What the community thinks
summary of 3250 ratings (see reviews)
Content warnings
View warnings
Graphic
Child abuse (5 reviewers), Confinement (3 reviewers), Xenophobia (3 reviewers), Fatphobia (2 reviewers), Mental illness (2 reviewers), Forced institutionalization (2 reviewers), Bullying (1 reviewer), and Body shaming (1 reviewer)Moderate
Child abuse (29 reviewers), Confinement (17 reviewers), Fatphobia (15 reviewers), Body shaming (10 reviewers), Bullying (5 reviewers), Hate crime (4 reviewers), Xenophobia (4 reviewers), Homophobia (3 reviewers), Forced institutionalization (3 reviewers), Religious bigotry (2 reviewers), Cursing (2 reviewers), Mental illness (2 reviewers), Emotional abuse (2 reviewers), Panic attacks/disorders (1 reviewer), Eating disorder (1 reviewer), Racism (1 reviewer), Physical abuse (1 reviewer), and Domestic abuse (1 reviewer)Minor
Child abuse (23 reviewers), Confinement (10 reviewers), Body shaming (6 reviewers), Physical abuse (6 reviewers), Bullying (5 reviewers), Fatphobia (5 reviewers), Homophobia (5 reviewers), Xenophobia (4 reviewers), Cursing (3 reviewers), Emotional abuse (3 reviewers), Hate crime (3 reviewers), Violence (3 reviewers), Panic attacks/disorders (2 reviewers), Racism (2 reviewers), Forced institutionalization (2 reviewers), Body horror (1 reviewer), Child death (1 reviewer), Death (1 reviewer), Gore (1 reviewer), Mental illness (1 reviewer), Toxic relationship (1 reviewer), Cannibalism (1 reviewer), and Religious bigotry (1 reviewer)Moods
hopeful 86%
emotional 66%
funny 65%
lighthearted 61%
inspiring 56%
adventurous 52%
reflective 22%
relaxing 16%
mysterious 8%
challenging 3%
sad 3%
dark 1%
informative 1%
tense 1%
emotional 66%
funny 65%
lighthearted 61%
inspiring 56%
adventurous 52%
reflective 22%
relaxing 16%
mysterious 8%
challenging 3%
sad 3%
dark 1%
informative 1%
tense 1%
Pace
medium 72%
fast 18%
slow 9%
fast 18%
slow 9%
Plot- or character-driven?
Character: 100%Strong character development?
Yes: 97% | It's complicated: 1% | No: 0%Loveable characters?
Yes: 98% | It's complicated: 0% | No: 0%Diverse cast of characters?
Yes: 87% | It's complicated: 11% | N/A: 0% | No: 0%Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 75% | It's complicated: 13% | No: 7% | N/A: 2%Average rating
Buy The House in the Cerulean Sea
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A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.
When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.
But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.
An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.
When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.
But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.
An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.
Buy The House in the Cerulean Sea
United States
Bookshop US
Other countries
Bookshop UK
Blackwell's
The StoryGraph is an affiliate of the featured links. We earn commission on any purchases made.
A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.
When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.
But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.
An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.
When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.
But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.
An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.
What the community thinks
summary of 3250 ratings (see reviews)
Content warnings
View warnings
Graphic
Child abuse (5 reviewers), Confinement (3 reviewers), Xenophobia (3 reviewers), Fatphobia (2 reviewers), Mental illness (2 reviewers), Forced institutionalization (2 reviewers), Bullying (1 reviewer), and Body shaming (1 reviewer)Moderate
Child abuse (29 reviewers), Confinement (17 reviewers), Fatphobia (15 reviewers), Body shaming (10 reviewers), Bullying (5 reviewers), Hate crime (4 reviewers), Xenophobia (4 reviewers), Homophobia (3 reviewers), Forced institutionalization (3 reviewers), Religious bigotry (2 reviewers), Cursing (2 reviewers), Mental illness (2 reviewers), Emotional abuse (2 reviewers), Panic attacks/disorders (1 reviewer), Eating disorder (1 reviewer), Racism (1 reviewer), Physical abuse (1 reviewer), and Domestic abuse (1 reviewer)Minor
Child abuse (23 reviewers), Confinement (10 reviewers), Body shaming (6 reviewers), Physical abuse (6 reviewers), Bullying (5 reviewers), Fatphobia (5 reviewers), Homophobia (5 reviewers), Xenophobia (4 reviewers), Cursing (3 reviewers), Emotional abuse (3 reviewers), Hate crime (3 reviewers), Violence (3 reviewers), Panic attacks/disorders (2 reviewers), Racism (2 reviewers), Forced institutionalization (2 reviewers), Body horror (1 reviewer), Child death (1 reviewer), Death (1 reviewer), Gore (1 reviewer), Mental illness (1 reviewer), Toxic relationship (1 reviewer), Cannibalism (1 reviewer), and Religious bigotry (1 reviewer)Moods
hopeful 86%
emotional 66%
funny 65%
lighthearted 61%
inspiring 56%
adventurous 52%
reflective 22%
relaxing 16%
mysterious 8%
challenging 3%
sad 3%
dark 1%
informative 1%
tense 1%
emotional 66%
funny 65%
lighthearted 61%
inspiring 56%
adventurous 52%
reflective 22%
relaxing 16%
mysterious 8%
challenging 3%
sad 3%
dark 1%
informative 1%
tense 1%
Pace
medium 72%
fast 18%
slow 9%
fast 18%
slow 9%
Plot- or character-driven?
Character: 100%Strong character development?
Yes: 97% | It's complicated: 1% | No: 0%Loveable characters?
Yes: 98% | It's complicated: 0% | No: 0%Diverse cast of characters?
Yes: 87% | It's complicated: 11% | N/A: 0% | No: 0%Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 75% | It's complicated: 13% | No: 7% | N/A: 2%Average rating