Edira holds a unique power, she is a threadmender with the ability to cure illness and disease. Her magic comes at a cost, her own lifetime. When her brothers become infected with blight, the disease that ultimately ends in death, Edira will do anything to save them. Enter Orin Fernglove. The two strike a deal, Orin will preserve and slow blight from killing her brothers if she can cure the matriarch of the Fernglove family. Edira must race against time to find a way to save them. Once on the Fernglove property, Edira will begin to see that everything is not quite as it seems. Someone is holding back the truth. In a race against time, Edira must discover a way to save those she holds so dear.

This is definitely a slow burn, then it hits a point and it becomes a downhill slide. The magic within the story and blight are intriguing. It's not something readers see often. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Voyager US, and Maxym M. Martineau for giving me an eARC of this in return for my honest review,

I highly recommend this book if you like these tropes:
Gothic Romantasy
Haunted House
Slow Burn Romance
Forced Proximity

How this book is not being talked about more I'm not sure, because I found it to be captivating from start to finish!

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.

House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau is a hauntingly atmospheric tale that weaves a spell of dark magic and forbidden desire. In a world cloaked in shadows and secrecy, the protagonist is drawn into a web of treachery, where every alliance is fraught with peril and every passion is tinged with danger. Martineau’s lush prose enchants, immersing readers in a gothic world of heart-stopping tension and aching romance. With its rich, brooding atmosphere and complex characters, House of Blight is a spellbinding read for those who crave a love story as twisted and beguiling as the world it inhabits.

I highly recommend this book and can't wait for the next one!!

Both Gothic and compelling, I enjoyed the descriptions of the ferry realm as well as the relationship between the main character and her brother as well as the love interest!

I had a blast with House of Blight! It’s got that perfect creepy, haunted house vibe that’s just right for spooky season. The way the author describes everything really pulls you into the eerie atmosphere. Just a heads-up, though—the Blight itself is described in pretty graphic detail, so if you’re squeamish, you might want to be careful. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the next installment of this intriguing and unsettling story leads.
House of Blight will be released April 8th, 2025

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 3, because I finished the entire thing.

I went into this blind, aside from knowing the bare minimum. Fantasy, Gothic and interesting magic, called threadmending.

Edira is a human young woman who can mend people with her magic, but at the cost of bits of her own life. This is why she rarely does it and usually turns to homemade ointments and concoctions. The one thing her magic can't cure is Blight.
In an attempt to save her brothers from Blight, an affliction that will turn humans to dust in mere minutes, Edira agrees to work together with Orin, an Ever, an immortal species with magic.
At Fernglove manor, she discovers several secrets regarding the family and all Evers.

The characters felt entirely too flat and one dimensional for me to care. Instalove is not a good look, and don't even get me started on the love triangle that's barely a love triangle. Edira could've been more interesting with her magic, but instead, she was entirely too intrigued with the way the brothers looked.
One thing I'll say is that her threadmending magic was described beautifully.

<i>Thanks to HarperVoyagerUS and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review. </i>

I loved this! The lore around The Evers and The Blight is so cool. I love the FMC and that her healing powers come at a cost that is explained well. I am honestly kind of dying inside because I want the next book SO BAD, but this first one isn't even released yet. I did find the romance switch to be a tad predictable, but I am not mad at it. I kind of liked the evil guy, too!

Such a great gothic romantasy, I really can't wait until I can read the next book!

I was actually quite surprised with this one! I love a romantic gothic fantasy! This book was really freaking good!

House of Blight is about magic, forbidden love, and a world shrouded in mystery in this gothic romantasy that will pull you into a realm where everyone holds a secret and every touch ignites a dangerous passion.

The FMC (Edira) has the type of magic that people are willing to kill for. She is able to keep her magic hidden until an unexpected tragedy hits her family and the wrong person sees her powers.

The MMC (Rorik) is the is the head of his household. He holds his own secrets and desires that will impact not only his life, but his family and the kingdom.

These two main characters meet under very strenuous circumstances. However, Rorik finds a solution that could benefit both Edira and her family, as well, as his family. Nonetheless, there are untold stories and hidden agendas that will tear apart alliances and families.

Do I recommend? Yes!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to review!
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 5
Pace: 4
Plot development: 4
Characters: 4
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of Reading: 4

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

I really enjoyed this book - I was immediately gripped by the plot and characters. It did give off slight ACOTAR vibes, though. Not a bad thing but it did take away from the sense of originality. I also think the dialogue and setting were a little bit mismatched at times. Very modern way of speaking in a gothic/historical context. (Gothic also isn't the descriptor I would use, necessarily). The unexpected spice was fun, though. And I love getting to root for Rorik in book 2

I really wanted to like this book, but sadly I’m DNFing it at 44%.

The premise sounded incredibly intriguing, and the prologue sucked me right in, but as I kept reading I found myself becoming bored, and feeling like the story dragged.

I just don’t think this was my cup of tea

So where are the gothic romantasys at ?! The dark errie presence of death with a fantasy setting and romance are a match I need more of. The world and magic are simply fascinating. All I wanted the entire time I read was to figure out the way everything worked. I LOVE the explanation of glamour and why it’s used. I was picking up on some hints of what was going to happen. It was fun putting pieces together on the mystery side of things.

In the beginning, a lot of characters are introduced, but the importance of each character from the found family is crucial. The status of power is being tested and it makes sense to everything that happens when the plot unravels. Speaking of characters, I love an animal sidekick and Ywena ( a pink and yellow mothlike creature 💖) was my absolute favorite.

If you do decide to add this to your never-ending TBR, I highly recommend going back to the beginning and reading the prologue again after you have finished. Its ties things together in the most staggering way. This will be a hard wait for book two with a cliffhanger I can’t seem to forget.

after multiple attempts at reading- I have decided to DNF. I’m hoping to return to it in the future but right now i’m unable to connect with the author’s writing style.

I have to tell you that you may love this book or you may not like this book. There is no in-between. Sorry to inform you. I know some readers have mixed feelings regarding this book. Thankfully, I was able to enjoy reading this book. I have a fun time reading it, and let me tell you why you might love reading this book.

Reasons why you may love reading this book:

-It's a dark gothic romantic read. It's literally the best genre to read if you are in the mood for romantic genres.

-The enemies to lovers trope is top tier. It gives the perfect tension between characters.

-The possible love triangle is so good yet so messy. It creates the perfect drama between all of the characters.

-The endless secrets unraveling is so freaking good. You may suspect one, but you won't suspect the others. Trust me, there are a few secrets that left me shocked and on the edge.

-The betrayal was a bit expected. I just knew right away because we have been warned.

-The determination in saving her family was everything. You just know as a reader that the main character will do anything to solve their family. It's just perfect to read.

-The shocking ending was everything and more. I literally need more!

I really enjoyed this one! I was a little annoyed by the FMC at points, but overall this was a good read. I honestly cannot wait for the next book!!

3.75⭐️

The House of Blight is a great gothic fantasy that hooked me from the very first page. This is the first book in a planned duology and introduces us to Edira, a selfless and resilient FMC living in a disease-ridden world. The atmospheric setting is marked by the presence of the blight, a grotesque and incurable illness that has devastated her family and now threatens her younger brothers.

Edira’s rare ability as a threadmender allows her to heal others by sacrificing parts of her own lifespan, a gift she’s been forbidden to use. But desperation drives her to make a life-altering decision when her brothers get sick with the blight. Enter Orin Fernglove, a powerful and immortal “Ever” who offers her a bargain: he will put her brothers in magical stasis while she works to find a cure at the Fernglove estate.

The story’s gothic undertones are perfectly balanced with its eerie yet mesmerizing setting. The Fernglove family—beautiful, immortal, and utterly enigmatic—pulls Edira into their orbit of hidden motives, dark secrets, and simmering tension. The dynamic between Edira and the Ferngloves, particularly Orin, is fraught with mistrust and reluctant alliances, making every interaction layered and thrilling. EVERYTHING IS NOT AS IT SEEMS! 😉

For fans of slow-burn romance, magical bargains, and haunted estates, this book delivers in spades. The plot is fast-paced yet rich in detail, and the ending is satisfying, avoiding the dreaded cliffhanger while still leaving room for the sequel. I highly recommend!

Thank you Harper Voyager for allowing me the chance to read this ARC through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

This book was effortlessly captivating and I’m already eager for the next one.

Edira Brillwyn has healing powers that she’s only just scratched the surface of, powers that she tries to keep hidden for her safety. She finds herself working for powerful people, which means she begins to uncover what she is capable of along with secrets that change everything.

If you’re looking for a gothic, romantic fantasy that has you questioning everything yet completely enthralled…this is for you. I was so pleasantly surprised by this book and will definitely be checking out some of Maxym M Martineau’s other works.

I was hooked from the first page of *House of Blight*, the first book in an exciting new series!

The story follows a young woman in a village ravaged by a deadly disease, blight, which has already taken her family. When her brothers fall ill, she decides to use her forbidden healing powers, despite the cost—each time she heals, she loses a bit of her life.

Before she can act, a fae lord intervenes, offering a deal: help him find a cure for the blight, and he’ll save her brothers. But as she delves into the secrets of the fae world, she discovers much more is at stake—and she may not survive it.

A thrilling read with forbidden powers, fae intrigue, and high stakes. Can’t wait for the next book! If you love dark fantasy with twists and danger, this one’s for you.

I love a good Romantasy novel but I feel like this one didn’t carry through for me. I was intrigued by the plot but unfortunately was disappointed

Such a unique magic system and gothic feels! There was just a little something missing here (can’t put my finger on it), but overall I really enjoyed the book! I think there is a lot of potential for the second book, but luckily doesn’t leave us on too big of a cliffhanger. The relationships felt very obvious and tropy, but the setting did a good job of making it just unique enough. Would recommend to my romantasy lovers!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC!!