The House in the Cerulean Sea

“The House in the Cerulean Sea” is one of the best books I’ve read in awhile. It’s got the whimsical feel of Harry Potter but without all the intense drama. Linus Baker, the main character, is a lovable, large, slightly balding gay man who is a caseworker with the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. One day without warning, he’s assigned a secret case to evaluate a highly classified orphanage housing some of the most “dangerous” magical youths in existence. Little does Linus know that this assignment will change his life. I liked this book so much because it focused on my favorite part of any book: character development. Each one of the children has their own personality, and the reader grows to love them all over the course of the book. I’m in awe on how the mind of this author could bring these characters to life so vividly; each is their own species with backstories, abilities, and personalities all laid out before Linus even comes to the orphanage. And then the writing is just perfect. Best of all, none of the adults are wholly good or wholly bad, but instead they are a realistic mix of both. My favorite character was Linus, who was dealing with personal issues relating to his weight, love life, and job all at the same time. What a great character! All in all, I loved this book and have already recommended it to friends. It’s got a great message of acceptance, tolerance, and love, plus it’s well-written. If you’re in the mood for a fun, whimsical adventure, then this is a great choice. P.S. For those of you who are uncomfortable with LGBTQ+ issues, I feel I should note that the love story in this book is between two men.