Staff Review: The House in the Cerulean Sea

Title/Author: The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune

Genre(s): Fantasy, Humour, LGBTQ+, Cozy Reads

Linus Baker is an ordinary man with an extraordinary job: A case worker that oversees the well-being of magical children. When he is given a classified assignment to a mysterious island of dangerous children and their intriguing caretaker, his life becomes fantastical. These wild, outstanding children and their handsome caretaker, Arthur Parnassus, quickly charm their way into Lunus’ brittle heart. With gnomes, sprites, wyverns and more, this right fantasy landscape is full of LGBTQ themes of chosen family. This story is about tearing down the systems of power that try to hide those that are different. It is about examining fear and bias towards the unknown, and embracing messy, life-changing love, even when it comes from unexpected places.

Reviewed by: Rosemary

House In The Cerulean Sea is a story about a mundane life turned upside down, about alienation and facing bigotry, and about love and found family.

Linus is a hard worker who has no life outside of his job. He gets a sort of promotion and ends up on a strange island for a month to determine whether the orphanage there is up to standards. At the orphanage, he meets many *interesting* children, but the head of the orphanage must be the most interesting of them all.

TJ Klune writes to make you feel like you're getting the best hug of your life. Every page of House In The Cerulean Sea made me laugh, cry, or "awww!" out loud. The characters in this story are unique and have such charming personalities, you're sure to fall in love with all of them. This is one of those books that I wish I could experience for the first time once more, and from the first chapter it became my favorite title on the shelf. This story is for anybody who needs to feel loved (read: everybody).

Reviewed by: Nat

Staff Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Title/Author: The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman

Genre(s): Fantasy, Modern Fairtales

Out of Neil Gaiman’s storied career, I often feel like Ocean at the End of the Lane often gets missed or glossed over in favour of bigger titles like Good Omens or American Gods, but I feel this one stands firmly on it’s own. It’s a fairytale in the classic sense, you’ve got a young boy finding himself in a situation that starts out benign that turns out to be more fantastical than he could possibly imagine, the struggle between light and dark, and a hint of danger. You also have the boy, now a middle-aged man, recounting his tale like some of the best stories do. This book also delves into celtic mythology, and functions as a remarkable look at how perceptions change over time.

Reviewed by: Alex

Staff Review: Payback's a Witch

Title/Author: Payback’s a Witch - Lana Harper

Genre(s): Fantasy, Magic & Witches, Rom-Com, LGBTQ+

Emmy Harlow, the prodigal daughter of one of four witch families returns to her small midwestern magical town after nearly a decade to take part in a once-in-a-generation magical tournament to finally put her past behind her and move on with her non-magical life. However, upon returning she makes a pact with her best friend, and the beautifully enticing Talia Avramov, all of whom had their hearts trampled on by Gareth, heir of the Blackmoore family & presumed frontrunner to win the tournament. As they work to prevent their rival’s victory, however, Emmy and Talia begin to grow close, and Emmy’s forced to question the magical-free life she’s built in Chicago. A wonderful rom-com, and the perfect Halloween read!

Reviewed by: Alex

Staff Review: Gods of Jade and Shadow

Title/Author: Gods of Jade & Shadow - Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Genre(s): Fantasy, Magical Realism, Folktales

A girl who has been forgotten and pushed aside rebels against her status to seek adventure in this rich and enrapturing fairytale. Moreno-Garcia’s writing sparkles off the page to reveal a dazzling 1920’s Mexico steeped in magic and mythology, weaving stories of Mayan gods, sorcerers and the underworld into a quest for freedom and fulfillment of dreams. Casiopea will find herself face to face with the gods of Xibalba, with ghosts with glittering promises and with her own willpower. Is her path of love and loss already written in the stars that she gazes up at so fondly?

Reviewed by: Rosemary

Staff Review: Malice

Title/Author: Malice - Heather Walter

Genre(s): Fantasy, Retellings, LGBTQ+

As far as subgenres go, retellings of classic stories, especially with an interesting new twist, is always a favourite of mine, and Malice does it better than most! Heather Walter takes a look at a fairytale nearly all of us know from childhood, Sleeping Beauty, and flips the story on it’s head. This time around, we look at the story from the perspective ‘villain’, Alyce, the much abused and maligned Dark Fate of the kingdom of Briar, her only ally is a girl she’s not allowed to love: Aurora, the crown princess cursed to die in a year unless she finds true love’s kiss. 

Reviewed by: Alex