From the Bookshelf of 2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge…

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

T.J. Klune

Start date: September 1, 2025

Finish date: September 30, 2025

Discussion: November 2025 Group Read

Why we're reading this: September 2025 Group Read
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November 2025 Group Read

The Travelling Cat Chronicles: Pre-Reading Discussion
By Winter , Group Reads · 4 posts · 24 views

last updated Oct 26, 2025 02:27PM

The Travelling Cat Chronicles: Reviews by 2025 Reading Challengers
By Winter , Group Reads · 1 post · 16 views

last updated Oct 20, 2025 05:58AM

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What Members Thought

Jul 06, 2021 Amy J rated it really liked it

Shelves: library, 2021-challenge, audio

Out of my comfort zone

I was prompted to read this after seeing it mentioned many times on BookTube. I knew this was a bit out of my normal reading (YA or fantasy), but I thought I would give it a try.

Linus is a case worker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He was given an unusual task by the Extremely Upper Management to go the orphanage where there are "dangerous" children. The caretaker at the orphanage is Arthur.

A friendship develops between Arthur and Linus as well as a special ...more

16 likes · Like · see review

May 18, 2023 Kara rated it really liked it

Shelves: libby

This is my fourth T.J. Klune book and overall I have enjoyed his stories a fair amount. He is a wonderful story teller. This one he brought a bunch of fantasy to the story and it was really fun to listen to! I liked the narrator a bunch too. I would recommend this story. Social Media finally got me to listen to this one - I have seen a fair amount of people love this book.

6 likes · Like · see review

Aug 16, 2025 Marianne Donohue rated it did not like it

DNF…I got nearly halfway through and decided I didn’t care about any of the characters enough to keep going. The book vacillated from being heavy to being childish with no real settling point. I don’t get the hype. Then I read its connection to the Sixties Scoop in Canada and I was glad I had decided not to finish.

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Jan 30, 2025 Elizabeth rated it liked it

I've wrestled with either a 3 or 4-star rating. (Still waiting for Goodreads to allow 1/2 stars!) I liked the story, but I just couldn't love it. Can't even put my finger on why that is. ...more

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Jul 01, 2024 Mekerei rated it it was ok

Whitcoull's Top 100 Books: The House in the Cerulean Sea - No. 64

This tale was a major fail for me. It reminds me of Terry Pratchett and I do not like Terry's writing style. I have this is how I feel about TJ Klune.

I didn't find it funny or feel as if I was "wrapped up in a big gay blanket". I didn't enjoy the characters or the world. I felt that everything was bland and uninteresting.

It was almost DNF, but I'm stubborn and hate not finishing a tale and not giving the author every chance to rede ...more

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