Wow.

This was a stunning cozy tale of grief, and love. The cast of characters and the overall atmosphere pulls you into a tight hug. The house and the arboretum had a magical feel to it. I feel like if there was an arboretum, we would all love to be planted in it. Saika was the perfect main character, and I loved seeing her perspective and grief grow throughout the story. The romance was great, I love Oli and I feel like she, and the rest, are exactly what Saika needed. Frank broke my heart, It was so hard reading about his curse. Keep in mind that this book deals with a lot of loss, grief, and the things we do because of it.

I feel so honored to have been chosen to read an ARC of this magnificent book, and I can't wait for more people to read it.

Pros: Diversity, found family, the themes, the setting and the premise and the system
Room for improvement or what did not entirely work for me: The characterisation, the POVs and some of the plot.
Mixed bag - quick read, good pacing? Not always - the nuances could be emphasised,

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

<i>House of Frank</i> is a queer, cozy fantasy that delves deep into hearty emotional issues around death and letting go.

Saika is a witch without magical power, a fact that she hides just as she hides her hair and her hands. She goes to the Ash Arboretum to at long last fulfill her sister's final wish that she be interred there, magicked to grow into a beautiful tree. Saika is defensive and angry, resistant to the overtures of the diverse staff of a household headed up by Frank, a unique monster. As Saika's heart softens, she realizes that the house and its residents hold many secrets, and their pasts--like hers--will soon be exposed.

I really like the vibe of this book. I love a good found family story, and this setting is incredibly original: witches are common, as are extraordinary beings. I was frustrated, though, because details about the greater world are teased but never explained. Such as, there is never an explanation for how death and grief are usually handled in this setting (much less how religion works as a comfort, if it does), which means context is nonexistent around the arboretum's beautiful work.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

House of Frank by Kay Sinclaire is a first person-POV Queer cozy fantasy centered around grief. Saika’s sister, Fiona, has passed away and left the task of taking her ashes to the Ash Gardens to be turned into a tree to Saika. The Gardens are run by Frank, who lost his wife years earlier, and a team of witches, cherubs, and more.

One thing that I was not expecting but really loved was how the narrative voice is an internal dialogue of Saika talking to Fiona. Throughout the book, there are lines like ‘You’d make this right, Fi.’ It was a really nice touch that helped to sell the grief narrative as many people do indeed hold an internal dialogue with a recently lost loved one, looking for guidance or just trying to hold on to a connection or even pure habit if you shared everything with that person as Saika and Fiona did.

I loved the falling star aspect and how it related to Saika’s magic and the climax. I love stars and I love the creation of new mythology and folklore around them, so for a star to be a power source and a secret kept between two sisters was very cool. I also loved the Ash Gardens being a way for a loved one to be reborn as a tree, to not only return to the earth but to become something wholly new and beautiful.

We have witches, a half-gargoyle, cherubs, a beast man, a fairy, elves, a dragon, a spirit wearing a bowler hat, and humans running around this world and it never feels like a lot. Sometimes a lot of different species can be overwhelming as you try to remember what each character looks like, but Kay Sinclaire slowly added each character and subtly reinforced their appearances throughout, such as mentioning Evette’s height or Oli’s purple skin. Phil, the spirit, was one of my favorites despite his minimal dialogue because he is a very sympathetic character who cares about everyone at the Ash Gardens.

I would recommend this to fans of cozy fantasy with grief narratives, readers who love casts of characters with diverse species, and those looking for a cozy fantasy in a Queernorm world

Oh my God.. Bring tissues!!! In the very best possible way.

What did you do to me, Kay Synclaire?? Just.. ugly crying/can’t stop reading/so many feelings/end result - completely stripped to the core reader with a heap of tissues. The kind of cry that you don’t ever want to get caught in, but makes you feel 100 times lighter right after. I felt this author to the core, it felt like they put a part of themselves into “The House of Frank”.

Sai is a Music Witch who’s grieving the loss of her sister - Fiona. Fiona’s last wish was for her ashes to be buried by Sai, in a specific place and to be turned into something beautiful after her death. Look for a bright red door, complete your sister’s last wish…

As the story continues you’ll be submerged into the magic that is The House of Frank. I couldn’t help but fall in love with all the creatures whose paths lead to the red door. Each one of them is lovely in their own way and complex and quirky. The story is beautifully laid out by the author and intertwined with the topics that touch us all - loss and grief.

Thank you for the therapy and for allowing your readers to feel it all. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy ahead of the release date.

P.S. Phil is the best.

⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for sending me an ARC in return for an honest review.

"House of Frank" is about a witch named Saika who has not only lost her power, but also lost her older sister. Overcome by grief, Saika takes off after her sister's death and it isn’t until years later when she decides to come to the House of Frank to fulfill her sister’s last request to be buried there. While there she gets swept up into the magical family who helps keep the otherworldly cemetery alive and soon has to help keep the House of Frank standing in time for her sister's burial ceremony.

Personally, I don’t think that "House of Frank" was the book for me. I thankfully have not yet lost someone close to me so I couldn’t connect to the characters in that way. However, I did adore following all of the cast on their journey of self discovery through grief. The cast of characters was quite diverse not only in species but romantically; the romance between Saika and Oli was quite a cute one to watch develop. I appreciated how real all of the characters felt, with each one having their one backstory and personality. Not one of the characters blended into another, but complemented each other very well.

The pacing of the book was quite slow, which usually I do not care for, however, in "House of Frank" I felt like the slow pacing was needed. Synclaire really took time for the reader to get to know not just Saika but all of the characters, which made saving the House of Frank much more important. It was only towards the end where I felt the pacing just got a little bit too fast.

I think "House of Frank" is for someone who just wants to be wrapped up in a bundle of love. This book would be perfect with a warm hot chocolate during a snowstorm.

This is the story of Saika who is a music witch that lost her sister recently and wants to go to Ash Garden- a place where they plant the ashes of the departed and trees grow from them. That’s what her sister Fiona wanted her to do. But it will prove for her to be hard to do it so she will stay there and navigate her grief.

It was a unique concept that I particularly enjoyed. The characters in Ash Garden were lovely, funny and just a big family that you want to be a part of.

I caught myself almost crying at multiple times during the book. It was well-written and even though at first I had a hard time with the main character using the “you” I grew used to it.

Towards the middle, I thought it was getting a bit long, but it got my interest soon after.

I would recommend it!

The setting of Ash Gardens, with its enchanting arboretum, provided the perfect backdrop for Saika’s journey of healing and self-discovery. The characters, especially Frank (a charming, cardigan-wearing monster), were endearing and brought a lot of warmth to the story. The way the narrative balanced themes of grief, community, and renewal made it a truly memorable read.

The pacing felt just right, allowing me to connect deeply with Saika’s growth. Fans of cozy fantasies with rich world-building and character-driven stories will find this book hard to put down. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy stories that feel like a comforting escape.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this wonderful book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and ‎Bindery Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for review!
5 ⭐️s, utter perfection 🤩

House of Frank follows Saika, a witch consumed by grief as she arrives at Ash Gardens to fulfill her late sister's final wish of having her ashes planted in the magical sanctuary. Sensing her loneliness and lack of direction, the sanctuary's owner, a mythical beast named Frank, offers her a job as a caretaker. Along with a whimsical cast of characters that includes a purple witch, squabbling cherubs, a mute ghost, and a grumpy old elf, Saika rediscovers hope and purpose in the midst of despair.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I picked up House of Frank. It is a quiet and quirky fantasy novel that is quite different that the action-packed, fast-paced stories I'm usually drawn to. I'm happy to say I was blown away. I think I cried throughout the entire second half. (I was on a plane and two flight attendants gave me concerned looks, lmao.) House of Frank punched me in the heart in the best way. It is a beautiful exploration of grief and love. It doesn't shy away from harsh realities, but manages to demonstrate how love can grow in the middle of the worst kind of pain. The novel makes space for all kinds of dark emotions and mental anguish, while offering hope and a promise that joy can be rediscovered again. I was also delightfully surprised by the sweet sapphic sub-plot.

With one read, House of Frank has become a new favourite of mine. I will definitely be going back for a second (and probably third and fourth) helping. If I were the type to highlight books, my copy would be full of colour. There are so many moments that will stay with me.

Beautiful concept and interesting premise, but a flawed and often jarring execution left me feeling indifferent on this book.
As a queer person, the concept of found family intrigued me. Throw in magic, an eclectic cast of supporting characters, and subject matter that is often difficult to deal with, and I was sold on this book. Unfortunately I felt a little misled. Reading the summary made me feel like I was requesting a cozy book about grief. What I got was an overcrowded novel full of too many characters that I had no emotional attachment to and a plot that dealt with grief in a way that held no emotional weight. I think the flaws with this novel were the fantasy elements. If this were a fictional book grounded in realism, it would have been much better.

Synclaire was so close to the finish line with an idea and writing style that could have given her a great debut novel. Sadly, she just didn't make it to the end for me. I will keep her on my watch out list for future works. There is promise in her work and I am excited to see what she can do with it.

House of Frank is a fantasy about grief and love.
Saika is grieving the loss of her sister, and travels to Ash Gardens to lay her to rest in the magical arboretum
Saika struggles to let go though.. and is invited by Ash Garden’s caretaker Frank to stay for as long as she needs.
I loved all the characters, especially Frank and thought the pacing was super well done.
I read this book over a couple of days and didn't want it to end.
I would recommend House of Frank to any fantasy readers.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery books for the ARC!

I’m a firm believer that every story has its reader. House of Frank is one of those books that I know has an audience out there; while this story didn’t resonate with me as much as I expected, I believe a 3 star rating is fair as the story definitely has a place here.

There is such heart here. The story has many interesting themes, like grief/loss, found family, forgiveness, and acceptance. There are queer characters that just feel natural, not shoehorned into the role. I would say this is suspiciously close to cozy fantasy, but there’s also lots of movement and more difficult themes (listed above). There’s a slight romance in the plot, but it isn’t a main plot point. There’s also a good mystery about why things are the way they are that unravels in an interesting way.

However, sometimes the dialogue felt kind of silly and hammy. The author has a story and a plot, but sometimes the execution to get to where we needed to go felt clunky. The author also chose a risky move to use second person narrative throughout the story. When it works it works, but as it was used here, it took me completely out of the story. For a debut, I think there’s a lot of potential here, and I’m excited to see what this author cooks up in the future, especially with some experience under their belt!

Some favorite quotes:
“Of course we would’ve opted for better parents. Ones who loved us more. Ones who didn’t pressure us to live a life they’d specifically designed for us. Ones who wouldn’t cast out their child for making a mistake…”

“So, no, I haven’t thought to wear anything that suited me. I only wore what kept me together.”

House of Frank wasn't quite for me, but I think this very sweet, cozy fantasy will hit big with fans of Becky Chambers' Long Way To A Small Angry Planet and the 90's Sabrina the Teenage Witch series.

3.5 rounding up.

I was interested in this book because of TikTok Creator Ezeekat. I thought over all this was a good story, but man it can be a real bummer at times. There is a lot of interconnected grief among the characters, but it all ends up pretty ok at the end. I would have enjoyed it more if it was a little less about death and more about the magic and creatures in this world.

"I spoke the truth, and the world didn't end."
4.5☆|5

When I saw the cover for the first time, it felt like a warm hug. With soft colours and a gorgeous design, I wanted to crawl inside of it. And that is part of why I requested this one from Netgalley. That, and when I read the summary, I knew deep down that this book had a lot of potential. And you know what? I was right.

This book was truly amazing, it felt like a hug, one with tears on the cheek, it felt like learning to let go but also learning to let new things in. This is a debut novel about grief, and I believe that the author managed to deal with her subject incredibly well. Multiple characters are dealing with grief here, all in their own ways and, without feeling too heavy, it felt right. Reading this book felt right, as if I was learning to let go as well as Saika, our main character. During the book, she often addressed her dead sister, Fi, who she is grieving and for whom she went to Ash Gardens. She addressed her in the second person, and it gave a particular type of writing that fit well, it helped me to get inside the book, but it also made sense and went very well with the thematics. We could feel her pain and grief even better that way, I liked it a lot.

This book is a cosy fantasy, and I would like to thank the author for making me realize that I like those a lot. After turning the last page, I just wanted to crawl back inside and stay curled up in a corner of the universe. Ash Garden is, simply, such a lovely place with such wonderful characters. My favourites were probably Oli and Hilde, but the truth is that I loved them all, in one way or another. This book was filled with magic and love, and it was absolutely beautiful. I loved the fantasy aspect of the book and how the magic worked. I am also utterly fan of the concept of the arboretum, it is beautiful.

Last but not least, the relationships in this book!! Between the soft and small sapphic romance and the incredible found family that made my heart warm. Globally, this is a perfect read if you want a cosy book that will make you feel things with a nice cast and a touch of magic. Thanks to Netgalley and Ezeekat Press for sending me an ARC, the book will be out on October 15th and I deeply recommend it!

TW: Grief; Past death (including past death of a child); dementia; past suicide and terminal illness

I adored this. The story centers around a found family of magical creatures who heal together. They are each grieving the loss of a loved one. The grief is raw at times, and light and lovely at times. This was such a unique setting and cast of characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Spoilers below!

Let’s be honest, I requested this book because I loved the colors of the cover. It was so pretty and so soft, I instantly did that thing we’re not supposed to do where we judge a book by its cover. Guilty as charged. Thankful as hell.

This is a story about grief and living with that grief. It is a story about found family. It is a story about magical creatures and a magical house. Saika, our narrator, finds herself at Ash Gardens with a deep sense of loss—her sister and best friend is dead and her final wish was to be laid to rest in the magical arbortorium that exists within the property of Ash Gardens.

But Saika carries so much grief that she’s unable to do what she initially set out to do. Enter Frank, the knit-cardigan wearing, massive magical beast who runs the place. Frank was a compelling character, especially as he started to lose his memory and the house went into disarray. I loved the found family aspect of this story. Each character brought their own unique personality to the table and was crucial to the plot in their own way. And their care and compassion for each other was evident in the writing.

I think the topic of grief was handled well in this story. It became clear that each character was dealing with grief in their own way. While the story focused on Saika’s grief, mainly, everyone got a chance to grow in their own grief.

I think my biggest hangup with this story is that sometimes I was pulled out of the narration when Saika addressed her sister, Fiona, in text. Fiona was her inner monologue, which is always important to a story, but it just broke the flow for me a few times when I was deep in my feels.

Overall, this story was full of heart. The found family aspect was so well done. There is casual queer representation sprinkled throughout the novel and a sapphic romance that’s very sweet. Losing a loved one is devastating, but what they offer at Ash Gardens is nothing short of magical. I think the topic of grief is handled well in this story.

Look for this book on October 15, 2024!

"House of Frank" by Kay Synclaire is like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day—cozy, a little bittersweet, and absolutely enchanting. Saika’s journey from being a grief-stricken, powerless witch to finding her strength among the quirky crew of Ash Gardens feels like a much-needed hug for anyone who’s ever felt lost. And can we talk about Frank? The giant cardigan-wearing mythical beast is my new comfort character. The magical arboretum is so alive with whimsical details, it almost feels like another character in the story. If you’re a fan of soft fantasy with found family vibes, this book will soothe your soul in the best way possible.

House of Frank is a cozy story full of whimsy and found family. We follow a grieving witch who's struggling to fulfill the final burial wishes of her deceased sister when she gets caught up trying to save a magical arboretum and the creatures who live there. I personally didn't find the main character all that compelling, but the world building and secondary characters are definitely what drew me in as well as their relationships with each other. It reminded me a lot of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door.

falling stars | powerless witch | dragon in the barn | only one broom | eclectic cast

House of Frank is a touching story of a young woman grieving for the loss of her sister and her journey of healing. On her journey Saika discovers and develops a bond with a new found family, many of whom are dealing with their own grief. The story takes place at the titular House of Frank, Frank being the widowed owner of the home. The house itself is a character in this story and its fate is tied up with Frank's. Both Saika and Frank have made sacrifices to spend more time with a loved one but at a steep price.
The cast of characters is endearing and each has their own story to tell. The quirks of the supporting characters make them stand out as individuals and are easy to keep straight as a result. I would love to read a continuation of the story of the house and it's motley crew of inhabitants.