Dual Review-Grey Sister, The House In The Cerulean Sea
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2024
- Links to books I talked about in this video
(These are affiliate links. If you buy through these links, I get a small percentage of the sale):
0:00-Intro
0:31-Grey Sister: amzn.to/3snRZYb
7:10-The House In The Cerulean Sea: amzn.to/3bCP9IT
12:57-Outro
WHERE TO FIND ME:
► My Patreon: / merphynapier
► Reading Spreadsheet: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
► Instagram: / merphynapier
► E-mail: merphynapier@gmail.com 
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House in the Cerulean Sea for me is best categorized as "cozy fantasy". Just like you wouldn't read a cozy mystery and expect hard-hitting topics and in-depth accurate police work, don't read HINTCS and expect what you'd see in a more archetypal fantasy :D but for warm'n'fuzzies you're covered 8)
oh wow this is the perfect description!
I think the thing that really stands out in The House on the Cerulean Sea was Linus’s character development; it was gradual, satisfying and so natural. The story sort of left me hanging, as you said, but the story was so heartwarming regardless.
Sorry but the gradual character development? Nope not at all, we have no background on Linus, they just tell you what he was. Nowhere in the story do we see this uptight Linus they tried painting him as. He falls in love with these kids after a few days, this was his job. He did this all the time. Why didnt he fall in love with any other magical kids. such a poorly thought out story.
@@NoMoeMistaNiceGuy Fair enough. I won't argue my point because, quite frankly, I was slightly underwhelmed by the story. I did like Linus' character and the way he started caring for the children; I thought his was a perspective we don't tend to see in books, particularly fantasies (low fantasies, I can't speak for high fantasies). It was just a little bit of a feel-good book for me and I did not read to deeply into it because I knew I wouldn't end up enjoying it if I did. I totally understand why many people would not like the book.
As adopted child, now adult, I’m so excited for you and your family! Adoption was the greatest gift I’ve ever received. I’m forever grateful for my loving family.
Merphy has the best reviews. In fact, you get a much deeper perspective on plot and twist.
awe thank you so much!
"Grey sister was such a step up"
YYEESSSSS I KNOW
I'm so happy you reread Red Sister to get here hahaha
psst, the house in the cerulean sea is adult, not young adult 😉
oh thank you! i wasn't sure
Looks like young adult to me... 🤗
The House in the Cerulean Sea was actually my favorite book of 2020 and your description alone brought back all my memories and made me wanna go reread it so thanks for that!
Chauncey!!!!!! Loved the house in the cerulean sea so much!!
I'm a big book of the ancestor fan so I would love to see a spoilery discussion once you have finished the last one. Also, I didn't love Red Sister at first but I actually found it MUCH more enjoyable on a reread, once I was already attached to the characters
So glad you enjoyed The Grey Sister. One thing I really loved about the whole series is that there is no pointless romantic subplot. I feel so many fantasy books have a romantic subplot just to have a romantic subplot and not because it's essential to the story.
Merphy, you're a brilliant speaker AND reviewer! Your reviews are the best ever and also so entertaining
wow thank you, that really means a lot to me
@@merphynapier42 you're welcome! I've always noticed it about you
You're going to love holy sister so much!
A spoiler-filled review for The book of the Ancestor sounds amazing! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Holy Sister.
I'm loving those separate reviews of the books you're reading
I love watching your videos, especially at times like these. It makes me happy. 👍
Ooh I was so curious for the Cerulean Sea review!
Just woke up and needed something to get me into the day-this is perfect 😊
Have a lovely day, Merphy!
I'm so glad you enjoyed House in the Cerulean Sea, it really is the ultimate comfort read 😊
The house in the cerulean sea brought back the thing I’ve been missing in ya and adult fantasy. It brought back the whimsy. It brought fun back to fantasy
I just put the Book of the Ancestor series on reserve at the library yesterday :) can't wait to read it!
I can't decide if I want to start the Ancestor series. But your excitement is contagious.
I have heard so much about The House of the Cerulean Sea. I have heard it is like being wrapped in a hug. Excited to read it! Thanks for posting!
That exactly what it’s like!!! It was my favorite book of 2020!!
Please do a spoiler review of the trilogy
I'm reading Red Sister this month!
Congratulations to you and your husband on the adoption :D I just started Red Sister, enjoying it so far!
An orphanage with a boy who could potentially destroy the world? Are you talking about Harry Potter again, Merph? :D
Yess, I just needed more good books to put on my reading list, I always love to hear what Merphy has to say. I have a very similar taste in books.
Love your content, Merphy! Hope all is well!
I can't wait to read The House in the Cerulean Sea! Red Sister is also on my TBR, but probably won't get to it this year... Really enjoyed hearing your thoughts. Thanks for sharing!
Grey sister is probably my favorite of the trilogy but Holy Sister is such a fast and exciting read, I read it all the first night I got it, not a wasted word in that book
I completely agree with your thoughts on The House in the Cerulean Sea. It's a great book to recommend for the feels, but there were so many parts where there were "quotable quotes" that it was too much at times and the plot conveniences didn't sit well with me, particularly how everything got resolved in the end so quickly. Still a great book with a lot of merits to the writing and the heart of the story!
Nice to know everything wraps up well. I’m halfway through the book. Now I don’t need to finish it. 🙄 Thanks.
@@carriebateman4465 It's definitely a preference thing. I could see why so many people are obsessed with it, it just wasn't for me.
I am so glad that you liked Grey Sister, I just finished a reread of the this series. What you said about Nona and the love that she has for her friends really is something I loved in this series. There was a line between Nona and Darla after their first fight where she is helping Darla up after falling a day after they had fought and injured each other and says "We are to be sisters one day soon" which starts their friendship which you see grow in throughout the first two books. There is also a short novella called Bound in between Grey Sister and Holy Sister that isn't really necessary but does explain a power that will be used in the final book.
I had a similar reaction between Red Sister and Grey. Grey Sister and Holy Sister are both significantly better than Red Sister. I heard so much hype about the series and was disappointed at first, I almost dnf'ed Red Sister but started to enjoy it enough towards the second half to continue on. I've seen a lot of people not continue after Red Sister but there is a big upgrade in quality with the sequels. Loved the novella between Grey and Holy as well. Hopefully, Holy Sister holds your interest as much as it did for me.
Please do a spoiler review for the whole Book of the Ancestor series!
I really adore the atmosphere and characters of House in the Cerulean Sea--I agree that the kids were really well written. My nitpick (that almost borders on a major issue) with it is that the prose really, _really_ seemed like it would have benefited from another round of editing. I found myself rewriting sentences in my head as I was reading, and it was really frustrating because of how much I enjoyed the overall story--I just wanted the language to tidy up and smooth out, and sometimes back off. In some places, it almost felt overwritten--like it was making the same point more times than it needed to in a very short span when it could have had more impact by honing the language to make that point once, or a better effect by beating around it and leading the audience to the point more subtly. Normally it's not something I tend to get super hung up on, but it was really noticeable for me in this case. I haven't seen any reviewers mention it though, so maybe it's just me.
I really liked the book and your comments are correct, sometimes it was very clear that it was the author writing directly to the readers. Just finished Parable of the Sower which is a masterclass in establishing characters you care about with carefully chosen words.
I've been waiting for your thoughts on House in the Cerulian Sea! I'm also a sucker for good solid worldbuilding so it's a shame that it kinda fails there. But I'll probably still pick it up because stories about adoption and themes like that are the quickest way to my little heart. Great review!
Reading through the 3rd Book of the Ancestor currently. Definitely make sure you don't skip the short Novella that is set between book 2 and book 3. The Novella had some of my favorite moments of the series so far!
The book of the ancestor series is brilliant on audible, Helen Duff does a great job and the flash backs are a lot less effort when someone else reads them 😅 also she pronounces it non-a rather than No-na which is interesting. Love your reviews, help get me through lockdown 🔐
I’m wrapping up The House in the Cerulean Sea right now and I really loved it! On an enjoyment level I’m leaning towards 5/5, in terms of literary merit there are some flaws like you mentioned. The biggest thing for me is that it’s constantly referenced how thorough Linus is with his reports, and when we actually read his reports they really aren’t all that thorough, it’s more so like he’s telling a short story. If I was asked for a detailed report and provided a short narrative, I’d likely get in trouble. Overall though, this book made me feel great.
Congrats on being so close to adoption. That's amazing!
I personally enjoyed the house in the cerulean sea, but I did think it got a tad too sappy and preachy at times.
I felt the same way about Cerulean Sea. I loved it, but there were small things I thought were a bit clunky. The relationship between the children and the children and the adults was so wonderfully done though, that the clunky parts were worth getting through.
I am probably really late to the party but I like the new outro music.
I haven't read these yet, but they're on my TBR.
Good review of the House in The Cerulean sea. Agree with your points, particularly about world building. Also the author’s views were very clear and came across a little heavy handed at times. That aside, I really loved the story and the ending.
Hey Merphy, great review as always ! Can you do a review/read The Poppy War ? Or have you done one already and I've missed it ? :)
I haven't yet but it's on my list!
Can you do a review on The Martian
Can you please tell me where you got your tall brown bookcases I’ve been looking forever for sum nice shelves
I'd love to see your full thoughts on the Book of the Ancestor. I have an idea of what you're talking about, but not 100% sure.
Hehe I enjoyed Arabella and Nona a lot
I just finished House in the Cerulean Sea and absolutely love the feel good re-read-worthy vibes, the found family and cute but not too pushy romance. Does anybody have recommendations that have a similar feel like this book? Because now I'm in a book hangover and I don't know what to do with my life :l
I'd recommend 'The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet' by Becky Chambers. It's a sci-fi with a focus on the characters and found family and it's heartwarming. It's one of my favourite books. I always love to go back and reread it.
Would you say this is a book you would reread periodically for a comfort read? I’m trying to decide whether to buy or get it from the library. It doesn’t bother me at all about the world building picks.
I really enjoyed the Book of the Ancestor series
I am in CLass right now!
i also really enjoyed the house in the cerulean sea! the plot (and the twist, as you mentioned) is definitely very predictable, but the book was so nice to read i didn't even care. i have a feeling it would make a good movie.
Please please please do a Book of the Ancestor trilogy spoiler chat video. It’s one of my fav trilogies and I’m so so happy you loved Grey Sister. I think you’ll like Holy Sister. Especially one certain aspect at the end. I’m curious to see if you’re like me in that I wanted Holy Sister to be longer. I really wants your spoilery thoughts!
The house felt like something between little prince and the howl's moving castle.
Please do a trilogy review of the Book of the Ancestor trilogy. It's a series that I really wanted to discuss with people when I finished it, but none of my friends had read them.
Do a complete spoiler review of the Books of the Ancestor.
I'd read Red Sister last summer and although was intrigued by the idea, disliked the execution.
I was rereading it this month, thinking to give the series another try, but was about to give up because I had no interest. You gave me some incentive to push through the re-read because you say the sequel seems better
Guys i have a question...
Why can't i find White Sand by Brandon Sanderson volume 1 anywhere online for a reasonable price?? How do i order this storming book? I'm from eu...
I know, right!?
i think its available digitially. i had the same issue
I don't know why that is, but they are about to release a bind up of all three volumes so you could wait for that. It will probably be cheaper than buying them individually and I think they mentioned that it will have some edits and extra material.
I think you will love Holy Sister so much more!
The House on the Cerulean Sea is on my list, I’m excited to read it! I know you mentioned The Humans by Matt Haig a while back, do you still plan on reading it? I read it last month and I’m interested in your thoughts on it.
It's on my list! Though I haven't read it yet
@@merphynapier42 Thanks for the update! I also read The Midnight Library by Matt Haig recently and I think I enjoyed that one slightly more.
I mean like in your videos the room is so quiet that I can literally hear the clock noise if there is no clock then I must have imagined it
Also I think that the book is set in the 1980’s. The author writes about the green glow of the computer screen. The lack of mobile phones and the need to post letters suggests a period piece.
I agree with you The House in the Cerulean Sea. I liked it a lot and I think it's the perfect book to put you in a good mood; I cared for the characters (not a lot for the romance though), but the world-building was very restricted and all in all it wasn't a mind-blowing book.
@Baby Alive yep. It was a bit corny for my taste and totally unnecessary to the plot, but it wasn't the focus of the book, so it was OK. I liked that for
once it wasn't teenagers though.
I loved House in the Cerulean Sea, and I’m willing to overlook a lot of things if the story grips me. What I don’t understand is why the story is not just set in a 50s or 60s setting. It’s fantasy, however soft, I feel everything would make just as much sense if not even more so. That kind of confused me for a while because everything but the computers felt that way so..
You HAVE to read RF Kuang's The Poppy War. I NEED to know your thoughts
Please?
Love ya 😘
The second book had me at 'cerulean'. 😏
I think that maturity balance is done well. Surely Mark is highlighting the fact that, while they have had to grow up fast, so you'll hear clever and mature lines you'd maybe not expect from someone their age, and yet they're still young so they'll be susceptible to saying dumb shit now-and-agin, maybe?
Do you not do weekly reading vlog any more? :(
No, she's doing reviews for every book she reads instead
Could I skip Red Sister and just read Grey Sister?
While I wouldn't recommend that, there is a "what happened in book one" sort of thing at the beginning of book two. So while it is possible to do that, I'd worry it could hurt your experience
who’s the antogonist
omg
i love this!!
I liked the House in the Cerulean Sea much less than you (a very unpopular opinion apparently) but you expressed my nitpicks with it perfectly, couldn't agree more. The kids were cute though x)
It's a shame you didn't like the red sister trilogy as Daniel loves that series :(
She liked this one, so I think she'll end up liking the trilogy as a whole
Hey Merph I wish you'll see this comment
Why don't you make a podcast ?
I personally would enjoy it so much
To be honest i liked your top, it has very Indian artistic design. May be I noticed or felt so bcoz I’m from india. I know irrelevant comment on this video 😅
The reason why Linus was chosen was that the higher ups thought he was the perfect little by the rules bureaucrat and that he wouldn't get emotionally compromised. I think that was pretty clearly laid out. I personally didn't like The House in the Cerulean Sea, I found it to be too twee and heavy handed. I went into the book knowing I wasn't going to like it as much as most people because I'm not a huge fan of kid-fic, but I wasn't expecting just to have the whole thing not work for me.
Spoilers
Oh I understood the reasons given in the book, but it still didn't make much sense to me. this is the highest profile case ever, so rather than one of them going, or choosing someone higher up in the department, they pick a guy who they've heard is very loyal, give him a quick interview, then trust him to go off by himself and don't check up on him for a month but for a weekly letter. Phones are in the world but they don't send Linus with one so they can check up on him more closely. It's just with how high profile this case is, there was very little reason to go with Linus specifically except that he's loyal (I'm sure others were too) and because the plot needed it to be him.
First!
How did you get here before the upload time? O.o
@@Nasser851000 Because I think they are a patreon of Merphy’s Patreon.
i've unfollowed channels for sounding very pretentious, you review books and can give constructive feedback on your negative impressions without being a jerk...
Red Flagging The House On The Cerulean Sea! TJ Klune has said he used Canadian residential schools as the inspiration for this book. A review on goodreads sums the disappointment and anger up well. It is truly unfortunate as I had heard such great things about this book and was very excited to read it, but with this knowledge and hearing an interview where he says he couldn't have gone through what those children endured because he’s a cis-gender white male so then decided to make (a horrific part of Native history) it into a fantasy is unfathomable and senseless to me and cannot in good conscience read it. Especially in light of the recent tragic news that has surfaced about the remains of 215 unidentified indigenous children found at a former residential school. @t Here is the review that sums it all tidily with the necessary links to his interviews (written and spoken).
Sorry but The House in the Cerulean Sea in a krap book. Well written poorly thought out.
I am raising a red flag on "The House in the Cerulean Sea". This book is rather controversial, to say the least. Klunes source material for this book was Canada's Sixties Scoop. Considering the history of Canada residential boarding schools and the latest news (the remains of 215 unidentified indigenous children have been found at a former residential school), this should not be praised without proper education on how this book came together. This author is exploiting indigenous trauma for profit.
Too much was given away about the Cerulean sea. 😢 I would have liked to have discovered the plots specifics on my own. You gave away too much that wasn’t written in the book summary. Disappointed to know so much now. I’m halfway through the book and now.... I feel you spoiled a lot of it by mentioning how the story plays out. 😔
She didn't really mentioned anything about the plot aside from the general set up. I don't think anything she said in this video will spoil your experience.
Having finished the book, I don’t believe she gave away anything that spoils how the story plays out. Also, why listen to a review of a book you are currently reading , even one saying spoiler free, if you don’t want to know anything about it? If I want to be completely surprised by a book or movie, I don’t seek out and watch a review about it.
The love affair between Linus and Arthur for starters. I hadn’t heard about that anywhere else. Usually when something says “spoiler free”, I expect it to be. 😘 LOL!
@@carriebateman4465 I don't think the central romance in a book counts as a spoiler. Most reviews give away some basic stuff, if you don't want to know anything it's probably better to not watch any reviews.