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The House in the Cerulean Sea (Cerulean Chronicles, #1)

T.J. Klune

Start date: March 1, 2021

Finish date: March 31, 2021

Discussion: Book of the Month

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What Members Thought

Aug 19, 2020 Dr. Andy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: queer-rep-wlw-unspecified, read-2020, queer-rep-mlm-unspecified, queer-rep-gay, ownvoices, bookclub-read, queer-side-character

im a bundle of feels. This statement is still true. This book is just so warm. I feel like the atmosphere is so warm and it's just ready to give you the biggest hug, if you want, and welcome you home.

I just. The kids. Linus. Arthur. THE KIDS. I cannot with this beautiful book.

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This was the first ever TJ Klune book I've read and it will most definitely not be the last. I have been warned that most of his other books will actually trauma im a bundle of feels. This statement is still true. This book is just so warm. I feel like the atmosphere is so warm and it's just ready to give you the biggest hug, if you want, and welcome you home.

I just. The kids. Linus. Arthur. THE KIDS. I cannot with this beautiful book.

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This was the first ever TJ Klune book I've read and it will most definitely not be the last. I have been warned that most of his other books will actually traumatize you and are not as soft as this one, so you've been warned!

Linus Baker is a case worker for Department in Charge Of Magical Youth (DiCoMY), and he spends his days overseeing the care of children in government orphanages. Linus does he job diligently, but is still extremely shocked when he's summoned by Extremely Upper Management. They give him his most important case to date: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside and report back on everything he sees and hears, especially anything related to the caretaker, Arthur Parnassus. Linus does as ordered, but when he arrives at the island, he is met with the shock of his life.

This book is the ultimate found family story if there is one. I loved that Linus is a middle aged man who thinks he's happy with where he is in life, only to come to Marsyas Island and have his whole perspective challenged everyday. This is what I was expecting when I read A Man Called Ove. Full of all sorts of fantastical children and adults, The House in the Cerulean Sea charmed my pants off. When can I move to the Parnassus home?

I loved Linus's character and how he was all about the rules. It was admirable that he never questioned them once, seriously I don't know how he did it. But at the core of it all, his number one concern was always for the children. I loved how he got to know each and every one of the children, even though he was terrified by most of them at first. It was just so wholesome and heartwarming.

This will for sure be a fave of 2020. ...more

29 likes · Like · see review

Aug 31, 2022 Jenn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbtq, fantasy, signed-copies, read-in-2022, books-i-own, 5-star-reads, new-author-to-me, adult-fiction, all-time-faves, paranormal-supernatural

This is hands down the best book that I have ever read. I honestly don't know if I can form words to write this review and even get across a small portion of how this book made me feel. I'm going to try, but I apologize now if it makes zero sense.

TJ Klune is someone who I have been aware of for awhile now but for some reason had never read. While at the LA Festival of Books I decided to change that and pick one up. This was the one referred to me and I am never looking back.

“We should alway This is hands down the best book that I have ever read. I honestly don't know if I can form words to write this review and even get across a small portion of how this book made me feel. I'm going to try, but I apologize now if it makes zero sense.

TJ Klune is someone who I have been aware of for awhile now but for some reason had never read. While at the LA Festival of Books I decided to change that and pick one up. This was the one referred to me and I am never looking back.

“We should always make time for the things we like. If we don't, we might forget how to be happy.”

The House in the Cerulean Sea is a story about belonging and found family. To me, I feel like this is a theme that resonates with many of us. Who doesn't want to belong somewhere? And who hasn't found a family of their own outside of blood relation? The minute I started, I knew it my bones that this book was going to affect me.

The story of one Linus Baker, a social worker of sorts who is sent to oversee the care of magical children in orphanages. His life is rather ordinary, if not a little sad. He lives alone with a cat who seems to despise him. Works for a place who doesn't seem to respect him. And has no one in his life who seems to care. When he is placed on a super secret mission to report on a highly classified hidden orphanage, Linus heads into this thinking it will just be routine. But nothing about this mission is routine including the children being housed at the Marsyas Island Orphanage.

The children, I'm literally tearing up while writing this, but the children broke me. They wormed their way into my heart and dug in their claws. I feel they will never leave me. What Linus finds when he gets to Marsyas Island Orphanage is a group of 6 children that the world has deemed to dangerous to exist along with their reclusive caretaker Arthur who has secrets of his own.

“Change often starts with the smallest of whispers. Like-minded people building it up to a roar.”

Klune does not shy away from prejudices and cruelty of the human world in regards to this orphanage and it's inhabitants. The neighboring town is absolutely horrible and these are just children. They are children who have dreams (oh my gosh Chauncey who just wanted to be a freaking bellhop so he could help people because everyone likes bellhops so they will like him, yes I'm crying again). They are children who know they are different but long to be accepted. Their one shining thing is the orphanage itself. A place where they don't have to hide and can just be.

The journey that Linus goes on is absolutely beautiful. The loneliness he felt was just amplified by this little family he found on the island. Klune's words, so heartbreaking but infused with humor at the right times, was like a warm blanket that just wrapped around me. I did not want this book to end. And while this was my first Klune book, it definitely won't be my last. ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Mar 21, 2022 Story_girl rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paranormal-romance, fantasy-paranormal, thought-provoking, feel-good, literature-for-children, happy-endings, dragons, page-turner, witty-snarky-humour, beautiful-covers

Beautiful. Poignant. Brought tears to my eyes (happy tears).

8 likes · Like · see review

Jan 08, 2022 Maddie rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars. I'm super glad I read Door before this one. I wasn't sure it was the right idea, but I'm glad I did. Otherwise I might have been more intimidated by Door than I already was. I found this one a little too immature for me, I found the severity and seriousness of Door was better suited to my tastes. This one let me down, where I really thought it would fly above Door.
Don't get me wrong, I did still enjoy Sea, but I found it a bit too immature for my taste. I can see what people mean when ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 19, 2021 Megan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-reads, towers-teams-2021

This was wonderful.

Dark and whimsical and humorous. I fell in love with each and every character and the story itself was beautifully written.

1 like · Like · see review

May 22, 2025 Shelley rated it it was amazing

This is a darling story about a man who is sent to investigate an orphanage for magical children who takes the time to look beyond just the surface and see all there is to see inside of the place. Linus has been content with his life of work and going home to his cat. Then he ordered to go and investigate another orphanage, but this one is a level 4. Nothing can prepare him for what he will find when he arrives, including one of the children who is surrounded by a dark cloud by his name alone. B ...more

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Jun 10, 2024 Emejota rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: physical, read-in-2024, favorites-2024

5⭐️

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 03, 2022 Kayleigh {K-Books} rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own-physical, paranormal

The House in the Cerulean Sea Review on K-Books

“Just because you don’t experience prejudice in your every day doesn’t stop it from existing for the rest of us.”

Prior to reading The House in the Cerulean Sea, I didn’t really know a lot about it. I had seen everyone raving about it all over social media saying how amazing it was, but other than that I didn’t really know anything else. I finally decided to pick it up as a bid to try and tackle some of my TBR. I am so very glad that I picked thi The House in the Cerulean Sea Review on K-Books

“Just because you don’t experience prejudice in your every day doesn’t stop it from existing for the rest of us.”

Prior to reading The House in the Cerulean Sea, I didn’t really know a lot about it. I had seen everyone raving about it all over social media saying how amazing it was, but other than that I didn’t really know anything else. I finally decided to pick it up as a bid to try and tackle some of my TBR. I am so very glad that I picked this one up, as this book is absolutely fantastic.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is very different to the books that I usually read. I usually stick to high fantasy books, which can be quite dark and heavy. This book was just the perfect break from those kinds of books. This book is funny, light and just such a heartwarming tale. I loved absolutely everything about this book. It has absolutely everything that you could possibly want in a book. It had adventure, paranormal elements and a slow burn heart-melting romance.

This is the first book from TJ Klune that I have read, and it certainly will not be the last. I am officially a fan. What a talent this author has. Right from the very first chapter, I was completely hooked by his fantastic writing style and characterisations. One thing that I adore about this book is that it tackles some really hard hitting, real issues about our world. But he does it in such a light, funny and hopeful way you end up coming out of this book with so much love and hope for the world. I adored every single second of this book. I can’t believe I left it this long to pick it up.

I highly recommend The House in the Cerulean Sea to everyone. Even if this doesn’t sound like your usual kind of read… just read it anyway. It wasn’t my usual genre either, and I honestly think this is one of the best books I have read this year. Everything about it is just utterly brilliant. A must-read for everyone.

“Our home isn’t always the house we live in, it’s also the people we choose to surround ourselves with. You may not live on the island but you can’t tell me it’s not your home.”

...more

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Sep 16, 2022 Kara rated it it was amazing

Yes its for kids, yes its obvious where its going pretty early. But it's also very sweet and an easy read! If your in the mood for a heart warming story with alot of laughs , you cant go wrong picking up this one. ...more

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