The House in the Cerulean Sea

Starred review from September 30, 2019
Quirk and charm give way to a serious exploration of the dangers of complacency in this delightful, thought-provoking Orwellian fantasy from Klune (Heartsong). Caseworker Linus Baker of the Department in Charge of Magical Youths (DICOMY) believes he is doing right by the preternaturally gifted children placed in DICOMY-sanctioned orphanages. But Linus begins to question DICOMY’s methods when the ominous Extremely Upper Management tasks Linus with evaluating the isolated Marsyas Island Orphanage and reporting not only on the island’s extraordinary children—among them a female gnome, a blob of uncertain species who wants to be a bellhop, and a shy teenage boy who turns into a small dog when startled—but also on the orphanage master, Arthur Parnassus. The bonds Linus forms with the children and the romantic connection he feels for Arthur set Linus on a path toward redemption for the unwitting harm he caused as a cog in an uncaring bureaucratic machine. By turns zany and heartfelt, this tale of found family is hopeful to its core. Readers will revel in Klune’s wit and ingenuity. Agent: Diedre Knight, The Knight Agency

Daniel Henning is a great narrator for this quirky and theatrical audiobook. When Linus is assigned to observe an orphanage for magical children, all kinds of developments ensue. Henning revels in a cornucopia of characters, diving into nuanced voices and colorful moments with accents and growls, tone shifts and whispers. The contemporary touches keep the story humorously timely, and Henning's delivery is welcoming or satirical when necessary. Some characters are so well developed through Henning's vocal stylings that they inspire laugh-out-loud moments. Other characters are too predictable in prose and performance to add much to the production. This is definitely a title for those who enjoy fantasy stories replete with gnomes and witches and all in between. L.B.F. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

March 12, 2021

When straight-as-an-arrow Linus Baker, a caseworker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, is sent on a special mission to investigate a government-run orphanage he's never heard of, he's surprised but not particularly bothered; it's an unusual assignment, but he'll carry it out with his usual attention to detail and adherence to rules. But when he arrives at the Marsyas Island Orphanage, he's definitely surprised by the half-dozen children--a sprite, a gnome, a wyvern, a sullen teenager who can transform into a Pomeranian, a tentacled blob who wants desperately to be a bellhop, and the Antichrist--and very much taken aback by Arthur Parnassus, their eccentric, passionate caretaker. As he gets to know the island's inhabitants and develop feelings for Arthur, Linus realizes he may have to break some rules to protect this group of people he's come to love. 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. VERDICT This charming, funny tale about chosen family and finding your place in the world is sweet without being saccharine and heartwarming without being corny. Recommend to anyone in need of feel-good fiction.--Stephanie Klose, Library Journal

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.