I enjoyed this book. Wasn’t god tier but a healthy 4 Star. Kept me entertained for the most part. I did have trouble finishing the last 15% seemed slow. But over all I would recommend to others.

I’ve recently started getting into more of the “gothic” flavored romantasy books and this one was definitely unique. I enjoyed it, but with a lot of books where the main character is self sacrificing for a family member I have a hard time understanding why they do that. Probably because I have a not great family and honestly would never put myself through, well, anything for their benefit because they wouldn’t do it for me. I haven’t spoken to my brother except like 3 times since 2004 at this point, so it’s hard to connect with Edira and how every decision she makes she makes it with her brother in mind. It’s commendable but totally foreign to me. I’m not usually a fan of love triangles either, but this one didn’t bother me. I enjoyed the unique magic and overall mystery of this book. So despite having a hard time relating to the MFC I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to book 2.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC 💕

House of Blight absolutely caught me by surprise. I love a good gothic fantasy but tend to not come across many that really lean into the gothic aspect and... wow, this book is just absolutely haunting at times. The Ferngloves and The Evers are so unique from anything else I've ever read and their world had me captivated. I did not expect to become so enraptured by this world and story and am so incredibly glad I gave it a read.

I was immediately drawn into this book. From the cover, to the first sentence, to the end. I thought the world building was fantastic (I love a good dark, gothic world). The plot twists were definitely twisting and this is absolutely a book I would recommend!

I could not put this book down!

I received this as an ARC but was not able to complete it in time for release because I fell ill. But I’m so upset that I didn’t get to it sooner!

This world was so vivid. The magic system slowly unfolded before you while keeping some parts deliciously mysterious. With the way Martineau described everything, you couldn’t help but be fully immersed and engaged with the characters. Even after finishing this book, after questions have been answered, I found myself needing to know more about Edira and the other side characters. It felt like they had more to offer and share with us.

This was a lovely jaunt through a world full of brushes with death, witchy tinctures and magical experiments. With characters as complex as any family unit trying to hold it together but can’t quite reach the harmony their ancestors wished for.

Thank you Maxym M. Martineau and Net Galley for the ARC! I really really enjoyed this book!

This was a unique and entertaining fantasy romance read! I especially loved the atmospheric setting and integration of nature into the story. I think the first half of the book dragged a little, making it hard to connect, but the ending will have readers hooked and eager for more! Thank you for the early reader's copy!

I can't wait for the next book!
Once I got into the story, it was hard to put down! And that twist! I was on the edge of my seat.

Edira is a threadmender. It's a rare power she possesses that lets her cure diseases and heal injuries. But her magic comes at a cost. Saving anyone costs her a sliver of her life. For that reason, she's kept her ability a secret.

Until the powerful Fernglove family discovers her secret.

The Ferngloves are charming and beautiful, and possess powerful magic and don't take no for an answer---especially Orin the head of the family.

When Edira's brother contract blight, an incurable virus that is killing people in the village. It's an illness too strong for her to heal. Orin offers to help.

Together at his estate, they research for a cure and Edira works on honing her magic.

Edira finds herself attracted to Orin but she can't forget that even under his protection, she is still in danger.

Thanks so much to the author and Harper Collins for this ARC to review.

This book wasn’t bad per se, I just feel like it was marketed incorrectly. The marketing is pushing this as a dark fantasy and in my opinion it’s more of a cozy fantasy with “darker”elements.

This book has minimal world building and would be great for someone wanting a quick fantasy read!

The FMC was completely blind to what was going on around here.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*
I was getting so mad that she was choosing the wrong guy. I knew which brother was the superior brother from the start.
This felt like a Prince Hans situation (you know, from the movie Frozen?). Evil Prince tricking the innocent girl into love so he can have his power. Meanwhile the better, grumpier, choice is right in front of her face. Oh, and did I mention he can communicate with bugs? Kind of like how Kristoff in frozen talks to Sven. Oh, and the girl starts to die and only an act of true love (heartbond) can save her… Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE frozen. I just think I’ve seen this film before.

Loved this book!! I'm always looking for the next best romantasy and this was definitely it! Excited to read more books from Martineau.

Thank you Maxym M. Martineau and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This one gets 5 ⭐️ from me because it kept my attention from page one until the end and despite being a mercurial mood reader I couldn’t put this one down. The vibes are immaculate and the pace was perfect for what will be a fantasy duology. The end of book one perfectly sets up book two and when I tell you I am so ready to find out what happens next!

I was very intrigued by the magic at play with our FMC Edira- she’s a healer who can see the threads of life for each person she heals, at the expense of her own life. Each time she heals someone, a bit of her own life expectancy dwindles. As someone who works in healthcare this was a really interesting plot point and I feel like I could have many philosophical conversations about just this one aspect of the story 😆

Pick this up if you enjoy gothic fantasies, slow burn romance, and eerie mansions full of secrets….🪲

1/5 🌶️ one open door scene but I’m hoping book two sets us up for more exploration of the romantic elements in the series! (A la Hurricane Wars)

Thank you to the author, Avon/Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the early copy for review!

4.2 stars. This one had me in a chokehold. It’s giving cursed manor, healing magic that bites back, and morally gray tension I fully approved of.

Edira is a solid FMC. She’s tough, closed-off, and tired in the way all great fantasy girls are. Hehe. The magic system is genuinely cool (and a little disturbing), the world is dark without being a drag, and the slow burn romance? Umm…earned. No insta-anything, just delicious tension and quiet moments that hit.

It lost a few points for some side characters that didn’t land and a couple pacing lulls, but the vibe never let up. Gloomy, gritty, and full of emotional damage in the best way.

Honestly, if your reading taste lives in the overlap of “moody magic” and “soft pining with sharp edges,” this one belongs on your shelf.

I couldn't put House of Blight down! From the very first page, I was transported into a world where magic is both a gift and a curse, and every decision carries a heavy price. Martineau's writing is vibrant and atmospheric, weaving a tale rich in gothic elements and emotional depth. The world-building is immersive with a unique magic system that adds layers of intrigue to the narrative.

What truly sets this book apart is its exploration of sacrifice, loyalty, and the complexities of human connection. It's a story that lingers long after the last page is turned. If you're a fan of gothic fantasy with rich world-building, complex characters, and a touch of romance, House of Blight is a must-read! Thank you, NetGalley!

Dark ✔️ Gothic ✔️ Fantasy ✔️ this read was eveeerrrything from the first page to the last. Our FMC Edira is a threadmender, so she can heal others and restore life, but it comes at a cost to her own. Of course this means there will be people who are interested in taking advantage of her, so she is reluctant to use her powers, until she needs to save her brother’s lives. I was fascinated with the magic system and the twist to “healing magic” with the ultimate cost to the healer. Everything Edira did, was to save her family, which made her such an admirable main character that you can’t help but root for. There was also an interesting romantic subplot (brothers? thank you. lol) that I think was perfectly balanced with action and mystery. This story will keep you on your toes as you try to figure out the history of this deadly disease “blight”, what every characters intentions are, and how Edira will get her family out of the mess they are in. I will absolutely be continuing this duology because the ending stilllll has me reeling! Highly recommend!

I looooooove a forced proximity, love triangle, gothic fantasy. This was so amazing! The vibes of Ferngrove Manor was PERFECTION. Edira as an FMC was so complex and the story itself was everything I wanted. Only reason this was not a 5 star for me was that I wanted jussssst a little more.

I wanted to love this one so badly! It sounded amazing and had a lot of potential, but it fell flat. I didn’t understand the world building very well and didn’t love the characters. Thank you Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the eARC.

House of Blight is a gripping urban fantasy that blends dark magic with political intrigue. The world building is vivid, pulling you into a gritty, complex city filled with morally gray characters. The prose is sharp, with moments of intense emotion and clever twists. While some plot threads could have been explored more deeply, the story's pace and character development kept me hooked. Definitely worth a read.

ty harper voyager for an early copy ♡

this was quite a haunting read and i really didn’t know what to expect! i’m not the biggest fan of love triangles and this one was no exception. the “romance” between edira and orin felt very insta-love to me (another trope i dislike!) but for the purposes of the story as a whole, it worked??? that’s weird right? or maybe that’s just me.

there were certain aspects that reminded me of “one dark window” (loved this) and “the cruel prince” (also loved this, also x2 orin has a tail!!!!!) and i think that’s what pushed me to finish reading. i will be continuing with the next book just so i can read for more rorik and his goddamn dermal piercing.

def read if you’re into —
⋆˙⟡ love triangles
⋆˙⟡ steamy banter
⋆˙⟡ dysfunctional families
⋆˙⟡ unique magic systems

Overwhelmingly dull and uninspired. Don't be fooled by the amazing prologue because it goes downhill thereafter. Flat characters and clunky writing make this difficult to power through.

4.25/5
Eerie gothic fantasy with a love triangle. The vibe gives similar vibes to Dawn of Onyx book with healer magic and brothers in trouble leading her down the path she never planned to have. If you love gothic vibes and eerie magic this story is for you. Although Edira is a well balanced main character who is trying to adapt to her new life the story is a tad predictable. The world is very well laid out and it's easy to understand what the immortal beings are and how their magic kind of works (I feel like it'll be explained more later). The story has the tension and pull towards both male characters that you kind of root for both. The side characters and interactions are well balanced and they bring more depth to the story. I absolutely enjoyed it and was happy to read. I love healer FMC and it's a nice treat from the action packed romantasys on the market.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper voyager for the opportunity to read this arc

DNF. Just really not vibing with this one. I got about 20% in and was still having a hard time with it, so just going to go ahead and call it quits. I might try again at a different time to see if I’m more in the mood for this book.


Thanks to the publisher for sending me an arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.