The House In The Cerulean Sea ~ TJ Klune

I would like to preface this review by saying this is by far my favourite book I have read this year. Although it has taken me most of the month to get through it that is no detriment to the book itself I have just been in a massive reading slump recently but hopefully, this book has done the trick. It was so beautifully written with incredible world-building that each time I picked my kindle up to read a few more pages I was fully immersed in the world TJ Klune was creating before my eyes. This quirky story hooked me from the very first chapter and continued to blow my expectations with each one that followed.

We follow narrator Linus Barker, a 40-year-old, quiet, lonely man with only his cat Calliope to keep him company. He has worked as a caseworker for the Department In Charge Of Magical Youth (DICOMY) for seventeen long years always following the rules and completing the jobs given to him. Although now he has been called upon by the Extremely Upper Management for a secret assignment. He is being sent to the orphanage on Marsyas Island, for four weeks, which is run by a man called Arthur Parnassus. Chosen due to his ability to be very objective and always separate work from any personal feelings, he must assess whether the orphanage should be closed down or not. This orphanage is home to six dangerous children: a gnome, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-pomerarian, a sprite and a young antichrist.

This is not your usual YA fantasy. It is filled with so much meaning and the character development is so well done. I truly felt like I knew each and every one of them by the end of the book. Klune deals with so many great themes such as acceptance of yourself, opening yourself up to being loved for the first time, unconditional love and respecting that although someone looks different does not mean they aren’t a person on the inside. Every page gave me a heart warming fuzzy feeling inside and I truly didn’t want the story to end. I honestly have no more words other than this is a remarkable story! I gave The House In The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune the biggest 5 ⭐️ rating.

M🌸