I don’t often read sapphic stories, but I’m certainly glad I read this one!

Saika has a past full of heartbreak. She has arrived at Ash Gardens to inter he’s sister’s ashes. What she finds when she arrives is a magical house full of amazing characters.

This is a great story for lovers of the found family trope. It is beautifully written, and a joy to read. Sai’s growth and healing are comforting.

In this story you will encounter a mythical beast, a fairy, witches, cherubs, and more. It’s a great story for fantasy lovers!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. This is a cozy fantasy book that deals with the topics of love, grief and loss. I really loved the main characters journey of dealing with the loss of her sister. This story has a quirky cast of supporting characters that make the story even better. The setting of the story enhances the story being told and not just a background to it. This story drew me in and once I got about a quarter of the way through the book, I could not put it down. I recommend giving this book a read.

With all the bravado and emotional gusto of Howl's Moving Castle paired with the coziest of cozy fantasy settings, "House of Frank" is a force to be reckoned with; a no-holds-barred looking glass into which readers experience the true depths of grief, and the lengths people will take to cope with even an ounce of the darkness that grief thrusts upon us.

Each character, from Saika to each of the wonderfully diverse cast of creatures at Ash Gardens, holds a fragment of grief in different ways, manifesting in messy character choices and flawed internal rationalities. This is a story that doesn't ask for you to look BEYOND grief to see the person within, instead gently guiding readers (and Saika) to look at how grief works in conjunction to molds the person you see before you. So while Saika initially makes some dubious choices that had me questioning her morality and sense of justice, her growth as a character shines brightest as she opens up to the family at Ash Gardens, and vice versa. Most of all, I absolutely adored how the plot revolved around the found family/platonic love aspect between all the characters, and how, even though there is a sliver of romance, it doesn't monopolize the greater story of family that the book offers.

Beyond the characters, the world-building of the story is intricately detailed, while remaining light enough to cushion readers in the "cozy" aspect of this cozy fantasy. I loved all the glimpses into the greater world Saika and Oli's character offered to the story, and every aspect of the group's trip to the city felt so purposeful in expanding the world.

My one and only criticism is that I wish the book had offered more in-depth physical descriptions of the characters themselves, specifically Saika and Frank, both which I struggled a bit to picture in my mind. However, the lack thereof did not hinder my total enjoyment of the story, and I would still give this story my highest recommendation for all those who love cozy, queer (sapphic!) fantasy stories.

I loved this book with a passion (and an amount of tears) that I was honestly not expecting. I just loved everything about it. The cover is stunning, it really captures the vibes of the story without giving anything away. And it’s just so beautiful. The characters feel extremely real and are all so so lovely. I really truly and deeply cared about them and their friendship with one another, and I found the sheer kindness of their actions, so powerful that bleeds through most of the pages of this book so heartwarming. All within a plot that is unexpected and an approach to grief and loss (two of my biggest personal triggers) that is oh-so-refreshing. Definitely a five stars read.

Normally, at this point I would summarise the plot, but I think the less you know the better it is, so I’ll tell you a story instead. It’s a bit of a long and winding story, but bear with me. My mum has this body oil that she would bring on vacations. It’s a friction oil (I think that’s what they are called in English), which you put on your legs or your arms after having done sports to soothe muscle pain. We would use it after days walking in new cities, and it would really help getting our legs to feel light again – and to be useable the day after. She calls it “the magical oil”, because what it does is “it finds the spots within your muscles where you are (going to be) most sore, and then it acts specifically there.” You know it because you feel a cooling sensation only in specific parts of your legs. Now, letting along the fact that this is EXACTLY how this oil feels, I cannot find better words to describe the experience that reading House of Frank was for me. Going through the pages really felt like a sort of balm was coating my heart and my memories, finding precisely the points that were ‘sore’ and just healing them. I felt parts of me glow after I finished the epilogue.

In the last few years, only two other books have had this effect on me: Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki and A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers. House of Frank is NOT a read alike for either, but the sensations that it leaves you with are absolutely comparable.
Reading this book was such a joyful and cathartic experience to get through. I had to force myself to read it at a leisurely pace (like over two days instead of one setting), because I just wanted to tear through it but the language, the feelings, the plot, and the characters needed to be savoured.

I really really really can’t wait for it to be out. I honestly can’t wait to get my hands on a hard copy and reread it, maybe even a bit slower than I did this time. Oh, and I can’t wait to see the fan art that I am sure will flourish after this book hits the shelves.

House of Frank by Kay Synclaire
☀️☀️☀️

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This cozy fantasy is reminiscent of many powerhouse storytellers like Diana Wynne Jones and TJ Klune, but it lacked a level of depth to earn a place alongside them.

The setting of this novel is lovingly described and has a quaint, magical feel. It really sets the tone for this quirky and relatively light-hearted tale.

I liked the choice of having our MC tell the story to her sister, but Saika's narrative voice got repetitive quite quickly. It also meant that Synclaire fell into the trap of 'telling' rather than 'showing' a bit too often, which weakened the story overall.

As a character Saika is a good vessel for exploring grief through, though she struggles to be likeable. Most of the supporting characters are unfortunately not drawn broadly enough to truly appreciate, because their backstories are all interesting enough to warrant more exploration; I think the book would have benefitted from editing out some of the members of Ash House to allow for focus on the remaining ones. I also struggled with the reveal of so many characters committing the same cursed act, which cheapened the effect for me.

I can see how this story will appeal broadly as a comfort read, and I did enjoy myself while reading it, but I couldn't help but see more potential in it than was ultimately achieved.


"You pick out the fine linens, Saika. You pick out the extravagant fabric, and you wear them. You buy the expensive tea or the book you've always wanted. You eat the pie you've always wanted to bake, because after knowing how precious life is, those little moments start to feel quite damn big."

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this amazing ARC!
I just knew I would love this book. The queer, found family, fantasy mix just really hits home every time.
The House of Frank is a beautiful story and truly a five star, must read.
The only thing that confused me a tad was the “you”, however, it just took some getting used to and made complete sense for this story.
Overall, amazing read!

What a precious book.
It gives a whimsical look at grief and grappling with loss with carefully crafted lovable characters.
It’s cozy like a warm cup of tea or hot soup when you’re sick. I hope others find this as healing as I did.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

House of Frank is the perfect cozy fantasy book that wraps you up in a warm hug and makes you feel ALL of the feels.

Powerless witch Saika arrives at the stormy Ash Gardens to fulfill her sister’s final wish of planting her remains, where she is welcomed by Frank, a fluffy mythical beast who offers her a role as a caretaker. Desperate to avoid her grief, Saika accepts the job, despite being disconnected from her magic since her sister’s death. Using a fragment of a fallen star to cast enchantments, she hides her lack of intrinsic power while getting to know Frank, the decaying house, and its eclectic staff. Over time, Saika learns to reconcile her joy and grief, rediscovering the meaning of love, and healing in the process.

This book just swept me up in its magical world and I just adored my time with it! I read the whole book in one sitting, which is quite an impressive feat for me and speaks volumes about how all-encompassing and engrossing the reading experience was. The characters popped off the page and I felt so connected to their storylines. I was brought to tears multiple times during the book. Multiple times!! I just wanted to wrap them all up in a huge hug, they were just so wholesome.

The romance in the book was also just adorable, so if you like the dislike to love (not really hate to love) trope, this one will give you exactly what you need.

Oh, and if you are a sibling, you are in for a ride. let the tears ensue.

I do want to say that while the book is cozy, it heavily deals with grief. The story essentially follows a cast of characters grieving different losses, so it inherently feels heavy, but with that dash of magic, it balances out perfectly.

If you're looking for something to warm you up in the Fall, curl up with this one. I'm sure you won't regret it.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: October 15th

House of Frank is sort of like being wrapped in a soft blanket. This is peak cozy fantasy. At the same time, it's also heavy; it's about grief, in every aspect. It's the story of Saika, a witch who has lost her powers, and is finally fulfilling her sister's dying wish to be put to rest at Ash Gardens, a beautiful arboretum where the deceased are planted and can become something beautiful. When Saika arrives, she realizes she's still not ready to go, but Frank, the owner, offers her a job. The Ash Gardens are crumbling and need another witch to keep it going, so Saika doesn't mention that her powers aren't exactly working, and she takes the job.
The cast is beautiful. There's Oli, the half-witch who doesn't know her own strength. Phil, the silent but knowing ghost. Evette, a fairy and incredible cook. Cherubs Merry and Morose, who are twins but can't agree on anything. Hilde, the empath, Ignatius, the engineer. And Frank, who is just trying to hold Ash Gardens together in the wake of his wife's loss, trying to keep her memory alive by carrying on her life's work.
It's definitely character driven; at times, it can be slow and dense. As I said, it's heavy, but it's beautiful. It's absolutely worth it.

This is a book that those walking through grief need to read, one that will wrap them up in a world that they will feel a little less alone in. This is a cozy fantasy but definitely a heavier one as it tackles some harder topics such as grief and loss. If you love TJ klune, and found family . Pick this one up.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

You know you are in for a tear jerker when the main character is mourning her sister, and is carrying her ashes with her, as the story opens.

Saika has lost her sister, but we dont’ know any details, other than she is a witch, as is her family, and that in this world that is quite normal. She is a music witch, and she was asked by her dying sister to have her ashes put in the Ash Garden, where the remains will be used to grow magical trees.

But Saika isn’t ready to let go, so Frank, who is some type of mythical furry creature with horns, offers to let her stay, and work, until she is ready to bury the ashes. Everyone else who works at Ash Gardens, Saika learns, also came when they lost family members, and never left.

Although this is a sad book, there is humor. There is also a mystery. We know that something happened, we just don’t know what, or how.

And certainly there are lots of things to be sad about, throughout the book.

I enjoyed having my heart played with. Because there was such beauty in everyone, from grumpy elves to cherubs to other witches. We even have dreams that are trying to tell Saika…something.


Thanks to netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published the 15th of October 2024.

Overview
This book is sad, heartfelt and so beautiful. The author's love for the story and the characters just vibrates off the page. House of Frank is filled with magic, mystery, love and grief - it's almost overwhelmingly beautiful. The author portrays the sense of grief in a deep, heart-breaking way that feels so, so real. I'm not going to lie. I cried reading this. It's just beautiful.

Characters
This is one of those rare books where my favorite character was actually the main character, Saika, but honestly, it was a tough call, because I love the entire crew of Ash gardens. (Especially Frank, Phil, Oli, Merry, Morose, Evette, Bee and Ignatius 😄) Each one of them adds to the story in their own way, each one of them has their own burden to bare, yet they still manage to love each other more than anything. House of Frank is the ultimate found-family story. Not to mention that the cast of characters includes pretty much all the colors of the rainbow. 🌈

Plot
House of Frank read as cozy fantasy to me, yet it certainly had a story to it. I absolutely adored how Saika gradually uncovering the hidden secrets of the house and its inhabitants - and even herself. There was zero info dumping, (much appreciated ❤️) When I found out something about, say, the characters, it felt earned. (And trust me, there's a lot to find out.)

What did I love the most?
How the book proudly stayed true to itself until the very end, no matter what.

Anything I didn't like?
A few overused phrases. Occasional over-explaining. I could've used more worldbuilding. But that's honestly just me being a wannabe-writing professional.

Favorite quote?
"I trust you with my pain. I trust you with my heart. It's all I can give to you."

Similar books?
TJ Klune: Under the Whispering Door (Close similarity)
TJ Klune: House in the Cerulean Sea (Same type of crew of characters)
Travis Baldree: Legends and Lattes (Similar concept)
Maja Lunde: History of Bees (I don't know, just had the same, beautiful vibes)

Final thoughts
I predict a very, very bright future for House of Frank. For anyone who loves found family, uncovered secrets and sad, beautiful stories - this is for you. From now on, I will constantly recommend House of Frank (meaning I won't shut up about it) and I just feel really blessed to have been able to read it before publishing. It is truly a ride.

A lovely, heartwarming story about grief and learning how to move on. I loved the cast of characters and how they all had their own reasons for ending up in the arboretum. I also really liked how Saika narrates as if she's talking to her deceased sister. However, I didn't find Saika to be a very compelling narrator; I think she wasn't super likeable to me, and I ended up liking the side characters more. I also think the pacing was uneven, especially in the first half. Nevertheless, this was a warm, comforting book that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a cozy fantasy story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC! This was a heartbreakingly beautiful story of love, loss, grief, and healing. I felt such a strong connection to the characters and I cried many times. Highly highly recommend.

This novel is a gentle hug. Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for sending this egalley in exchange for an honest review! What a warm, cozy fantasy about a witch's grief, about the piece of Saika that passed, her sister Fiona. This book confronts that pain and the journey that follows. What I loved about this piece, apart from the found family element, was Saika's second person address to Fiona. This thread continues throughout the book, and it greatly expresses Saika's struggles with greif, love, and loss. I did, however, want to explore that aspect even more. I would highly recommend this book to cozy fantasy lovers, especially if you're looking for something healing, something comforting. 3.5 / 5.0 ⭐️

This book was okay. I ended up skipping through a chunk of the book because I could not get into it and life’s too short to force yourself to read entire books if it’s not clicking. The dialogue for me was the weakest part of the book. There were quite a few conversations that just felt a bit clunky and cringy. The characters felt flat to me & I found the MC not super likable.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book. I absolutely loved it! I will be posting my review on Goodreads.

Reading this book was such a beautiful experience. Every character was so unique and their relationships with each other were intricate and wonderfully written. I’m truly in awe of how Kay managed to capture such complex emotions and share them in such whimsical and tender hearted ways. 5 out of 5 fallen stars ⭐️

I loved this book so much!!! I recommend everyone to read this book asap. I gave it 4 stars. Loved every single second of it.

Thank you Netgalley and Bindery Books for the eARC - Opinions are my own


House of Frank does what it promises really well. It talks about grief and how it affects different people and does so effectively. The main character talking to her dead sister was interesting, at times annoying but used wonderfully near the end of the story.
I thought the main plot was good even if at times a bit predictable.

Sadly where this book falls flat for me the most are the characters. The main character was unlikeable and her love Interest wasn't much better. The rest of the cast of characters was fine in my opinion but it felt like they all had the exactly 1 character trait/falls into one archetype and besides that everyone gets a tragic backstory but that's it. They just felt really flat to me so I didn't care for any of them which is not good for a book that wants to have found family as a theme.

Also the pacing was a big issue for me. Nothing really happens in the first halt. The second half becomes way better and the ending even felt rushed. I really had to push through a quite boring and slow first half to finally get in a groove.

I liked the the different LGBTQIA+ representation and it's also nice to have more MCs of color.

I liked the ending although I wished it would have been given the time it deserved so I'm not mad that I pushed through and even glad I finished it but I didn't really connect with the rest of the book.

Overall I'd say If you want a book that talks about grief because you're also struggeling with it this may is the perfect book for you but I just thought it was okay.

This was absolutely wonderful. Cozy, heartwarming, magical... honestly, a warm hug in a book. Wonderful portrayal of grief and comforting.