House in the Cerulean Sea | TJ Klune | BUY BOOK
Review By Sophie | State Street Bookstore
In a world where some people are born with magical abilities and characteristics, magical
people are pushed to the margins in order to keep the ‘normal’ population safe and
comfortable. Linus, our protagonist, is an employee of the Department in Charge of
Magical Youth tasked with the important job of visiting and evaluating orphanages for
magical children. Accustomed to this thankless and monotonous job, Linus is shocked
when the Department’s overlords give him a mysterious secret assignment. Linus is
required to move in to a classified orphanage for potentially dangerous magical children
and make the difficult decision of whether or not it should remain in operation. Linus is
terrified at the thought of leaving his lonely but familiar home and routine, and his fear
and apprehension is tripled when he learns that one of the children he is observing is the
Antichrist. Despite this, he takes the assignment and embarks on the adventure of a
lifetime.
In House in the Cerulean Sea, the reader witnesses Linus’s growth as he learns the value
of leaving his comfort zone and allowing himself to be vulnerable. This enchanting book
will have you falling in love with the children and their enigmatic caregiver as they
welcome Linus into their family. By the end, you will surely feel inspired to face
adversity and stand up for the people you love. TJ Klune’s writing is witty and endlessly
imaginative, filled with whimsical narration, heartfelt scenes, laugh-out-loud moments
and an adorable queer romance.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Lambda Literary Award-winning author TJ Klune’s breakout contemporary fantasy that’s 1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in. (Gail Carriger)
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.