Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This is the first in a new fantasy series about Edina, a threadmender who is hiding her power to avoid the notice of the Evers. The Evers are immortal beings who rule the land. Edina is forced to reveal her power while trying to save her brothers from an illness known as the Blight, which is 100% fatal to humans. This is a solid start to a new series. The characters, world-building, and story are good, and I will read more in the series. 3.5 stars

The word amazing doesn't do this book justice. Ive read a lot of gothic romantasy but this one is the best of the best. Sucked in from the very beginning, I loved the plot and the characters. The plot twists had me saying what the heck?! I just couldn't put it down. I immediately need the second book in this duology!

I LOVE THIS BOOK!! The very first page had me sucked in and I was very intrigued by the blight. I love Edira and the whimsical world building. I think the author has a really great writing style. I loved all the characters and creatures especially sweet Ywena. The banter between two of the characters was so good. And there was one spicy scene between two characters. The descriptions and glamour of the Ever were intriguing and I think would be best described like Holly Black’s fairy characters with horns and tails. There were many things I didn’t expect and I enjoyed reading about Edira learning how to cure the blight. I’m excited to see what happens in book two. There were so many secrets that unfolded and it kept me reading it. I read this whole book in under 24 hours that’s how much it hooked me. Thank you again to the author and NerdFam for sending me a copy of this on Netgalley!!

Dark gothic romance? Sign me the heck up!! I love a dark, gothic read that is not gross just slightly haunting. This book has it all. Edina is a great FMC and the over all story is creepy at just the right level, romantic and strange with all the fantasy elements that make a great fantasy novel. I can't wait for it's release date!! Absolutely a fun read!!

Brilliant idea. Great read! I loved the gothic feel. The description and characters kept me involved I'm the book. I read it in one sitting!

I was able to read an arc of this amazing gothic romantasy! I want to thank NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the early arc for an honest review. House of Blight had me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning and had me glued until the very end. It follows Edira who is a threadmender but her magic comes with a cost. Whenever Edira uses her magic it takes off minutes, days to year from her own life, so she has always been told to hide. In this amazing world the have an disease called Blight and it makes your whole body decay and die within hours. Ediras brothers come home one day from mining and they caught blight and she has to make a deal with this mysterious and handsome Fae Orin who also wants to cure blight. So they go to his manor and its not all what it seems and from there it goes down and Edira has to figure out who to trust. The plot twist literally had me staring at my wall for awhile! The gothic aspect of this romantasy was AMAZING. House of Blight is amazing for fans of ACOTAR and One Dark Window. I fell in love with the world and the story. That cliffhanger at the end has me jaw hanging to the floor. I need the second book now.

This new dark fantasy is brimming with gothic elements, suspenseful mystery, and otherworldly magic.

Edira has been told all her life to keep her healing abilities hidden from the mysterious and powerful Evers, families of substantial dominance and magic over the lands. But when she encounters one of the Evers and her secret is unveiled, he offers her a chance to help heal the blight—a terrifying disease plaguing the town—and it’s an opportunity Edira can’t resist.

Instantly, the eerie mythical prologue caught my attention, and I loved the nature-filled elements with gothic nods and influences throughout the novel. At times, the pacing was a little on the slower side, but the ending kept me intrigued to see how this series will continue.

3.25/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

The idea of a threadmender is brilliant. The give and take, the cost of using such a powerful magic.
I loved the characters. I loved the world. I loved the magic system. I am so hyped for book in this duology.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

House of Blight is an enthralling gothic romance novel filled with a unique magic system and numerous twists and turns that keep you guessing about what’s to come. The elements of this book were reminiscent of a beauty and the beast retelling. The beautiful writing style and incredible world building made me feel as if I were truly teleported into the story. I was hooked from the very first page of the prologue, and the pacing of the book made it almost impossible to put down!

Edira is a threadmender, which means she can visualize people’s lifethreads to help heal them. However, this magic comes at a cost of her own wellbeing. She is a strong fmc who is driven by her love for her brothers. Once her brothers fall ill, she is forced to strike a deal with Orin, the head of the Fernglove family. The eccentric Fernglove family dynamics contribute wonderfully to the mystery and suspense of the plot. While working with Orin, Edira learns stories of past threadmenders and is finally given an opportunity to explore the true depths of her power. In the end, Edira must decide whether to use her power to save others or if it’s okay to save herself.

I can’t wait for the final book in the duology to read the conclusion to Edira’s story!

Premise:

Edira is a threadmender, she has hidden her gift a secret until her two brothers fall under the sickness that ravages their town called Blight. Threadmenders are rare, and can heal people at a huge cost to themselves. It is not until she is caught using her magic to save her brothers, Orin Fernglove an immortal promises to save her brothers in exchange for a deal that could cost her life.

Wow! What a read! Definitely from the prologue I knew I would be hooked. There were so many plot twists with this book from the beginning of the story until the very end I could not put it down. The characters, story, banter was so delicious and a perfect book to read with this weather. The toxic family dynamic was very entertaining, I couldn't stop giggling when there was an argument taking place.

I do have to say one plot twist was predictable right when I hit 40% into the book. But once you reach about 80% it went into a spiral of madness. I could totally imagine this book as a Tim Burton movie, with the gothic fantasy vibes of the manor and the illness of blight.

You get both "insta love" and "enemies to lovers". I am not a huge fan of "insta love" but "enemies to lovers" helped subdue that. The banter between Edira and another character is chef's kiss.

This book will be a duology and I cannot wait for book 2.

I want to thank Netgalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for providing me an arc in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!
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This book hooked me in IMMEDIATELY. I loved the FMC having powers from the get-go; they weren’t something she had to earn or get through her relationship with a man.
I really liked the world of the Evers - while sometimes it’s nice to have the Fae be ~just like us except pointy eared and magical~, I really do enjoy when shit gets weird!
I figured out about midway through that Orin was not the good guy, and DEFINITELY noticed when Rorik became Mr. tall, dark, and handsome but the moment that whole situation actually clicked felt really well done imo.
I think the only thing I actually really didn’t care for what the last 1/4 or so. Edira gets kidnapped and it’s resolved like… the same chapter. I wish it had been more drawn out and actually meant something. It all started to feel kindof rushed at the end - I usually feel like books could cut some extraneous content and be shorter, but I felt like this could’ve used another 100 pages to extend on some of these scenes! I wish she hadn’t been able to cure the Blight in this book!
Regardless, I’m going to be feral for the sequel when it comes out and I’m ride or die for Rorik and idec.

House of Blight had the makings of something truly special. The concept of 'threadmending' – a magical ability to heal at a personal cost – is intriguing. And the gothic setting, with its brooding atmosphere and hints of a sinister secret within the Fernglove family, initially drew me in.

However, the promise quickly faded. Edira, our protagonist, felt disappointingly flat. Her reactions often felt contrived, and her decisions lacked the agency I expected from a character with such a powerful gift. The romance, while a central plot point, lacked genuine spark. Orin, despite his supposed kindness, remained an enigma, and their connection never truly ignited for me.

The world-building also felt underdeveloped. The setting, while atmospheric, lacked the necessary detail to truly immerse the reader. I yearned for a deeper exploration of the magic system, the societal implications of threadmending, and the history of the blight.

Ultimately, House of Blight felt like a missed opportunity. It had the potential to be a captivating story, but it was ultimately let down by underdeveloped characters, a predictable plot, and a lack of depth in the world-building. While it wasn't an unpleasant read, it left me feeling unsatisfied and yearning for more.

The twists and turns in this one were so good and so unexpected. I’ve never read a gothic Romantasy book before so this was a first for me, and I definitely liked it so I believe I’ll be reading more!

Also… I want a Ywena. Please.

This book was good. I love romantasy and when you add in Gothic aspects. It was perfection. I loved the characters and th3 story its self. Will be recommending

A Gothic Romantasy with slow burn. This book was actually very intriguing and well worth the read. If you haven’t had a chance to read it please do it’s worth it.

This book is an utterly enchanting story that captivated me from the very first page. The dynamic between Edira and Orin Fernglove adds an intriguing layer to the story. Orin's kindness and unexpected honesty stand in stark contrast to the rest of his family, who exude suspicion and danger. The tension is palpable as Edira navigates the treacherous waters of the Fernglove Manor, trying to save her brothers while uncovering the family's dark secrets. The author masterfully weaves together themes of magic, sacrifice, and the complexities of human relationships, which kept me edge of my seat. As the plot unfolds, the true nature of the Fernglove family's power and intentions is revealed, which leads to a breathtaking climax. The moral dilemmas Edira faces and the choices she must make are thought-provoking. This book is a beautifully written and immersive tale that will leave you pondering the cost of magic and the strength of the human spirit.

I highly recommended for fans of fantasy and anyone who loves a story that combines enchantment with deep emotional resonance.

I never thought I would seriously enjoy an entertaining gothic, action-packed, romantsy series at this level. What kept coming to my mind while reading this is Rapunzel’s golden hair except this one extended to curing and saving lives for the kingdom of Fernglove. I love the representation of female power and intelligence while contemplating the asinine world. A bit of YA feel but overall it is quite an emotional read. BTW, no cliffhanger so I know the next book should be fantastic without strings attached. I really enjoyed this one!

Thank you so much to Harper Collin Publishers for the ARC of The House of Blight!!!

I’ll be honest the name sounded like a sickness which led me to not pick it up very quickly, which now seems so silly. As the book is about a magical sickness that is destroying the world the title is fitting!

Now on to the review, I loved the story, the characters and the unique magic aspects! The plot did slow down a bit in the middle for me personally but I pushed through and it was really worth it! I loved the ending, the character development was everything. The romance was the perfect amount for my preference. I guessed early on the plot twists, but it didn’t mind as I really enjoyed them. I hope there’s a second book & we get more romance with my favorite MMC!

I know Goodreads has listed this book as one of the to-watch romantasy books of the year and I can see why. House of Blight wraps beloved tropes in a unique plot concept, complete with a smart and compassionate FMC with a really interesting power. While I don’t necessarily understand how this is a GOTHIC romantasy, and parts of the book seemed to be somewhat predictable (cough cough blond men), it was still deeply engaging and easy to devour.

BLURB:
Edina Brillwyn’s entire life has been dedicated to protecting her family and hiding her rare, lifesaving power. Edina has the ability to heal injury and cure disease, but all magic comes with a steep price. Each time that she uses her gift to heal another, she sacrifices a small thread of her own life. Although Edina is willing to give pieces of herself to help others, she must conceal her abilities to prevent the ruling class from finding out and using her for their own gain.

When both of her brother’s contract blight, an illness that she cannot cure on her own, she must make a deal with a member of family that she has been hiding from her whole life.

REVIEW:
The storytelling is immersively descriptive and imaginative. And there is an air of sinister intention throughout the novel that provides an eerie backdrop. The unique magic system and veiled monstrous human / creature hybrids add a layer of whimsy to the otherwise mysterious and gothic vibes. There is familial loyalty, romance, manipulation and betrayal weaved together to create an interesting storyline.

The last couple of chapters felt a bit rushed and the ending felt like a sharp cut off, which left things feeling a bit unfinished and unsatisfying. Not quite a cliffhanger, but leaving enough room for future sequels, which is understandable. I only wish that there were a few more crumbs at the end to really keep me hooked on reading the next book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The style of storytelling really created a cool, spooky atmosphere for the characters to move through. I just wished for a little more from the ending.