By Ava Grippo – Editor-In-Chief 

“The House In The Cerulean Sea” is the first book in the Cerulean Chronicles written by T.J. Klune, published in 2020. Klune is known for writing cozy, heartwarming stories containing LGBTQ characters, and this novel did not disappoint when meeting these themes. 

This story follows Linus Baker, a middle aged man who lives alone with his cat Calliope, and works as a caseworker for DICOMY (Department in Charge of Magical Youth). His job is to visit orphanages, watch over magical children and evaluate them, deciding whether or not these homes should still be open or not. He has worked there for 17 years and is a thorough, rule following employee. 

Linus’s world shifts when he is assigned a classified case to travel to Marsyas Island to evaluate a special home that houses six children and their mysterious caretaker. Linus’s job is to oversee this orphanage, and make the decision whether or not it should stay open. The higher ups of DICOMY believe that the children and their caretaker are a danger to society. 

This group consists of Talia, a garden gnome who loves to dig and craft. Theodore, a wyvern, which is a dragon-like creature who loves to collect trinkets. Phee, a forest sprite with strong affection for nature. Sal, a quiet, shapeshifting Pomeranian dog. Chauncey, an unnamed creature who aspires to be a bellhop. And lastly, Lucifer ‘Lucy’, a young boy who also happens to be the Antichrist. Each of these magical children have their own stories and distinct personalities that make them special. 

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

Then there is their caretaker, Arthur Parnassus, a man with his own secrets who greatly cares for the children and sees them as his own, loving and protecting them. 

Klune does a great job of making readers care for each character. Throughout the book, readers learn more about each of the children and Arthur himself, along with watching Linus’s character development throughout the time he stays on the island. 

This character development is quite similar to that of Wallace Price from Under The Whispering Door, another novel written by Klune. Both Linus and Wallace start off as unlikable characters, but throughout the novel, both evolve, becoming better people in which the readers begin to like. 

“Sometimes our prejudices color our thoughts when we least expect them to. If we can recognize that, and learn from it, we can become better people,” Klune writes.

This book is full of loveable characters who readers will root for and become attached to, life lessons that make a reader think, and humor that will definitely make readers laugh. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars