INFORMATION ABOUT THIS BOOK
Publisher : Tor Books
Publication date : September 2024
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, audiobook, and ebook
Print length : 416 pages
Genre: Fantasy LGBTQ+ Fiction
MY PERSONAL OPINION OF “The House in the Cerulean Sea” by TJ Klune.
I got this book back in June 2025 during a Barnes & Noble sale (Buy one, get one 1/2 off). I started reading it, and it was good and engaging, but for some reason I put it aside. Months later, I heard the audio version was really good, so I put it on hold in Libby (which had a waiting list of several months). I was finally able to get it, and I am so happy I waited for the audio. The audio/book combo was great.
The Good…
So many good things about this book.
First, you have the main character, Mr. Linus Baker. He was a character who, from the beginning, was open to transformation and change. A character flawed in many aspects, but not in morality or kindness, which was by far the reason I grew so fond of him.
Second, the kids (or magical children) were cute, kind, wicked, funny, and touching. At the beginning, I thought it would be chaotic with so many children having so many particular characteristics and backstories, but it was easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to feel for them.
And third, the story in itself, the fantasy of it all. The house, the village, the caretakers, DYCOMi, and the consistent expectation that understanding is the basis of all life moving forward.
This was an incredible read. I understood why it made so much buzz back when it was released. Fantastic read.
The Bad…
I cannot find a specific bad opinion about this book. I think it’s important, though, to mention that it was not a short book. Although I think it had a condensed story, it was a bit long, especially at the beginning.
PREMISE OF THE BOOK AS FOUND IN AMAZON / GOODREADS:
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 RATING: 4.5
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TJ KLUNE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door, In the Lives of Puppets, and the Green Creek Series for adults, the Extraordinaries Series for teens, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it’s important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.
- Somewhere Beyond the Sea
- We Burned so Bright
- In the Lives of Puppets
- The Bones Beneath My Skin
- Wolfsong
- Ravensong
- Brothersong
- Heartsong
- The Stars Look Like Home
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