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sallytiffany's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
I liked the book. Thought it was well done. But definitely wasn’t as good as the hype. But well done characters and a good moral.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Racism, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
glitterstained's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Abandonment, Child abuse, Fatphobia, and Forced institutionalization
bean_7088's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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
4.0
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, but make it sweet, gay, and political.
I loved everyone. It was sweet, and gay, and Theodore and his little buttons.
I found Linus a bit inconsistent at times, a little too off the rules too quickly, but I don't really care. I still loved this.
I loved everyone. It was sweet, and gay, and Theodore and his little buttons.
I found Linus a bit inconsistent at times, a little too off the rules too quickly, but I don't really care. I still loved this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Child abuse
Moderate: Racism
Magical creature racism, and talk of children in bad foster care, one scene of extended talk of child abuse involving isolation.mags_'s review
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
3.5
I enjoyed this book, but found the dialogue rather stilted and preachy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Racism, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Gore, Blood, Body horror, and Animal death
gabym's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
I've only had Lucy, Talia, Theodore, Chauncey, Sal and Phee for a day and a half, but if anything happened to them I would kill everyone in this room and then myself
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Child abuse
carissa230's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? No
4.25
Arthur is probably one of the kindest characters I have ever read. He was so giving and caring of those that were in his care.
Linus had a lot of growth as a character. He was a reclusive character that believed he was happy with his life. When he went out and found more in life he found that he could be happier than he ever thought.
Linus had a lot of growth as a character. He was a reclusive character that believed he was happy with his life. When he went out and found more in life he found that he could be happier than he ever thought.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
fanboyriot's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Read For:
Fantasy
Slow Burn
Found Family
Idiots in Love
Happy Ending
Think Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children vibes but kinda queer. I just felt kinda neutral about it. The humor was okay, the characters were okay, and the setting was kinda meh. I just felt like I had to force myself to keep reading and if I didn’t already own the book I would have stopped. Also, I thought there would be more queer rep to be honest so that was kinda disappointing. Not to mention the fatphobia.
I wasn’t going to read this given the reviews I’ve been seeing recently, however, I already own the first two books so I figured I’d see if it was as bad as some of the reviews were saying. And honestly, I just didn’t understand the hype about it. Even not knowing what the book was based on it was barely a 3-star rating for me, it just fell flat to me.
However, learning that this was based on the Sixties Scoop and how the author decided to turn what was a cruel and tragic piece of history he read about on Wikipedia about how the Canadian government removed a bunch of indigenous children from their literal homes and away from their family only to be adopted to white, middle-class families and he then took that information and basically turned it into a happy little fantasy where the kids live not in an “orphanage” but a “home” like, dude, why?
This kind of thing is still something native people are dealing with and as a white person, it should not be something you’re involved in like this. In America the Supreme Court literally is going to be voting soon on overturning ICWA so states can regain control to remove Native children from their homes and families, this isn’t just some fantasy. This story could have been written way better and in a way that did romanticize trauma and make light of a literal genocide.
I just wouldn’t recommend this one. There are some links on where I got my information from if you’re interested along with two reviews I think do a better job of explaining this than I did.
Links:
Source: https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A617930246/ITBC?u=uvictoria&sid=bookmark-ITBC&xid=0efbabda
Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixties_Scoop
Helpful Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4032060130
Another Helpful Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3601407534
Rep: Achillean, Queer MC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Racism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Classism, Grief, Homophobia, and Violence
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Cannibalism, Murder, Death, Animal death, and Blood
cecilie26's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
I really liked this book. I don’t usually read this genre, but when i found this so captivating. The dark but lighthearted humor was sooo good. The characters were excellent written. If you want to read a book that is heartwarming, playfull and funny this is the one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Abandonment, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
alba_marie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"Hate is loud only because it's a few desperate people shouting."
I honestly loved this book. It took me a long while to get to it... I was listening to another audiobook, and then there was the small matter of giving birth and taking home a small baby, not to mention hosting my family and what feels like half the county as visitors. So I kept hitting renew... until I realised I had just days left to finish the whole book. I managed it – only just! – and so glad I did.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is an uplifting fantasy story about the world's most dedicated worker (and most boring man) Linus Baker, a caseworker for the Dept. of Magical Youth, who is sent on a top secret mission to analyse operations at an orphanage on a secluded island. At first stolid and painstakingly professional, he slowly becomes attached to the children at the house, sent there due to their "dangerous" magical traits or parentage. It is endearing to witness his transformation from soulless government bureaucrat to loving guardian and custodian of the orphanage and the six unusual children who live there, run by the enigmatic Arthur Parnassus and the kind-hearted forest sprit Zoe.
Linus' characterisation is predictable but nonetheless endearing. The end – my least favourite part – is a bit cheesy and you'll see it coming. But it'll put a smile on your face and warm your soul. And that's what this book is. It deals with complex issues such as social work and the foster system, prejudice and hate, self love and acceptance for who one is, but at the end of the day, The House in the Cerulean Sea is essentially comfort mac and cheese in book format. 100% recommend.
I honestly loved this book. It took me a long while to get to it... I was listening to another audiobook, and then there was the small matter of giving birth and taking home a small baby, not to mention hosting my family and what feels like half the county as visitors. So I kept hitting renew... until I realised I had just days left to finish the whole book. I managed it – only just! – and so glad I did.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is an uplifting fantasy story about the world's most dedicated worker (and most boring man) Linus Baker, a caseworker for the Dept. of Magical Youth, who is sent on a top secret mission to analyse operations at an orphanage on a secluded island. At first stolid and painstakingly professional, he slowly becomes attached to the children at the house, sent there due to their "dangerous" magical traits or parentage. It is endearing to witness his transformation from soulless government bureaucrat to loving guardian and custodian of the orphanage and the six unusual children who live there, run by the enigmatic Arthur Parnassus and the kind-hearted forest sprit Zoe.
Linus' characterisation is predictable but nonetheless endearing. The end – my least favourite part – is a bit cheesy and you'll see it coming. But it'll put a smile on your face and warm your soul. And that's what this book is. It deals with complex issues such as social work and the foster system, prejudice and hate, self love and acceptance for who one is, but at the end of the day, The House in the Cerulean Sea is essentially comfort mac and cheese in book format. 100% recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Hate crime
abookwormspov's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Death, Racism, Torture, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse