Book 33/30.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 ½ stars ✨
Linus Baker is a by-the-book caseworker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records for company. But his quiet life is about to change.
Linus is summoned by Extremely Upper Management and given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to an orphanage on a distant island and determine whether six dangerous magical children are so dangerous, in fact, that they’re likely to bring about the end of days.
When Linus arrives at that strangest of islands he’s greeted by a series of mysterious figures, the greatest mystery of which is Arthur Parnassus, the master of the orphanage. As Linus and Arthur grow closer, Linus discovers that the master would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world has to burn. Or worse, his secret comes to light.
This T.J. Klune novel is vibrant, beautifully written, and incredibly engaging. It is filled with quirky moments, playful details, and lively dialogue, but what truly makes it shine is its wonderfully developed cast of characters. Beneath all the humour and charm, however, lies a thoughtful examination of difference, prejudice, and the ways people become comfortable with assumptions. The story challenges our habit of putting others into convenient categories and relying on stereotypes rather than confronting what we do not understand about them, or ourselves.
Despite the darker issues it explores, The House in the Cerulean Sea never loses its sense of hope. It acknowledges the existence of hatred while still placing faith in people and their capacity for compassion. At its heart, the novel is a joyful celebration of love without boundaries, while also recognising the vulnerability and risks that come with it. Above all, it reminds us just how powerful something as simple as kindness can be.
Long story short, this endearing read was all of the 🥹🥹🥹 and Chauncey completely stole my heart 🫠🫠🫠 So why did I not rate I 5 stars, you ask? It is because when I finished it and wanted to rate it on Goodreads, I sat with my thoughts and feelings and came to the realisation that I was not too sure if it was a 4 or 5 star read. So I decided to go with 4 ½ stars (something I do not do too often) as you do not have to talk yourself into a 5 star rating, because when you know you just know.
** A guide to ratings **
1 star – did not like it
2 stars – it was okay
3 stars – liked it
4 stars – really liked it
5 stars – it was amazing