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n_iniel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Mental illness and Child abuse
indigoriverboat's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
This book is lighthearted, whimsical and joyful, but it has some pressing societal and moral questions that it addresses too. The characters are charming and lovely. The children bring so much joy and innocence to the story. It’s a romp getting to read about their lives and the tone of the books is both fantastical and hilarious.
If you know much about the real life counterparts to the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, there are some very real horrors that a skirting around this story, which are referred to briefly in the book. As an adult reader with that knowledge the stakes can feel quite high, even knowing that the book ends happily.
I truly enjoyed this read. It would make a great book club discussion.
If you know much about the real life counterparts to the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, there are some very real horrors that a skirting around this story, which are referred to briefly in the book. As an adult reader with that knowledge the stakes can feel quite high, even knowing that the book ends happily.
I truly enjoyed this read. It would make a great book club discussion.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Confinement, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Fatphobia
zebradshaw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
It's a sweet story of found family, finding oneself, and finding love. There's nothing incredibly heavy or particularly subtle about it, but it's like a hug in a book. It doesn't need to be anything more than it is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Child abuse
Minor: Violence
miles's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Confinement, and Physical abuse
anni_swanilda's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
skylarkblue1's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
Representations: https://trello.com/c/8wNj7gDc/79-the-house-in-the-cerulean-sea-by-tj-klune
Oh man oh man how I wish I picked up this book so much sooner! It's been sat on my shelf now for a good couple years, knowing I'd love it but never quite having the moment to grab it. I now really regret not doing so sooner, and will most certainly read the other books of his I own too as soon as I can!
Linus is stuck in life. He lives in a rainy city. He has a very strict job. The only things keeping him going are his cat and a motivational mouse pad depicting the sea with the saying "don't you wish you where here". Until one fateful day, Extremely Upper Management calls him for a meeting and ships him off to a remote island that no one knows about..
I absolutely adored this book. It's message about love and acceptance, while also learning to love yourself in the face of adversity. The characters where all so incredibly sweet and adorable, I just wanted to pick all of them up and give them a big hug <3
There's not too much plot, it's mainly just about the relationship between Linus and the residents of the island. A lot still happens however, there's trips to the village, adventures and more!I wouldn't really call it a romance though, while yes there is a romantic relationship, it doesn't feel like an absolutely major piece of the story, nor is it a main focus until essentially the very end. It's just a sweet additional story to the overall book.
The inspiration is being pointed out as being "problematic" but in all honesty.. I'm not sure those people have read the book. The book doesn't glorify or glamorise abusive residential "schools" or anything similar to that. In fact it's incredibly explicit about how abusive the system at its roots is. Arthur's home isn't a "if it's ran by someone good then it's ok" excuse. Arthur's home is a tale about strength together, found family and fighting injustice and abuse together. His home lies outside the system.
Additionally if you read the entire interview, the book was already pretty much done by the time he found out about Canadian residential schools so like. What are you all even on about lmao.
Last point, what are y'all on about that it sounds like the author is trying to be English lol. I'm from the UK and it sounded pretty American to me.
Oh man oh man how I wish I picked up this book so much sooner! It's been sat on my shelf now for a good couple years, knowing I'd love it but never quite having the moment to grab it. I now really regret not doing so sooner, and will most certainly read the other books of his I own too as soon as I can!
Linus is stuck in life. He lives in a rainy city. He has a very strict job. The only things keeping him going are his cat and a motivational mouse pad depicting the sea with the saying "don't you wish you where here". Until one fateful day, Extremely Upper Management calls him for a meeting and ships him off to a remote island that no one knows about..
I absolutely adored this book. It's message about love and acceptance, while also learning to love yourself in the face of adversity. The characters where all so incredibly sweet and adorable, I just wanted to pick all of them up and give them a big hug <3
There's not too much plot, it's mainly just about the relationship between Linus and the residents of the island. A lot still happens however, there's trips to the village, adventures and more!I wouldn't really call it a romance though, while yes there is a romantic relationship, it doesn't feel like an absolutely major piece of the story, nor is it a main focus until essentially the very end. It's just a sweet additional story to the overall book.
The inspiration is being pointed out as being "problematic" but in all honesty.. I'm not sure those people have read the book. The book doesn't glorify or glamorise abusive residential "schools" or anything similar to that. In fact it's incredibly explicit about how abusive the system at its roots is. Arthur's home isn't a "if it's ran by someone good then it's ok" excuse. Arthur's home is a tale about strength together, found family and fighting injustice and abuse together. His home lies outside the system.
Additionally if you read the entire interview, the book was already pretty much done by the time he found out about Canadian residential schools so like. What are you all even on about lmao.
Last point, what are y'all on about that it sounds like the author is trying to be English lol. I'm from the UK and it sounded pretty American to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Child abuse, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, and Hate crime
Minor: Homophobia
Fantasy bigotry (hatred from humans towards magical beings for being non-human), Gore descriptionskathyreadsalot's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Child abuse, and Xenophobia
thenoboshow's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
3.5
An aggresivly sweet story about found family and heavy handed metaphors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Violence
kyrie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
5.0
This book was somehow both lighthearted and thoroughly emotional. The balance was beautiful, the characters were captivating, the pace was just right, the themes were brilliant and well executed. This book did everything it set out to do and I would call it near perfect.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Xenophobia
hales_1243's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Cannibalism, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, and Cursing
Minor: Drug use
There was no explicit drug use, but there was reference to drugs briefly by a side character.