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cassidy_rain's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
"And what if the treasure was the friendships we solidified along the way?" Arthur asked.
Lucy pulled a face. "That's the worst treasure in the world.
They already were my friends. I want rubies."
If I had to describe this book in one word it would be- whimsical. It also gave me Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends vibes. If you love found family tropes, you’re gonna eat this up!
The book’s setting is a world where there are both “normal” people and magical beings of all varieties. It follows our main character, Linus, who is a government/case worker and his job to ensure that magical children in the orphanages are being cared for and treated appropriately. His new assignment is super classified and takes him out to investigate the children in the house of the cerulean sea.
The children are the stars of the show in this novel. They’re all so unique and quirky and I absolutely adore them all. I think the author does a great job of describing and building out the characters, I could picture them vividly in my mind. Linus has a lot of growth as a character, which I really enjoyed. You can tell he always had good intentions, however misguided. He has to unlearn a lot of propaganda which his latest assignment really helps him with. I do think there could have been better chemistry between Linus & Arthur.
I thought there were some slow parts throughout the book. I was really unsure about the writing style in the first 25%; I felt I was reading a children’s book, but it did pick up for me after that. The chapters are on the long side which made it drag a bit. It’s a predictable story, but overall sweet and endearing. I like that the characters were able to inspire change by the end of the story.
If I had to describe this book in one word it would be- whimsical. It also gave me Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends vibes. If you love found family tropes, you’re gonna eat this up!
The book’s setting is a world where there are both “normal” people and magical beings of all varieties. It follows our main character, Linus, who is a government/case worker and his job to ensure that magical children in the orphanages are being cared for and treated appropriately. His new assignment is super classified and takes him out to investigate the children in the house of the cerulean sea.
The children are the stars of the show in this novel. They’re all so unique and quirky and I absolutely adore them all. I think the author does a great job of describing and building out the characters, I could picture them vividly in my mind. Linus has a lot of growth as a character, which I really enjoyed. You can tell he always had good intentions, however misguided. He has to unlearn a lot of propaganda which his latest assignment really helps him with.
I thought there were some slow parts throughout the book. I was really unsure about the writing style in the first 25%; I felt I was reading a children’s book, but it did pick up for me after that. The chapters are on the long side which made it drag a bit. It’s a predictable story, but overall sweet and endearing. I like that the characters were able to inspire change by the end of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Minor: Child abuse, Body shaming, and Confinement
starlily's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, and Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Bullying, and Body shaming
Minor: Violence, Torture, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, and Grief
adrienanthony's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book as sweet as this one. The characters were so loveable and precious to me that I couldn’t go a page without smiling at their interactions. This is a new comfort read for me and I’ve recommended it to all of my friends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Child abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Death, Fatphobia, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Animal death, and Death of parent
The main character has internalized fatphobia that is addressed as something to overcome in a route to self-love.mostlymetaphors's review
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
reytmon_l's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming
16note's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Racism, Fatphobia, and Abandonment
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Body shaming
a_l_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
personal review notes:
C 7/10
A 8/10
W 5/10
P 5/10
I 4/10
L 7/10
E 5/10
-> 5.1/10
-> 3 stars
- C: the characters were super adorable and diverse, i liked how they were described, i didn' really felt connected though & i personally don't really vibe with linus
- W: some feelings and situations felt over-explained, sometimes it left way too hopeful und overly positive, especially towards the end i sometimes cringed at some of the dialogues and writing
- P: the second half the story kinda dragged on, the over all outcome was very foreseeable
- I: at first, i couldn't put it down and towards the end the only motivation to read was to get this book done.
- E: in the beginning i really enjoyed it, was alright over all, glad that i read it, wouldn't read again
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, and Physical abuse
Minor: Cannibalism, Death, Death of parent, Body shaming, and Murder
elisavaz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Um livro bastante leve e descontraído. É muito bom e tem uma história simples que deixa o coração quentinho. O livro tem um tom bastante infantil, então, embora tenha sido reflexivo, pareceu-me uma reflexão escrita para crianças. Além disso, o personagem Linos me irritou muito com a visão de algumas coisas dele. Ele recomendou que 5 orfanatos fossem fechados, mas nunca sentiu a necessidade de acompanhar a resolução disso porque não era o trabalho dele (a recomendação não implica que sera acatada). Mas ele aparentemente se importa com a qualidade de vida das crianças (???) Mas não questiona nada nunca. Claramente é uma pessoa que tem muita fé no sistema, embora ele seja crítico de religiões.
Além disso, acho muito estranho que o livro se passa no planeta Terra, na nossa sociedade. Isso tira a gente um pouco do livro porque não conseguimos entender a transição de inexistência de seres mágicos, pra existência e preconceito e depois existência (e preconceito) e regulação.
Ri diversas vezes, adorei as crianças e o final foi emocionante.
Além disso, acho muito estranho que o livro se passa no planeta Terra, na nossa sociedade. Isso tira a gente um pouco do livro porque não conseguimos entender a transição de inexistência de seres mágicos, pra existência e preconceito e depois existência (e preconceito) e regulação.
Ri diversas vezes, adorei as crianças e o final foi emocionante.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
kiwichill's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A wonderful book about equality, acceptance and love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Blood, Cursing, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Body shaming, and Hate crime
thestrangebeingyouare's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
i love this book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming and Bullying