cliftonmr reviewed The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
A nice read
I don't know what I was expecting when I picked this book up, but it turned out to be a charming gay romance story but also so much more.
Hardcover, 389 pages
English language
Published July 29, 2020 by Tor.
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 …
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.
I don't know what I was expecting when I picked this book up, but it turned out to be a charming gay romance story but also so much more.
Sweet romantic queer dramedy with charming magical children. My only two complaints are that the general course of the plot was predictable from quite near the beginning and that the Underlying Message was conveyed entirely without subtlety. It's a good message, mind you, but I prefer the moral of the story to be offered rather than being hot over the head with it. But it's a fun and quick read and I definitely recommend it.
Un libro que me compré en un aeropuerto, por leer algo mientras mi avión se retrasaba. Y menuda maravilla.
Es una historia muy tierna, con humor a veces sutil, a veces desternillante. Unos personajes que te dan ganas de abrazar todo el rato y, creo que lo que más me gusta, unes niñes que puedes creerte. En definitiva, personajes con buen diseño.
La historia, pese a ser previsible, te hace disfrutar del viaje. Que al final, es de lo que se trata. Me gusta el slow burn, me gusta la representación positiva que hace (de hecho, me encanta que la orientación de la gente no suponga ningún drama, los dramas van por otro lado) y una reflexión interesante sobre la bondad humana. ¿Se nace o se hace?
No sé si estaba más tierna de lo habitual, pero me ha gustado mucho. Tanto, que me he hecho una lista de música …
Un libro que me compré en un aeropuerto, por leer algo mientras mi avión se retrasaba. Y menuda maravilla.
Es una historia muy tierna, con humor a veces sutil, a veces desternillante. Unos personajes que te dan ganas de abrazar todo el rato y, creo que lo que más me gusta, unes niñes que puedes creerte. En definitiva, personajes con buen diseño.
La historia, pese a ser previsible, te hace disfrutar del viaje. Que al final, es de lo que se trata. Me gusta el slow burn, me gusta la representación positiva que hace (de hecho, me encanta que la orientación de la gente no suponga ningún drama, los dramas van por otro lado) y una reflexión interesante sobre la bondad humana. ¿Se nace o se hace?
No sé si estaba más tierna de lo habitual, pero me ha gustado mucho. Tanto, que me he hecho una lista de música con las canciones del libro.
I'd seen the cover of this book around on social media a lot but hadn't really paid attention until someone said the magical phrase WERE-POMERANIAN.
Of course I was immediately all in.
I can not even begin to describe how delightful this book is. Linus is an inspector for group homes for magical children. He cares deeply about the kids and thinks that he is doing the best for them by making sure that they are cared for by the book. His eyes are starting to be opened to the fact that not everyone around him may be as benevolent as he is. When he is tapped for a secret inspection of a home for dangerous children all his assumptions fall apart.
I highlighted so many quotes from this book. The banter was so much fun. These are just a few.
“I am evil incarnate,” the dastardly voice said. …
I'd seen the cover of this book around on social media a lot but hadn't really paid attention until someone said the magical phrase WERE-POMERANIAN.
Of course I was immediately all in.
I can not even begin to describe how delightful this book is. Linus is an inspector for group homes for magical children. He cares deeply about the kids and thinks that he is doing the best for them by making sure that they are cared for by the book. His eyes are starting to be opened to the fact that not everyone around him may be as benevolent as he is. When he is tapped for a secret inspection of a home for dangerous children all his assumptions fall apart.
I highlighted so many quotes from this book. The banter was so much fun. These are just a few.
“I am evil incarnate,” the dastardly voice said. “I am the blight upon the skin of this world. And I will bring it to its knees. Prepare for the End of Days! Your time has come, and the rivers will run with the blood of the innocents!” Talia sighed. “He’s such a drama queen.”
...we talked about the locust plague. That’s only to be done under direct supervision.
Because it’s better not to know if we’re about to die. That way, we don’t start screaming right now. It’ll be a surprise. We can always scream then.
I was a bit disappointed in the Pomeranian. He turned into a Pomeranian whenever he was scared. It would be more on brand to have him turn into a Pomeranian and then blindly run at whatever he was scared of intending to tear it to shreds regardless of size discrepancies.
If you haven't read this book, go get it right now. Seriously. Right now. You won't regret it.