Synopsis (from Goodreads):

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:

I had seen the glorious cover for this book, The House in the Cerulean Sea, by T. J. Klune, on many other people's blogs, but I didn't know much about it.  Even the description from Goodreads makes it difficult to discern what type of book this is.  While it's clearly a fantasy, it has such a whimsical tone that one might first assume it's a Middle Grade book.  And I certainly think this would be a novel appropriate for even young teens.  There is no swearing, and it has a message of acceptance that everyone should like.  There is a gay romance in the book.  If you have a problem with that, then this story is probably not for you.  But I found the romance absolutely adorable.

The main focus of the book is on Linus, is a middle-aged gay man.  It's his transformation from a person leading a bleak life of following the rules to the letter into a person who is open to seeing (and reacting to) people for who they are that makes this novel truly special.  Set in an imaginative universe filled with people who magical abilities, this book about looking past labels and assumptions is delightful.  The characters and themes make this book truly special.

What I Liked:

World-Building:

The world of this book is filled with people who possess magic, along with other kinds of magical beings.  The majority of people, though, do not have magic, and are weary of those who do.  Magical people must "register" with the government, and they are discriminated against for most jobs.  Many are abandoned as children by their parents.  That's where the orphanages come in.  Linus is an inspector of these orphanages for magical youth.  His job is to ensure the wards are not being abused or exploited, and there seems to be a lot of that in these institutions.

I was really struck by how the author used phrases from real-life like, "See something, say something", to point out how magical people are viewed with suspicion.  The parallels between that and real-life discrimination are obvious.  

Characters:

Linus is a person who doesn't like to take risks.  He has a steady job that he has done for many years, never seeking a promotion.  He lives in a tiny home in a dreary city, and doesn't have a social life.  It's all too much trouble.  And yet...  He dreams of visiting the beach, listens to romantic music, and cares deeply about the welfare of the children in the orphanages he inspects.  He just has never felt seen by those around him, so he acts invisible.

I loved his journey.  He has such a good heart.  But he just hasn't had any motivation to venture out of his comfort zone.  When he arrives at the seaside village near the orphanage, he reads the files of the children he will meet and forms an immediate impression of them.  As the book progresses, he has to unlearn his assumptions and open his mind in order for him to see these wards for the children they are.  And as he has always felt, all children are deserving of love and safety.

Arthur, the headmaster of the orphanage, is a mysterious person who is both alluring and aloof to Linus.  He most certainly isn't following all the rules and regulations set forth in the department's giant rule book.  But he is also clearly doing a wonderful job of helping these children, many of whom were abused or neglected before they came to his orphanage.

Each of the children are such wonderful characters.  I don't want to spoil anything by revealing too much about them. But readers will be able to feel such empathy towards each of them. I especially felt drawn to Sal.  He can barely look people in the eye because of the abuse he endured at a previous orphanage.  When he finally felt safe around Linus, I nearly cried.  

Story:

The story follows Linus, as he is sent on a secret assignment to inspect the Marsyas Island Orphanage.  This is a government run institution where they are keeping the most dangerous (and misunderstood) magical children.  While Linus is part of this bureaucracy, he truly cares about the welfare of these children.  As his heart responds to the various children, and their charismatic headmaster Arthur, Linus is transformed.  He becomes the kind of person her has always wanted to be: taking chances and leading an interesting life.

He is also able to fight for these children, against a world who is all to eager to label them as dangerous.  Sadly it's easy to be afraid of the "other", especially if they look or act differently than you do.  Linus is determined to change the minds of , at least, the small village near the island.  It's a strong message to not be a bystander when people discriminate against others.  We can all use Linus's courage in this day and age.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  March 17th, 2020

Author:  T.J. Klune

Publisher:  Tor Books

Genre:  Fantasy

Page Length:  394 Pages

Source:  Public Library

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation: This is a delightful book with a message of empathy that is perfect for readers from young teens to adults.  The development of a gay relationship between the adults is lovely.