BOOK REVIEW: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Publication Date: December 29, 2020 Format: Paperback Genre:  LGBTQ Fantasy Fiction

Publisher: Tor              Length: 416 pages Buy:  Kindle | Paperback

Synopsis

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. 

Review: 

This book was described to me as a big hug.  I have to agree.  I was incredibly touched by this brilliant book. I laughed, I cried and overall I just felt good.  Linus lives a pretty dismal life going to work thinking he is doing right by the children he oversees but when he is assigned a secret task by Extremely Upper Management to go visit an orphanage off the radar, on Marsyas Island what he experiences changes his life.  I can't say enough about this book and its genuine warmth and the fabulous message of tolerance and learning about what you don't know instead of fearing it.  This book should be required reading in every school.  Well written with a great message.  I truly hope they turn this into a movie or something because it rivals Harry Potter. 

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