A Magical Story About Finding Your Place in a World That Fears Difference
Author: TJ Klune
Publication Date: March, 17th 2020
Series: Cerulean Chronicles , Book 1
Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 0
Official Description:
Linus Baker leads a quiet life. At forty, he has a tiny house with a devious cat and his beloved records for company. And at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, he’s spent many dull years monitoring their orphanages.
Then one day, Linus is summoned by Extremely Upper Management and given a highly classified assignment. He must travel to an orphanage where six dangerous children reside – including the Antichrist.
At the orphanage, Linus must somehow determine if these children could bring about the end of days. But their guardian, the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, will do anything to protect his wards. And, as Arthur and Linus grow ever closer, Linus must choose: his duty, or his dreams . . .
Warning: This article contains spoilers!
The House In The Cerulean Sea review
Initial Thoughts
Wow, The House in the Cerulean Sea has really done a number on me. I don’t hand out 5-star ratings easily, but this one deserves it. It’s wild to think about how many times I walked by this book, always eyeing it but taking forever to finally pick it up. I figured it would be a cute little fantasy read—definitely not the emotional journey I ended up taking. You know that bittersweet feeling of wanting to experience your favourite book again for the first time? That’s exactly how I feel now, writing this review.
It’s hard to describe just how unexpectedly moving this book was. How it managed to be delightful, profound, heartbreaking, and important all at once. I’m not one for cheesy descriptions, but it feels impossible to do it justice. I really did fall in love—completely.
At its core, this book is about human nature, our biases, and how we treat people who are different. Klune uses magical children, an isolated orphanage, and a mysterious headmaster to explore these themes, creating a story that’s ultimately about finding your place in the world—no matter who you are or how others see you.
In many ways, The House in the Cerulean Sea reminded me of how I felt when I first read Harry Potter (which is the highest praise I can give). Not in terms of world-building or magic, but in how the book makes you feel—uplifted, inspired, and most importantly, seen.
Characters That Shine
The story follows Linus Baker, a lonely, by-the-book man working for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY). Linus’s life is one of solitude; his only real companion is his cat. He is excellent at his job but goes largely unnoticed, and his existence feels painfully empty. When Linus is sent on a special assignment to an orphanage on a remote island, his life begins to change in ways he never expected. The orphanage is home to six magical children, each one more unique than the last, from the Anti-Christ himself, Lucifer (or Lucy, as he prefers), to a mysterious creature named Chauncey who dreams of being a bellhop. As Linus gets to know the children—and their enigmatic caretaker, Arthur Parnassus—he starts to question everything he thought he knew about the world, about love, and about where he truly belongs.
What I love most about this book is how it explores the theme of belonging. The children on the island have been rejected by society for being different, and Linus, in his own way, is just as much of an outcast. The island becomes a place of healing for everyone, a home where they can truly be themselves without fear of judgment or rejection.
Arthur, the headmaster, is such a wonderful character—wise, kind, and endlessly patient. He’s dedicated his life to creating a safe space for these children, to showing them that they are worthy of love and acceptance. His belief in the goodness of people, despite everything he’s been through, is inspiring. The way Arthur sees Linus—really sees him—is one of the most romantic expressions I’ve ever witnessed. I didn’t expect any romance in the story, but TJ Klune proves that romance can be beautifully quiet, tender, and grounded in mutual respect, which makes it all the more powerful.
What makes this story so special is the way it treats its characters. Each child at the orphanage has their own unique magical abilities, but they’re still just kids—full of hopes, fears, and a deep longing for acceptance. Lucy (short for Lucifer, the supposed Anti-Christ) is perhaps the most feared, but he’s really just a child with a vivid imagination and a love for music. He’s cheeky, funny, and endearing, despite society labeling him as a monster. The other children—Talia, Theo, Sal, Chauncey, and Phee—each have their own quirks and dreams, and by the end, you can’t help but root for every single one of them.
Linus’s journey on the island opens his eyes to the truth: it’s not the children who need saving from themselves, but society that needs to change its perceptions of them. This realization shatters the illusion of a perfect world; the orphanage faces a genuine threat from a society eager to punish those who are different. Linus uncovers that DICOMY has withheld crucial information, exposing the organization as something far from what he believed. The “Rules & Regulations” he followed were not meant to protect magical beings; instead, they perpetuated neglect and control.
Linus confronts this when he returns home, only to find that nothing has changed except for himself. His once-comfortable life now feels suffocating, and he’s forced to choose between the safety of conformity and the fulfillment he found on the island.
Feeling trapped, Linus believes he must return home. However, when he arrives, he finds nothing has changed: his house remains lonely, his neighbour is still an insufferable gossip, and his boss continues to be controlling. Yet Linus has transformed; he feels out of place in a life he once accepted. Reporting back to Extreme Upper Management, he learns they never cared about the children and aimed to use him to gather incriminating evidence against Arthur in an effort to close the orphanage. Determined to confront this injustice, Arthur resigns from his position—taking case files as evidence—before returning to the island and reuniting with those he loves - his new family.
Final Thoughts
What surprised me most about The House in the Cerulean Sea was that, while it has fantastical elements, it doesn't fit neatly into the fantasy genre. There’s no complex magic system or sprawling world to explore. Instead, TJ Klune uses magic as a metaphor to explore human nature—how we perceive those who are different, and how fear and prejudice shape our world. It’s a book that teaches the power of choice, the importance of kindness, and the value of seeing beyond appearances. It’s about how the way we interact with others reveals who we truly are, not just what we seem to be.
Klune’s writing has this quiet, magical quality to it that makes you pause and reflect. There were so many moments when I had to stop and take it all in, letting the weight of the words settle. It’s rare for me to find a book that has me annotating quotes as I read, but this one did exactly that.
By the end of The House in the Cerulean Sea, I didn’t want to leave. The world Klune created, the characters, the message—it all left such an impact on me. It’s one of those books that I know will stay with me for a long time. Fortunately, there's a sequel titled Somewhere Beyond The Sea, which I look forward to reviewing soon.
If you haven’t picked up The House in the Cerulean Sea yet, I highly recommend it. It’s not just a book—it’s an experience.
The House In The Cerulean Sea review
Disclaimer: I have added affiliate links for your convenience so you can directly purchase the book if you are intrigued. This also means that I will receive small commission. This does not affect inclusion in my reviews or the overall rating of the book.
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