The House In The Cerulean Sea
“Linus Baker is a by-the-book caseworker in the Department of Magical Youth. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records for company. But his quiet life is about to change. Linus is summoned by Extremely Upper Management and given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to an orphanage on a distant island and determine whether six dangerous magical children are so dangerous, in fact, that they’re likely to bring about the end of days. When Linus arrives at the strangest of islands he’s greeted by a series of mysterious figures, the greatest mystery of which is Arthur Parnassus, the master of the orphanage. As Linus and Arthur grow closer, Linus discovers the master would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world has to burn. Or worse, his secret comes to light.”
The House In The Cerulean Sea was such a beautiful read, and so delightfully written. T.J. Klune has a unique way of building a world in which we are all familiar whilst also adding ironic on-the-nose commentary and weaving it with a love like no other. No matter how immune you think that you are, love will find you. Just like it found Linus Baker on a strange island on the sea.
It’s so delightfully refreshing to see admirable parental figures, and even more so have the main character’s perspective become one of them. It was so heartwarming to see Linus change and grow in real time. He battles with a loss of innocence as his world view is shattered and replaced with something so wonderfully raw and confusing. He finds himself on the precipice of choice, and he chooses right.
He falls in love. He finds a family. He finds a purpose.
Linus Baker is a changed man, and I so loved reading his story.
Kudos to Klune for writing something so beautiful.