From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

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

T.J. Klune

Start date: May 1, 2021

Finish date: May 21, 2021

Discussion: Book of the Month Club

Why we're reading this: This will be our May 2021 read!
[close] This will be our May 2021 read!

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Book of the Month Club

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What Members Thought

Apr 01, 2021 Grace rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, queer-themes

This was cute!

I have somewhat complicated feelings about this author and generally don't read their works anymore, but when this got rave reviews, including from friends of mine who aren't big MM readers, I figured I'd give it a go and was pleasantly surprised! There's still the trademark humor, but despite the themes here which would be easy to run away with, it definitely doesn't get cracky, nor are any of the characters totally exhausting to read as in so many of their other works. Very sweet ...more

15 likes · Like · see review

Apr 11, 2021 Ije the Devourer of Books rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: my-exquisite-2021-reads

This is such a beautiful story. I am not even sure how to review it in a way that will do it justice.

The story is imaginative with such wonderful characters that just took shape and came alive in my own imagination. The story is both engaging and interesting. When I finished reading this I was left feeling I wanted more and I actually wanted to visit the House in the Cerulean Sea for myself. The story is also very comforting and for me provides shelter from the relentless pace of life and stres ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jul 03, 2020 ΛNNΞ rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Way too silly for me. I did not enjoy this at all. Sometimes I struggle with this author's sense of humor and penchant for the ridiculous. There was way to much adorable banter and the plot was a little too superficial for my tastes (and at times a little too preachy). This book just wasn't for me and I had a really tough time getting through it. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Apr 28, 2021 Jordan Lombard rated it really liked it

Shelves: mc-gay, a-own, a-own-ebook, g-romance-m-m, g-fantasy, bom-jl-group, a-own-audio, y-2021reads, z-2021-challenge-bplyearlong

A sweet, barely there gay romance with a group of super awesome magical kids.

4 likes · Like · see review

Apr 25, 2021 Alison rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library, queer, lgbtq, sff, z-2021-favourites, rc

Wow, I loved this so much! It's absolutely charming and a complete delight. This book is an utter joy and so very moving. It's so kind and gentle and heartwarming. What a perfect pandemic book--it's uplifting and amusing and comforting and so very hopeful. This is a simple, predictable story with a very strong message, so on the surface it might seem like there's not much there, but the substance, and what really worked for me, was the emotional depth and the kindness and the vivid atmosphere of ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 29, 2020 Bibliophile rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-reads, comfort-re-reads, best-of-2020

All the feels! TJ Klune has been hit or miss for me in the past, but this book is simply divine! You should be warned that this book is low on steam--you'll see nothing more than a kiss be described explicitly on the page. That said, this book is all heart and all romance. And did I mention it's lovely? I think it may even be my favorite book of 2020 so far. I loved...
-- the author's reminder that even the most ordinary of men can be heroes. And that positive change is built on the words and act ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 07, 2021 Ari rated it liked it

Shelves: mm-romance, lgbt, fantasy

Yes, it's a lovely and heartwarming story with adorable characters, a man living a boring life finally popped his bubble and living his new-exciting life!

But where's the "destroy a home or watch the world burn"? ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 21, 2020 Dana rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbt

I am a long time TJ Klune fan. Prior to this book, his stories had been published by a smaller press and then self-republished. There was something about the news that this book was going to be put out by Tor that made me wonder if his writing style would change in some way, or if it would be less romantic than some of his other books. Even beginning this book and learning about Linus Baker's kind of dull life, I was just a little worried about connecting with the characters. But here is the thi I am a long time TJ Klune fan. Prior to this book, his stories had been published by a smaller press and then self-republished. There was something about the news that this book was going to be put out by Tor that made me wonder if his writing style would change in some way, or if it would be less romantic than some of his other books. Even beginning this book and learning about Linus Baker's kind of dull life, I was just a little worried about connecting with the characters. But here is the thing, I have a lot of faith in this author, and I strongly believed that even though Linus's beginning was slow going, it didn't mean that it wasn't going to be a great story.

Now, TJ's books are varied, and each of his main characters are very unique. Linus is a main character of this book, sent to inspect an orphanage under the supervision of the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY). The master of the orphanage would be considered the second main character, in terms of the adults leading the story and for the romance that runs through the background. T Though I would argue that the children there are just as important as the two mc's.

Arthur Parnassus is the product of the very system that he now works for. And if I'm not mistaken, the children at his orphanage are quite unique from most other magical youth. A sprite, a female garden gnome (with a beard), a shapeshifter, a wyvern, the devil's son, and someone quite indescribable. There is an important lesson that Arthur and Linus have to impart, not to the children but to upper management of DICOMY. The children might be strange, might have the potential to be dangerous. But it is not what they are that should dictate what happens to them. As children this is when they are molded into the kind of adults they will be. Their future behavior relies on how they are cared for and treated as children.

Arthur Parnassus is such a perfect master for them. His love for them is the love of a father. It is also with the empathy of someone who has been in their shoes. Linus's loyalty to his job was worrisome at first, but it wasn't long before the residents of the orphanage would make him see it was a home, and it could be his home. Feelings begin to grow between the two adults, but it is somewhat of a slow burn as the importance of their being in the same place was for the children. But burn it does.

So all my worries were for nothing, because TJ Klune was able to draw me into this story just like all his others. There were laughs, and there were tender moments that drew tears. I loved all the kids especially the wannabe bellhop. I was taken in by them just as Linus was. There was a lot of hope in this book for the acceptance of others that don't look the same or come from the same place. All in all it was a beautiful story that charmed me greatly. The narrator was a new one to me, and I thought he did a great job. I would definitely listen to him again. ...more

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Mar 28, 2020 Lois rated it it was amazing

I don't understand how Klune can do it! He can write the darkest, dystopian novels and the sweetest story about a grey man and a group of magical kids, and I absolutely love both of these polarities - AND everything in between that Klune has written. (I still wish that he would/could finish the dystopian series). ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 25, 2020 Silverin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: magic, 2020, pretty-cover, 2020-read, family, forest, supernatural, m-m-yaoi, fairy, sea

8.5/10
A book to re-read... and cry happy tears over.
The first three chapters literally gave me a headache- Linus Baker is so stressed- but fun starts near the end of the third chapter. As one character puts it: "Your life is at its lowest this very moment, and you need to start fresh, which leads you to finding your true love. It practically writes itself!"
This is basically the plot of Mr. Baker's story but it is also so much more. It's about the journey of meeting people, of experiencing life's ...more

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