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martapsalvado's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
well maybe I like fantasy after all but only wholesome fantasy
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Fatphobia, Death, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Violence
infinitefandomstrash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Xenophobia and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Child abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Death
zoecjohnson's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Cannibalism, Cursing, Death of parent, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
planetshelf's review against another edition
- 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
Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Violence, and Child abuse
nav26's review against another edition
- 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
I adored this book. It felt like a children's book written for adults, in the best way: whimsical, magical, fun, tender, and so so heartwarming. I genuinely felt happy after finishing this one. It started a little bit slow for me when things were being set up, and even once Linus arrived on the island. But soon I was excited to see the children's antics and to learn more about who they were. It was wonderful to see how Linus's views changed and his heart opened as he spent more time on the island. The children stole my heart in the exact way they stole Linus's - slowly and without me even realizing. All of a sudden I was like "of COURSE Lucy would say that" or "typical Talia". The connections made between Linus and the children make you genuinely care for all of the characters deeply. TJ Klune invites you into this special world and warms your heart so easily, and it's amazing to watch as Linus realizes the life he's always led is not nearly enough anymore. Will definitely be reading TJ Klune's other novel, Under the Whispering Door, when I get a chance!
Moderate: Classism and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
malaikawrites's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
The book, and the controversy around it, has managed to push important conversations into the spotlight. The inspirations for the book paired with the story the book told allowed for many conversations within the bookish community around white saviourism, the historical and current mistreatment of Indigenous people as well as a vast amount of other linked topics. Though I find myself disappointed in Klune, I do think that it's long overdue for the conversations his book brought to the spotlight to be taken as seriously as it recently has been.
While writing this review I would also like to make it clear that my moral compass is anything but perfect. The controversy around this book only further sparked my interest to read the book myself. I have seen many opinions on the book and the less than savoury inspirations for it, having read up on the topic on multiple occasions, and I have wanted to read the source material for myself to gain a more solidified understanding of how not just the concept, but the book itself, managed to spark major conversation in a book world where both authors and books can be truly diabolical at times with little effect to a books overall image. What made public reactions so different this time around? I know it's not right, but curiosity got the better of me by far with this one and the book quickly became a "must read" in my lifetime BECAUSE of the messed up origins and the conversations surrounding it.
I won't sit here and lie to you all, I really did love this book. Klune's writing style is lovely and easy to work through (if not a bit repetitive), the characters and their dynamics and interactions were thoroughly enjoyable and the story itself is sweet and totally worth the read despite being a tad bit cliche. What so many people have said is right: the book is fantastic. I could easily see myself rating this book 4-5 stars in a different world where Klune wrote a sweet fantasy novel about monsters deserving love too inspired by a cute children's book or movie... and but that's not reality. In the real world Indigenous people who went through horrendous physical, emotional and psychological abuse were used to make a cute little fantasy about how monsters, specifically the literal devil's child, have feelings too... it's easy to see why the reality of the situation is unsavoury, exploitative and inexcusable. Though this book is wonderful, the harsh realities of the story behind it cannot simply disappear due to it being a great body of literature. Every positive thing I have to say about the novel should forever be taken with a grain of salt because of the truly disgusting connotations the author's inspiration implies about Indigenous people, the author and the story itself.
The idea of separating the art from the artist is an idea that allows us to consume content guilt free. This time it's different. You cannot separate this book from the events that the author said inspired it. Despite how great this book may be, there's no clear divide here that allows for readers to put enough distance between their morality and the books shortcomings. The major issues with this book cannot easily be put in the backseat. No matter how in love I am with this story, I could never in good conscious take this book seriously enough to give it a legitimate rating. The realities behind this novel weren't the authors story to tell and the author shouldn't be given any legitimacy for telling it.
Graphic: Xenophobia and Child abuse
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Death, and Fatphobia
kriziny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
In this book you follow Linus Baker who works as a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, one day he will get a classified assignment from Extremely Upper Management. This assignment will change his life in a way he didn't expected it. The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place and realizing how much that family has changed him.
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Hate crime, Death of parent, and Death
julesadventurezone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Misogyny, Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Animal death, Blood, and Homophobia
leighmayon's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, and Child abuse
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Emotional abuse, Cannibalism, Toxic relationship, Genocide, Murder, Sexual content, Confinement, Death, Cursing, and Excrement
jfield351's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Cursing, Death, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Confinement