Review: The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune

4 stars for The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune.

I tend to avoid books by authors who go by their initials. The anonymity put me off as I find it somewhat disconcerting reading a book without the author's full name on it. And yet, there are exceptions as you can tell from my List of Books that some do make it past my personal firewall. The House in the Cerulean Sea is one such. I have come across so many good words on this book that I decide to add it to my reading list, and not just that, move it up my reading list.

The story is about six magical children with the power to create mayhem and destroy the world, and two peculiar men - a Master who is determined to protect his wards at all costs and a caseworker sent to investigate them all. The caseworker is Linus Baker. The entire novel, in third person narrative, is told from the perspective of this 40-year old caseworker. His job is to visit the orphanage he is assigned to, talk to the master and children residing there, assess them and submit his report upon his return to the office. His work is important because his report will mostly decide the fate of the orphanage, whether it can remain open or if it needs to be shut down permanently.

Right from the beginning, this fantasy novel comes across as mysterious and strangely magical. It is well paced and well executed to keep me in suspense. Though it does get a bit slow along the way subsequently, the theme underlying the story keeps me moving and warms my heart. The message is plain - see people for who they are, not for what they are capable of, to stop and think before we let our emotions get the better of us, and to always make time for the things we like (if not, we may forget how to be happy).

And in this magical world with its magical beings, I come across one of the most profound beautiful passages I have ever read. I adore it so much that I go over that same passage countless times and I never get tired of it. I shall quote it in its entirety below. I hope it speaks to you the same way as it speaks to me.

I am but paper.
Brittle and thin.

I am held up to the sun,
and it shines right through me.

I get written on,
and I can never be used again.

These scratches are a history.
They’re a story.
They tell things for others to read,
but they only see the words,
and not what the words are written upon.

I am but paper,
and though there are many like me,
none are exactly the same.

I am parched parchment.
I have lines.
I have holes.

Get me wet, and I melt.
Light me on fire, and I burn.
Take me in hardened hands, and I crumple.
I tear.

I am but paper.
Brittle and thin.

Simple words strung into beautiful sentences. Besides being deeply moving on the inside, this book is also wondrous on the outside. It has one of the most beautiful covers I have ever come across in my reading. It is breathtaking. It is ART. It is not often we get to see a book cover that follows the descriptions in the book so exquisitely. In fact, it delivers more than what is depicted in the book, from the seemingly mundane account to a magical cover of wonders and possibilities.

To quote "It was set up a hill on a cliff overlooking the ocean. It looked as if it were at least a hundred years old. It was made of brick and had a large turret, of all things, set right in the middle of the roof. The side of the house facing Linus was covered in green ivy, growing around multiple white window frames. He thought he could see the outline of a gazebo set off next to the house and wondered if there was a garden..... The driveway widened near the top of the hill. There was another vehicle parked next to an empty fountain, overgrown by the same vines that latched on to the orphanage. It was a red van."

In the world of fantasy, The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of a kind. It is original. It is unusual. It may not sit well though with everyone as the story features LGBTQ+ characters. Some may even be put off and to that, I shall quote this from the book "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."

A final note to this post.. something I simply have to get it checked, call it my quirk if you will. With a few taps on my keyboard and the help of Google, I manage to appease my curiosity. The author's full name is Travis John Klune aka TJ Klune.


Publisher: Tor Books
Publication date: 17 Mar 2020

*** Favourite Quote 1 ***

There are mysteries that may never be solved, no matter how hard we try. And if we spend too long trying to solve them, we may miss what’s right in front of us.

*** Favourite Quote 2 ***

There are moments in your life, moments when chances have to be taken. It’s scary because there is always the possibility of failure.

*** Favourite Quote 3 ***

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.

~ The House in the Cerulean Sea
T. J. Klune

@}--->>--->>-----

Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world.

Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

*Blurb from author's website*

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