T.J. Klune‘s The House in the Cerulean Sea is, through and through, a very sweet novel.
That’s not an adjective often used in fantasy writing, and even less so as you move out of the explicitly YA entries. So it’s a nice diversion at the very least.
The central plot of the novel focuses on a social worker (yes, really) in an overly bureaucratic alternate universe. His job is making sure that magical youth are treated appropriately in their state-run orphanages / care centers / youth homes. He is sent to one that is seen as highly unusual, to the point that it is in danger of being shut down due to the unorthodox methods of its caretaker. The children are also, to say the least, quite unusual, ranging from a button-hoarding wyvern to an amorphous blob that dreams of being a bellhop to, literally, a 6-year old Lucifer.
The novel dances carefully on the edge of being overly pedantic, but even when it slips, the message is worthwhile, focusing on self-acceptance and the importance of being true to yourself, even in moments of adversity. There are various LGBTQ+ relationships, both explicit and not, something quite refreshing in the overall genre.
If you’re still reading after that summary, you’ll probably enjoy the novel.