Squeeeeee everyone said this would be sweet and wholesome and it was! I loved this completely and I’m here to unapologetically squee

We follow Linus Baker, a lonely man getting along in age. He’s a social worker for the department in charge of magical youth, and except for his job, his cat and his record player, there’s not much in his life. He does the job he’s told, without thinking much beyond the reports he sends in. He’s sent on a special assignment to a classified orphanage.

I’m very visual while reading (and listening) and got such strong Wes Anderson/a-slightly-less-glum-The-Shape-of- Water vibes from this book, especially the very bureaucratic beginning part. I could even hear the background music as Linus was trying to make his way through the cramped desks without bumping into anything. It has that sort of aesthetics of exaggeration, in particular the characters we meet at the department feel a bit like caricatures.

Which brings me to the good characters. Linus doesn’t sound like much in the beginning, but I loved how he grows and how his character journey is not a straight line from A to B, the development is gradual and earned. The kids are also great, I liked how they’re each individuals and real people, not just generic “the kids”. I always love it when a single PoV book has focus not just on the main character’s relationships but also on secondary character’s relationships with each other. Arthur, the children’s caretaker, is amazing and I love, he’s so dedicated to helping them have the best life and overcome their fears.

The story is very small scale, most of it happens on an isolated island, just getting to know these people and getting over preconceived ideas of them. The gains are mostly personal. It’s got a warm and fuzzy energy. There are a lot of prejudices and assholes around, but overall it’s a very feel-good book. It’s just really sweet and queer and accepting.

The world-building is pretty light, an urban fantasy with slightly less technology than our world (vinyl records, no cell phones). People of all magical types seem to exist, but they are feared and controlled by society, their registration is important, and a lot of them have been killed almost to extinction. Magical children often end up in the orphanages run by The Department in Charge of Magical Youth, which is all rules and no heart.

Another thing I loved about this book is how different it is from most fantasy I read. It’s so personal, just with a few characters, in a very mundane setting, going slow and easy.

I really loved this book, the audiobook narration was very pleasant too, just a joy overall.

TL;DR: Book is comforting and sweet, about a social worker and a magical orphanage. Do read

Recommended to: those seeking comfort reads, something completely different, those looking for people doing ordinary jobs in fantasy

Goodreads : 393 pages; Published March 17th 2020 by Tor Books

Looking for other optimistic reads? Check out:

• The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
• Sir Thomas the Hesitant and the Table of Less Valued Knights by Liam Perrin
• The Imaginary Corpse by Tyles Hayes
• The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison