[MPOV] The House in the Cerulean Sea

My rating: 4/5

Goodreads rating: 4.45/5

Published: March 16, 2020

Author: T.J. Klune

Genre: LGBTQ, fantasy, fiction

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.

Firstly, The House in the Cerulean Sea reminded me of Harry Potter and Peculiar Children! Though the plots may differ, the general idea is somewhat a mix of both Potterverse and Peculiardom, in my opinion. I've come across many rave reviews of this novel so it did piqued my interest, similarly to Harry Potter and Peculiar Children, hence the immediate purchase and reading LOL!

"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."

The House in the Cerulean Sea is about an orphanage that is set on an isolated island, far away from civilization. This orphanage housed children with special abilities and managed by Arthur. Linus is a caseworker at Department In Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY) who curates and submits recommendation of similar orphanages if they follow the rules & regulations and should remain open. Linus finally had a break from his usual monotonous routine when he was handpicked by Upper Management of DICOMY to curate Arthur's orphanage as it may deemed as inappropriate. Upon his arrival at the orphanage, Linus has an uneventful stay that can change his mind, and his life, forever!

"Arthur says that we should always make time for the things we like. If we don't, we might forget how to be happy."

I have totally enjoyed the little characters and can imagined them in a movie. I may not have thoughts of who could act as who yet but whilst I was reading, Jack Black was Linus in my mind! The description so befits Jack Black with his tummy and all LOL! When a story is so realistic, it sure had me at my toes, can't wait to reach the end. And when it did, it sure made me wished for more! That was how I felt with Harry Potter and the same with Peculiar Children. Now Cerulean Sea is the same, shelved with them lot!

"Because a life without hope isn't a life lived at all."

The way it was written was exquisitely paced and I liked how the romance slowly grows though I was frustrated at times, I so feel Zoe here! Even if the plots were predictable, it was written with an understanding of the journey of how Arthur, Linus and the children, as a whole entity, belonged together as a family. Such a remarkable writing that it did reminds me of Neil Gaiman LOL!

"We are who we are not because of our birthright, but because of what we choose to do in this life. It cannot be boiled down to black and white. Not where there is so much in between. You cannot say something is moral or immoral without understanding the nuances behind it."

Last but not least, although this is with young adult theme, this novel has LGBTQ element which is suited for adult audience. So please be aware if you are letting your children read this novel ya. You have been forewarned.

"Sometimes, he thought to himself in a house in a cerulean sea, you were able to choose the life you wanted. And if you were the lucky sort, sometimes that life chose you back."