Book Review: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
The Details
Media Type: Audiobook
Title: The House in the Cerulean Sea
Author: TJ Klune
Narrator: Daniel Henning
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages/Length: Hardcover; 398
Release Date: March 17, 2020
Source: Library Borrow
Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | Bookshop | B&N
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.
The Narrator
Daniel Henning does an exceptional job of narrating this audio version! I actually started out by reading this on my Kindle, but I borrowed the audio book to listen to while I was doing chores. Once I started listening, I abandoned my Kindle copy altogether. Henning’s voice is magical. It’s soft in all the right places, frantic when it needs to be, and he brings every inhabitant of the island to vivid life. I highly recommend that you give this a listen!
The Review
Do you ever see a book everywhere and avoid it for a while because you think it might too hyped? I might be a little over suspicious, after being burned by some really popular books, so it completely possible that this is just a “me thing”. Still, I can’t deny that this book was very much loved by almost everyone I interacted with. I forgot about it for a while, and then it popped up on my library recommendations and I decided to finally give in. Oh, friends. I am SO glad that I did. This book is just as magical, sweet, and touching as everyone said it was. I’m sorry that I doubted you book world.
Linus Baker is a 40-year old man who is stuck in an endless loop of work days. He arrives on time, does what he is asked without question, and goes home to his cat at the end of the day. It’s funny to me how quickly Linus charmed me, even at the beginning of this story. His simple life felt a little empty, but TJ Klune threw in small things about him that made me intrigued. Like Linus’ sunflowers. The one bright spot on his little house, in a bevvy of other little, same looking houses. A small rebellion, even before he truly comes into his own. It takes a lot for a book to make me fall for a character right from the start, but Klune managed that with ease.
Then Linus is called into Extremely Upper Management (this made me giggle, a lot) and sent off on a secret mission that turns his entire life upside down. From the moment that Linus stepped off of the train, I knew that I was in for some magic. Do you remember those older movies where they start in black and white, and then the color slowly bleeds in? That was what came into my mind as soon as Linus saw the ocean in person, for the first time in his life. Each step he took away from what he knew was a step toward something mysterious, and unknown. Which, for Linus, was a big deal. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t really excited for him though.
It is so hard to review this without spoiling, so I apologize if this review seems vague. What I can tell you is that Klune’s Marysas Island Orphanage is perfection. It is vibrant, and the inhabitants of it make it all the more technicolor. Each of the children has their own wonderful, and rather hilarious, personalities. However Klune makes sure to flesh each one of them out as well. This isn’t a story that is all sunshine and rainbows. These are children who were sent away because they were considered to be “different” and “dangerous”. Despite all the hate they’ve been shown though, they shine bright. They have dreams, and they are wonderful.
This whole book deals beautifully with all sorts of topics, like loss, shattered expectations, and trying to be yourself in a world that wants to shove you into a box. It is whimsical, sad at times, and full of so many absolutely gorgeous quotes. I could flip to any page in this and find you a portion that made me giggle, sigh, or straight up sob. I ADORED this. I think that, if you haven’t already given in to the magic, you will too.
2 Comments
Sue at Book By Book
Like you, I’ve been avoiding this book in spite of all the rave reviews! In my case, it was more because I’m not always a big fantasy fan, but after really listening/reading to several reviews (including this one!), it sounds like a book I would love! Thanks for the great, thorough review.
Oh, and I wanted to tell you that I love the look of your blog – it’s unique, simple, and classy. Mine is a bit outdated (though I finally redesigned my banner this week), so I always notice those bloggers with far more graphic design talent than I have!
Sue
Book By Book
Jessica N.
Aw, thank you Sue! I appreciate the compliment, as this blog is always a work in progress and a massive labor of love. I hope that you end up loving this book as well! It really is something special.