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The House in the Cerulean Sea (Cerulean Chronicles Book 1) Kindle Edition
A NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, and WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER!
A 2021 Alex Award winner!
The 2021 RUSA Reading List: Fantasy Winner!
An Indie Next Pick!
One of Publishers Weekly's "Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2020"
One of Book Riot’s “20 Must-Read Feel-Good Fantasies”
Lambda Literary Award-winning author TJ Klune’s bestselling, breakout contemporary fantasy that's "1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in." (Gail Carriger)
Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world.
Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.
"1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in." —Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherTor Books
- Publication dateMarch 17, 2020
- File size7583 KB
- “The things we fear the most are often the things we should fear the least. It’s irrational, but it’s what makes us human. And if we’re able to conquer those fears, then there is nothing we’re not capable of.”Highlighted by 8,452 Kindle readers
- 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 of the lucky sort, sometimes that life chose you back.Highlighted by 4,933 Kindle readers
- He couldn’t believe it was only Wednesday. And it was made worse when he realized it was actually Tuesday.Highlighted by 4,197 Kindle readers
From the Publisher
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Editorial Reviews
Review
A NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, and WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER!
One of Buzzfeed's "Best Books of 2022"!
A 2021 Alex Award winner!
The 2021 RUSA Reading List: Fantasy Winner!
An Indie Next Pick!
A Black-Eyed Susan Award Nominee
One of Publishers Weekly's "Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2020"
One of Book Riot’s “Best Books of 2020 So Far”
"I loved it. It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect." ―V.E. Schwab, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
"It will renew your faith in humanity.” ―Terry Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of the Shannara series
“It’s a witty, wholesome fantasy that’s likely to cause heart-swelling.” ―The Washington Post
“The House in The Cerulean Sea is a modern fairy tale about learning your true nature and what you love and will protect. It's a beautiful book.” ―Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in. Touching, tender, and truly delightful, The House in the Cerulean Sea is an utterly absorbing story of tolerance, found family, and defeating bureaucracy.”―Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless
“Sweet, comforting, and kind, this book is very close to perfect. The House in the Cerulean Sea is a work of classic children's literature written for adults and children alike, with the perspective and delicacy of the modern day. I cannot recommend it highly enough.” ―Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Every Heart a Doorway
“Is it possible to fall in love with someone’s imagination? If so, consider me fully smitten. TJ Klune creates worlds where fear and threat can be conquered by kindness, and a tender, queer heart is more valuable than any weapon or power.” ―David Levithan
“Quirk and charm give way to a serious exploration of the dangers of complacency in this delightful, thought-provoking Orwellian fantasy from Klune.... This tale of found family is hopeful to its core. Readers will revel in Klune’s wit and ingenuity.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Lambda Literary Award-winning author Klune (The Art of Breathing, 2019, etc.) has a knack for creating endearing characters, and readers will grow to love Arthur and the orphans alongside Linus... fans of quirky fantasy will eat it up. A breezy and fun contemporary fantasy." ―Kirkus
“This is a sweet narrative about the value of asking questions and the benefits of giving people (especially children) a chance to be safe, protected, and themselves, regardless of what assumptions one might glean from, say, reading their case file.” ―Booklist
“This inclusive fantasy is quite possibly the greatest feel-good story ever to involve the Antichrist.... The House in the Cerulean Sea will delight fans of Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series and any reader looking for a burst of humor and hope.” ―Shelf Awareness
“A beautiful little gem of both irony and, yes, kindness.” ―Fantasy & Science Fiction
“TJ Klune is a master storyteller.” ―The Mary Sue
"A delightful tale about chosen families, and how to celebrate differences." ―Library Journal
"This contemporary fantasy can satisfy any sweet tooth with its found family story and its gentle queer romance." ―Book Riot
“If ever there was an author to watch out for, [Klune] is definitely that author.” ―Culturess Daily
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B07QPHT8CB
- Publisher : Tor Books (March 17, 2020)
- Publication date : March 17, 2020
- Language : English
- File size : 7583 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 393 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #3,169 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
TJ KLUNE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door, In the Lives of Puppets, and the Green Creek Series for adults, the Extraordinaries Series for teens, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.
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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.
This theme can be seen in the signs stating "See something, Say something" that Linus and others encounter everywhere they go. This brings to mind the "See something, Say something" campaign in the United States earlier in the 2000s that led to a 21st century form of McCarthyism made more virulent through increased digital and social media - the effects of which we are still reeling from.
Again, however, as in the best fairy tale tradition, compassion, integrity, understanding, a sense of fairness and justice, and, most of all, love win out - maybe not to change everyone or the whole world, but enough people to start to make a difference. It calls to mind Margaret Mead's famous quote: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has." While of course, on the surface, this statement seems naive and idealistic - and perhaps even "untrue" - change starts somewhere, within one's own world - an island and a small village across the sea, for instance. And Klune has given readers just that message.
But this book is more than a social/political message - so much more. The writing is lyrical and immersive, the characters are so lifelike and endearing and so richly drawn, the plot is subtle where it needs to be and strident when it's called for, and it all packs a searing emotional punch that brought me to tears in a few places.
I am reminded a bit of Shrek in its metaphoric layers, and another of my favorite modern fairy tales, Kelly Barnhill's The Ogress and the Orphans, had the same effect on me. As the great Jack Zipes says about the power of fairy tales: they show us that there is reason to hope, that in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, even the most powerless among us can sometimes topple tyrants and injustice. Something this author and story has shown us, and that's a good thing to keep in mind.
Top reviews from other countries
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.
As a Case Worker, Linus is sent to the Marsyas Island Orphanage, and has to set aside his fears to determine whether or not the Orphanage should remain open.
It’s at this Island Orphanage that we meet the rest of our cast in the form of six magical children (a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist), the charming (and handsome) caretaker Arthur Parnassus, and a lovely lady named Zoe Chapelwhite who is more than she initially appears.
As weeks go by with Linus living (and loving) on the Island and getting to know the inhabitants better than he ever could have imagined, he finds himself facing a life-changing decision that will change more than just HIS life.
After I got through the first three chapters—which were a necessary drag of world-building and plot setup that I honestly found boring but were Very Important overall—I fell head over heels in love with this book.
Honestly, I don’t even know how to put my Thoughts and Feelings into words that make sense. I enjoyed this book in a bone-deep, forever-favourite type of way. I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once—and thank you, John Green, for some words that aptly describe how I feel about this book.
While the first few chapters were slow-going, I was hooked from chapter four until the incredible end.
Our main character, Linus, is written so vibrantly for such a dull man. He jumps off the page, and his voice is so strong. It’s a lovely lens to tell the story through, and I am so glad that Klune decided to tell it this way. From the start, Linus is a character that drew me in, even as I slogged through his world. He sees the world in such black and white lines, and he lives a drab, colourless life.
He believes everything he’s always been told, and he doesn’t know anything else.
That makes his arrival on Marsyas Island all the better, especially when we’re introduced to a bright, colourful cast of lively, eccentric, and loveable characters.
Arthur is a joy. Prim and proper, kind and handsome, he’s swathed in an air of mystery from the start. Klune leads a trail of breadcrumbs throughout the novel that hints at something more that we aren’t privy to until the story catapults towards its climax (and what that is is something I had NOT seen coming).
Arthur is a man filled with love, care and protection. While he’s been assigned as the caretaker of this Orphanage, it’s very clear that he’s stepped into a larger role in the children’s life. As we fall in love with Arthur alongside a bumbling, oblivious Linus, Arthur’s gentle, paternal nature just gets more and more clear (and, at a time, threaded through with a passionate surge of protectiveness that made me (and Linus) a little hot under the collar).
The children themselves are absolutely lovely, and the individual relationships they all have with one another are so sweetly written. It’s abundantly clear, from the very first few scenes after Linus arrives at the Island, that this is a family.
That’s important later on, too.
I have a particular fondness for both Sal and Lucy, two of the children that have wormed their way into my heart and stuck with me for weeks after I finished this novel. Sal, the oldest, is a quiet, reserved, and shy boy who’s seen and experienced more evils than any kid of his age should and still holds out hope for better. Then there is Lucy, the youngest of the six kids, who is outspoken, brazen, and full of life while being all too aware of the way the world hates him and not caring at all since, really, it isn’t his problem that humans might fear him.
All in all, I love this book. I laughed and cheered and sobbed.
And when I say I sobbed? I mean I SOBBED reading this book. More than once. It sucker-punched me in the found family feels, it carried me along with a slow, gentle romance, and it breathed life into my heart with the protective love the book is steeped with. The House in The Cerulean Sea is now, and forever will be, a comfort book.
I want to have things to critique, but I honestly… don’t. Beyond the fact that I would have enjoyed a little more on-screen romance (which is truly just a personal preference), this book filled my heart and fed my soul and made me feel so FULL of love and safety and hope.
Now, do I recommend this book? Yes, wholeheartedly, but with conditions. This is an amazing YA fantasy focused around found family with a heavy central theme of kindness, and if that sounds like something you would enjoy, I think you'll love this book.
Before you pick this book up and give it a read, however, I would suggest you read up on where Klune got his inspiration for this book, as there have recently been some (rightful) calls for accountability from the bookish community.
Many tears were shed. My heart kindled with hope. The blood in my veins boiled. Uncontrollable bursts of laughter. So many emotions packed within its pages.
This is the most heart-warming book I've ever read. No, the greatest heart-warming, most delightful and brilliant piece of storytelling ever told across all formats.
This story is about hopes and dreams. It's about prejudice and hatred. It's about celebrating our differences. Above all, it's about kindness and family.