The House in the Cerulean Sea (Cerulean Chronicles #1) by T.J. Klune – enchanting found family fantasy book

The House in the Cerulean Sea is a heartwarming and enchanting urban fantasy about belonging, acceptance, and kindness, woven with humor, warmth, and meaningful messages.

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.

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

The House in the Cerulean Sea is a cozy, heartwarming urban fantasy following Linus Baker, a quiet, diligent caseworker at DICOMY (the Department in Charge of Magical Youth). After 15 years without promotion, Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management for a top-secret assignment.

He’s sent to Marsyas Island to evaluate an orphanage that houses six unique—and supposedly dangerous—magical children, as well as their enigmatic caretaker, Arthur Parnassus, about whom little is known. Linus’s reports will determine whether the orphanage stays open, but as he settles into life on the island, he discovers that the children and Arthur are far more than what DICOMY’s files suggest.

The closer he grows to them, the harder it becomes to remain detached, leading him to question DICOMY’s strict rules and ultimately to choose between his duty and his newfound sense of belonging and purpose.

The writing is engaging and seamless, making it hard to put the book down once started. I loved the world-building here. The concept of humans and magical beings coexisting, overseen by a government department that registers magical beings and shelters orphaned magical children is interesting and unique.

From the outset, prejudice is a central theme. The scarcity of adult magical beings in the city subtly reflects their lack of freedom. “See something, say something” posters everywhere, highlight the insidious harm it cause by fueling the prejudice and negative perception. As he witnesses the fear, hatred, and cruelty directed at magical beings on Marsyas and from the past cases just because they are different and powerful, the extent of the prejudice becomes painfully clear.

Reading about the children’s past hardships and Arthur’s suffering was heartbreaking. Yet, despite these heavy and poignant themes, the story is filled with gentleness, warmth, kindness, and compassion, creating a comforting, cozy atmosphere at times.

I adored Linus throughout the book. As Arthur put it, he truly is adorable. It was heartbreaking to see him leading a lonely, stagnant life with no friends or dreams in the city. Watching him gradually transform on the island—stepping out of his comfort zone and evolving from a strict rule-follower into someone willing to bend and break those rules—was delightful. The way he stood up for the children and Arthur was heartwarming, and I was so charmed by him that I didn’t mind when he chose to leave the island at the end of his assignment. It made his realization of what he was missing and what truly felt like home even sweeter.

The six children were equally lovable: Thalia, the gnome; Phee, the forest sprite; Theodore, a small wyvern; Chauncey, an unidentifiable, jellyfish-like being; Sal, a were-Pomeranian; and Lucy (Lucifer), the Antichrist. Each had unique quirks, and the lessons they learned from Arthur brought vibrant layers to the story. I loved the close-knit bond they shared with one another, with Arthur, and even with Zoe, the island sprite. Their dark humor often terrified Linus, yet their small gestures to welcome him as one of their own were so touching.

As Linus noted, the children’s past suffering at the hands of humans contrasted deeply with their growth and happiness under Arthur’s care, showcasing Arthur’s nurturing influence. He gave them a true home, disregarding rigid rule. Whatever the department labeled him, Arthur was, in essence, their father. After learning Arthur’s full story, I admired his kindness and warmth even more, given the hardships he endured.

Together, they created the perfect found family. My favorite moments in the book were their Second Saturday adventure, their village outing, and Linus’s bold speech at DICOMY. I especially loved how Linus stood up for himself and the orphanage. He wasn’t as invisible as he once thought, and I can’t wait to see what challenges he and Arthur will face in the next book.

Overall, The House in the Cerulean Sea is a heartwarming and enchanting urban fantasy about belonging, acceptance, and kindness, woven with humor, warmth, and meaningful messages.

I highly recommend The House in the Cerulean Sea if you like,

Urban fantasy
Found family
Story full of magical creatures
Theme of fighting prejudice, belongingness, and kindness
M/M clean romance
Light cozy fantasy

Book Links

Goodreads | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Favorite Quotes

“Change often starts with the smallest of whispers. Like-minded people building it up to a roar.”

“A home isn’t always the house we live in. It’s also the people we choose to surround ourselves with.”

“People suck, but sometimes, they should just drown in their own suckage without our help.”

“I’m just me. I don’t know how to be anyone but who I already am. This is how I’ve always been. It’s not much, but I do the best I can with what I have.”

“The world likes to see things in black and white, in moral and immoral. But there is gray in between. And just because a person is capable of wickedness, doesn’t mean they will act upon it.”

“And I refuse to believe that a person’s path is set in stone. A person is more than where they come from.”

“But even if you have bad dreams, you must remember that they’re only that. Dreams. You will always wake from them. And they will fade, eventually. I’ve found that waking from a bad dream brings a sense of relief unlike anything else in the world. It means what you were seeing wasn’t real.”

“We are who we are not because of our birthright, but because of what we choose to do in this life. It cannot be boiled down to black and white. Not when there is so much in between. You cannot say something is moral or immoral without understanding the nuances behind it.”

“Hate is a waste of time. I’m far too busy to hate anything. I prefer it that way.”

” To err is to be human, irrational or not. And while some mistakes are bigger than others, if we learn from them, we become better people.”

“Sometimes volume is needed to get through thick skulls.”

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