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The House in the Cerulean Sea Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

TJ Klune (Author), Daniel Henning (Narrator), Macmillan Audio (Publisher)
4.6 out of 5 stars 63,993 ratings
#1 Best Seller in LGBTQ+ Humorous Fiction

"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.

Chicago Tribune Best Books of the Year - 2020

Amazon.com Best Books of the Year - 2020

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books

"1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in." (Gail Carriger, New York Times best-selling author of Soulless)

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  1. Listening Length
    12 hours and 12 minutes
  2. Author
    TJ Klune
  3. Narrator
    Daniel Henning
  4. Audible release date
    March 17, 2020
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Macmillan Audio
  7. ASIN
    B084BS795T
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 12 hours and 12 minutes
Author TJ Klune
Narrator Daniel Henning
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date March 17, 2020
Publisher Macmillan Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B084BS795T
Best Sellers Rank #476 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1 in LGBTQ+ Fantasy (Audible Books & Originals)
#1 in LGBTQ+ Humorous Fiction (Books)
#2 in LGBTQ+ Fantasy Fiction

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
63,993 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book a beautiful heartfelt story filled with love and wonderful magical children. The writing is descriptive and detailed, making it an easy read, while the characters are delightful with distinct personalities. Moreover, the book teaches important lessons about acceptance and fighting prejudice, with one customer noting how it addresses these themes beautifully. Additionally, customers appreciate the book's humor, with several mentioning they laughed out loud while reading it.

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942 customers mention "Heartwarming story"874 positive68 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming and filled with love, describing it as a charming fantasy that is deeply profound.

"...This story handles some extremely heavy but very important topics and I think Klune weaved all of those elements into the story so smoothly so that..." Read more

"...based on appearances, and putting the good of humanity and love first always. It was very refreshing given the current political climate...." Read more

"...less and love more, while it's a reminder to all of us to be kind, loving and remember that our uniqueness makes us beautiful in our own special way." Read more

"...This is a lighthearted, warm, cozy book that fills you with good feelings, gives you several laughs and "awwww"s along the way, and makes you wish..." Read more

499 customers mention "Character development"488 positive11 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them delightful with distinct personalities, and one customer notes the level of care poured into character building.

"...The kids at the orphanage are an incredible array of characters that I think could only spring from TJ mind: Lucy–or Lucifer; Talia the gnome;..." Read more

"...In addition to Linus is the rest of our phenomenal cast of characters: there's Arthur Parnassus, the man in charge of the orphanage Linus visits;..." Read more

"...ranging from the Antichrist to a garden gnome- each with wonderful personalities, interests and backgrounds...." Read more

"...slowly falls in love with the colorful island, the wide array of personalities in the children, and the master of the house Arthur...." Read more

396 customers mention "Writing quality"382 positive14 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its superb prose and descriptive style, with one customer highlighting the author's facility with words.

"...Klune also appears to be a master at writing dialogue, and the banter among all of the youth easily became of the most enjoyable parts of this book...." Read more

"...These children are beautifully written, beautifully unique and they have all lived through far too much tragedy in their short lives...." Read more

"The cover on this. It's magical. The description appealed, but that art was compelling as well. What a surprise this book was, writing that..." Read more

"...my favorite, it was the way he wrote Linus' inner and external dialogue- which is very Linus, and makes a lot of sense...." Read more

288 customers mention "Message"269 positive19 negative

Customers appreciate the book's message, finding it uplifting and full of wonderful lessons, with one customer highlighting its powerful spirit of understanding and another noting how it addresses important topics beautifully.

"...There’s a need for kindness, compassion and understanding...." Read more

"...It is hopefully an eye opener for some to judge less and love more, while it's a reminder to all of us to be kind, loving and remember that our..." Read more

"...and standing up for the people who need it most are marvelous and important. This was a beautiful book and I'm SO glad I read it." Read more

"...I felt truly inspired and hopeful at the end of the book." Read more

273 customers mention "Humor"273 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, finding it delightful to read and making them laugh out loud, with one customer particularly appreciating the internal monologue.

"...He’s balanced his amazing and crazy sense of humor (think books like the "Verania" series and "How to Be a Normal Person") and his keen sense of..." Read more

"...Additionally, the more serious dialogue that occurred for more serious and difficult topics was also carefully done and felt both authentic and full..." Read more

"...I felt like it was a mix of Harry Potter and X-men and it was a delight to read- funny, sweet, poignant, creative...." Read more

"...I wanted to escape into a fun, whimsical story with comedy and heart. I liked the beginning; I was genuinely hopeful and engaged...." Read more

265 customers mention "Heartfeltness"258 positive7 negative

Customers appreciate the book's emotional depth, noting how it speaks to compassion and friendship, with one customer describing it as an unexpected treasure of tenderness.

"...and created a tale of found family, the importance of kindness and the courage to speak up for those who need it most...." Read more

"...differences, not judging people based on appearances, and putting the good of humanity and love first always...." Read more

"...There's prejudice, bigotry, compassion, empathy, recognition and growth throughout this story...." Read more

"...This is a lighthearted, warm, cozy book that fills you with good feelings, gives you several laughs and "awwww"s along the way, and makes you wish..." Read more

249 customers mention "Children's story"249 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the children in the story, describing them as wonderful and magical with unique features, and appreciate how they contribute to the narrative.

"...And boy are Linus’s eyes opened. The children are all incredible with their childlike wonder, their massive sense of protection for each other and,..." Read more

"...book is a fantastical story that follows Linus, an inspector of orphanages for magical children...." Read more

"...Magic flows from his fingertips. I have been reading for over 40 years and this is easily one of my Top 5 most favorite books I have ever read...." Read more

"...Lucy was the star of the show (as he should be)! All the kids made this story even better. Each had their own quirky personalities...." Read more

212 customers mention "Prejudice"212 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's focus on prejudice and acceptance, highlighting its themes of fighting judgmental attitudes, kindness, and celebrating individual differences.

"...standpoint, but because it's such a wonderful story of love, acceptance, and what it means to be a family...." Read more

"...throughout the book focused on accepting differences, not judging people based on appearances, and putting the good of humanity and love first always..." Read more

"...There's prejudice, bigotry, compassion, empathy, recognition and growth throughout this story...." Read more

"...It was wonderfully inclusive. Touching. I cried and I laughed. Not many books can do that...." Read more

Fantastical! Magical! And oh so Wonderful!
5 out of 5 stars
Fantastical! Magical! And oh so Wonderful!
I’m a writer and I want to first talk about the Acknowledgments section of the book that hardly everyone reads…READ IT! Its so inspirational especially for a novice writer like myself. TJ highlighted some of my deepest worries about writing so its nice to know I’m not alone. Now, regarding this amazing book…it’s such a nice read and TJ really knows how to use his imagery and imagination! Its rare to read a fantasy book that’s so grounded such as this one. He makes the reader use context clues instead of just telling us stuff which I struggle with greatly! I love the main character so much and can relate to him to an extent. The message with the main protagonist is that life is more than just work and adult things like bills and other stuff. Life is about exploration and surrounding yourself with happiness which will rub off on you in due time. It also addresses loneliness especially for the LGBT community because I do believe that we experience it the most which is just heartbreaking. I myself am 30 and never been in a romantic relationship just one or two day flings at most because I feel everyone is scared to settle down. Why? I don’t know. But this book is a great source for those who feel they will be alone forever. Spoiler alert…you won’t be if you surround yourself with nice people who you can call family and just be yourself without hiding. Thats one of the biggest struggles of gay youth and gay adults but I feel hopeful after reading this gem of a book and I’m going to read more of TJ’s books! Bravo sir!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Jeff Adams
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book with a message of kindness and love... absolutely wonderful!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    TJ Klune continues to blow me away with his books and this one is simply extraordinary. He’s balanced his amazing and crazy sense of humor (think books like the "Verania" series and "How to Be a Normal Person") and his keen sense of storytelling (the epic "Green Creek" series or the standalone "Murmuration") and created a tale of found family, the importance of kindness and the courage to speak up for those who need it most.

    The story revolves around Linus Baker, a caseworker with the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He leads a dreary, by-the-book life, checking up on the orphanages under the department’s care and making sure they’re operating by following the extensive guidelines. He’s known for his detailed reports and it’s because of that he’s tasked by Extremely Upper Management to go to the Marsays Island Orphanage to check up on its caretaker, Arthur Parnassus, and the six unique, magical children that live there.

    Linus’s life changes just going out to the orphanage. He’s always wanted to go to the sea–and that’s where he ends up on an island surrounded by the sea. As he gets away from the city, he gets out of the gloom and rain and into the sun. It’s really a Wizard of Oz moment as his world goes to color from gray. Linus’s journey of self-discovery is the heart–or one of the hearts–of this story and his progression into the light is part of what makes this story so great. He finds that there’s much more to life than rules and regulations. There’s a need for kindness, compassion and understanding.

    The kids at the orphanage are an incredible array of characters that I think could only spring from TJ mind: Lucy–or Lucifer; Talia the gnome; Chauncey, a green blob with eyes on stalks who just wants to be a bellhop; Sal, a shapeshifter who when nervous becomes a tiny dog; Phee a forest sprite and Theodore, a wyvern who hordes buttons. The kids and Arthur have formed an amazing family. The kids have come here from other orphanages for various reasons and Arthur does his best to protect and teach them. Perhaps most importantly that they don’t necessarily have to be who people think they should be–like Lucy doesn’t have to give in to the idea that he’s the destroyer of the world.

    Early on Arthur challenges Linus and it really sets Linus off on his journey. “I think if you open your eyes, you’ll see what’s right in front of you rather than what’s listed in a file,” Arthur says. And boy are Linus’s eyes opened. The children are all incredible with their childlike wonder, their massive sense of protection for each other and, even though they’re all young, they are well aware that the world doesn’t really want them–especially the town that is across the sea from the island.

    TJ’s created six distinct characters that you can’t help but fall in love with from Theordore’s delight in buttons to Chauncey’s bellhop dreams and his protective urges towards Theodore. And there’s Lucy, he’s wildly funny as he pushes Linus’s buttons sometimes, but as you see his other facets, including a love of classic music from the 50s and that he knows that the could really cause damage you want to wrap him up in a hug and protect him.

    As Linus spends his time with Arthur and the kids, he starts to see how messed up Extremely Upper Management is and that made the rules aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. And when it comes to that hateful town, he realizes that there are changes needed, changes he needs to speak up for.

    Oh, and there’s a super sweet, terrific romance that blooms between Linus and Arthur too. The book isn’t a romance, but the spark between these two is pure romance and it feels like old school courting. That’s not to say they don’t have problems–oh my do they have issues to take care of–but it’s a beautiful part of the story.

    Yes, I love everything about "House in the Cerulean Sea"–Linus self-discovery, his romance with Arthur and the delightful kids living at the Marsays Island Orphanage. There’s something in this book from everyone and this book can be read by all ages. My hardback sits on my shelf of all-time favorites, that’s how much this book means to me.
    360 people found this helpful
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  • Jordan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, compelling, and perfect--this book is one of my new favorites!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I absolutely adored this book!

    The first and most important thing about this book are the characters. I genuinely loved and cared about each and every one of these characters (and I sort of feel so protective of them that I swear I would die for any one of them). Linus Baker, our protagonist, is living a quiet life working for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY) as a Case Worker. He seems to mostly enjoy his job, but it's clear to readers that despite whatever Linus chooses to tell himself about his life, he isn't really living and to say he's 'happy' seems a stretch. Linus is one of those characters that you sort of just want to hug (although you probably wouldn't because he doesn't seem like the type to enjoy hugs from random people) and watching him embark on an experience unlike any he's ever been on, where he learns new things about himself and the world around him, was remarkable. I was so drawn to Linus' character and found that so many of the things he struggled with were applicable to my own--such as realizing that sometimes 'good enough' isn't really enough--and I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful character to follow. He isn't the most enthusiastic sort of person, but he has this fantastic dry wit for his sense of humor that I couldn't get enough of.

    In addition to Linus is the rest of our phenomenal cast of characters: there's Arthur Parnassus, the man in charge of the orphanage Linus visits; the magical youth living at the orphanage: Chauncey, Lucy, Sal, Talia, Phee, and Theodore; the resident island sprite, Zoe; and, of course, we can't forget Linus' cat, Calliope. I fell so hard for all of these characters and sincerely loved all of them. Each one was so carefully crafted with such distinct and wide-ranging personalities--it's rare to see such amazing characterization that holds strong and true for each and every character, but I can tell that characters must be Klune's strong point because they were all so well-written. I would try to pinpoint one of my favorites, but honestly, I think they are all my favorites. Linus' cat, Calliope, truly steals every scene she's in, though. Altogether, each and every one of these extremely varied and rather odd characters makes up the most perfect mismatched family and I have never want to be a part of a family as much as I wanted to be a part of this one!

    Klune also appears to be a master at writing dialogue, and the banter among all of the youth easily became of the most enjoyable parts of this book. I laughed out loud so many times while reading this book and I felt so fulfilled and happy every time I picked it up and put it down. The way that he captures what it's like for an adult like Linus to be interacting with such a wild and unpredictable group of magical youth was a true delight. Additionally, the more serious dialogue that occurred for more serious and difficult topics was also carefully done and felt both authentic and full of impact. Klune is really good at maneuvering within a huge variety of topics in such a deft way that never makes it feel difficult to get through or understand.

    I don't want to spoil anything specific about the plot, but I can tell you that one of the reasons that I think I liked this so much is because of it's sort of 'slice-of-life' feel, where there aren't really intense action-packed scenes or anything, but rather it is following Linus as he observes and tries to understand how things at Mr. Parnassus' orphanage work and about the youth that live there. The pacing was perfect for me and was what I would call very steady--not too slow, but not too fast, either, just very continuously moving forward while still taking the time to focus on certain topics and scenes whenever necessary. There is also a tiny bit of romance in this book and it is so beautiful and innocent and truly made my cold black heart just melt. It doesn't take over the story, but it fits in like the perfect final piece of a puzzle--small, but vital to the completion of the entire puzzle.

    This story handles some extremely heavy but very important topics and I think Klune weaved all of those elements into the story so smoothly so that they never felt overwhelming, but they were very clear and easily understood. Honestly, this book is just beautiful. I laughed and teared up (for both happy and sad reasons) and I also found myself subconsciously reading this book so slooowly because I don't think I ever wanted to finish. It was hard for me to move on from this book and get my headspace ready for another book after because it just made me feel so good to read this book. It spoke to me not only from a personally relevant standpoint, but because it's such a wonderful story of love, acceptance, and what it means to be a family.

    This is easily going to be a book that I re-read and re-read over and and over, especially when I'm struggling a lot with depression or anxiety because it made me feel so at home and content and happy. I really can't recommend this story enough--it's bittersweet at times, but also hilarious, relevant, and full of life and love and family.
    120 people found this helpful
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  • Anna G
    4.0 out of 5 stars heartwarming as hell
    Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This book was such a breath of fresh air from my normal read. This book is a fantastical story that follows Linus, an inspector of orphanages for magical children. Linus is put on a top secret assignment to inspect a home on a faraway island to make sure all are safe and appropriate guidelines are being followed. On the island he lives with two magical adults and a gaggle of magical children ranging from the Antichrist to a garden gnome- each with wonderful personalities, interests and backgrounds. I felt like it was a mix of Harry Potter and X-men and it was a delight to read- funny, sweet, poignant, creative. I loved the themes woven throughout the book focused on accepting differences, not judging people based on appearances, and putting the good of humanity and love first always. It was very refreshing given the current political climate. I’d recommend if you’re looking for a light fun read and also as a YA book!
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Cathrine
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eine wunderbare Geschichte
    Reviewed in Germany on May 21, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Zugegeben, die Geschichte ist etwas sonderbar oder vielmehr die Protagonisten. Anstatt einfach 'normale' Kinder mit kleinen Defiziten zu beschreiben, haben alle sonderbare Eigenschaften, sind Gnome oder gar der Sohn des Teufels. Das muss man mögen und ich mag das. Es beschreibt die Eigenschaft des 'anders sein' auf sehr interessante Weise und macht sehr deutlich wie Menschen auf alles reagieren was nicht der Norm entspricht. Die Geschichte zeigt aber auch, was man alles gewinnen kann, wenn man sich darauf einlässt und den Begriff 'Normal' überdenkt und mit den Vorurteilen aufräumt.
    Man lernt in diesem Buch also nicht nur viele wunderbare Kinder kennen, die ein Zuhause brauchen und gefunden haben, man lernt auch einen wunderbaren und sehr liebenswerten Erwachsenen kennen, der von diesen Kindern lernt, über den Tellerrand und seinen Job hinausschaut und ebenfalls ein Zuhause findet.

    Für mich eines der schönsten Geschichten die ich seit langem gelesen habe und ich freue mich schon sehr auf weitere Geschichten von diesem Autor.
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  • Tiago Kietzmann
    5.0 out of 5 stars It's a delightful book!
    Reviewed in Brazil on January 3, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    It's a delightful book! There are so many good things about it that it's hard to know where to begin. This isn't an action-packed fantasy book, and it doesn't aim to be one. It's a fantasy story about a lonely bureaucrat from a children's protection department (well, magical children) who goes to investigate an orphanage and discovers much more than just an orphanage.

    The environment is endearing, the characters are nicely described, and the story flows smoothly with good pacing and wonderful writing. I loved Linus and how he is totally believable—he's forty, overweight, and struggles with normal human challenges. The way he grows during his journey is definitely captivating.

    And his relationship with Arthur is great! No instant love and no overly sensualization. Just two people getting to know each other and building a meaningful connection.

    PROS:

    Great world-building, nice plot, and storyline.
    Well-built and consistent characters.
    Sweetheart vibes without being overly saccharine.
    Beautiful gay romance between two mature men.
    CONS:

    Sometimes, it veers towards something a little bit naive and juvenile. But I'm just saying that to include something in the "CONS."
    All in all, it's a very, very nice read for those looking for a good, sweet gay fantasy story. I loved reading it and totally recommend.
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  • Nicolas Koy
    5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful story about kindness and family
    Reviewed in France on November 14, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    It unexpectedly pulls on your heartstrings and doesn't let go.
    Many tears were shed. My heart kindled with hope. The blood in my veins boiled. Uncontrollable bursts of laughter. So many emotions packed within its pages.

    This is the most heart-warming book I've ever read. No, the greatest heart-warming, most delightful and brilliant piece of storytelling ever told across all formats.

    This story is about hopes and dreams. It's about prejudice and hatred. It's about celebrating our differences. Above all, it's about kindness and family.
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  • Sonja
    5.0 out of 5 stars An absolutely wonderful book!
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on June 21, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    4.5 out of 5 stars.

    The House in the Cerulean Sea is truly so lovely, it warmed my entire heart. I teared up twice while I was reading it, and that is a very rare occurrence for me. I was just constantly like this: 🥺 🥺 🥺

    I literally teared up because of a pile of buttons… If that makes no sense to you, please read this book because then you will Understand what I was going through lmao

    The House in the Cerulean Sea is found family excellence. It’s not only about the power of found family, but it’s also about learning to be brave enough to step out of your bubble, finding out where you truly belong and embracing the life you deserve.

    The main character, Linus Baker, was so precious. And his character development was fantastic. All of the characters in this book were so distinct and lovely in their own unique way. I honestly can’t even pick a favourite character, I just love all of them so much.

    This book truly made my heart sing with joy. I loved the ending so much!!! It was just everything 🥺

    The only reason that I didn’t give this five stars is because the first half of the book is pretty slow. But in the grand scheme of things, that’s not a very big deal so I’m only knocking off half a star. If it weren’t for the slow pacing in the beginning, this book would honestly have been perfect.

    OVERALL, The House in the Cerulean Sea is an absolutely wonderful book and I highly recommend it!!

    Do be warned, though: you might cry. A lot.
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  • Mikuki
    5.0 out of 5 stars PRECIOSO❤️
    Reviewed in Spain on July 16, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    El libro llego muy rápido y en perfecto. El servicio de entrega de Amazon es, casi siempre, excepcional. La historia es preciosa y resulta amena y fácil de leer. Este ha sido mi primer libro de TJ Klune y es un autor 100% recomendable
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    Mikuki
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    PRECIOSO❤️

    Reviewed in Spain on July 16, 2023
    El libro llego muy rápido y en perfecto. El servicio de entrega de Amazon es, casi siempre, excepcional. La historia es preciosa y resulta amena y fácil de leer. Este ha sido mi primer libro de TJ Klune y es un autor 100% recomendable
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