The House in the Cerulean Sea

I read The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune at the recommendation of my friend Hilary. The book description says, "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."

This was a great book. I haven't read a book in awhile with such good character development. I LOVED these characters. At the beginning, it was just Linus, and I just loved him. Then I met Arthur and the children, and each of them was just so delightful and endearing in their own ways. The story was engaging, and while there were a few spots that seemed a little tell-y (vs. show-y), I didn't mind it too much. I loved the book's message about accepting and loving the children, and it was definitely a happily-ever-after type ending. I thought it was a fun read, and I plan to read the sequel when it comes out.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)