Almost ready!
In order to save audiobooks to your Wish List you must be signed in to your account.
Log in Create accountThe perfect last-minute gift
Audiobook credit bundles can be delivered instantly, given worldwide, and support local bookstores!
Start giftingLimited-time offer
Get two free audiobooks!
Now’s a great time to shop indie. When you start a new one credit per month membership supporting local bookstores with promo code SWITCH, we’ll give you two bonus audiobook credits at sign-up.
Sign up todayThe House in the Cerulean Sea
This audiobook uses AI narration.
We’re taking steps to make sure AI narration is transparent.
Learn moreBookseller 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
“This audiobook is amazing! This is a beautiful story about a type A social worker for magical youth. He is tasked with a highly classified assignment to go to an island to see if the kids there are too dangerous for the 'normal' world. The narrator uses different voices for each character, which made me fall in love with all of them <3. This is a must read, even if you don’t like fantasy books!”
— Maggie • River Bend Bookshop
Bookseller 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
“The characters! Funny and sad, touching all the feels! ”
— Cynthia • Pages Books and Coffee
Bookseller recommendation
“I adore this book. The story begins in a morose greyscale, setting you up with the story of a hard-working but not terribly inspired man, Linus Baker. Linus works for the equivalent of Magic CPS, evaluating the homes that care for magically gifted children. He is pulled out of his drab and grey life in the city when he is assigned to address a new sort of home, by the sea. As soon as Linus arrives in the house by the sea, via train (a common vehicle for normal to magical transportation, as we all know), Linus' world explodes in color, chaos, and children. The traumatized children in the house by the sea open up Linus' eyes and heart, and give him the inspiration to help them in return. Excellent for fans of Pratchett and Gaiman, whimsy and magic, sarcasm and a healthy dose of pragmatism.”
— Gwyn • Hudson Booksellers
Bookseller recommendation
“There aren't many books that can leave you wishing you were a parentless magical child feared by the rest of the society. But with characters like the ones in The House in the Cerulean Sea, you can't help but wish you belonged to such a wonderful, magical family. And the dialogue! You will not be able to drive while listening to it because you'll be laughing way too hard!”
— Chris • Belmont Books
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
“Magical, fun, emotional. Such a great read.”
— Sherry • Roaming Pages & Blooms
Bookseller recommendation
“The House in the Cerulean Sea is a heart-swelling wave of sweetness and hope. Mild-mannered government caseworker Linus Baker is sent on a secret assignment to an island orphanage he’s never even heard of. The astonishing inhabitants he gets to know there will change his life and make him reassess everything he thought he knew. This book will leave you believing in the good in everyone — even those society has given up on — and contemplating how huge changes have to start somewhere.”
— Haley Stocking • Phinney Books
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.
Featured in these playlists...
Audiobook details
Author:
TJ Klune
Narrator:
Daniel Henning
ISBN:
9781250264299
Length:
12 hours 12 minutes
Language:
English
Publisher:
Macmillan Audio
Publication date:
March 17, 2020
Edition:
Unabridged
Libro.fm rank:
#19 Overall
Genre rank:
#2 in LGBTQIA+ Fiction