This week we are discussing The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, Chapters 16-Epilogue.
Spoiler Warning!!! This post is full of spoilers for The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.
Trigger/Content Warning!!! This book has scenes and discussion of such themes as: prejudice, fatphobia, child abuse, and magical violence.
Discussion:
Michaela: Hello friends! Welcome to our final discussion of The House in the Cerulean Sea! I am very sad that we are done with this book. I loved it so, so much. This is one of those books that will always be in my heart. This last section of the book held so many emotions in it. I was laughing, then I felt like crying, then I was angry, then I was actually crying, then laughing, then crying again. I ended up rereading the ending to get the full force of it because the first time I was reading too fast because I needed to make sure everyone ended up happy.
This section began with Theodore showing Linus his hoard under the couch. This whole scene warmed my heart. Theodore’s deepest treasures were the things that belonged to his loved ones! I could barely keep it together for that part alone. I was just a full on mess for the last part of this book.
Jacilyn: Not only does Theodore show Linus his hoard, he even gives him back one of his buttons, with two little fang imprints so that Linus would remember him. Wyverns are typically very protective of their hoards, and giving something away certainly indicates a lot of trust and love.
For a moment, I became worried that the mob of villagers were actually going to end up hurting someone from the island, or that they would provoke Arthur enough to cause an accident that got the children taken away from him. Thankfully, that’s not what happened, but Arthur did end up showing himself as he truly is, as a phoenix, in response to a threat against Linus. The imagery of that scene, of the flaming silhouette of the phoenix above Arthur, was incredible - not to mention the bravery of both him and Linus. Little meek Linus, who arrived on the island an entirely different man a month ago, called all of those villagers out on their bullshit. What were they going to do once they got to the island? They were going to hurt those children, there’s no way they had any other intentions.
Michaela: The image of Arthur’s phoenix and then Linus grabbing his face to calm him down, beautiful. No other words can describe it. It showed so much love and protection and growth in both men. I was absolutely terrified of what was going to happen with the villagers. As soon as Zoe sensed them on the beach my heart stopped beating, I immediately thought someone was going to be seriously hurt. I’m so glad for how the whole thing turned out, there will still be issues in the future I’m sure but at least they now know that Arthur truly will protect them and he has the means to. This group of villages is a prime example of fear mongering, misinformation, prejudice, and negative group thinking. It is truly terrifying to think what they could have done or what the others may have done to protect the children had Merle not refused them passage.
Then basically just after this is Linus’ goodbye adventure with the children. This was such a sad, happy, lovely scene. “Smile though your heart is aching, smile even though it's breaking”. Saying goodbye to someone you love is the hardest thing in the world. The song that Arthur and Linus dance to is called Smile by Nat King Cole, this song has been a comfort song of mine since I was very young. It was especially important to me when I moved away from my now husband, all my friends, and my family. That was one of the toughest things I have ever been through and music was one of the things I turned to. I have had my fair share of goodbye parties or dinners, having moved so many times, and it always has these conflicting emotions of happiness to be with everyone and sadness to leave them. I loved how Klune wrote this goodbye, it showed how hard this was for everyone.
Then Arthur asking Linus to stay just broke my heart. I know Linus felt a duty and that his month at Marsyas Island was like a time out of time. But I could not have said no to Arthur. They love each other so much and they don’t even realize how much!
Jacilyn: When Linus tucked Lucy into bed after their last adventure…. I started sobbing. Just thinking about that part has me tearing up again. Lucy is right - Linus has magic, in just being himself. His true self is magical. And then Linus leaves the door cracked to help chase away any nightmares that may plague the poor boy when he’s asleep. My heart broke and grew all at the same time.
I can understand why Linus left. I honestly think that, had Linus stayed, Extremely Upper Management would have found a way to shut down the orphanage and take the children away. Now, that doesn’t mean Linus couldn’t have told Arthur and the children how he really felt. I also don’t think he knew when he left that he would be coming back, which makes me think of Zoe’s common gripes about men being idiots. If he would have been brave enough to face his feelings and be honest with himself before he left, I don’t think it would have taken the dreariness of being back in the city and at work to make him realize what he left behind.
That being said, Linus did go back to work as a new man. Never one to blatantly break the rules before, he brought the photo that Zoe took of everyone during their first adventure and put it on his desk. And beyond that, he straight called Extremely Upper Management, and Mr. Werner in particular, out. It was beautiful, and strong. I think that Mr. Werner wanted to believe that when he left the island, breaking Arthur’s heart in the process, everything fell apart. I think he wanted Linus to report that Werner had left a mess in his wake, but Arthur and the children are stronger than that. And that was highly disappointing to Mr. Werner, which causes me to strongly suspect that he’s a narcissist.
Michaela: I think Linus knew what he was leaving behind, what I think he didn’t realize was that he couldn’t live without it. For the first time he felt alive, “He felt real. He felt present.” He left because of his sense of duty which I can understand. But he totally could have at least communicated his feelings to everyone before leaving. (Honestly, I agree with Zoe’s gripes and they make me giggle.) If he had expressed some of his emotions and reasoning to the children before leaving I think it would have been easier for them, at least a little bit.
I was living for Linus’ new attitude towards his abusive superiors. I was filled with so much joy at his defiance, he has grown so much in such a short amount of time. Mr. Werner is definitely a narcissist, completely agree with you there. There was no logistical reason to take the children away from Arthur because then that means they have to send all these special children somewhere else and most likely send them to separate places. Which all that would just make their jobs harder. This was all about Werner wanting to show his control over DICOMY and someone who he had already hurt. I was honestly shocked that they approved his recommendation to leave them be. I was expecting another fight or something. Then after Linus gets his recommendation approval he just gets up and walks out. I was filled with so much excitement for him. Leaving an abusive job is so freeing but then add onto that freeing yourself from the depressive life everyone told you you deserve and don’t deserve anything better. I’m so happy for Linus! But then before leaving he stole file after file of children he could help without DICOMY. Amazing, truly amazing.
It almost felt like Linus went a smidge nuts when he left DICOMY. He went home and packed up his entire life and decided to wear his expedition outfit to show up on a family door step and ask them to let him stay. I think he needed that energy to go through with it though. Deciding to uproot your life and then doing it all in one day, I can’t imagine how much courage that takes.
Jacilyn: I enjoy that Linus went from standing up for himself and others to literally breaking the law and stealing government property. I’m glad he stole those files, because it didn’t feel like he would be able to just forget about all the other magical children in abusive or unloving situations after everything he had seen, learned, and been through. I was also surprised that they approved Linus’ recommendations, but I think they stopped seeing him as a pushover who is easy to control, and as a threat, someone who wouldn’t hesitate to call them out on their bullshit. If they didn’t approve his recommendation, I think Linus would have been a thorn in their sides, and they knew it.
Linus’ decision to go back to the island was rather abrupt, but I can’t blame him for wanting nothing to do with that dark, rainy part of his life anymore. Now, I imagine there had to have been some way to call ahead and ensure that he 1) had a ride into the village and 2) that they would even welcome him back. But, of course, dear Helen came to the rescue again and took him home, where he belongs.
Talia’s tears when Linus came back ruined me. Absolutely ruined me. Here I am, crying again just thinking about it. It hurt everyone when he left, and I don’t blame any of them for being wary at first. But Linus spoke from his heart, when he gave his speech, and there’s no way Lucy (or any of the others, for that matter) was going to accept him back without making him sweat a little, first.
And then there’s Linus’ first kiss with Arthur. First of all, it’s so cute that everyone watched from the windows and cheered. I think they both helped the other learn how to be themselves, authentically and sincerely. Linus began living for himself, for the kids, for Arthur, and his discomfort came second to their safety. Arthur felt that he could finally show his true form, because of the encouragement and love that Linus gave him. Neither of them have to hide anymore, and neither do any of those children. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - I’ve never wanted fictional characters to be real more than I did while reading this book.
Michaela: Linus’ return was great. He just shows up with no plan and has to walk all the way to the village. Thank god for Helen running into him. I love Helen, she clearly had feelings for Arthur when they were younger but she didn’t turn that into hatred or prejudice like so many others would. She loves Arthur and by that love she helps Arthur get Linus again. Linus’ speech was filled with such honesty and vulnerability. I’m not surprised in the slightest that the children pretended to confer about him staying, what a good moment. Then the kiss between Arthur and Linus. “I don’t know why you don’t just kiss him and get it over with. Adults are so dumb” (pg. 381) I agree Lucy! I felt so much relief once they finally kissed and admitted their feelings. About time! They need and deserve each other.
I loved the epilogue. It wasn't so far in the future that we felt we missed anything but they had all clearly settled right into being a family. And Linus now felt comfortable for once, “He was comfortable in his own skin for the first time in his life” (pg. 386). Linus has constantly been spoken down to by his mother, by his boss, by his neighbor, and by himself, his entire life. Even along the way he managed to change aspects of DICOMY for the better in his wake. But now he finally has a place that is healthy for him where everyone accepts and loves him exactly how he is and celebrates him. He’s even so comfortable as to not even hesitate at the idea of adopting a new child while also working on officially adopting the rest of the kids. I can’t handle the love here people! I was truly overwhelmed by happiness at this ending.
Jacilyn: The ending was perfect. It left me wanting to know more about David the yeti, and whether or not Linus and Arthur actually get married! I’m hoping that we’ll get another book in the future… I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of these characters, and they certainly still have a whole lot of good to give to their world. I can’t think of a better family.
Thank you so much, friends, for joining us on this journey to Marsyas Island. We’ve loved every second of this book, and hope everyone has enjoyed it as much as we have. I’ll keep our conclusion brief, and end this final discussion much like TJ Klune ended the book -- “Don’t you wish you were here?”