MY RATING:

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• Pages: 396
• Genre: Fantasy, LGBT
• Publication date: December 29, 2020 by Tor Books
• Format: Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback, Audible
• Source: Owned, Kindle, Audiobook

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PURCHASE LINKS:
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
KOBO

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THE REVIEW:

Since this is an all-time favourite of mine it WON’T be spoiler-free, so please be weary of that.

“Don’t you wish you were here?”

I first read this book in February 2021, and this is the first review I have ever written of it, back then I used to journal… Yeah, remember those days when we actually had time for that haha. Anwayy here it is, I remember finishing the book and writing it straight away!

According to Goodreads, I re-read it 3 times, but these are the times I actually recorded, in fact, I have listened to the audiobook at least 5 times and only recently, last month actually I re-read it again and figured it was time to share my thoughts.

Probably most of you know the story, but for those of you who do not this is a story about Linus Baker, a case worker in charge of tending to orphanages where magical youth reside. He is living a quiet and mundane life, very methodical, thorough and professional in his job. Until one day the extremely upper management gives him a case that is considered classified.

Linus has no idea what he is getting himself into, he only knows he is to go and observe a nontraditional orphanage where there might be some issues with the six kids who live there. So he packs his bags, takes Calliope (his cat) with him and goes to this unknown place knowing nothing about the kids or who is the director. In reality, they really wanted to shut down the whole place and the extremely upper management did, they are useless as a button on a sock!

Little did he know the adventure he had signed himself up to! Oh boy, and is it the adventure of a lifetime!

He is sent to the Cerulean Sea, with all the files of the children, and he is told to read only them once he arrives at his destination. And what is the first file? Non-other than Lucy or Lucifer a 6-year-old boy who, well is probably something that should have never existed! And oh my I loved this at the time of the report he was 6 years 6 months and 6 days old haha you get the idea already where this is going right? (the antichrist)

Lucy is just such a beautifully written character, I love his sense of humour, the complexity of his personality was amazingly done by Klune. The phrase “But I can have spiders in my head as long as I don’t let them consume me.” will forever be engraved in my brain and I just wanted to take him out of the pages and give him a hug and never let him go! Tell him how much he is loved and no matter how much people tell you what you are is not what makes you who you are.

Also Talia (a gnome), man this girl knows how to crack me up hahah I love her for a little gnome she is almighty!
Chauncey (well we don’t know he is but he is like a jellyfish) is the sweetest, he can do my laundry and take my baggage anytime he wants!
Theodor (a wyvern) can have all my buttons I don’t care! Just take them!

Sal (turns into a Pomeranian), my dear sweet boy, I wished there was more of him and his poetry really will leave you with this:

“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 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.”

Sal, The House In the Cerulean Sea

Phee (a sprite), is another character we did not see much of, but something is telling me we will in the sequel!

Arthur is absolutely the best father! His story was only scratched and I also expect a lot to be revealed about his past in the next book, I try not to put my hopes high up to avoid disappointment though. I really want to know more about the cellar and more of Arthur’s childhood in there. I am ready to take it all and sob like a baby!

Zoe is a very interesting character and she is more of a caretaker to these kids than she thinks. I really like how things developed for her and Helen, again hope to see more of them.

And of course, Linus and Arthur make the sweetest and strongest couple. Throughout the book, Linus flowered like a rose. He was only a bud when he began this adventure and by the end of it, he found himself and showed his colours. And were they beautiful? Arthur was all he needed and with the newfound family with the kids and Zoe and Helen it all fell into place.

There were some important topics that were in the underbelly of the whole plot. I like how this book speaks about prejudice, being who you truly are unapologetic, believing in yourself, being vulnerable also standing up for those who cannot do it for themselves. And last but not least we all have spiders in our heads as long as we don’t let them consume us we’ll be all right, we are all humans and flawed! And this is OK!

What Klune did was take a story and transform it into the most cosy fantasy. I really cannot describe how much this book means to me, it is my comfort book that will forever be re-read lol and will go down in my will as my most precious possession. _{^{(and believe me, THIS is the only precious thing with a few other books that I own!)}} Obviously not going to include my child as I will never possess her lol this is another topic entirely! Just to clarify in case you think I might be horrible lol!

I think my favourite character is Lucy, like I mentioned he is very complex and can’t wait to see more of him in the next book. I do love all of them, but Lucy is close to my heart OK?!

Well, I will wrap it here, because I will just keep on rambling hahah

“I’m afraid I don’t have magic.” “You do, Mr. Baker. Arthur told me that there can be magic in the ordinary.”