About the Book
Title: The House in the Cerulean Sea
Author: T.J. Klune
Series: Cerulean Chronicles #1
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 394
Edition Read: Paperback
Dates Read: May 7 – 12, 2025
Blurb: 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.
An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.
Review
This book was so cute! I’ve been in this mood to read some nice, cozy fantasy for a while and it’s been such a nice break from some of the darker stuff I usually read. I was also really happy to finally read a book by T.J. Klune – I’ve seen his name everywhere but had never read any of his stuff. So glad to have changed that!
Starting off, Linus is such an adorable character! I love that this is a fantasy book that is set (mostly) in the real world, but most of all, I love that this fantasy book has an older protagonist. Not all fantasy characters have to be teenagers, okay! Us middle aged folk want to see magic too! He’s a bit bumbling but very well meaning. He wants to do the right thing, even when he doesn’t quite know what the right thing is.
I also really loved Arthur. Again, this is a story with older protagonists – and a romance! Youngsters aren’t the only ones to find love! This was so sweet! I loved how there was always this air of mystery around Arthur and I definitely wasn’t expecting his secret. As for the other characters, namely the children: they were just delightful. From Talia, the tough-as-nails gnome (she will bury you in her garden if you mess with her); Sal, the shy boy who turns into a Pomeranian when scared; Theodore, a wyvern; Chauncey, a . . . well, we’re not quite sure what he is, but his dream is to be a bellhop one day; and Lucy (short for Lucifer), who has a very dark sense of humor and who might be the son of the devil himself.
This is a story about a found family and fighting for what you believe in and for the people you love. Having the romance be LGBTQ was just icing on the cake – and such a nice review to write at the beginning of Pride Month!
GoodReads rating: 5 stars
Categories: Books I've Read
Life With No Plot 
One of my favorite found family stories