoyed getting to know them all together with Linus over the course of his time on the island. I also really liked the setting and the world of this novel. It's not really clear at what time period this story takes place, because while there's computers and telephones around, there are also record players being used and Linus has to send all of his reports in a letter via the post office. So while that was a little confusing, I also kinda liked that this world was not only unique in the way that it has magical beings in it.

Speaking of magical beings, I loved how many different kinds of magical beings this world had, from a werewolf boy that turns into a pomeranian, to a blob in the floor and female gnomes to the literal son of Satan himself. They were all so different, but they were all not only the sum of their parts. All of them had such unique personalities, they all had their own hopes and dreams and hobbies and I love them all dearly!

On another note, I love that the romance in this took a complete backseat to the rest of the story. If you're thinking about reading this for the romance, look elsewhere, but if you're a sucker for found family and heartfelt stories just like me, please read this!

While this book deals a lot with discrimination against magical beings and socitey as a whole, I love how there's always a little glimmer of hope, no matter how dire everything seems. Although I will also say that this book never got as dark as I was expecting it to. I will say that there were some characters and plot developments that seemed just a little too convenient, especially considering how the people and the town next to the island was set up through the novel. But I can't say that I didn't like to see that there is still good to be found in other people. I just thought it was a little too convenient for the story.

This story overall really touched me, though, and I was close to tears pretty much the entirety of the last couple of chapters!

Overall, 100% recommended. I love this book with all my heart!

What a wonderful book.
I don't know where to start reviewing it.
It is written in that beautiful way in which Tj writes. Creating unique characters and making relationships between them so pure and full of love.
I loved the story, it seemed super entertaining and the world and magic system is well explained and at no time it becomes boring to learn about it.
The characters are unique and so good. Each of them, each of the interactions between them and the main character are wonderful. As I said before, I didn't expect less from the author.
I feel that something that characterizes this book is the message that conveys, beyond the family and home, which are very important in it, this quote was the one that resonated in me the most, and I thinks that summarize this mesagge that colors the entire book:
"Hate is loud, but I think you'll learn it's because it's only a few people shouting, desperate to be heard. You might not ever be able to change their minds, but so long as you remember you're not alone, you will overcome. "

It is a very good read, it is super fast to read and entertaining. Above all, you will surely end up loving the characters as much as I do.
And you will wish to be there.

First I would like to thank the author and the publishers for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

I requested this book for three reasons: (1) I judged a book by its cover, (2) I liked the premise listed on NetGalley, and (3) one of my favorite authors was quoted on the NetGalley book page [Gail Carriger].

I am struggling to decide where to begin with this feedback/review, but the one thing that stands out most at the moment is that it made me have a good cry. It’s not that I am not a crier, but it certainly is not commonplace for a book to elicit that kind of reaction. It has happened many times before, but it has been a while – probably not since reading Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series. Trying to step back and analyze that response, I feel like I obviously established a strong emotional attachment to the characters and story.

Writing: (5.0)

My first thought on commencing to read The House in the Cerulean Sea was that it reminded me a lot of Neil Gaiman’s tone and prose in Neverwhere. T.J. Klune definitely has some writing chops, and it was very easy to fall into the story. I think the similarity in writing style is underscored by the benevolent relationship between Lucy and Arthur, which is reminiscent of Adam in Good Omens.

The dialogue was incredibly smooth and believable, and I never once felt like the writing pulled me out of the story. Neither did I feel like there were any instances of “info-dumps” nor extraneous writing that that felt sluggish or unnecessary.

As far as genres, this is certainly a fantasy book. It almost toes the line of YA, but the writing is just too well done to classify it as such in my mind.

Editing: (4.999)

At the time I did not think to mark down places, but I distinctly remember four occasions where extra words occurred that weren’t meant to be there, and one instance near the end of the book where a word seemed to be omitted. It strikes me as better than the average B&N classics in terms of editing.

Magic-system: (5.0)

In any fantasy, or pseudo-fantasy work, I feel like the magic systems are one of the key aspects that make or break a novel/series. They may not be key to the story, but they can disrupt the narrative if they are too unbelievable, which may be the case for a variety of reasons.

Here, because the magical or mythical beings have long been established in our myths and legends, there was no disruption for me. I also did not feel like the magic took away from the story, nor became a focal point: it was merely a thing that was and did not need to be over-analyzed, or distract me from my reading.

World-building: (5.0)

Although I never really knew where exactly the story occurred, I didn’t need to. The locations and environments were incredibly believable. I did not feel like maps or blueprints were necessary for my enjoyment of the story, nor that they would actually benefit the story or my immersion. The descriptions were thoughtful and well-written.

Characters: (5.0)

This, for me, was where the novel truly shined. Each of the main cast were so well thought-out, and loved every minute of their interactions. Each character was unique and I had no trouble believing that each action and dialogue was real and believable. There is not much else to say without giving up the story, so, well done.

Bravo.

Amazing.

Cheers.

Incredibly, incredibly well done.

Themes: (5.0)

I have never been much of an English-student, and I will not pretend to have a keen eye for literary analysis. Suffice it to say, it felt like the story gave commentary on the role of orphanages and the treatment of marginalized individuals and groups. Bigotry happened and it was believable and important without leaving my blood boiling.

I am trying to expand my reading beyond white authors writing about traditional binary genders and gender roles, and traditional male-female sexuality. There was a subtle romance through much of the novel that I never felt was forced or painted across the sky. The main romance was happy and endearing, in a British kind-of way: somewhat curt and proper without the flowery extravagance of more Latin or American types of tales.

Overall: (5.0 / 5.0)

For all intents and purposes, this novel is a solid five out of five for me. I have already recommended it to my wife, and I will certainly recommend it to anyone with even slightly similar tastes to my own. I do not know where or when the story is supposed to have taken place, but the story is kind of timeless in its own way. It’s the kind of book that I would leave out for a kid or an adult to read, that I would be happy to see in a library, or would be happy to see taught in a classroom: Sal’s poem alone deserves a place in any classroom, even as a poster on a wall.

This book is one of the rare few to deserve the epithet of "mesmerizing," both figuratively and literally - as if Lucy himself was locking me in. I did not want to put it down.

I hope that this makes some best-sellers lists and earns an award or two.

Hnnnnngskjfsd this book is an absolute masterpiece. Going in, i had only ever read Klune's The Lightning-Struck Heart, which while its a good book, it lacked a little in my opinion. But The House In The Cerulean Sea is a tale all of its own and its absolutely fantabulous.

What starts out as a grumpy old man performing his job under sufferance turns into a squee worthy love story that hit me in all the feels by the end.

The kidlets in the orphanage are no ordinary children but despite their differences, they are so ridiculously damn cute, I couldn't help but love them. The gnome Talia with her and threatening people with a shovel is a whole arse mood and I am here for it!

While for the most part, THITCS is upbeat and cute, Klune also expertly weaves a narrative that shines a light on opinions of today's society with wit and humour. At one point or another EVERY SINGLE DAMN PERSON from the orphanage is treated as a second class citizen for being 'different; be it for being the Anti-Christ, a gorgeous jellyfish boy who just wants to help people or a wyvern who loves buttons, every character bears the abuse from those who deem them 'other'. To the reader who feels they are perfect and that the world is all shining rainbows and cute puppies, this is not the book for you. But its also kind of the book for you because y'all need a wakeup call.

Basically I was absolutely enamoured with the entire thing and I cannot do anything except for highly recommend this gorgeous novel

I loved this book very much. I think is perfect, I wouldn't change a word, maybe I am biased because I liked every books by TJ Klune that I have read, I love his writing, I love the charecters and the universes he creates and this book is no exception.
I am going to recomand this gem to everyone, this is the kind of book that should be read at school, I am certain that it would help pop some bubbles.

There is nothing more wonderful than reading something from TJ Klune. This author always opens us to beautiful worlds with moving characters that are hard to forget. I’m always excited when I have one of his books in my hands and this time was no exception.

This book is beautifully written, with a universe that is easy to imagine and that is so colorful. When I was reading the hours passed like seconds and if I could travel to this wonderful world, I would do it in a second. Something that characterizes the stories of this author, is that there is always that message of friendship and family. This book has the most captivating, complex and wonderful characters. If you have already read something from TJ Klune, I assure you that you’ll enjoy this, and if it’s the first time you read something from him ... well, welcome and I hope you enjoy this story.

Whenever I wrote a review for this author's books, I can’t find the right words. The house in the Cerulean Sea tells the story of a very lonely and lost man, and that thanks to six children and another very special man, he can find his way home. It’s a story of discoveries and changes, of second and third opportunities, it’s about human nature itself and our ability to survive and love.

This is a book that mixes touching stories of six extraordinary children, with an amazing humor and a love story that will have you with a giant smile on your face. Reading this and imagining the adventures on this magical island was something I’ll remember forever. If there is something that TJ Klune knows how to do well, it’s to write the most amazing characters. Diverse characters, refreshing, imperfect, intriguing and captivating. TJ Klune’s Book are treasures.

Totally recommended, a book that is addictive and that I’ll surely be rereading another 10 times. I invite you to visit this distant island, full of the most extraordinary people you could find. I invite you to get lost in the forests of the island, the garden of the house and above all, in that Cerulean Sea.