Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

85 reviews

stardustandrockets's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad fast-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

This book deserves ALL THE STARS. All of them. This was the sweetest book I've read in a long time and the best slow-burn I think I've EVER read.

A more full review to come.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Xenophobia

Moderate: Body shaming and Violence

Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Violence, and Grief

rotatinglibrary's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Fatphobia, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Violence and Religious bigotry

Minor: Suicide

Disturbing images, monsters, prejudice, "See something say something" There is something about the way the magical youth are homed that reminds me of (indigenous) residential schools. I found the fatphobia extremely upsetting and ruined the overall mood of this book for me.

ha1yan's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

At first I wasn't so sure about this book, but I ended up adoring it. It reminds me of Good Omens, Ms. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, and Howl's Moving Castle, all stories that I love. Linus' character development really touched my heart as he learned about self-acceptance and pursuing happiness. There was a lot of repetition of certain phrases, which gave it a poetic feel. It was a bit sappy, but I cried. Multiple times.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, and Fatphobia

Minor: Death and Violence

jehansflowers's review against another edition

funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

this book was really cute. it had a major whimsical vibe, and i absolutely ADORED all of the kids. i was a bit disappointed by linus & arthurs' characters though. i just kinda found linus annoying and arthur bland.  

edit: going back and changing my rating from 4 stars to 3.5 bc this book just really didn’t leave an impression

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence

wirt's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

There aren't enough words for me to properly go into just how much of a marvel this book is. As a queer person, seeing how lovingly Linus and Arthur were written was extremely heartwarming, especially for one with a heart so shriveled as mine. I know not everyone has the same takeaway from these sort of things, but the magic in this book truly picked me up and swept me along with it, and I would have stayed in it forever if possible.

It had many aspects in it as well that I feel could make for a wonderful Ghibli film, which is less of a review and more of how I personally imagined things. I love Marsyas and will be returning to it most assuredly.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Confinement

Minor: Cursing and Violence