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A review by yrc
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
3.0
Real rating, 3.75.
Bottom line:
A well crafted cost fantasy, and while I've read others similar books lately I still enjoyed the characters and world building plus MOM LGBTQ representation that was handled beautifully.
This book received huge amounts of hype when it was first published and I can understand why. It is considered to be the first cozy fantasy book out which started that trend we're seeing in the past few years. However, For better or for worse, I've read a few other cozy fantasy books before this one. That means that although I did very much enjoy the characters and worldbuilding, I'm just not stunned by it.
The upside of this story in my eyes is that it deals with themes such as loneliness, isolation, fighting for justice and protecting others in a very endearing way. The banter between both magical creatures and non magical (hail Helen!) was absolutely delicious and made me smile several times. It also clearly contrasted with Lioness's grey and dull bureaucratic which was portrayed almost comically.
I also thoroughly laughed through the dialogues between Lioness and his elderly obnoxious neighbor. We all need to feel protected and at home in our lives whether in a physical location or in the arms of a loved one, while taking some adventures and popping our bubbles. I loved the narration of this story by David H, and though this was a very sweet story, the hype may be a bit excess. Either way, Kudos TJ Klune!
Bottom line:
A well crafted cost fantasy, and while I've read others similar books lately I still enjoyed the characters and world building plus MOM LGBTQ representation that was handled beautifully.
This book received huge amounts of hype when it was first published and I can understand why. It is considered to be the first cozy fantasy book out which started that trend we're seeing in the past few years. However, For better or for worse, I've read a few other cozy fantasy books before this one. That means that although I did very much enjoy the characters and worldbuilding, I'm just not stunned by it.
The upside of this story in my eyes is that it deals with themes such as loneliness, isolation, fighting for justice and protecting others in a very endearing way. The banter between both magical creatures and non magical (hail Helen!) was absolutely delicious and made me smile several times. It also clearly contrasted with Lioness's grey and dull bureaucratic which was portrayed almost comically.
I also thoroughly laughed through the dialogues between Lioness and his elderly obnoxious neighbor. We all need to feel protected and at home in our lives whether in a physical location or in the arms of a loved one, while taking some adventures and popping our bubbles. I loved the narration of this story by David H, and though this was a very sweet story, the hype may be a bit excess. Either way, Kudos TJ Klune!