This book is a solid 4-4.5 ⭐️

I want to start out with a big thank you to Maxym M. Martineau, Avon and Harper, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The cover and description first caught my attention. Life line magic, “fae”, and some uncontrollable illness plaguing the land. This book is definitely for fans of ACOTAR with a little less spice. There is a slight love triangle, but it is not unbearable like Lightlark. Warning the ending leaves the reader wanting more and now I’m mad that I have to wait to read what happens next with Edira and her newfound feelings.

This book has lots of playful teasing and the spice is a lot of build up to with only one lightly described scene.

My only negative with the writing is that the jumps to some plot points are jarring. I know it is to stress the urgency of healing the blight, but it disrupts the understanding of why and how Edira develops feelings for the handsome Evers. The only explanation, I can think of is that it is an instant love “fated mate” scenario without calling it that. Other than that, I devoured this book especially after the halfway mark.


Look out for the “House of Blight” release in April 2025. This one is one that shouldn’t be missed. #netgalley #houseofblight

Edira is a thread mender, a being who can heal others through her magic. The town she lives in is ruled over by a powerful family of Evers, beings who have a different type of magic as well as being immortal. But when Blight, a horrible sickness that deteriorates the body incredibly quickly, starts ravaging through her lands, Edira must make decisions, fast. Her brothers contract the illness, so when the head of the Fernglove Evers family offers to save them if she will only help and work for him, Edira has to decide what her fate shall be.

This book was magical. It had new ideas, new forms of magic, and a wonderful setting. I felt like I was transported into the story every time I picked it up. I felt what Edira was feeling and I loved rooting for her good decisions and mourning her bad ones. Truly an artful story!

Thank you to Maxym M. Martineau, Avon and Harper, and NetGalley for this ARC! All thoughts are my own.

Truthfully, this book wasn't my favorite but it was a good read overall. While this story didn't fully do it for me, I will honestly be surprised if this book isn't really popular once it hits the shelves. The MC is well-written, the magic system is very unique, and the author does a really good job of worldbuilding without over-explaining anything. I think anyone who is a big fan of romantasy will really enjoy this.

My goodness, I do not know where to begin with this review… I suppose I shall start by thanking Avon and Harper Voyager as well as NetGalley for providing me with this arc of House of Blight. <3 Although I abhor writing negative reviews of books that authors put their heart and soul into, I am going to be completely honest about my thoughts on this book.

House of Blight has a promising start with a riveting prologue. By employing the concept of threadmending/glamour, this book should have thoroughly engaged me. However, it DRAGGEDDDD (emphasis on dragged) until the last few chapters. The ending makes me consider giving House of Blight two stars, but I’m staying firm in my resolve to give it one star because it was an incredible struggle to finish, so much so that I considered not finishing it halfway through. :/ Seriously, EVERY single element fell short, including the Fernglove family’s magic. Instead of fleshing out the abilities of each character, the author reverts to describing them as “invisible and yet somehow tangible, a raw current of pure energy that charged the air like the moments before lightning struck.” Like what? 🤨

As someone who does not believe in romantic love and is awfully cynical, I truly think I need to stop reading books focused on romance. In particular, House of Blight helped me realize that I have loved certain romance books in the past because of their intricate/unique concepts and storylines. From now on, I will stick to (animated) family movies/series if I want to be giddy over a romance. All in all, with graphic violence, minimal swearing and spice (unnaturally exaggerated amounts of tension, a handful of kisses and one unnecessary/uncomfortable scene), House of Blight is a book I would never recommend reading for the aforementioned reasons. :(

p.s. the Fernglove family has animalistic attributes like horns, tails and wings…

Edira and her brothers are barely getting by after the blight killed her parents. The blight is an infection that once contacted, kills mortals within an hour. Edira has magic that is called threadmending, which allows her to heal while stealing time from her own life. However she has never been able to cure blight and she hides her magic from the Evers. The Evers are magical near immortal rulers of the land. She must hide her magic as her aunt was taken by the Evers because she should also threadmend and she was never seen again.
When Edira's brothers get blight, she enters into an agreement with the Evers to learn more about her powers to try to heal them.
I was quickly drawn into this book and this magic system. Being a healer is not a new power, but the idea of life threads and mending leading to shortening your own threads was new to me and felt original to this story. There is a romance entwined in this story which I predicted and I even predicted the twist but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I wish there was more explained about blight- where it came from, how it infects people and plants, I also hoped Edira would learn more about her threadmending power and where it came from and how it works but maybe that's in future books!

I recommend this book and I'm excited to see where the series goes! I give it 4.25 stars

This story took way too long to grab any fragment of interest from me. Right from the prologue, I asked myself: what in the world did I just read?!

Descriptions were overdone and I found myself skipping through those, not caring about the details (SO many details).

The storyline was unique to anything I've read so I did push through to see if I'd enjoy it more as it went on, but the ending felt rushed and predictable.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I feel like it had more potential than what was given, but still a unique concept.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

**"House of Blight" by Maxym M. Martineau** is a gripping dark fantasy that plunges readers into a world of intrigue, betrayal, and forbidden secrets. The story follows a young protagonist navigating the treacherous world of the Blighted Houses, powerful factions corrupted by dark magic. As alliances shift and danger looms, the protagonist must uncover hidden truths while grappling with their own inner darkness. With high stakes, morally gray characters, and a richly built world, this book is a thrilling journey from start to finish.

Martineau excels at crafting an atmospheric and immersive setting, with vivid descriptions that bring the Blighted Houses to life. The characters are well-drawn, their complex relationships and shifting allegiances keeping the tension high throughout. The pacing is solid, blending action, mystery, and emotional depth in equal measure. Themes of power, corruption, and identity are explored in compelling ways, adding layers of meaning to the plot.

While the story is engaging, some twists were a bit predictable, and a few subplots could have been expanded for greater impact. However, these minor flaws don't detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.

**Rating:** ★★★★ (4/5)

*House of Blight* is a dark and enthralling fantasy that offers a compelling blend of action, mystery, and character-driven storytelling. Fans of morally complex tales and richly imagined worlds will find much to enjoy in this captivating read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review!

Quick Thoughts

House of Flame & Shadow by Sarah J Maas. I can’t believe I finally finished these books! Crescent City is sprawling & inventive, with lots of characters battling the big decision of safety versus compassion & freedom. This is my least fave series of hers & contains the main romance arc I was least invested in, but with that being said, it’s still great fantasy & a very high bar to try to reach. 4.25 ⭐️.

Miss Amelia’s List by Mercedes Lackey. Miss Amelia’s List dragged in many ways, & I can’t say that I fully loved any of the characters, who sometimes veered on stuffy, but it’s also an oddly interesting story of manners in a magical England. 2.5 ⭐️, out now. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

Marriage & Masti by Nisha Sharma. This has been a great contemporary series with friendships that I really love. My fave is book 2, but this is a solid, if not 💯 ending, & I’m definitely looking forward to reading more. 4 ⭐️.

House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau. The vibes are there in this fantasy, but the heroine forgives & forgets way too quickly for me in this one. I grew frustrated at her decision-making. Still, the visceral descriptions paint an effective fantasy setting where the stakes are high, even if I was not cheering for the love triangle romance tension. 3.25 ⭐️, out 04/08/25. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

📖 have you read any of these or are any on your TBR?

I felt at the beginning that this had the potential to become a new fantasy favorite but unfortunately it did not deliver for me.
The unique magic system with amazing potential drew me in immediately. The gothic manor setting could not be improved upon. I loved the descriptions as well as the lore that was revealed about the house and grounds, perfectly placed in all its revelations. But none of that could make up for the lack of interesting characters, all but one were so incredibly dull or mere carcitures of a hundred other fantasy characters that I have read about in other books. Now Rorick was fascinating to me. I wanted to learn more about him but of course he was the one we spent the least time with. But I have to say the plot point that kept me from enjoying most of the story was how quickly our main characters emotions changed. Without spoiling the who in this review I will only say that it takes all of 1 entire day for her to go from hating the person who was responsible for harming her entire town and taking her aunt, to having feelings for him. It was maddening. I wish I got more from the characters because the setting could not be beat.

Thank you to the publisher for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book left a lot to be desired and much of it felt nebulous. I wish this could’ve been for me but it wasn’t.

Aaaah yes, something refreshing for the fantasy/romantasy genre. This a pretty original spin on fae and healing magic, much to my delight. The characters all had very distinct personalities and were very distinguishable from each other (a problem I have a lot in fantasy books is that the side characters tend to have flat to no personality at all). The progression of the plot was very engaging and had no lagging points. While in some ways it was predictable (we have a new Tampon ladies and gents) it didn’t take away from the story, and in fact made me feel justified about my feelings about a certain… someone. I expect this to be a huge hit for 2025! Thanks to NetGalley for ARC access!

Now THIS was a lovely, unexpected surprise! Having approached this book with zero expectations, I found myself pulled in, and quite enjoyed the unique world-building. Love the two leads (Rorik, squeeeee) and will happily recommend this book for fantasy lovers looking for something different!

House of Blight is a gothic romance fantasy that follows Edira Brillwyn, a threadmender, and loving sister to her two brothers. Being a threadmender, Edira can heal others, however by doing so, she shortens her lifespan. Having this rare ability she stays in hiding. Edira’s brothers contract a virus known as blight, when a member of the Fernglove Ruling Elites, Orin, offers Edira an opportunity to research for a cure. Edira is out of hiding and working for the Fernglove family to find a cure for blight, and survive the Fernglove family.
I enjoyed every minute of this story of survival and what we would give up to heal our loved ones. This story tugs at your heart strings and sends the reader on a fantastic journey to a world where things are not always as they seem. The world was so easy to imagine, and the characters were amazing. The magic system was unique, in a gothic mystique. I loved the slow burn, found family, and high stakes vibes. I am really looking forward to continuing this story.
Thank you so much Harper Voyager US and NetGalley for allowing me an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Great start to a new series. I cannot wait to do an immersion read with audio on this when audio is available.

Lovely this romantasy which is giving me ACOTAR vibes. It’s unlike anything I have read before. It has aspects of magical elements. I enjoyed the fact that we got everything tucked away in this book. I despise when they end on a cliffhanger.

My first 5 star of the year! I can’t believe how amazing this book was, everytime I wasn’t reading it it was all I could think of! Genuinely want to read everything now by this author

House of Blight is an absolute must-read for gothic fantasy fans who crave mystery, secrets, and surprising twists. This story had me hooked from the very first page with its eerie atmosphere and captivating characters.

Edira is the heart of this novel. Her loyalty, protectiveness, and fierce love for her brothers make her such a compelling protagonist. As a threadmender, her rare and dangerous magic adds incredible stakes to every choice she makes. And the Fernglove family? They’re a perfect mix of charm and menace, with layers of secrets waiting to be unraveled.

The worldbuilding is lush and haunting, brimming with moody gardens, strange magic, and simmering tension. The relationship between Edira and Orin adds an intriguing dynamic—one full of tension, vulnerability, and danger. The longer she spends at the Fernglove Manor, the more cracks start to show, leading to betrayals and decisions with devastating consequences.

With themes of sacrifice, resilience, and the cost of power, House of Blight delivers a story that’s both darkly enchanting and deeply emotional. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves an atmospheric and gripping fantasy!

Thank you Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book!

I enjoyed this — although it was not the best fantasy book I’ve read, I can tell that it will be popular upon its release. The tropes in this novel are very popular in romantasy right now — enemies to lovers, a lush storyline and descriptive settings, and a well fleshed out heroine. This is very similar to ACOTAR, and it’s being pushed to audiences as a darker Spring Court with beast forms and what not, but with much different stakes for our MC.

The magic that is described in our MC is very unique to the story, and the lore of the magic and how it is used holds up well throughout the entire plot. The cast, while having many characters, has been well thought out with no attention displaced from Edira. I enjoyed her as a character; reasons for characters motivations must be strong to have a well developed main character, and I thought hers were interesting and kept me reading. I thought the Ferngloves as a whole were very interesting, as well; the emphasis on beauty and strength in their looks and magic was entertaining, and kept the secrets deep in the novel until they were revealed.

This Gothic romantasy will be a favorite once it comes out, and I’m very excited for you all to read it!

it physically pains me to say this but unfortunately dnf at 37%. i was so unbelievably excited for this one as i loved maxyms beast charmer series, it remains one of my favorite trilogies to this day but this has fallen so flat for me it is like pulling teeth to keep reading it 😭

being 37% in one would think that we are well on our way through plot progression, we can remember who is who, we know our surroundings & we are just simply getting SOMEWHERE. however that is not the case for me, i feel like where i am still stuck in the first 10% of the story. clearly know this is setting up to be a love triangle but i dont understand who the hell is what guy… i simply cant keep them straight? there isnt anything thats making me want to continue this journey and see what becomes of edira, her brothers and her power.

its really a shame because the prologue hooked me really good however i dont really even understand how it correlates with the actual story? i guess maybe if i had gone further it may have tied it in? i havent fully decided whether or not i will give this a try again in the future through an audiobook or if ill just read spoilers from others reviews once its out and amasses a lot of different opinions but yeah im just overall really disappointed with this one 😭

I was hooked at the prologue!

I could not put this book down. A world with intrigue, magic, romance and of course, blight- a disease none survive. It has taken the FMC’s parents and threatens all around her, including her last remaining loved ones. Edira is a threadmender, a person with the rare ability to heal -though at a cost. She must hide her abilities in order to keep herself safe from the Evers, glamored magical beings that want access to her power. She finds herself in their world and it’s nothing like she expects. Edira ends up in quite the romantic situation and it’s anything but typical. This book kept me guessing and with plenty of mystery and magic, darkness and light, and love and loathing.

The writing is well written with a great plot and good character development. There’s room for growth with the world building but the writing is pleasantly descriptive without carrying on. I could see through some of the plot but I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend! Gothic, romance, fantasy lovers will like this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!