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A review by ellemnope
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
5.0
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
The House in the Cerulean Sea is a whimsical yet slightly dark magical creature fantasy in the vein of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Linus Baker is a social worker for the government Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY). He is a by-the-book investigator who lives a life of monotony. He is called by Extremely Upper Management for a month-long assignment at the Marsyas Island Orphanage, a remote location where the six magical children residing are considered Class 4 confidential and dangerous. His job is to evaluate the children, their caretaker, and the island, to determine whether the orphanage should remain in operations.
This story was wonderful. I was immediately charmed by the premise, but then fell into love with the narrative within the first few pages. There is so much to enjoy within this book. The story is fantastically whimsical, but still has just enough of a creep factor. It is sweet without being saccharine and has some fantastical magical elements at work. There are high levels of creativity, great characters, and a plot that moves steadily with ease. I went through a range of emotions in my reading, finding moments of anticipation, unease, happiness, sadness, and pieces where I truly laughed out loud.
The tale begins with Linus Baker's life in a humdrum and utterly gray existence. His job is monotonous and unpersonable, his neighbor is a grouch, and the weather seems perpetually gloomy. The writing captures this blandness so incredibly well, making the narrative feel as weighted and plodding as Linus's life itself. There is something magical to this alone. The words used make everything feel appropriately lonely and unfulfilling. However, as Linus moves out of the clouds and into the sunshine of Marsyas Island and its beautiful cerulean-colored sea, there is a slow shift in the tone, feeling something like the moment in The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy touches down to a suddenly colorized world.
Though the plot is undeniably intriguing, fun, and well-crafted, it was the characters who truly made this book for me. Klune has an ability to capture the innocence, honesty, and sometimes inappropriate children of children. His magical children are unique and have highly developed personalities that make them stand all on their own. It was so much fun to see them bloom in depth from beginning to end. The writing felt so honest to the character's natures and stayed all at once intriguing and entertaining.
The story works on many levels--feeling appropriate for nearly all audiences. Save a few instances of language mildly inappropriate for children, this could be a read for those from middle school to old age. The story itself is entertaining enough for all of those levels, but there are also lessons within the plot that work on a social parameter in ways that would be differently comprehended and resonate well with all readers.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is a wholly fulfilling read and one of my favorite reads thus far this year. It stands very well on its own and is currently showing as a standalone, but presents a world I would love to explore more. I will absolutely be seeking out more of this author's work and praising this book to anyone who will listen. It's not perfect, but it is beautiful, magical, and just plain great.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is a whimsical yet slightly dark magical creature fantasy in the vein of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Linus Baker is a social worker for the government Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY). He is a by-the-book investigator who lives a life of monotony. He is called by Extremely Upper Management for a month-long assignment at the Marsyas Island Orphanage, a remote location where the six magical children residing are considered Class 4 confidential and dangerous. His job is to evaluate the children, their caretaker, and the island, to determine whether the orphanage should remain in operations.
This story was wonderful. I was immediately charmed by the premise, but then fell into love with the narrative within the first few pages. There is so much to enjoy within this book. The story is fantastically whimsical, but still has just enough of a creep factor. It is sweet without being saccharine and has some fantastical magical elements at work. There are high levels of creativity, great characters, and a plot that moves steadily with ease. I went through a range of emotions in my reading, finding moments of anticipation, unease, happiness, sadness, and pieces where I truly laughed out loud.
The tale begins with Linus Baker's life in a humdrum and utterly gray existence. His job is monotonous and unpersonable, his neighbor is a grouch, and the weather seems perpetually gloomy. The writing captures this blandness so incredibly well, making the narrative feel as weighted and plodding as Linus's life itself. There is something magical to this alone. The words used make everything feel appropriately lonely and unfulfilling. However, as Linus moves out of the clouds and into the sunshine of Marsyas Island and its beautiful cerulean-colored sea, there is a slow shift in the tone, feeling something like the moment in The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy touches down to a suddenly colorized world.
Though the plot is undeniably intriguing, fun, and well-crafted, it was the characters who truly made this book for me. Klune has an ability to capture the innocence, honesty, and sometimes inappropriate children of children. His magical children are unique and have highly developed personalities that make them stand all on their own. It was so much fun to see them bloom in depth from beginning to end. The writing felt so honest to the character's natures and stayed all at once intriguing and entertaining.
The story works on many levels--feeling appropriate for nearly all audiences. Save a few instances of language mildly inappropriate for children, this could be a read for those from middle school to old age. The story itself is entertaining enough for all of those levels, but there are also lessons within the plot that work on a social parameter in ways that would be differently comprehended and resonate well with all readers.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is a wholly fulfilling read and one of my favorite reads thus far this year. It stands very well on its own and is currently showing as a standalone, but presents a world I would love to explore more. I will absolutely be seeking out more of this author's work and praising this book to anyone who will listen. It's not perfect, but it is beautiful, magical, and just plain great.