The House In The Cerulean Sea (Cerulean Chronicles #1) by TJ Klune

“Linus Baker, a caseworker for the Department In Charge of Magical Youths (DICOMY) is given a top-secret assignment, to assess the orphanage on a small, remote island of Marsyas where some of the most unique and possibly most dangerous magical children are kept. This was a fun, whimsical book about love, found family and the strength that comes from finding your voice and unashamedly being yourself even if the world isn’t ready to see you for the amazing person that you are. I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of the series has to offer.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pros: Linus, off the bat has an an amusing inner monologue, irreverent and relatable/I liked that Linus really transformed and found his voice eventually.

Cons: Linus’ spluttering indignantly at every other moment got a bit tiresome but it was pretty easily overlooked.

Full Review:

Linus Baker is a case worker with the Department In Charge of Magical Youths (DICOMY). He firmly believes im the rules and regulations that are outlined in the handbook but he also believes that he’s doing good work, ensuring that the children he visits are well cared for.

When he’s unexpectedly called to a meeting with Extremely Upper Management and given a new assignment, his whole world is turned on its head. He’s assigned to the Orphanage on Marsyas Island. It’s a small, isolated island and it’s because the children at the Orphanage are some of the most unique and possibly dangerous magical creatures in existence.

There’s Talia, the Gnome, Phee, the Wood Sprite, Theodore, the Wyvern, Chauncey, a squid like creature that isn’t even classified, Sal, a young shapeshifter and of course, Lucy, short for Lucifer, the literal son of the Devil.

Linus is flustered and overwhelmed when he first arrives at Marsyas but can tell straight away that the Master of the house, Arthur Parnassus, cares deeply for his charges and would go to the ends of the Earth to keep them safe. Linus quickly realizes that the Marsyas orphanage is unlike any he’s been to before and he realizes that it’s the pure, uncomplicated love of family that they have for each other that sets them apart and makes this house so special.

This was a fun, whimsical book that treated the existence of magical creatures in an interesting and believable way. Linus journey from strict rule follower to someone who understands that not everything in life can be written down in a handbook, some things must be experienced first hand to be understood was a good one. It was a strong, positive affirmation of love, finding your voice, standing up for what’s right and not being afraid to whole heartedly be yourself and I quite enjoyed it.

Comments

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"Though dark, disturbing and at times, truly disgusting, Blakemore has created an unforgettable character in Tarare and his sad, sordid tale. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time for many different reasons and to me, that's a sign of a great read." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ Pros: Tarare wasn't a monster, it just seemed that the world was against him/I liked Lozeau and his strange band of misfits/Dr. Dupuis seemed like a genuinely good person, or at least, he had his moments. Cons: Some of the timeline/people of the French Revolution were just white noise to me/Courville was a despicable man. Full Review: The Bottomless man, the Glutton of Lyon, Tarare the Terrible. The man who has many titles but who's name is simply, Tarare, is dying in a hospital in Versailles. Citizen Doctor Tissier has written to his friend, Dupuis, in hopes that he'll be able to cure this mysterious illness that plagues Tarare. For now though, he lays, chained to his bed and waits for...

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