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foxclcves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Hate crime and Racism
Minor: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
mariahmmm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a beautiful heartbreaking story of hatred born from fear, love and it's gentle change, and a man slowly becoming undone.
One star deducted because the story was inspired by the forced institutionalisation of native children in residential schools, and turning this trauma into a fantasy, with naive solutions and a magical happy ending to what is a complex problem, felt nonchalant. I do think, however, that this kind of story needs to be told to show how unintentionally ignorant we can be by sticking to the narrow viewpoint we've been told to live within- the rules and regulations we become accustomed to living by.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Genocide, Hate crime, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Cursing
cha_len_novels's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
― T.J. Klune, The House in the Cerulean Sea
One could review this books in many different ways but here is my own. I fudging loved it. For those alone, have courage because there may be an island where you can find someone to adore, find a home, and find a family. I found this book the epitome of sweetness (but it's not without it's sad moments) and each character became a favorite; even if they could bring about the end of humanity ❤️
**Bonus quote **
“Humanity is so weird. If we’re not laughing, we’re crying or running for our lives because monsters are trying to eat us. And they don’t even have to be real monsters. They could be the ones we make up in our heads. Don’t you think that’s weird?”
― T.J. Klune, The House in the Cerulean Sea
Graphic: Child abuse and Racism
lexcrv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This will most definitely be a recurring comfort read, and something I will be recommending to anyone I come across.
This is, objectively, a 3.5 stars in my mind, but a 5 stars in my heart.
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Racism, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
cjackboox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Forced institutionalization, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Cannibalism
cluttered_mind's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, and Racism
Minor: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Physical abuse
sierrabowers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Fatphobia, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Violence and Cannibalism
songofsummer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Racism, Colonisation, and Classism
weepy_iskwew's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
- Linus is sweet, but ultimately the most boring character to explore the world through. Everything happens to him, and he does very little until the very end. He begins with certain beliefs and standards, but they are so comically ‘bad’ and he lets go of them so quickly it’s a wonder he hadn’t gone through this journey already. He’s kind of a nothing character to me which is unfortunate.
- Also, Linus succeeds in the face of this supposedly crazy oppressive government department; which is a great success for the story but felt a little too easily resolved for my preference. Also, the resolution of the confrontation with the villagers felt a little unrealistic to me.
- Linus (and a few others) hold problematic beliefs due to ignorance and once the ignorance bubble is ‘popped’ through exposure, the problematic beliefs and behaviors can and should be forgiven. Honestly, this is a perspective that many of my Elders would agree with and teach themselves. But, the radical side of me wants to say that ignorance is a choice, and not an excuse despite the forces that might be in place to keep you there. Someday, I’ll be as gracious as my Elders are lol.
- Ultimately, there is no deeper analysis of the system and how it results in the children having no family or community to care for them. There are brief mentions of a deeper history, like boarding schools, and some of the individual stories of the children and how they came to this orphanage. However, it seemed like all the children were in care because of legitimate reasons (aka their parents were dead or presumed dead; to be fair some related to mistreatment by the non-magical government). However, the reasons why children were brought into care during the 60s scoop were much more nuanced, and a direct result of residential schools, racist policies, and systemic discrimination resulting in systemic poverty.
Ultimately, I think in favour of whimsy, and ‘feel-good’ story, Klune left out many of the deeper, more meaningful, and challenging parts of the history that he was inspired by. Which is a choice that an author is allowed to make, and one that some may like. But not really one that makes me excited.
That being said, I do wonder if some of this deeper story could be explored in the sequel. I’d reread this story, and I’ll be adding the sequel to my wishlist. However, I wasn’t so charmed by the whimsy or so convinced that this author has something significant to say that I’ll be rushing out to get it on release.
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Cultural appropriation
arysuh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Racism