Review by matchakauphy - The House in the Cerulean Sea

matchakauphy 's review for:

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

3.0

adventurous lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, was a novel which I didn’t read much about before getting into and I’m glad that was the case. This novel is just best described as a heartwarming novel that feels like a big hug. It’s simple, predictable, and to the point, but it just hugs you with the familiarity it has to get you to enjoy it. It reminded me of the many novels I read as a kid but not limited to children and can be appreciated by all age groups. Personally, I found the story a bit slow in multiple portions of the novel but I was able to get through due to the warmth of the story.

Coming to the novel itself, it’s about Linus, who is a case worker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, and is sent on a secret assignment to an orphanage on Marsyas Island to report on how it’s being run by Arthur Parnassus and how the six children living there are growing. Initially Linus is taken aback by the unorthodox methods at the island and reports accordingly, but as he spends more time with the children and Arthur, he loosens up and realizes not to be such a stickler and by the book. The book is largely about Linus’ journey in connecting with the children who are perceived as dangerous by the outside world including the DICOMY and ends with him rebelling against the DICOMY and finding love in Arthur.

This is an age old tale and the storytelling method is pretty ordinary as well, which is why it felt slowed down and a little hard to get through at a few points. But the warmth of the novel keeps you hooked in and Klune’s writing is something that will attract those of all ages.

The characters of the children are very intriguing, especially Lucy and Chaucney, and pairing this with the subplot of Arthur and Linus falling in love, a heartwarming novel shapes up. Arthur and Linus’ love story is hinted at early on and it feels organic, I’m glad the author used the fantasy genre to make being LGBTQ+ completely normal without turning any heads like it can do in current society and in some media. The children have no arc but along with Linus we get past the initial judgements he places and begin to connect with them, which really offers us insight into Linus’ character.

Overall, this is a novel to read for when you are somewhat down and are just in need for a big hug, because that’s what this novel is. It’s simple and has no surprises in store for the reader, but warms the heart.

Content Warnings