Thank you for the opportunity to review. Sadly I didn’t finish but I was 87% in.. There wasn’t anywhere in the plot that I was itching to read more or captivating. The idea was great but could have been better. It wasn’t for me and by 87% I got a bit more information on the Evers and the blight…just not a big moment.

I liked the concept, but I didn't get into the book. From what I read, the writing style is engaging; it's just one of those cases where I was the problem. I'm going to come back later this year and update my review when I finish!

Perfect for fans of One Dark Window, ACOTAR, and Cruel Prince! I love love love what Maxym Martineau has done in creating this dark, gothic, fae-ish realm! Truly unique in all of the romantasy that I have been reading. Not only are the dark-academia vibes there, BUT the heavy themes are well balanced out with amazing banter and chemistry with such interesting characters and an enticing plot! Highly recommend.

4.25/5 stars

I've read several of Martineau's books, and they've been consistently good choices for me, so I was excited to start this one.

This fantasy romance gave hints of a Grimm Fairy Tale in its darkness and some of its physical descriptions (characters, world setting, etc.). It started just a bit slow for me but quickly picked up its pace and kept me spellbound and on the edge of my seat at times. The premise of a "threadmender" (Edira) who is able to cure disease and heal injuries (unfortunately at a cost to herself) was intriguing, and I found the passages featuring her expertise and its description well written and believable.

I felt that the characters were well-fleshed out, especially the three protagonists (Edira, Orin and Rorik). But the ensemble cast served as a good foil/background for these three as well. The "blight" became a bit of a character in itself, and its physical manifestation was quite gory in its detail.

I think upon re-reading this I would find lots of interesting allegories centered around good vs. evil, the blight itself, the concept of threadmending itself, etc.

Overall, well written and quite entertaining. I look forward to the next book.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing the free early arc of House of Blight for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

I ate this book up in less than 24 hours!

If you’re a fan of Crimson Peak, then I definitely think you’d enjoy this! It was dark, moody and atmospheric. The magic system was unique, the characters were complex and flawed, and the botanical horror aspect was eerie. It gave me The Last of Us vibes and I was here for it! I felt like I had been transported into a world that I was unlikely to survive in and was on the edge of my seat the entire time. My heart was racing as Edira fought against time to save not only her brothers, but the Everglove matriarch, before they could succumb to the blight that threatens to unalive them.

This story was rife with betrayal. My jaw still drops when I think about the way this ended. To say I am excited for the next book would be a complete understatement! I NEED IT!

I feel like this definitely had more plot than romance, but the chemistry and banter were top notch! The slow burn was done so well. I was swooning over both guys but for different reasons. While this is set up to have a little bit of a love triangle, it’s not the kind that makes your heart hurt…so I definitely enjoyed it.

If you like family drama, love triangles, healer magic, and did I mention family drama, I’d recommend picking up House of Blight! Following Edira, who can heal with her magic but at the cost of her life (literally. She loses time every time she heals) as she is swept away to an immortal family’s estate to heal their dying matriarch from a disease that is affecting them all. There, she meets Orin, who sweeps her off her feet, Rorik, who annoys her at first glance, and the rest of the (complicated) family. As she researches a cure for the blight, she’s tugged into their family history.

I enjoyed this one, but with the crazy amount of romantasy recently it’s hard for one to stand out. This wasn’t a drop-all-and-read-it recommendation for me but it was fairly easy to pick up on the world. I would have loved some more in-depth discussion of the history of the Ever families and their connections, but that may come more in book 2. The threads (lol pun intended) left for book 2 weren’t super strong and didn’t reaaaally make me want to read it; I think with a few minor changes this could have been a bit longer and a solid standalone.

For those who love gothic Romantasy and tropes like slow burn romance, forced proximity, secrets and intrigue, gothic haunted castle, unhinged family, maple moth familiar, and tension, this is a MUST READ!

House of Blight is everything I want in a gothic fantasy—haunting, atmospheric, and emotionally charged. Edira Brillwyn is a threadmender who can heal with her magic… but every use takes years off her own life. When her brothers fall ill with the deadly Blight, she’s forced to strike a bargain with a fae lord and enter the eerie Fernglove manor to find a cure.

The mystery, the magic, the stakes—it’s all so deliciously tense. The Fernglove brothers are a tangle of secrets and power struggles, and Edira’s strength and vulnerability absolutely shine as she navigates the manor’s twisted halls and her own impossible choices. I devoured this in just a couple of sittings!

Maxym Martineau crafts a darkly enchanting world where every secret feels like a trap waiting to spring. The tension simmers from start to finish, and Edira’s quiet resilience left me breathless. I 100% highly recommend this one!

Thank you so much to the author, HarperVoyager US, and NetGalley for the gifted e-ARC!!

This is by far my favorite ARC of 2025. If you love gothy, vibey, dark twisted fantasy romances akin to One Dark Window, you’ll love this book. Edira is a threadmender, meaning she has lifesaving magic, but it comes at a high cost. A powerful family learns her secret and she must go to live with them in order to save the lives of her brothers (the only family she has left). I’d rate this 1.5 chili peppers for spice. Tropes: love triangle, enemies to lovers, betrayal. I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for the next one!!

This book was nothing like I expected and I absolutely loved it! I devoured this book! I give it 4.5 stars. The storyline of this book is so unique. I haven't read any fantasy like it. The magic system is super unique as well on top of the magical creatures. I did not expect the magical creatures to look like they did but as I got used to them I loved it! The turns in this book are crazy and unexpected. This book was just so so good!

This new fantasy release is a fantastic duology opener for romantasy readers who enjoy dark gothic themes and unique magical capabilities! The FMC, Edira, is a threadmender whose magical powers can heal and save lives, but with the cost of shortening her own life. She is able to hide her abilities until a powerful family discovers her and forces her to come to their estate in exchange for saving her brothers’ lives. The estate and powerful Ever families are all seeking a cure for Blight, and they think Edira is the key to saving them. This plot is so twisty; there are cutthroat court/rival family politics, tricky deals and oaths, hidden identities, and a delicious pull of attraction between Edira and two powerful brothers. Mystery, suspense, training lessons, magical balls, and powerful insect-shadow-daddies (say, what!?) had me flipping pages to the conclusion! I can’t wait to see how the story continues in the next book.

This was a super fun and interesting book! For fans of the Acotar series, you’ll love this!

The twists and turns were epic and I really enjoyed it!

🖤 Magical Contracts
🦋 Plague/Disease
🖤 Family Conflict
🦋 Ghosts
🖤 Beast Forms
🦋 Hidden Identity/Magic

I loved this story. I loved the blending between gothic and fantasy. Things are definitely not what they seem, but if you pay close attention you can pick up on some of the hints the autbor drops along the way.

I do have to say the last 10% was such a wild ride. There were so many twists and turns and Edita, girl finally figured thins out and found her voice! She was always opiniated but sometimes niave.

PS: I love Rorik and can't wait to see more from him.

I had a good time with this gothic fantasy romance. It felt like a classic Romantasy at times, but with unique elements that made it feel fresh. The Evers had more of a beastly, monstrous feel which felt closer to original depictions of the fae which I really enjoy.

The ‘blight’ disease aspect added to the gothic atmosphere of the setting and the story, and was explained in such vivid detail that it almost felt like aspects of body horror. Which again, gave it a unique feel compared to other similar books being released at the moment.

Overall I’d really recommend those that love fantasy romance and for those that are looking for a book that is doing something a bit different in the genre.

Six-Star Read!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

House of Blight is equal parts whimsical and dark, with exceptionally clever and memorable characters, a uniquely explored magic system, and fresh, sensory specific, writing. At its core, it's a classic gothic romance, top to bottom, with modernized themes, magic, characters, and character motivations.

Edira has spent the entirety of her life hiding in plain sight, defying her very nature, to keep out of the clutches of the Evers (immortal beings who crave her magic). When her brothers are struck with the disease ravaging their lands, however, she's forced to act and ally with the Evers to find a cure.

First, and foremost, Edira is a gorgeous creation. If you love Carissa Broadbent's FMCs, and/or if you love STEM FMCs, you will love Edira. She's very reminiscent of Lilith from Six Scorched Roses. Very inquisitive, curious, and CLEVER. Her inner monologue is such a delight that I did not miss a dual perspective, whatsoever, and usually do.

In fact, all of the female characters in this book are exceptional. All very well-drawn, unique from one another, memorable, clever, and mysterious.

As is the magic system. Exceptional with fascinating lore built around it. We've seen aspects of it before, but the exploration and explanation of it is rooted in memorable (not complicated) lore and weighted with mature, magical realism. This extends to the lore building of the Evers, themselves, and other tropes we've seen but feel fresh here, like bonded mates.

The love story, itself, is a bit of a love triangle, though not a why choose. I don't always love this, but in this book, I found it very well-done, and actually enjoyed the ping and pong of it. Largely because there's so much mystery surrounding the MMCs the whole way through.

It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but nothing that will have you wanting to throw the book. Which, of course, I always appreciate. Highly recommend and can't wait for book two!

Thank you Maxym, Harper Voyager US, The Nerd Fam, and NetGalley for gifting me this e-ARC 🩷💚

Maxym painted a vivid picture with this lush, gothic fantasy romance. The magic system was unique, and I really liked how the threadmender magic was described.. I could easily visualize it. There were twists and turns throughout, especially towards the end.

The pacing was a little slow for me for the first 50-75% of the book; after that, it did pick up, and the ending pushed my rating up to 4 stars.

I would definitely recommend if you enjoy gothic romantasy books.

Wow!! What a fun, unique read. House of Blight is a slow burn gothic romantasy. The magic system used in this book is nothing like what I’ve read in the past! I also wasn’t expecting the love triangle between Edira & two brothers but that added another fun element.

House of Blight follows our FMC Edira who has the power to heal almost anything but every time she heals, she shaves time from her own life. She is also unable to heal the disease that is ravaging their town called blight. Until she meets an Ever who might just be the answer to helping find the cure. But at what cost? Such an incredible read! I am ready for book 2 after that cliffhanger.

3.25⭐️ Thank you to the Nerd Fam, NetGalley & Harper Voyager for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was a haunting and unique gothic romantasy about a human woman who has "threadmending" abilities and is taken by a powerful Ever family, the Ferngloves, to their sprawling manor to study and develop a cure for the Blight that killed her parents and myriad others. Her abilities allow her to see the lifethreads of others and use her power to heal sick threads, but at the cost of shortening her own life span. Our fmc, Edira, is headstrong and has been independently caring for her twin brothers for years. When they contract the blight and she is whisked away to the manor by Orin, the head of the Fernglove family, she is surprised by his own kindness and generosity, but intrinsically she feels something is off with the house and its occupants.

Edira is the type of fmc I usually gravitate towards, but sometimes her personality seemed a bit inconsistent. The Fernglove family dynamics were honestly the most interesting aspect of these characters, but I did find their behavior to be rather predictable. The story itself was also rather predictable, which is where I took away the most points. The eerie setting of the manor with its peeling walls and unscented flowers was incredibly well done, it truly created that unearthly feeling found in gothic novels. The magic system employed by Edira and the Ferngloves was also unique enough for this story to be enjoyable. I often stuggle with visualizing complex magic, but the author did a good job of describing what was happening, and often with eerily beautiful prose. There was also much attention and detail paid to the garb worn by the characters, which I also loved and helped to enhance the allure of this world. The story was well paced and kept the momentum up until the very end.

What I struggled most with in House of Blight may seem so small and insignificant, but for me as a reader, it's something I notice and can quickly drop a rating. And that is the repetitive use of words or phrases that become irksome over time, as if there are no other words in the entire universe that can be substituted in their place. In this case, it was the frequent use of a "pregnant pause" or some form of "desire flashed in his eyes" that had me wondering if I was having deja vu. I usually try not to let such small details bring my enjoyment of a story down, but these were employed so much, I truly wondered if I had picked up reading in the wrong place. The romantic plot utilizes the age old love triangle, which I typically hate, but it didn't bother me as much in this care. Probably because of its predictability.

Overall, this is an enjoyable, unique gothic fantasy that will definitely do well with romantasy readers craving something dark, magical, and eerie. I will be looking forward to the second installment of this duology for continuation of the story!

House of Blight is my new fantasy obsession! It has been likened to romantasy favorites from Sarah J Maas, Rachel Gillig, and Adalyn Grace while still feeling wholly unique.

House of Blight follows Edira, a threadmender with the ability to cure disease and heal injuries. The only thing her powers are limited to is curing blight, so when her beloved brothers fall ill with the disease she has no choice but to turn to Orin Fernglove — head of a family of elite magic wielders who rule her village. At Fernglove estate, Edira will research ways to manipulate her magic to rid the land of blight, all while getting swept up into immortal feuds and dangerous secrets that have the ability to upend everything she’s ever loved.

I legitimately couldn’t put this book down! It took me no time to fall into the world and I devoured this story extraordinarily quick. I found the pacing to be consistent and the captivating energy had me anxious to see what happened next. I am a big fan of romantasy and there were many moments that felt familiar, paying homage to beloved tropes of the genre. While I was able to predict where some twists were headed, I found the magic system to be innovative and loved the roles the insects played. Who knew that a moth named Ywena would end up being my favorite character?

My favorite part of the novel was all the sensory details that are woven throughout the writing. Fernglove estate comes alive off the page with all the flora and fauna descriptions. I actually think spring was the perfect time of year to read this, as the plot deals in the natural world so heavily. The atmosphere is gothic without being haunting and leans into the cottagecore aesthetic. It is such a gorgeously depicted world and I was able to envision everything clear as day.

I can’t believe we have to wait for book two after that incredible ending, but I am so excited to see where this series goes — particularly for one couple who I found myself rooting for early on! There are a lot of variables left unknown, which leaves room for thrilling twists in the future!

Thank you Harper Voyager | Avon and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I have mixed feelings about this book. While I appreciated the storyline, I found the pace to be somewhat slow. Additionally, I had suspicions about a particular character from the beginning, which ultimately impacted my reading experience. Overall, it was a good story, but it did not fully resonate with me.

Edira is a threadmender who must live in hiding, or she will be taken by the Evers. When her brothers catch the incurable blight, everything changes. She makes a deal with an Ever in exchange for her brothers' lives. She moves into the Ferngloves home and begins researching and training to cure the blight, all while trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the Ferngloves.

The more time she spends with the family, especially Orin, the more she believes she understands them. That doesn't stop her from feeling like she is constantly being watched and that not everything is as it seems.

I was sucked into this beautiful story. I love Edira and her devotion to her brothers. I greatly enjoyed the unique magic of this story, and I can't wait for book 2!

Thank you to @netgalley, @harpervoyagerus, and @maxymmckay for the advanced eARC.