Dark, sensual, and dangerous. House of Hunger is a queer fantasy horror novel drawing on the history of the Countess of Bathory (known for bathing in the blood of virgins to stay young). In this world pretty young woman can become bloodmaids to wealthy patrons. The consumption of their blood can cure illness and is considered a delicacy for the elite. Marion is a young lesbian woman who has lived her life in poverty and is a survivor. But an advertisement for a bloodmaid to the mistress of the House of Hunger could change her life, introducing her to luxuries and passions she has never experienced.

I'm still processing what I think about this book. Thematically, it's literalizing the exploitation and "consumption" of women, particularly this young woman of color. Arguably the text is in conversation with ideas about gender, race, queerness, class, and colonization. In some ways it is a cautionary tale about the dangers of intentional proximity to power, wealth, and whiteness - of allowing yourself to be exploited in hopes of personal gain.

But it is also an engaging horror novel that feels in line with vampiric traditions of dark sensuality and obsession that are genuinely dangerous, as well as the gothic tradition of a mouldering estate that can feel claustrophobic. I feel like there is a lot that could be unpacked with this book and it is full of atmosphere and creeping dread. At the same time, I wanted more sense of urgency from the book, which we don't get early enough. And the reveals weren't really surprising- they were telegraphed perhaps a bit too clearly.

The ending felt...a bit too neat for the length of the book. I think if this had been a novella with faster pacing that ending would have worked for me, but as it is, I think we needed something more. I don't want to get too detailed or spoilery, but mixed feelings on the ending. That said, overall I did really like this and it certainly delivers all the creepy vibes for fall. And it is VERY queer with lots of sapphic trysts. (just don't expect a real romance) I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Content warnings include depictions of blood letting and consumption, body horror, physical and emotional abuse, torture, murder, gore, gaslighting, death of a family member, mentions of child abuse, attempted sexual assault, explicit sex scenes with dubious consent due to power dynamics, drugging, gun violence, violence toward animals.

I throughly enjoyed Alexis Henderson’s debut, The Year of the Witching, but I really wanted more in terms of that error unsettled feeling and gore. Henderson absolutely delivered on that and more in House of Hunger.

Marion Shaw knows only poverty and hardship. She decides to change her fate when she applies for the position of bloodmaid following a listing in the local newspaper. Marion quickly finds herself embroiled in the debauchery inside the House of Hunger and at the beck and call of the mysterious mistress, Lisavet.

From the moment that Marion steps foot in the House of Hunger, the unsettling and creepiness within the house immediately takes hold alongside a morbid curiosity to the upper echelon who drinks the blood of these girls from all over the world.

I was immediately swept up in the inner workings of the house and the other bloodmaids. It was so hard not to gravitate towards these girls who were easy prey to these people.

There were so many unsettling scenes in this book that were truly something that nightmares are made of. Even through the macabre, I couldn’t look away. This story was just too good.

I know this review is pretty vague, but I just don’t want to give anything away. If you’re looking for a spine tingling read this spooky season, this is it.

Boy did I enjoy this book. For one, Alexis Henderson has once again taken a horror subgenre and trope (in this case, vampires), and made it into a unique and subverted mythos that feels fresh and new. I loved how the world building explained the society of the nobles in the North, and how they would take people from the more impoverished South, and compel them to become bloodmaids with promise of stature and pampering, so long as they are willing to literally give their blood. The word 'vampire' is never used, but there are absolutely hints as to what is going on with these nobles, be it references to how the North has longer nights, or the literal blood drinking, or even the association with the aristocracy (as that was a very typical facet of vampire lore back in the day). I also liked how Henderson takes actual real world concepts (or references to real people; Bathory, anyone?) of the haves in society taking advantage of and literally feeding upon the have nots. I really, really loved Marion's trajectory from impoverished desperate to finding herself in a place of power and favoritism so long as she provides Lisavet with her blood, and all the shades of grey that come with that journey.

Alexis Henderson is a must read author for me. Her takes on horror are so original and she creates such engrossing and engaging stories. HOUSE OF HUNGER was really, really enjoyable.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the electronic advanced copy of House of Hunger. I knew I wanted to read this book after reading The Year of the Witching last year. (Note, this is not the sequel...yet). House of Hunger is a gothic horror fantasy novel set in a world where the wealthy and powerful employ (indenture) "bloodmaids" to procure human blood which is seen as a delicacy with healing powers. It's a tale of sex, power, privilege, murder, and desire but it's not vampires (though the themes are similar).

I absolutely devoured this book. With its gothic atmosphere and unsettling horror imagery, House of Hunger is the perfect fall read. The prose was beautiful and magnetic, and I found myself quickly drawn into the world Henderson created–not in spite, but rather because of its darkness.

The tension is there from the first page, and Henderson expertly maintains that throughout the novel. Even when things seemed to be going well for Marion, I couldn't help but hold my breath, knowing something horrible had to be around the corner. That feeling, as well as the atmosphere, are the novel's largest strengths. That being said, I do feel the narrative was quite straightforward in that I was able to easily predict what direction the plot would go. That's not necessarily a flaw. In fact, I think sometimes it's comforting to read a story that unfolds the way you thought, and hoped, it would. While I would've loved for more of the horror to shine through, as well as more information on the history of the Houses, I don't know if that would've suited the story Henderson wanted to tell.

Really, I think the goal was to show how quickly the promise of something better can suck us in, and then how soon thereafter the glamour fades. The wealthy elite are quite literally feeding on the disenfranchised, and damn if that isn't the truth.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It had a surprising mix of heart and bite, and quite a bit of blood.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc.

I adored Henderson’s THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this sapphic-vampiric gothic romance. Thank you so much @berkley and @netgalley for my #gifted copy.

Desperate to escape her life in the slums, Marion applies for the position of a bloodmaid—someone indentured to the wealthy nobles of the North who have a taste for blood. Marion is placed at the notorious House of Hunger and drawn into the web of the mysterious ruler of the house, Countess Lisavet. After Marion unearths a horrifying secret, she begins to realize the evil that Lisavet is truly capable of and must choose between her heart or her life.

HOUSE OF HUNGER is a story that is just as breathtaking as it is achingly haunting. Henderson perfects the ominous and stunning gothic atmosphere and brings flawed, well-crafted characters to life. Full of lush prose and vivid imagery, it felt as though I was running through the halls and secret passageways of this eerie mansion. This fresh spin on the classic vampire novel examines how young women are taken advantage of in moments of desperation and how an abusive relationship can masquerade as love. Henderson keeps us on our toes while thoughtfully exploring power, sex, desire, greed and privilege. This enchanting, blood-soaked gothic horror novel is a must-read for spooky season!

The intersection of sex, desire, privilege, and power that vampire tales invoke is endlessly fascinating. House of Hunger takes on all of those elements in a sapphic gothic romance inspired by the historical figure of Countess Elizabeth Bathory and by the plethora of vampire literature out there.

Marion is accepted as a "bloodmaid" by Countess Lisavet of the House of Hunger. Her job is simple: entertain the countess and provide her kitchens with blood, and Marion lives in luxury with a guaranteed pension when her position ends. In addition to all of the spookiness that comes with living in a blood-drinking noblewoman's castle, Marion keeps finding hints of even darker secrets: her tutors are cagey, her fellow bloodmaids compete fiercely for Lisavet's attention, and the word "wretch" keeps popping up in odd places.

The vampire lore that Henderson engages with is opaque and captivating. The world of House of Hunger is not our own, with the North dominated by the blood-drinking aristocracy and the South controlled by slave-owning capitalists. Vampire powers are not clearly laid out, which is a source of disquiet both for Marion and for the reader. Do note that this leans heavily on the horror side of genre fiction, with plenty of gore and a romance so gothic that there's no HEA. Definitely check this one out to add to your spooky season reads.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

4.5⭐
Thank you so much to Berkley and PRH Audio for providing advanced copies of this!! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

Wow. Alexis Henderson doesn't miss. There is something about her writing that just fits perfectly with this type of ominous, atmospheric story, and I can't get enough of it.

This is a very slow burn plot following our heroine who wants to become and bloodmaid for the upper class northerners and create a new life for herself. Circumstances finally allow her to be whisked north where she joins the elite House of Hunger.

But of course, things aren't quite what they seem and things turn sinister.

I loved how Alexis Henderson paced this story. The beginning is fast paced and immediately pulls you in. But when Marion heads north, everything slows. Things feel easy and luxurious. But slowly the walls start feelings like they're closing in. Culminating in a dramatic finish.

I'm not sure if this will work for everyone since there isn't much moving the plot forward in this. It's just an exploration of what it means to be human and to love. With a backdrop of blood.

But if you love dark, sinister, claustrophobic stories. This is a definitely a must read!! Alexis Henderson is definitely a favorite horror author I will continue to pick up again and again.

Many thanks to @letstalkbookspromo and Berkley Publishing for an early, gifted copy of House of Hunger. For someone who doesn't like horror, this is the second one I've devoured this month. I will say this is the type of horror I'm not the biggest fan of. It was a little gory and bloody. I should have expected that based on the description but I'm not always very smart.

I thought the premise was fascinating. Marion, our main character is a bloodmaid. She works for an incredibly rich woman as one of five bloodmaids who are tasked with bleeding on demand for their mistress. It was an interesting take on the servant/mistress relationship. I loved the creepy undertones and the love/hate relationship between Marion and her mistress. I loved it more when it was hate hate because that's when it got spicy haha. Kidding, it's not at all spicy but these two do have some interesting scenes together.

I found the ending to be kind of lackluster and wanted at least an epilogue but ah well. I did like the twist of the book and overall found it intriguing enough to read all in one sitting. It's definitely unsettling and I thought an original storyline. This is a perfect spooky season read.

Inspired by Elizabeth Bathory, House Of Hunger, is about Lisavet, a countess that requires blood to battle a sickness that has plagued her family for generations and Marion, one of the many that provides said blood.

I didn’t want to give away too much with my synopsis. I think going in blind with this one is best. I really enjoyed this story and it’s perfect for the spooky season ahead. Dark and atmospheric, House of Hunger is more gothic than it is horror but it gives all the right vibes. A story of love, lust, and survival, full of thrills, chills and suspense, House of Hunger has it all. Initially I gave this book 3 stars but upon reflection during this review I’m changing it to a solid 4. Check your trigger warnings there may be a few.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

AS CAWPILE:
Characters: 8 | Atmosphere: 10 | Writing: 9 | Plot: 7 | Intrigue: 10 | Logic: 9 | Enjoyment: 10
Total: 9.00 / 5

House of Hunger is the sapphic, bloody, gothic horror of my dreams. The characters and the world were fully fleshed out and well written. There was just enough mystery to keep me intrigued. And while the first half of the book felt very "I don't know what's going on, but I like the vibes" when things took off, they really truly did. This book felt like reading Interview With a Vampire or A Dowry of Blood for the first time, and yet, it was still its own unique entity holding me captive.

Henderson has done it again with another dark book to live in my head rent-free.

Absolutely enjoyed this book. It has a wonderful plot where the main character becomes an indentured servant and struggles with the relationship she is having with the woman who consumes her blood. It's dark, twisty, and deliciously saphic!

Alexis Henderson completely wowed me with The Year of the Witching and I went into this book with high hopes. Henderson has the knack for creating unique and original words.

WANTED - Bloodmaid of exceptional taste. Must have a keen proclivity for life's finer pleasures. Girls of weak will need not apply.

Marion Shaw was tired of living in poverty and living in the slums. She yearned for more. She wanted out and when she saw an advertisement in the newspaper, she decided to apply. The ad was for a blood maid for a home in the North. The North is where the wealthy live and feed on the blood of those in their service.

Once accepted, Marion finds herself living with Countess Lisavet in the House of Hunger. Marion wants to please her new mistress. Lisavet is drawn to Marion. Things seem to be going well....

Gothic, dark and atmospheric. This one will get into your blood. The author has a way of writing unique female characters. Those who are searching for a better life and those who are powerful and prey on others. Henderson gives readers a young woman who was destined to live in the slums for as long as she lives, under the cruel eye of her brother. Marion wants more and is willing to do what it takes to elevate her status. But is she biting off more than she can chew?

High marks for originality and gothic horror. There is a sense of unease and tenson in the book. I loved the gothic and atmospheric feel of this book.



#HouseofHunger #NetGalley


Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Ace and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

The nitty-gritty: With a strong beginning and a thrilling ending, I enjoyed parts of House of Hunger, especially the darker horror elements, but overall it turned out to be a mixed bag for me.

House of Hunger was a dark, atmospheric read, although to be honest it wasn’t what I was expecting at all. I loved the horror aspects of the story, but the unexpected second world fantasy setting threw me off and I struggled with the middle section of the book. Still, Alexis Henderson’s writing is evocative and immersive, and the ending was fantastic. A strong YA vibe will make this work better for readers who enjoy young adult fantasy mixed with horror.

Marion lives in the slums in the Southern town of Prane, barely scraping by as a maid. What little money she does make gets squandered by her brother Raul on drugs and alcohol. Marion longs for a better life, and one day she finds a glimmer of hope. She sees an ad for a bloodmaid—a young girl indentured to one of the four Houses of the North who agrees to bleed for the master of the house. Marion will do almost anything to get out of Prane, and so she applies for the job. Thiago is a Taster who, as part of the job interview, samples Marion’s blood to see if it’s bloodmaid quality. He’s impressed with the exquisite taste of her blood and agrees to pay her fare to the North, where she will meet Lisavet, the Countess of the House of Hunger.

Marion is whisked away on the glamorous night train, and after tasting Marion’s blood, the Countess immediately offers her a seven year contract. She will agree to follow the strict rules of the house and bleed for the Countess, and after seven years, her servitude will end and she’ll receive a nice yearly pension for the rest of her life. Marion signs the contract without hesitation, and so her training to be a bloodmaid begins.

But as she gets to know the other bloodmaids and figures out her place in the House of Hunger, Marion begins to sense an unknown danger, lurking beneath the Countess’s decadent parties and sumptuous feasts.

From what I understand, House of Hunger is loosely based on the story of Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian Countess from the 1500s who was rumored to have killed hundreds of young girls in order to bathe in their blood (a story you might be familiar with). Henderson sets her story in a fantasy world that is ruled by great Houses, all of which employ bloodmaids. Despite the ick factor of being “bled” by being stuck with huge needles and collecting the blood in bowls (to be added to the Countess’s food!), bloodmaids are important to this society, and it’s considered an honor to be chosen as one. Henderson did a great job of making you feel for the bloodmaids, who have very little freedom despite the rich, decadent lifestyle they’ve become a part of. Marion may think she’s better off now, having left behind a life of drudgery, but in truth, she’s only traded one shackle for another.

And don’t go in expecting a traditional vampire story. Lisavet is not a vampire. Rather, she has an unspecified illness that requires her to drink blood in order to survive. She wears gold pointy caps on her teeth that can penetrate and rip open skin, allowing her to drink directly from the source, but most of the time she sips from a tea cup after a bloodmaid has siphoned her blood through a needle. If you’re at all squeamish when it comes to needles, beware! I winced a few times while reading this story, not going to lie.

Henderson’s world is fascinating, but I wish she had gone into more depth. House of Hunger is fairly short, and I wouldn’t have minded another hundred pages or so that delved into the nuances of the way the different Houses are related to each other and why the masters of the Houses need to drink blood. There was a brief explanation about this but it didn’t satisfy my curiosity, unfortunately. There are also subtle politics at play. For example, Lisavet is being courted by all sorts of men from other Houses who want to marry her and take over the House of Hunger, but she’s unwilling to share her status as “master” and so she remains unmarried. None of this is explained very well, hence my confusion.

A couple of other elements didn't work for me. Marion’s acceptance into the House of Hunger and her sudden elevation in status to first bloodmaid (the favorite of Lisavet) felt way too easy. Her blood is the most delicious anyone has ever tasted before? I don’t buy it. I mean, it works for what the author is trying to do, but it didn’t feel authentic at all. Also, Marion’s attitude felt off to me. She should be grateful that she was chosen as a bloodmaid, but instead, she sinks into jealous fits whenever Lisavet shows interest in someone else. She breaks every House rule, goes where she isn’t supposed to go, and more or less acts the opposite of what is expected of a bloodmaid. I didn’t really like the romance between Marion and Lisavet either (and I even hesitate to use the word "romance"), which felt as if it was added simply for shock value. It could have been a great opportunity for an interesting queer relationship, but instead it relied on jealousy and mistrust. I wasn’t that fond of either Marion or Lisavet to begin with, so it didn’t work for me.

House of Hunger is marketed as adult fiction, but to be honest it felt very YA. If you’re a fan of Stephanie Garber’s Caraval series, you will probably love this book. Some of the darker fantasy elements, and especially the scenes that take place on the night train, reminded me of the fantastical vibe of Caraval. I have to admit Caraval and I didn’t get along that well, so that could be why I struggled with parts of the story, and like that book I found the middle section in particular to be slow and confusing.

But once you get to about the halfway point and Marion discovers what’s really going on in the House of Hunger, the pace picks up considerably and the story careens toward an exciting and bloody finish. 

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

This was a very fascinating read and I didn’t want to put it down. We follow the story of Marion who comes from a poor family in the south who has had enough of the life she is living with her dying brother. She decides that she rather bleed for the Northern families (quite literally) than die in the slums of her home town. This story follows Marion as she embarks on becoming a bloodmaid (a girl whose sole purpose is to bled for her Count/Countess) for the Countess Lisavet of House of Huger. At first everything seems great, she’s given a life she could never dream of having, new clothes, grand rooms and more food then she’s ever seen. But things take a turn for the worst when she realizes the contract she signed might not be exactly what it seems.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the authors writing was captivating. This is the gothic horror that I didn’t even know I needed. This is the type of story that you read and feel as if you are there witnessing the events first hand. I love the bloodmaid’s quotes included as headers for each chapter. As there were many other house mentioned I would love to see more of this world in future installments!

Marion lives in the slums of Prane, working as a maid and having her earned money taken by her drug-addled brother. When she sees an advertisement for a blood maid position in the North, she hesitates for just a moment before taking it. When she arrives at the House of Hunger, she is met with a lavishness heretofore unseen. The Countess immediately takes to Marion, deeming her blood exceptional. Marion is drawn in, beginning tutelage in a debauched lifestyle. But the house holds secrets and Marion is too inquisitive to not seek answers.

A quick and consuming read - I was definitely drawn into the story. But man was it intense. Lots of lustful scenes, lots of gore and lots of betrayal. Awesome world building and some of the descriptions were so well done that I felt as if I were there with the characters. Also, the character development was on point. I think my only negative takeaway was the grotesque of it - which I knew going in, so that was on me more than the author/book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

If you’re like me and spent your formative years on the Elizabeth Bathory wikipedia page, this book will speak to you.

This is a twist on her story, which is a decidedly gothic-vampiric-saphhic horror. Marion, our protagonist is raised into the upper echelons of society as a blood maid - someone who is indentured to the Northern aristocracy that drink blood. But of course, nothing is what it seems.

This was such a fantastic follow up to Year of the Witching, Henderson writes such engrossing works that you can’t put down. If you’re a fan of gothic horror, this is a fun wild ride. Entirely atmospheric and enthralling, I actually found myself holding my breath while reading certain parts!

This would have been 5 stars but I felt the ending was a little rushed and I wasn’t totally satisfied.

tl;dr Alexis Henderson has become and auto-read author for me and I can’t wait to see what she does next!

This is the perfect gothic horror book to read this fall, especially around Halloween. It's atmospheric and haunting, and even though October is still a month away, I am FULLY in the Halloween spirit after finishing it. If I had to describe it in a few words, it would probably be along the lines of "lesbian vampire-adjacent Elizabeth Bathory retelling." If that at all sounds interesting to you, then I highly suggest giving this book a try!

This was an engaging read from the beginning. Though there were a few issues with pacing (some chapters dragged on and the ending felt rushed), I was immersed and engaged in this book from the very beginning. Marion is a great protagonist and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her story and her developing relationship with Lizabet. And out of all of the fictional portrayals/retellings I've read of Elizabeth Bathory, I think this one was my favorite. There was something about Lizabet that is just so creepy and unnerving –– and I'll be honest, she really freaked me out!

I do want to give a brief heads-up that this novel contains A LOT of gore and (sorta) cannibalism (if you count blood-drinking as that). There's also a disgusting scene where Marion dreams she's being eaten and it's quite graphic, so beware of that. I would also include trigger warnings for blood, violence, domestic abuse, incest (sorta –– two twins having sex with the same person), gaslighting, manipulation, toxic relationships, medical content/trauma, needles, death, drug abuse, and past child abuse. There's probably more but those are the most prominent to me after reading.

Overall, if you're looking for a spooky, vampire-adjacent novel to read this fall, I would highly recommend this one!

House of Hunger has an interesting premise, but ultimately it fell a bit flat. The world felt a bit like a steampunk/dark fantasy aesthetic, which I really liked, and Henderson's writing style doesn't disappoint. Marion takes a job as a bloodmaid to pull herself out of the slums. As an indentured bloodmaid, she must give blood to the wealthy Lisavet of the House of Hunger. The first part of the novel was interesting, where Marion must travel North despite her best friend Agnes and her brother Raul's wishes. Once Marion gets to the House of Hunger, I got a bit confused over the different plotlines. There was a mystery, romance, some scary encounters with strange men, rivalries with the other bloodmaids-- none of them fully committed or explored. I would still recommend House of Hunger as it was a fun read, but it didn't completely satiate me.