⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau on sale April 8, 2025! Thank you @thenerdfam, @maxymmckay, and @harpervoyagerus for this beautiful ARC!

“𝖂𝖊𝖑𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕱𝖊𝖗𝖓𝖌𝖑𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝕸𝖆𝖓𝖔𝖗. 𝕭𝖊 𝖈𝖆𝖗𝖊𝖋𝖚𝖑 𝖜𝖍𝖔 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖙𝖗𝖚𝖘𝖙.”

This book absolutely captivated me from the second I saw the cover (isn’t she stunning) to starting to dive into its words. It blends gothic romance, magic, heartbreak, and beautiful world building all into such an interesting story. I found the characters very likable, and spent the entire time trying to figure out what would happen next!

There is so much intrigue and mystery that left me on my toes. I truly loved the world, and the magic system was super unique. There were so many layers of secrets and suspicions I couldn’t stop reading, even when I struggled a little in then middle and felt myself skimming, I needed to know what would happen! (P.s. this could have been a me thing, I’ve had a stressful week) I’m really curious where the series will go next and can’t wait to go back to that world!

I can’t thank Harper Collins, The Nerd Fam, or Maxym M. Martineau for my copy of this book!

I was truly hooked from the first page of this book. The way the author gave back story and weaved so many different stories together was truly magical. Not to mention the suspense, the banter, and the tension!!

Edira, our FMC, is a threadmender - an individual with the ability to heal injuries and cure diseases. Living in a time when a sickness so great even she can rid it is running wild. She‘s no stranger to heartache and loss, but when her brothers contract the sickness, she’ll do anything to save her last remaining family members.

Magic comes with a cost, in this case, it’s her life.

I cannot recommend this book enough!

I am always a fan of books that break out of the typical magic world. HOUSE OF BLIGHT by Maxym M. Martineau does exactly this. Edira is an FMC trying to navigate a world that wants her for her power, but nothing is as it seems. The sickness created by Martineau is so intriguing, and I can not wait to see how the characters and world continue to develop. If you like Fae, forced proximity, darker tones to a book, romance, and strong FMC, then I highly recommend checking out House of Blight! Comes out April 8, 2025.

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"House of Blight" by Maxym M. Martineau was captivating from the very first page. This gothic romantasy follows Edira, a human with a rare type of healing magic that she has kept hidden from everyone. She's tasked with trying to save her family and the immortal Evers from the deadly blight that's been running rampant. The book features unique magic, intricate world-building, unexpected plot twists, and a slow-burn romance.

I'm going to need the next book to come out soon!

What you get when you mix the atmosphere of Spring Court, the fae characteristics of Cruel Prince, the creepiness of Saltburn, and the twisted romance of Quicksilver.

This book was so unique and atmospheric with a GREAT twisty plot, I could not put it down. Vibes are gothic moody cottage core with a small dose of regal high society.

All of the characters have questionable morals, no pure bad or good, all filled with secrets that keep you turning the page wanting more.

Not to mention the insect daddy MMC (who knew bug familiars could be hot).

This is unlike anything I’ve read before and I’m SO happy I gave it a chance.

Oh this… was everything I could have ever wanted. It took all of my favorite parts from other series that I love and somehow made a story so unique. Incredible.

TL;DR at the end

House of Blight was one of my most anticipated reads, and I was thrilled to get an ARC from NetGalley. The gothic atmosphere? Perfection. From the eerie Fernglove estate to the tension simmering between its inhabitants, the book immediately pulled me in. It had that haunting, unsettling quality that reminded me of One Dark Window, mixed with the push-and-pull love triangle dynamics that gave me Vampire Diaries vibes. While I really enjoyed my reading experience, a few things kept it from being a full five-star read.

What to Expect:
• A gothic fantasy with a dark, eerie setting
• A love triangle between Edina and the two mysterious Fernglove brothers
• A slow unraveling of secrets—who can really be trusted?
• A heroine balancing survival, duty, and dangerous attraction
• Casual LGBTQ+ representation woven into the world

What I Loved:
The writing was engaging and easy to get lost in, and the gothic atmosphere was everything I wanted—dark, immersive, and dripping with tension. The Fernglove estate felt like its own character, and the eerie, closed-off setting added so much to the story’s mystery. There was a constant feeling that something wasn’t quite right, and I loved how that unease lingered throughout the book.

The romance was intriguing, especially with the two brothers, Odin and Rorick, who each brought something different to the dynamic. While I wished there was more emotional development between them and Edina, the tension was definitely there. It kept me invested, even when I wasn’t sure where things were going. The shifting loyalties and hidden motives made for a compelling read—I was constantly questioning who could actually be trusted.

I also really appreciated the way queerness was casually included in the world. Edina’s bisexuality is mentioned in passing, and same-sex relationships exist without question, which I always love seeing in fantasy.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
The biggest issue was the pacing in the middle. The story starts with high stakes, but the main conflict fades into the background at a certain point, making it feel like we’re just waiting for things to pick up again. While the romance had some great moments, certain shifts felt abrupt, and I wasn’t always convinced by how quickly feelings changed. Edina also made some frustrating choices—she overlooked things that felt very obvious, which made some plot developments feel too convenient.

The ending left me with mixed feelings. While I loved the reveals surrounding certain characters (especially Orin), a few elements felt rushed or underexplained, leaving me with more questions than answers. I also couldn’t help but wonder why certain information was withheld for so long when it could have changed everything much earlier.

Final Thoughts:
House of Blight was an engaging, atmospheric read that hooked me even with a few pacing and character frustrations. The gothic vibes were spot-on, the mystery had me second-guessing everyone, and the tension (both in the romance and the story itself) made it hard to put down. If you love eerie, creepy fantasies with morally grey characters and dark secrets, this one is definitely worth checking out!

Will I continue the series?
Absolutely! Even though it may seem like I criticised a lot, it was overall a delightful read, and I can't wait for the second one to come out!

TL;DR
House of Blight delivers immaculate gothic vibes with an eerie estate, a slow unraveling of secrets, and a love triangle that gives major Vampire Diaries energy. The writing is engaging, the tension keeps you hooked, and the morally grey characters make for an intriguing read. However, the middle loses focus, the romance shifts a little too quickly, and some plot elements feel underexplained. Still, if you love dark, atmospheric fantasy with a hint of romance and a constant sense of unease, this one is worth picking up!

Thank you to NetGalley, TheNerdFam and Harper Collins for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review!



(Instagram post following, this paragraph will be deleted when post goes online (around 12th February)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy of the book. This started out great and the entire premise of the story was great. However I think I'm getting sick of the whole "fmc falls for one brother but other brother also is intriguing and who does she really love." Also the "twist" at the end not really a twist, but when the fmc discovers the real truth about the Evers, that was good. It will be interesting to see how this all wraps up in the sequel. 3.5 stars.

I could not put this down! The emotions that I went through....it felt like I experienced every emotion that Edira did. The book was written in such a way that you felt the despair for her brothers, the confusion in finding an ending for the blight, and the anger between Rorik and Orin. This book was everything I needed.

I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for this book!

This book was not what I expected! Edira is a threadmender. So has the ability to see others life threads and heal them from almost anything. But In doing so it takes time away from her own life. She was told to never use her abilities for fear of the Evers finding her. The Evers are a race of immortals with extraordinary power. And they want threadmenders. For what she doesn’t know. One day her brothers catch The Blight and who is to find her…. An Ever.

The plot of the story never felt slow, but it did feel a little rushed at times. The world was beautiful and alluring and the mystery’s that were involved and me snared! I felt that the characters where relatable. Especially Edira, as someone who cares a lot about the people in my life and at times put their needs before mine, It was easy to be drawn to her.

If you like gothic fantasy, romance, mystery, cottage core vibes. This book is for you! Overall I enjoyed the story and can’t wait read the next one!

I really enjoyed this book. I like how it isn’t your cookie cutter romantasy it has some gothic vibes and kept my attention the whole time. I love that in book 1 she didn’t just live happily ever after with the MMC but that she went home and lived her life now don’t get me wrong the way the book ended I’m excited to see where we pick up at in book 2 but it was refreshing that she didn’t just forgive and forget instantly.

This was a fun, fantastical romp! I felt like I was hooked from start to finish. Plus, anything classified as "gothic" is an automatic win in my book.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for this opportunity.
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"Welcome to Fernglove, Edira. May you live to see something else."

Edira was born with a gift that she has kept hidden her whole life, but when an Ever discovers the gift, Edira is left with no choice but to leave the life she has known to work for the magical family. It doesn't take long for Edira to realize that things are not as they seem in the perfect lives of the Ferngloves. Could love be enough for Edira to save the Ferngloves? Or will their perfect image come crashing down when lies are exposed?
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This book is a wonderfully written fantasy that centers around a human girl with a give of healing and a magical family in need of healing.
I think the characters were well written, each of them having unique and interesting personalities that kept the plot of the book moving forward. The fantasy world that Martineau created was beautiful. There was enough information that the reader was able to lay a foundation for the book and as we met more people and settings changed, the world expanded with the knowledge that Edira gained.
While there was a bit of a typical love triangle in this book, I didn't grow tired of it at all. I think finding someone torn between two brothers is so common because so many people love it even if it shows up over and over again. That was very true when it came to this book. I adored both of the MMCs for different reasons and as trust about them were exposed, my feelings on both of them shifted just like the FMC experienced.
The ending was nothing like I expected. When you hear about fantasy book centered around lies and fake images, it is easy to assume that the ending will be similar to other books that you have read and I am happy to say that this one threw in enough twists and turns that I was always on my toes. Not to mention, the cliff hanger on this one makes me want to fast forward to book two right away.

I will say that this book is long.
The beginning is really hard to get lost in, so you have to work through that, but once things start to feel off, this book is impossible to put down. Unfortunately that shift happened for me around 60% of the way through the book, which makes the first 60% a really hard read. It is slow and laying the foundation for the rest of the book. That isn't me saying that I didn't love this book, I am just warning readers that if it feel slow at the beginning, hanging in there is SO worth it so you can get to the action.
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This book is recommended as a new gothic fantasy for fans of Maas and I think that is incredibly correct.
Book one of this duology was wonderful and I look forward to book two!

Wow!! I loved this book so much!!

This is perfect for fans of ACOTAR and Cruel Prince!

It was predictable, but in all the best ways! Perfect romantasy and so well written! It was such a fun story to read, I was hooked from the very beginning. I loved Rorik! He is going on my list of favorite book boyfriends. The world building was so good but also easy to understand.

I can't wait for the next one to come out, I just know it's going to be so good!

Thank you so much Netgalley and Avon books for the chance to read and review this book early!

House of Blight does gothic fantasy right! It’s got cottagecore vibes mixed with rot and decay. Although it took some time for the world to build, by the halfway mark I was eagerly flipping the pages to see where the story was headed!

I loved Edira - she’s feisty and would do anything for her brothers. She’s a great POV character because she’s just the right amount of trusting tinged with a whole lot of suspicion. I was a little put off by her instant attraction to Orin, but her banter with Rorik had me hopeful - this story has so much more going on than meets the eye! Besides, Ywena was obviously my favorite character.

I wish some of the Ferngloves had been more fleshed out. Some were only shadows who appeared for gatherings, while others only traded one lined quips. I think there’s so much more to learn about Evers in general, and the control they have over their towns. Thankfully this is a duology, so I’m excited to see the world expand in the next book!

Overall, this was an engaging fantasy read with unique magic and a deliciously twisty plot. I highly recommend this story for lovers of A Court of Thorns and Roses, These Twisted Bonds, and One Dark Window!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Holy crap. Wow…I don’t even remember what my expectations were going into this. Whatever they were, they were extremely exceeded!! The characters, the magic system, the plot twists…this was fantastic. This is Crimson Peak meets ACOTAR, with its dark gothic horror fantasy and bargains. I couldn’t put this down and REALLY wish the next book was available. I don’t know how it’s going to top this one though. Just do yourself a favor, add it to your tbr. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this read!!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager from this ARC in exchange for a review.

That being said, this book just didn’t work for me. It’s a typical romantasy with similar tropes the work within the genre. Unfortunately the pacing was either too fast or too slow and I wasn’t engaged enough with the characters to truly care what was going to happen. That being said, romantasy is hugely popular and I don’t think this will have a problem selling.

Thank you NetGalley, author, and publisher for this e-arc.
I had many different thoughts while reading this book. Overall, I felt that it lacked structure and pacing when it came to plot and characters. I can see how this is a perfect plot for romantasy reader, however, it started out strong and fell flat in the middle and crashed at the end. The characters had potential but the mfc’s growth felt forced. Edira’s powers as a thread master felt weak. It made it seem at times that she was going to be the sole cure for the illness. The amount of time she spent researching and “training” it all came together to be paired with other great magic for it to be effective, almost as if she didn’t need all that training and research. The quick naïve relationship she had with Orin was very unbelievable. I understand that it was fake feelings from Orin and a betrayal but it felt that so much time was spent on that plot line. The other family members seemed more interesting than the main characters and Rorik. The prologue felt so detached from the book that I had to go back and read it to find anything that really connected us to the book. Unless I missed or misinterpreted something, it did not do anything for the plot. Lastly, Rorik and Ediras relationship was flat. I wanted to like it more, but something felt missing. I did see an attraction between them though. One of my worst novel turn offs are last chapter POV from the love interest. It gives away from the magic of single pov of the main character and makes the mmc feel almost lame. I feel that female authors always overwrite when it comes to mmc pov sometimes, almost very “simp” like. I hope to read the second one to see if it improves and makes it a worthwhile series.

he perfect Gothic Romantasy. She would do anything for her family and so when her brothers fall sick she makes a deal with the immortal male she hates to save their lives. The plot twists in this book had me screaming and I can’t wait to see these two in the next book. Book for fans of The Cruel Prince, and ACOTAR.

I really enjoyed this book! I definitely get the moody, gothic cottagecore vibe. And to be honest - I'm not a big moth fan IRL but that little moth familiar definitely wormed her way into my heart. I think this book had great worldbuilding, such a dark and interesting magic system, and the tension that was built between characters was good. I also loved the way different relationships were threaded throughout the book.

If this isn't on your spring TBR - it should be!