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Sign up todayThe House in the Cerulean Sea
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Learn moreBookseller recommendation
“This book is one of the most heartwarming books I have ever read! When it ended, I felt so full, but also needed more of the characters. I am so excited for the sequel Somewhere Beyond the Sea to release! ”
— Bethany • Card Carrying Books & Gifts
Bookseller recommendation
“Loved this sweet, funny, magical story of an unlikely family”
— Kimberly • Volumes Bookcafe
Bookseller recommendation
“This story has me by the heart. At turns hilarious and heart-wrenching, Henning's reading does a wonderful job giving extra flavor to a text that really needs none. I could not recommend more.”
— Dani • Story Line Books
Bookseller recommendation
“Amazing! As my first introduction to TJ Klune's books, it was the perfect first book. I fell in love with this whimsical story from the very beginning. This story will make you feel all the feelings and laugh right after. ”
— Elizabeth • McLean & Eakin Booksellers
Bookseller recommendation
“Magical, fun, emotional. Such a great read.”
— Sherry • Roaming Pages & Blooms
Bookseller recommendation
“If a book was a hug … it’d be this one.”
— Kirstin • Margins Bookstore
Bookseller recommendation
“It is rare to find a book of substance with a happy ending. THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA is that book. Middle-aged, portly, queer Linus Baker is a by-the-book, no-nonsense Case Manager in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth - and his lonely heart cares what happens to the magical children who have been placed in segregated orphanages. Tall, wise, soft-spoken Arthur Parnassus is the master of the secret orphanage that houses six of the strongest and most unique magical children in the world - and he has secrets of his own. When Linus is sent by Extremely Upper Management to investigate whether this orphanage should exist (especially under Arthur’s care), it sets off a chain of events in which fears are realized, dreams are manifested, voices are found, raised, and heard, and the definitions of love, family, and home become as inclusive as possible.”
— BrocheAroe • River Dog Book Co.
Bookseller recommendation
“I cannot get over how amazing this book was! It had everything I was looking for - adventure, fantasy, whimsy, lovable characters, and romance! It follows the life of Linus Baker, a lonely, middle-aged government employee who feels as though something is missing from his life. Every day, Linus wakes up, goes to work, completes his mundane job, and then goes home. Nothing has changed in the past 17 years. Then, all of a sudden, he is summoned by Extremely Upper Management, the top government officials in his office. Linus has been chosen specifically, and he is being sent on a top-secret assignment. Suddenly, everything in his life is no longer as it seems, and Linus must rely on his own instincts to cipher out the truth and decide what is truly important to him. ”
— Maddie • A Great Good Place for Books
Bookseller recommendation
“Escape with me to a wonderful world where magic and magical creatures exist. Linus Baker, a quiet and lonely man, finds an unexpected and challenging task as he's assigned by the government to report on an island where an orphanage with extremely classified magical children reside and a charming caretaker with many secrets. He encounters many unexpected things which make him question everything he thought he knew and believed about the world and himself. I recommend this to anyone who needs a little island getaway!”
— Lance • Skylight Books
Bookseller recommendation
“So good! A wonderful whimsical feel good!”
— Leslie • The Cozy Book Nook
Bookseller recommendation
“The characters! Funny and sad, touching all the feels! ”
— Cynthia • Pages Books and Coffee
Bookseller recommendation
“Genevieve of A Great Good Place for Books said it best when she said, "It's part fantasy, part love story and all heart." I couldn't agree more. I could feel my heart swell as I read. I laughed. I cried. I fell for all the characters. I loved this book!”
— Zinna • A Great Good Place for Books
"Daniel Henning is a great narrator for this quirky and theatrical audiobook...Henning revels in a cornucopia of characters, diving into nuanced voices and colorful moments with accents and growls, tone shifts and whispers...This is definitely a title for those who enjoy fantasy stories replete with gnomes and witches and all in between" -- AudioFile Magazine
Lambda Literary Award-winning author TJ Klune’s breakout contemporary fantasy
Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world.
Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.
A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books
"Daniel Henning provides nimble, versatile narration, clearly having fun voicing a variety of magical creatures as well as cautious Linus, protective Arthur, and a wide range of secondary characters...This charming, funny tale about chosen family and finding your place in the world is sweet without being saccharine and heartwarming without being corny." -- School Library Journal
"1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in." -- Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless
TJ KLUNE is the #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door, In the Lives of Puppets, the Green Creek Series for adults, the Extraordinaries Series for teens, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.