This was really good! Really atmospheric and spooky. When I think of blight I think of Dragon Age and while it wasn't the same, it gave me sorta same vibes and I really enjoyed this.

"The first novel in an eerie, darkly creative, and romantic new gothic fantasy duology from Maxym M. Martineau, for readers of Sarah J. Maas and Rachel Gillig.

Edira Brillwyn is a threadmender. She holds a rare, lifesaving power that can cure disease and heal injuries in the blink of an eye. But magic always comes with a cost, and saving anyone sacrifices a sliver of her own life. She's always kept her abilities hidden…until the powerful Fernglove family discovers her secret.

The Ferngloves are charming and beautiful, possess powerful magic, and don't take no for an answer - especially Orin, the head of these ruling elites. When Edira's brothers unexpectedly contract blight - an incurable virus killing people throughout the town, and an illness too strong for her to heal them both - Orin offers to help. Together at his estate they'll research a cure while Orin slows their sickness and Edira hones her magic. His kindness and honesty surprises Edira, as does her undeniable attraction to him.

But the other Ferngloves are suspicious of her power and may be more dangerous than the ever-present disease. The longer Edira stays within the confines of the Manor, the more the family's pristine exterior begins to crack - until Edira discovers a terrifying secret and must choose who she can save and at what cost..."

It's a hard decision to make when your own life is on the line...

If you love immersive world-building, House of Blight delivers in spades! This book pulled me into a richly detailed fantasy world filled with betrayal, complicated family dynamics, and—something I don’t see often—a lovers-to-enemies arc. It kept me hooked, and I even picked up some new vocabulary along the way!

Thank you netgalley for this ARC exchange for my honest review.

YES. I ate this up. This is a 6 ⭐ for me. I loved the vibes, I loved the love triangle. I love the twists. All around perfection. Give me book 2.

House of Blight
by Maxym M. Martineau
The Threadmender Chronicles #1
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Apr 8, 2025
Avon/Harper Voyager
Fantasy
Ages: 16+

As a threadmender, each time Edira uses her gift to heal someone, her own life dwindles so she hides, because those of her village had already sold her aunt to the Ferngloves, a magically powerful family who own the mines where the men of the village work.

But when her brothers catch blight, an incurable virus, Orin Fernglove, the head of the Fernglove family discovers her secret and makes her an offer... He will use his magic to keep her brothers' illness suspended so she can find a way to cure the blight.

Whisked away to his Manor, she finds that she can not trust anyone in his family, for they all use their magic to play games, and the other families play more than games. But as time passes, Edira finds that Orin is hiding a secret.


While this started off feeling like a 'cozy romantasy' it shifted to include more of a darker tone. There was some violence, but it wasn't too gory, and the romance was predictable and had enough content to make this unsuitable for readers under sixteen.

Also predictable were the plot and the intentions of the characters. I had those and the ending guessed by the halfway mark.

Even though the characters are the typical 'oh so beautiful' BS of the genre, along with the enemies to friends to lovers trope, it's not a bad story, it moved along at a decent pace.

As to reading the next book in the series: Nah...

3 Stars

Blight is a mysteries disease that quickly take those who have it.

Edira, our FMC, is a hidden threadmender. She can reweave peoples threads of life to heal them but with all magical abilities it comes with a price. After her brothers come down with Blight she is forced to work with the Fernglove family to find a cure not only for her family but for one of their family members.

But the Fernglove's have secrets and the longer she is there the more that comes out.

Although there were times I felt that slightly disconnected with the characters and often times I was wondering how she could trust them when they did nothing worth her trust overall plot had me hooked and I cannot wait for the second book to come out to see how it all ends

If I could, I would give this book a 4.5 rating! I absolutely loved the vibes of this book. House of Blight is written with excellent tension, both with the plot and subplots, and kept me turning the pages. I wanted answers and could not put this book down. Maxym's ability to unveil the story slowly, without giving too much away, is master class in story telling. Her prose creates a story with gothic paranormal/romantasy vibes and I cannot wait for book 2. I highly recommend this book -- especially during spooky season. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this gem! I loved it!

#gothicromantasy #darkvibes #spookyseasonvibes #excellentstorytelling #plottwists

💜 House of Blight by @maxymmckay

✨ “If you think I can’t stab you while wearing skirts, you’re sorely mistaken.”

🪲 This book was the perfect Spring read! So many whimsy vibes and I loved it! I really loved the prose. The writing was so well done and was very immersive. I loved the atmosphere of Fernglove Manor.

💜 Edira’s love for her brothers is so relatable for me. I know I would do anything for my own brother, so I really connected with her. She’s a threadmender and sacrifices minutes of her own life to heal others.

✨ Edira is whisked away to Fernglove Manor by Orin to try and find a cure for the blight. He promises to keep her brothers safe in exchange.

🪲 But as the plot thickens, things are certainly not as they seem. There’s cracks in Fernglove Manor, and they slowly begin to show. But can Edira find the cure and save her brothers before it’s too late?

I think my toxic reading trait is that I keep picking up romantasy novels even though I know I'm not a fan of them. I want to love them -- I really do! But for the most part, they end up not being for me. That was unfortunately the case for this book.

The main thing I struggled with was the prose itself. The story was fine -- nothing I haven't read before, but it was enjoyable in its own way. But the writing was difficult to read, at times; it felt as if a Thesaurus had been used way too often. In particular, the word "locks" was used WAY too much as a replacement for hair and it was driving me a bit crazy. Adjectives were also, in my opinion, overused. Once I know the color of the protagonist's hair, there's no need to continue to mention it every time said hair is mentioned.

The other thing that didn't work for me was the predictability. Plot-wise, nothing surprised me, and the characters were all versions of ones I have read about before. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it didn't work for me.

I think I'm settling on 4 stars. This is one of those times where I totally agree with the other reviewers. The first 3rd of this book really had me hooked. I loved the writing, loved the gothic atmosphere that Martineau created, and I loved the magic system. But something happened around 40ish percent, and things started slowing a bit for me. On top of that, it became VERY obvious how things were going to play out in the end. And while I loved the FMC, by the middle of the book, she started making some very questionable decisions, which again, just felt like obviously bad decisions. That said, even though I knew what was going to happen, the end (maybe last 15%) of the book really hooked me again. So because of that oscillation between loving parts of this, and feeling meh on parts of this, I'm going with the average and giving this 4 stars. I also want to emphasize, again, how even though parts of this were predictable, the writing itself was great. Will I read book 2? I think so. The book ends in a way that I'm hoping leaves the door open for a less predictable sequel, and I am genuinely interested and invested in these characters to see how things shape up. Will I read this author's books outside of this series? 100% yes. I really loved how atmospheric this one was, and I think fans of the One Dark Window or Belladonna series would definitely jive with the vibes in House of Blight.

Thank you so much to Martineau, Harper Voyager, and netgalley for the complimentary copy.

🌟 Book Review: House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau 🌟
Hey there, book lovers! 📚✨ Are you ready to dive into a story that’s going to grab you by the heart and not let go? Then you HAVE to check out House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau, hitting the shelves on April 8th, 2025! 🎉

So, picture this: Edira Brillwyn is a mega talented threadmender who can heal people in the blink of an eye. Sounds amazing, right? 🥹 But wait—every time she uses her magic, she gives up a bit of her own life. Yikes! 😱 Just when she thinks she can keep her secret safe, the charmingly sinister Fernglove family catches wind of her powers.

Now, let’s talk about the drama! 🌪️ Enter Orin, the head of the Fernglove family, who offers to help when Edira’s brothers get hit hard by the blight—a nasty virus that’s got everyone in town on edge. You know what they say about fae bargains? Left with no choice but to try and save her brothers, Endira follows Orin to Fernglove manor to "train" her threadmending skills, alongside him and his brother Rorik. Only, things aren't exactly as they seem, and the The sibling rivalry between Orin and his brother Rorik is NOT all rainbows and sunshine; it’s cutthroat! Think of that tension from Rhysand and Tamlin—the air is filled with unspoken challenges and forced politeness. 😏💔

Maxym totally nails the gothic vibes, immersing us in a magical world that feels both unique and eerie. 🖤✨ Every detail about the blight is nail-biting, and I found myself gasping as the characters’ stories unfolded. Edira’s bravery is seriously inspiring as she tackles not just her brothers’ sickness but also the dark secrets lurking in the Fernglove manor!

Honestly, I couldn’t put this book down! 🙌 The way Edira wrestles with her healing power—knowing that each time she saves someone, it costs her dearly—is so intense. You will feel every ounce of her struggle! And let’s not forget the chemistry between her and Orin; it’s deliciously complicated! 💖🔥

If you’re into strong, fierce heroines and a plot packed with suspense and intrigue, then House of Blight is your next favorite read. I’m already planning to shout about it from the rooftops on all my platforms! 📣

A huge shoutout to NetGalley, Maxym M. Martineau, and Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me an eARC! Seriously, set your reminders for this one because you won’t want to miss it! 🗓️✨ Happy reading, everyone! 💕📖

Thank you Maxym M. Martineau (but also not thank you because of that ending. You know what you did!), Harper Collins, and Net Galley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's a slow beginning, medium middle, then after 57-60% it turns into "I gots to know!" The book is loveable after slow start. You just slowly start to fall for the characters. The author does an amazing job with bread crumbing you with tid bits of each character. I was hooked. If it had been a physical book ARC I would have thrown it across the room at the end. Don't get me wrong I loved it but it ruined me and I was mad at how it ended but in a good way. It reminded me a tiny bit of ACOTAR in some aspects of the story and other stories in other ways but definitely unique. You're definitely going to enjoy it. (Rated 4.75 on Storygraph rounded up here) I would have rated 5 stars fully if the beginning wasn't so dry. There was a lot of inner monologue in the beginning so I struggled.

Wow this book was AMAZING.

I was captivated from the very first page and my attention was held throughout the entire book. This book is so well written, it was easy to fall into the world that was created. The story was so fun and enchanting, I couldn't put it down.

Edira was a fantastic FMC. She was brave and loyal and she deserves the world. The whole Fernglove family dynamic was fascinating and alluring.

The plot was intense and had me on the edge of my seat. I absolutely loved this book so much, and that ending....I need the next book NOW!!!

Thank you NetGalley, Maxym Martineau and publisher for this gifted E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau is the kind of gothic fantasy that just pulls you right in. The world has this creeping, vivid quality to it that made me feel like I was right there, completely swept up in the story. Edira Brillwyn’s journey feels both deeply personal and epic at the same time, with the tension building and the stakes climbing higher with every new reveal. Her threadmending ability, with all its devastating cost, makes her whole arc feel so powerful and gripping.

The writing nails that perfect balance of lush detail and sharp storytelling. The Fernglove family’s secrets are unraveled so masterfully, and that blend of suspense and magic kept me hooked from start to finish. It’s one of those reads that feels both rich and completely unputdownable.

I really appreciated how the author balanced all that darkness with moments of warmth and connection. The relationships feel genuine, whether they’re built on conflict or genuine care, and they just add so much depth to the story. And Edira’s emotional journey is just as engaging as all the chaos surrounding her.

If I had one small criticism, it's that some of the plot points feel a little predictable. It doesn't take away from the enjoyment, but it does make some twists feel a bit less impactful. That said, the rich atmosphere and engaging characters more than make up for it.

House of Blight is one of those books that keeps you turning pages late into the night, but it leaves you thinking about it long after you’ve finished. Such a strong start to the duology, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely captivating – the magic, the characters, the VIBES. I loved everything about it. The writing was so lush and descriptive, I felt as though I could reach out and touch Edira's magic. This was such a unique take on romantasy, and I can definitely see this book being a 2025 must-read.

Read this if you like:
🥀 Forced Proximity
🥀 Slow Burn Romance
🥀 Beast Forms
🥀 Animal Familiars
🥀 Insect Daddy
🥀 Unique Magic
🥀 Fae-like beings x Humans
🥀 Gothic vibes

As someone new to Martineau’s work, House of Blight was an interesting introduction to her dark fantasy style. The world-building is rich with haunting imagery, and the concept of the Blight slowly corrupting the land is both eerie and creative. However, the pacing felt uneven, with some sections dragging while others rushed through key plot points.

Overall, while the book offers a solid glimpse into Martineau’s storytelling, it didn’t completely hook me. Fans of dark fantasy might enjoy it, but it didn’t leave me eager to immediately pick up her other books.

This book gave me whiplash but in the best way. Hear me out!

The first ~55% is really interesting and well paced. It’s light and well written, but there was a clear and thought-out plot.

I definitely started to get severely annoyed at the characters and aspects of the plot after this point, though. The dialogue and how some scenes progressed throughout the entire book is often clunky, or not well-explained. I would have preferred more use of exposition, but this was me being very nick-picky at the time of reading. I was considering skimming the rest. HOWEVER, I am so glad I didn’t!

The last 20% really gripped my attention again. The plot twists were PLOT TWISTING and whilst I saw some of them coming from a mile away I still audibly gasped multiple times. I realised then that everything I had read previous was intentionally set up for me to feel crushing pain by the last chapter 💀🫠 I almost cried, and now i’m really looking forward to the next book!

4.5 ⭐️ (rounded up) I am speechless. From the beginning this story had me in a vise grip. From the intriguing premise to the vibrant world building, I was hooked. The FMC, Edira has that don’t mess with me vibe I adore. And it is an absolute ride understanding who exactly she can trust and rely on. Because it is really impossible to tell. I loved how the author made it so that all the characters had their good and bad moments; it made the concept of who is “good” v “evil” so very complex. And the ending - my flipping heart. I’m ready for the next book!

Highlights:
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Hidden Identity
✨Insect Familiars
✨Vibrant World Building
✨Compelling plot twists

Favorite Quote: “I’d rather work for myself than work to be someone else’s version of ‘suitable.’”

“The only pain I’d intentionally inflict on you is the agony of making you wait to feel the pleasure of release.”

Thank you to the author, The Nerd Fam, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

I devoured the first 55% of this book and then immediately hit a wall and could not read past it. It took me over 4 weeks to get back into it and then once I did, I devoured the rest of the book. I thought it was unique and it had me hooked on the story (despite my break). I'm looking forward to the next story and seeing how Edria deals with blight in the future

House of Blight, book one in The Threadmender Chronicles
By Maxym M. Martineau
Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
4.5 stars, rounded up.

This book is my introduction to author Maxym M. Martineau and I was not disappointed. Fanstasy is my first book love and through the decades and evolutions of genres and sub-genres, Gothic Romantasy has become a sweet spot for me!

I was immediately drawn in by one of the eeriest prologues I’ve ever read and at that point I already knew I would finish the book no matter what because I needed to know how the prologue tied into the rest of the novel.

Edira (FMC,) is a Threadmender hiding in plain sight. She has lost her parents to The Blight, her Threadmender Aunt to the Fernglove family and is living quietly with her twin brothers and runs an apothecary out of her home. Her magic enables her to heal wounds and cure most illnesses but it comes at a cost to herself. Each time she heals the life threads of others, she expends her own, shortening her lifespan. Her magic is in high demand by the Evers, a group of immortal founding families (each with their own specific magic set such as earthly, galaxy/stars etc…) that rule over the lands. Edira’s aunt was taken by The Ferngloves and made Edira promise to hide her magic at all costs. But when The Blight comes for her brothers and Orin Fernglove presents an opportunity to find a cure for Blight and save her brothers, she comes out of hiding and moves to the Fernglove Manor.

I loved the world building and character development and I was a fan of all the lore! The history of Threadmending, of the immortal Ever families and especially the Ferngloves was fascinating. The Ferngloves are dysfunctional with a capital D. They are all darkly mysterious, sneaky and insufferable in their own ways. There were many times I wanted to grab Edira and shake her around, she made so many bad decisions and ignored so many red flags but such is the way when you deal with a Narcissist that is a master at love bombing and manipulating her. I am a forever fan of Rorik’s blunt, truth telling snarkiness and I’m rooting for him.

This book is definitely for you if you love Gothic Romantasy, Beast forms, a moth familiar, slow burn romance, unique magic systems and magical vows, lore, dysfunctional family dynamics and even some female rage.

I’m definitely watching for the announcement of the next book.

Thank you to The Nerd Fam, NetGalley and Harper Voyager US for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.