T.J. Klune

A NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, and WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER! A 2021 Alex Award winner! The 2021 RUSA Reading List: Fantasy Winner! An Indie Next Pick! One of Publishers Weekly's "Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2020" One of Book Riot’s “20 Must-Read Feel-Good Fantasies” Lambda Literary Award-winning author TJ Klune’s bestselling, breakout contemporary fantasy that's "1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in." (Gail Carriger) Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world. Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours. "1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in." —Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

The House in the Cerulean Sea

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.

Taryn

“If you’re loud you can’t hear the flowers talking” - gnome 

I’m sure there’s much you don’t know about existing - Ms. Chapelwhite 

‘I have other things to worry about. Like tomorrow’

Genuinely am moving so slow through this book because I keep having to put it down to giggle and kick my feet. 

Catherine

“It’s not about need, Linus.That's not what gift giving is for. It's about the joy that someone is thinking of you." 

Linus felt his skin warm. “You were…thinking about me?” 

Linus…you big softie. Just let it happen. 

He wondered if it would be too much to get Chauncey a coat to complete his costume. Perhaps he could see if there was something in the village–

There was green. Bright and beautiful greens of waving grass, and what appeared to be flowers in pinks and purples and golds. They disappeared into white sand. And beyond the white was cerulean.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place – and realizing that family could be yours. ‘I loved it. It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect’ – V. E. Schwab, author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue He expected nothing. But they gave him everything . . . 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. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune is an uplifting, heart-warming fantasy tale that’s become a New York Times, USA Today and Washington Post bestseller. ‘Likely to cause heart-swelling’ – Washington Post ‘A modern fairy tale . . . It’s a beautiful book’ – Charlaine Harris, number one New York Times bestselling author ‘Touching, tender and truly delightful’ – Gail Carriger, author of Soulless

Aimee :)

You are a fire, and they need to know how you burn. Not only because of who you are, but because of what they have made you into.

Linus thought it was too late, to shield his heart.

Hate is loud, but i think you’ll learn that it’s because only a few people are shouting. Desperate to be heard. 

Home isn’t always the place we live in. It can be the people we surround ourself with.

Change comes when people want it, Mr Baker. And i do. 

I listened to the earth. It sings. Most people don't realize that. You have to listen for it with all your might. Some people will never hear it, no matter how hard they try. But I can hear it as well as I can hear you. It sang to me, and I promised it in return that I would care for it if it should give me what I asked for.

They fear what they don't understand. And that fear turns to hate for reasons I'm sure even they can't begin to comprehend. And since they don't understand the children, since they fear them, they hate them. This can't be the first time you've heard of this. it happens everywhere.

Theodore, of course, thought the sun rose and set because of Linus, something that shouldn't have tugged at his heartstrings as much as it did.

Sometimes, things get chipped and broken, but there's still good in them.

When something is broken, you can put it back together. It may not fit quite the same, or work like it did once before, but that doesn't mean it's no longer useful.

Laurence denis

And Linus Baker allowed himself to be selfish. Just this once. He took Arthur's hand and stood slowly as Nat told him to smile even though his heart was breaking.

Mr Parnassus stared at him for a moment before he burst out laughing. Linus was startled by how warm and crackly the sound was, like waves crashing over smooth rocks. 

Emiley Jones

When something is broken, you can put it back together. It may not fit quite the same, or work like it did once before, but that doesn’t mean it’s no longer useful.

Hanna Rybchynska

This was so beautiful and perfect book! 
The plot and the characters were amazing. So happy that I could finally read this one :)

The house in the Cerulean Sea

Chloé

This is a happy, wonderful, wholesome and sweet book that made me weep with laughter, joy and sadness (only with Lucy's Spider bit - my heart) I'd suggest to anyone to read this book. I can see me revisiting this book when I'm low or when I don't know what to read. This is defo a new favourite and comfort read.

A heartwarming found family story that will makes your heart melt, I love everybit of it especially the kids with different identities and entities. 

Lili Airen

literauri

Megan

If anyone needs me I’ll be crying for the next several business days

Sarah Sammis

The book takes a while to find its pace. It might be a little slow for some. The children, Lucy, especially, also tend to prattle on a bit. But the contained chaos of Arthur's home, is set against the drab, controlled, homogenous world that Linus represents.


http://pussreboots.com/blog/2023/comm...

Maria

this book made me feel the way ghibli movies (aside from grave of the fireflies) make me feel. this was the sweet & heart-warming read i’ve been looking for this entire lockdown. i love it to pieces 😭❤️

aleksandra

3.5/5

Tj Klune has recently become one of my favorite authors after I read, or rather devoured, his Green Creek series. A series that I recommend with my whole heart, as the books from it become one of my most beloved stories ever. So after finishing it, I decided to read other works by this author to see if his other stories would have the same effect on me. So far, I'm still looking for his next title that will make me feel the same way as this series, but it’s not going very well. The House in the Cerurelan Sea is his most popular and probably highest rated book, so I thought it would end up on my "favorite books" shelf, but as you can probably see, that didn't happen, because instead of loving it, I just liked it. 


The story was original and from the very beginning Klune's writing style drew me into the story as I love how easy yet magical his writing is. As I said, I was hooked from the beginning and really liked the first fifty percent, but halfway through the book I got a little bored, it was okay, but the story was focused on things that I didn't care about that much and I had to take a short break from it. Fortunately, the last few chapters caught my attention again and I couldn't stop reading until the very end. A very satisfying and happy end.


  
    "Love is not confined to blood relations. It can be found in the most unexpected places."

"Sometimes the most important lesson in life is learning to see the beauty in the ordinary."
  


Maybe it's me, a huge romance fan, but I wanted more moments with Linus and Arthur. This book is not advertised as a romance, but they were so cute that almost every dialogue they had - especially the ones at the end - made me blush. And yes, I know they were grown, almost fifty years old men, but they were extremely cute and adorable, okay. I loved how slowly their relationship developed and how healthy it was. I know they were adults and it should be like that, but after reading some books in my life where grown people behaved worse than some teenagers these days, it was a positive surprise for me. 

While I liked the part of the book that focused on Linus's personal and love life, I skipped a few scenes with Linus and the kids because I found them boring at times and I just didn't care for them. I know that the children played a big role in this story, even the main one, but while I liked Linus' interactions with them at the beginning, they lost their appeal to me later. Don't get me wrong, they were sweet, I laughed a few times and even almost shed a tear, but unfortunately I didn't like them as much as I thought I would when I started the book. Probably because I'm not a fan of children myself. The furry ones yes, the human ones not necessarily. The book was about magical creatures that were the mentioned children, but as it turns out, a child is a child to me.


Overall, this was quite an enjoyable story, and I think it's popular for good reason. Some books are well-known for reasons unknown to me because they are definitely not worth reading, but I can see this one becoming something even greater in the future. It has many wise messages and, despite being pretty predictable, it’s definitely worth reading.

Nisindi

I laughed. I cried. 
The very essence of what a book should be.
Thank you T. J. Klune

V.E. Schwab was right—this book is exactly like being wrapped up in a big, gay blanket.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

This story is magical. These characters are magical. I was just in awe the entire time of how immersive and expressive I found Klune’s writing style to be. He leaves no stone unturned. 

The main character, Linus—a 40 year old caseworker for DICOMY, the Department in Charge of Magical Youth—was incredibly personal to me. Lonely and lost in equal measure (while trying to pretend he is neither), a surprising assignment to a DICOMY run orphanage on a distant island has the potential to destroy his world as he knows it. 

Between children who defy imagination, the 

 six-year-old antichrist who dreams dreams of bloodshed and terror, and the master of the orphanage, Arthur Parnassus, Linus is so far out of his depth. And for once, his beloved 

Not when Arthur won’t stop looking at him in a way that is wholly unfamiliar to him. 

This story was breathtaking. This story was healing. I recommend it for everyone who has ever been told that being 

And this book will remind you of that whenever you need it. 

I’ll admit, I put off reading this book for a very, VERY long time due to some things I had heard online about the inspiration behind this book. Which is The Sixties Scoop, where indigenous children were forcibly removed from their homes and placed into schools to be adopted out to white families.

I had heard that this story was in poor taste. That it took a truly horrific historical occurrence and used it as a plot device. Now that I’ve finally read it for myself, I can say I disagree. Wholeheartedly. 

The ENTIRE point of this novel was for Linus to come to understand the terrible and abusive system he was helping to uphold and gaining the courage to stand up for what was right. 

Linus was someone who thought the rules and regulations set forth by the government in regards to magical individuals was done with good reason. That it MUST have been for the benefit of the children. But when he finally learns the truth, he risks everything he has ever known to try and start making amends. Which, is sometimes all that is left to do.

Not once in this book was I led to believe that the schools and orphanages these children were sent to were a good thing. That they were anything less than something to be ashamed of. Something that never should have happened. 

I felt like there were so many incredible lessons to be found in this story. And not for shock value or as a plot device; true, heartfelt lessons. 

I think what I loved the most about this novel is the idea it reinforces that we are never to old to grow and change. Sometimes for the better. 

Additionally, a vast majority of books are written with historical atrocities as a reference point or inspiration. I’m confused on why so much vitriol was spared for 

V.E. Schwab was right—this book is exactly like being wrapped up in a big, gay blanket.

This book would speak best to fans of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and A Series of Unfortunate Events. 

This story is magical. These characters are magical. I was just in awe the entire time of how immersive and expressive I found Klune’s writing style to be. He leaves no stone unturned. 

The main character, Linus—a 40 year old caseworker for DICOMY, the Department in Charge of Magical Youth—was incredibly personal to me. Lonely and lost in equal measure (while trying to pretend he is neither), a surprising assignment to a DICOMY run orphanage on a distant island has the potential to destroy his world as he knows it. 

Between children who defy imagination, the literal six-year-old antichrist who dreams dreams of bloodshed and terror, and the master of the orphanage, Arthur Parnassus, Linus is so far out of his depth. And for once, his beloved RULES AND REGULATIONS aren’t offering any solace. 

Not when Arthur won’t stop looking at him in a way that is wholly unfamiliar to him. 

This story was breathtaking. This story was healing. I recommend it for everyone who has ever been told that being different somehow makes you less. Because it isn’t true. It never was.

And this book will remind you of that whenever you need it. 

An Addendum: 

I’ll admit, I put off reading this book for a very, VERY long time due to some things I had heard online about the inspiration behind this book. Which is The Sixties Scoop, where indigenous children were forcibly removed from their homes and placed into schools to be adopted out to white families.

I had heard that this story was in poor taste. That it took a truly horrific historical occurrence and used it as a plot device. Now that I’ve finally read it for myself, I can say I disagree. Wholeheartedly. 

The ENTIRE point of this novel was for Linus to come to understand the terrible and abusive system he was helping to uphold and gaining the courage to stand up for what was right. 

Linus was someone who thought the rules and regulations set forth by the government in regards to magical individuals was done with good reason. That it MUST have been for the benefit of the children. But when he finally learns the truth, he risks everything he has ever known to try and start making amends. Which, is sometimes all that is left to do.

Not once in this book was I led to believe that the schools and orphanages these children were sent to were a good thing. That they were anything less than something to be ashamed of. Something that never should have happened. 

I felt like there were so many incredible lessons to be found in this story. And not for shock value or as a plot device; true, heartfelt lessons. 

I think what I loved the most about this novel is the idea it reinforces that we are never to old to grow and change. Sometimes for the better. 

Additionally, a vast majority of books are written with historical atrocities as a reference point or inspiration. I’m confused on why so much vitriol was spared for this book in particular. 

Thank you for attending my TedTalk. 



Sanne

abi a

➺ 
  5/5 🌟


This is so good, so beautiful! I find everything about this so heartwarming and very comforting. This is my first time reading a book from this author and what a great first read from him! His writing made me want to pick up more of his works and I definitely fell in love with the story and his characters equally! All of them are so precious that I want them to have a happy and contented life with each other. I want them to be protected at all cost!! 

I felt my heart so full and so eager to burst because of so much satisfaction and happiness after reading this. I'm not someone who get easily influenced by hype. Half of the time, the books that are so loved by a lot of people don't work for me the same way, that's why I always go into them with little expectations. And knowing that his book is a lot of people's favorite, I had this tiny dread in my heart. Even though I know that this has a found family trope, which I tend to always love, I still didn't expect to love this as much as I did!! This book has my whole heart!! 

Definitely my new favorite of the year!!

chloe rae

I'm so glad I listened to this book as an audiobook. (Recommended by a few book-tubers 🙏) 
It was beautifully read 📚 👏 I plan on reading it physically in the future!!

I loved all the characters and found it funny when the writer referred to some as "bubblegum girl" or "handsome" if the name was unknown. The only thing I found a bit strange was repeated sentences were used, rarely, but they were annoying 🙄

this book was so pure and so different from anything i’ve ever read 🥹

kels

“Humanity is so weird. If we’re not laughing, we’re crying or running for our lives because monsters are trying to eat us. And they don’t even have to be real monsters. They could be the ones we make up in our heads. Don’t you think that’s weird?”

--------------------

I am so god-damned charmed.

I mean, just take a look at the premise:
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.

This book was an unexpectedly bright burst of sunshine and joy that I did not know I needed in my life. It was so entirely wholesome, colorful, emotional, and cheesy in just the right way. It is peppered with sassy, immediately lovable characters and the kind of dark humor that felt like it was written just for me. With its laugh-out-loud one-liners and the marshmallow fluffy emotions, this is a feel-good book if there ever was one.

Without a doubt, The House in the Cerulean Sea has become a new favorite to read and reread (and reread), especially as a comfort book. I am in love.

Shalini Basu

Elanna Lachaine DeMarchi 

Really fun characters, heartwarming storyline, with chuckle inducing dialogue. The book is a very warm and cozy fantasy. The middle is a little slow but once you get past halfway it's a breeze.

I do my best to dive into a book blind. To form an opinion of the book as its own entity, before researching the context and opinions that surrounding it.

However, when I began reading the House in the Cerulean Sea. I was aware of the greater context that surrounds it. To summarize, the author concocted a cozy fantasy book inspired by the horrific traumas inflicted during the Sixties Scoop, in which Native American children were stolen from their families and forcibly placed into white families. The overwhelming buzz around this book, both extremely positive and extremely negative, compelled me to form my own opinion.

Reading this book felt icky. Yes, the characters were endearing, the relationships heartwarming, and the setting peaceful, but the underlying knowledge of the real history that was being playfully twisted by the author made me feel queasy.

We are left with a book, which posits that these orphanages are homes that can be redeemed with the help of our white protagonist. Again, icky. I am not a Native Person, and I will continue to seek out Native Peoples perspective on this novel, but my reading of this novel was not a cozy, and it was not a fantasy.

Based on my investigation, it is my official recommendation that The House in the Cerulean Sea be foreclosed.

cedar winslow

I do my best to dive into a book blind. To form an opinion of the book as its own entity, before researching the context and opinions that surrounding it.

However, when I began reading the House in the Cerulean Sea. I was aware of the greater context that surrounds it. To summarize, the author concocted a cozy fantasy book inspired by the horrific traumas inflicted during the Sixties Scoop, in which Native American children were stolen from their families and forcibly placed into white families. The overwhelming buzz around this book, both extremely positive and extremely negative, compelled me to form my own opinion.

Reading this book felt icky. Yes, the characters were endearing, the relationships heartwarming, and the setting peaceful, but the underlying knowledge of the real history that was being playfully twisted by the author made me feel queasy.

We are left with a book, which posits that these orphanages are homes that can be redeemed with the help of our white protagonist. Again, icky. I am not a Native Person, and I will continue to seek out Native Peoples perspective on this novel, but my reading of this novel was not a cozy, and it was not a fantasy.

Based on my investigation, it is my official recommendation that The House in the Cerulean Sea be foreclosed.

Tatiana

If you need a feel-good book, this is for you.

The second half of The House in the Cerulean Sea was like a breath of fresh air. It was so adorable and makes you feel all warm and tingly. I simply couldn't put it down once I reached chapter 12.

That being said, I had some issues getting into the book. I felt like the first half really had little to do with any plot and were just "snapshots" into this world. It was as though they were short stories with no real connection linking them except the characters being the same. The difficulty seeing the plot from the start really frustrated me, along with the mention of weight on like every other page. Lastly, I did feel as though many "lessons" the book was trying to convey were very on the nose. Like at the end of each conversation Linus or Arthur had with the children, there was always some kind of "and this is exactly what we learned" at the end of it. I wish this was shown a bit more since it comes off a bit as cheesy.

Ultimately though, the book is fabulous and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a feel-good escape from reality.

IM GONNA CRY THIS IS THE SWEETEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ

★★★☆ // “I’m just me. I don’t know how to be anyone but who I already am. This is how I’ve always been. It’s not much, but I do the best I can with what I have.” Comfort in novel form.

The House in the Cerulean Sea

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