He expected nothing. But they gave him everything . . .
Linus Baker leads a quiet life. At forty, he has a tiny house with a devious cat and his beloved records for company. And at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, he's spent many dull years monitoring their orphanages.
Then one day, Linus is summoned by Extremely Upper Management and given a highly classified assignment. He must travel to an orphanage where six dangerous children reside - including the Antichrist.
At the orphanage, Linus must somehow determine if they could bring about the end of days. But their guardian, the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, will do anything to protect his wards. And, as Arthur and Linus grow ever closer, Linus must choose: his duty, or his dreams . . .
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'Oh dear' Linus Baker said, wiping the sweat from his brow. 'This is most unusual.
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(@torbooks, 19 September 2021, e-book, 402 pages, borrowed from @GlasgowLib via @OverDriveInc)
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This is my first time reading the author. I really enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea. It reminds me a lot of the books by Ransom Riggs in that they deal with children with magical powers. Linus is a great character, a bit of a job's worth until he starts to feel connected to Arthur and the children and question his mission and the work of the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. The inhabits of the orphanage get under his skin and in his heart and nothing will be the same. I'd recommend this.
