House in the Cerulean Sea (Cerulean Chronicles, 1)

The cover on this. It's magical. The description appealed, but that art was compelling as well. What a surprise this book was, writing that fought successfully against sleep and everything else I should have been doing. There will be a spoiler in this, which I don't think I've ever done before. But really, I extrapolated and expected that bit based on the available and it was lovely. Brilliantly written. If you are the sort of person (as I am usually 🤦🏻‍♀️) that feels it will diminish enjoying the book to know anything key in advance, please read no further than the 'Spoiler' heading and give your attention to this amazing tale instead. I don't know that I've found an author in years that made me *feel* quite so much. I quite literally cried in many spots, sometimes laughing at the same time. The development of characters is incredibly well done, they turned real in the story in a very short time. Often an author can flesh out a character or two very well, but to use a visual metaphor, the other characters are slightly fuzzy and out of focus. Every person the author writes about in this is in clear focus, there is no 'main' character polished to the detriment of others. Even when only given a few sentences, characters breathe on the page. I must say, my benchmark for this style of writing is Bujold, and she is a very high bar to even approach in my opinion. TJ Clune has made me love these characters, and be hungry for more, in just the same eagerness to know how they fare. **Spoiler ahead!** I believe in supporting authors writing about gay experience as I feel that if people just are open to learning about different people it should surely get better? Well, I'd hope. That said, I almost wish that review quote wasn't on the cover. While this IS a moving and beautiful tale where two main characters fall in love - that happen to be men - it deserves more than to be thrust in a box as "about" homosexuality. While this author treats this just as deserved (we are all just people), and it is moving, this story is so much more than just the deft handling of a lovely romance. For context, I'm an old lady, long married to an old man. I beg you, if that cover quote made you feel this might not be the story for you, reconsider. I'm off to buy the second book, as well as anything else this author might have written. A book that makes an old and tired woman simply get lost in feelings like this one did, what a treasure. ❤️ I hope you love it too.

I absolutely adored this book! The first and most important thing about this book are the characters. I genuinely loved and cared about each and every one of these characters (and I sort of feel so protective of them that I swear I would die for any one of them). Linus Baker, our protagonist, is living a quiet life working for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY) as a Case Worker. He seems to mostly enjoy his job, but it's clear to readers that despite whatever Linus chooses to tell himself about his life, he isn't really living and to say he's 'happy' seems a stretch. Linus is one of those characters that you sort of just want to hug (although you probably wouldn't because he doesn't seem like the type to enjoy hugs from random people) and watching him embark on an experience unlike any he's ever been on, where he learns new things about himself and the world around him, was remarkable. I was so drawn to Linus' character and found that so many of the things he struggled with were applicable to my own--such as realizing that sometimes 'good enough' isn't really enough--and I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful character to follow. He isn't the most enthusiastic sort of person, but he has this fantastic dry wit for his sense of humor that I couldn't get enough of. In addition to Linus is the rest of our phenomenal cast of characters: there's Arthur Parnassus, the man in charge of the orphanage Linus visits; the magical youth living at the orphanage: Chauncey, Lucy, Sal, Talia, Phee, and Theodore; the resident island sprite, Zoe; and, of course, we can't forget Linus' cat, Calliope. I fell so hard for all of these characters and sincerely loved all of them. Each one was so carefully crafted with such distinct and wide-ranging personalities--it's rare to see such amazing characterization that holds strong and true for each and every character, but I can tell that characters must be Klune's strong point because they were all so well-written. I would try to pinpoint one of my favorites, but honestly, I think they are all my favorites. Linus' cat, Calliope, truly steals every scene she's in, though. Altogether, each and every one of these extremely varied and rather odd characters makes up the most perfect mismatched family and I have never want to be a part of a family as much as I wanted to be a part of this one! Klune also appears to be a master at writing dialogue, and the banter among all of the youth easily became of the most enjoyable parts of this book. I laughed out loud so many times while reading this book and I felt so fulfilled and happy every time I picked it up and put it down. The way that he captures what it's like for an adult like Linus to be interacting with such a wild and unpredictable group of magical youth was a true delight. Additionally, the more serious dialogue that occurred for more serious and difficult topics was also carefully done and felt both authentic and full of impact. Klune is really good at maneuvering within a huge variety of topics in such a deft way that never makes it feel difficult to get through or understand. I don't want to spoil anything specific about the plot, but I can tell you that one of the reasons that I think I liked this so much is because of it's sort of 'slice-of-life' feel, where there aren't really intense action-packed scenes or anything, but rather it is following Linus as he observes and tries to understand how things at Mr. Parnassus' orphanage work and about the youth that live there. The pacing was perfect for me and was what I would call very steady--not too slow, but not too fast, either, just very continuously moving forward while still taking the time to focus on certain topics and scenes whenever necessary. There is also a tiny bit of romance in this book and it is so beautiful and innocent and truly made my cold black heart just melt. It doesn't take over the story, but it fits in like the perfect final piece of a puzzle--small, but vital to the completion of the entire puzzle. This story handles some extremely heavy but very important topics and I think Klune weaved all of those elements into the story so smoothly so that they never felt overwhelming, but they were very clear and easily understood. Honestly, this book is just beautiful. I laughed and teared up (for both happy and sad reasons) and I also found myself subconsciously reading this book so slooowly because I don't think I ever wanted to finish. It was hard for me to move on from this book and get my headspace ready for another book after because it just made me feel so good to read this book. It spoke to me not only from a personally relevant standpoint, but because it's such a wonderful story of love, acceptance, and what it means to be a family. This is easily going to be a book that I re-read and re-read over and and over, especially when I'm struggling a lot with depression or anxiety because it made me feel so at home and content and happy. I really can't recommend this story enough--it's bittersweet at times, but also hilarious, relevant, and full of life and love and family.

It's a delightful book! There are so many good things about it that it's hard to know where to begin. This isn't an action-packed fantasy book, and it doesn't aim to be one. It's a fantasy story about a lonely bureaucrat from a children's protection department (well, magical children) who goes to investigate an orphanage and discovers much more than just an orphanage. The environment is endearing, the characters are nicely described, and the story flows smoothly with good pacing and wonderful writing. I loved Linus and how he is totally believable—he's forty, overweight, and struggles with normal human challenges. The way he grows during his journey is definitely captivating. And his relationship with Arthur is great! No instant love and no overly sensualization. Just two people getting to know each other and building a meaningful connection. PROS: Great world-building, nice plot, and storyline. Well-built and consistent characters. Sweetheart vibes without being overly saccharine. Beautiful gay romance between two mature men. CONS: Sometimes, it veers towards something a little bit naive and juvenile. But I'm just saying that to include something in the "CONS." All in all, it's a very, very nice read for those looking for a good, sweet gay fantasy story. I loved reading it and totally recommend.

I feel like this book has been on my TBR pile for quite some time now, and I've heard a lot of good things about the author, TJ Klune. I'm not sure why it took me so long to read it, but I really wish I'd picked it up much quicker than I have done. It was one of the softest, most comforting stories I've read in a while now - exactly what I needed, and honestly, the sort of book I've been longing for just lately. The characters are vibrant and loveable, the setting is interesting and well thought out, and the writing was like sinking into a comfortable armchair after a long day. It was cosy and funny in turns, while dealing with some very real issues in a sensitive and clever manner. Linus Baker, the main character, is someone you can't help but cheer for. He leads an incredibly lonely and boring life at the beginning of the book, working in a job where he's treated poorly by his superiors and colleagues alike, for a governing body that you can immediately tell isn't the most ethical. He stays, in part, because it's what he knows, but also because he believes the work he's doing is important and helpful. There's no point in the story where as a reader I felt his heart wasn't always in the right place, even if sometimes I wanted to reach through the pages and give him a gentle shake. The characters around him seem to be able to tell this about him instinctually, even though they have cause to be very wary, and I really appreciated the pace the author developed the trust and friendships between Linus and the other occupants of Marsyas Island, especially the children. The way he grows to care for them, to let down his protective barriers, and the way they all value him in turn really speaks to that place in my heart that will always be in love with the "found family" trope. The relationship between Linus and Arthur was particularly interesting to me, not only because I love a good romance, but also because of how naturally they seemed to fall together. There were points early on where I thought Arthur somehow knew Linus ahead of time, though that never came to anything, and I loved the way they seemed to genuinely just enjoy each other's company. You don't see that as much in romances, sadly, but I'm a big fan of couples who actually like each other as people, and as soon as Linus and Arthur began to bicker about philosophy, I knew I was going down with this ship. I've said this in other reviews, but it's easy in queer lit to end up dealing with very heavy subject matter, and I was happy to see no big fuss was made about anyone's sexuality. In fact, I don't believe it was ever brought up negatively at all by any of the characters. That's the sort of thing I wish I could have seen more of as a teenager, instead of it always being treated as the most tragic thing in the world to be gay. That said, there were some other heavy themes in the story, but as I mentioned above, all of it was handled very elegantly and with a great deal of care. There is an emphasis on being different from the "norm" and the ensuing persecution and prejudice this brings, but it was written in a way that I think a lot of younger readers would be able to see and understand the point without it ever being heavy-handed. Another point was that the adult characters always protected the children to the best of their abilities, keeping the overall tone of the book fairly safe despite the subject matter, and I think that's something that's incredibly important. I loved this book. If you're looking for cosy, happy, urban fantasy with fairly low stakes, then this is for you.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of those rare books that feels like a hug from the very first chapter. I loved how TJ Klune blends fantasy, found family, humour, and emotional depth into a story that feels both magical and incredibly human. It’s the kind of book that makes you smile without even realising it. The character development is what truly won me over. Every child at Marsyas Island is written with such warmth and individuality that they feel real, despite their fantastical origins. And Linus — watching him slowly open up, question the rules he’s lived by, and allow himself to care — is so satisfying. His growth feels earned, genuine, and quietly powerful. The romance between Linus and Arthur is tender, quiet, and incredibly wholesome. It’s written with such softness that it never feels forced or overly dramatic — just two people discovering that they deserve love and support. Their relationship adds even more warmth to the found-family atmosphere, and I loved how normalised and unproblematic their queerness is in the story’s world. It’s a subtle, affirming queer element that enriches the book without ever overshadowing the plot. There’s also a wonderful sense of humour threaded throughout the book. The banter, the absurd moments, the deadpan delivery — it all balances so beautifully with the emotional themes. Nothing ever feels too heavy, but nothing feels shallow either. TJ Klune manages to keep the tone light while still exploring acceptance, prejudice, and chosen family in a meaningful way. What I appreciate most is how well the book blends everything together: fantasy elements that never overwhelm, heartwarming character moments, queer romance, humour, and a storyline that moves at just the right pace. It’s comfort reading at its best — hopeful, cosy, magical, and full of warmth. For me, The House in the Cerulean Sea is a perfect 5/5: a book that leaves you a little kinder and a little lighter after turning the final page.

4.5 out of 5 stars. The House in the Cerulean Sea is truly so lovely, it warmed my entire heart. I teared up twice while I was reading it, and that is a very rare occurrence for me. I was just constantly like this: 🥺 🥺 🥺 I literally teared up because of a pile of buttons… If that makes no sense to you, please read this book because then you will Understand what I was going through lmao The House in the Cerulean Sea is found family excellence. It’s not only about the power of found family, but it’s also about learning to be brave enough to step out of your bubble, finding out where you truly belong and embracing the life you deserve. The main character, Linus Baker, was so precious. And his character development was fantastic. All of the characters in this book were so distinct and lovely in their own unique way. I honestly can’t even pick a favourite character, I just love all of them so much. This book truly made my heart sing with joy. I loved the ending so much!!! It was just everything 🥺 The only reason that I didn’t give this five stars is because the first half of the book is pretty slow. But in the grand scheme of things, that’s not a very big deal so I’m only knocking off half a star. If it weren’t for the slow pacing in the beginning, this book would honestly have been perfect. OVERALL, The House in the Cerulean Sea is an absolutely wonderful book and I highly recommend it!! Do be warned, though: you might cry. A lot.

The book arrived on time and adequately packaged. It’s a beautiful edition, the cover might be my favorite of all books I’ve read. If you’re learning English and buy it to practice your reading, it’s great to expand your vocabulary. I received it on 12/18 but haven’t finished it since the holidays have kept me very busy but I’m reading it at my own pace and enjoying every pág and every chapter. I already feel like this will become one of my favorite books (if not my favorite).