I absolutely devoured this book. The world drew me in and would not let me go--the characters, the plot, the setting. I fell absolutely head over heels for this story, and I am feral for more. Martineau is extremely talented, and I hope that in the next story we get more of Rorik's POV, but I would take anything that this author handed to me (literally anything). I cannot wait to get our physical copies in at my branch. I highly, highly recommend this read. Gah! It was just so good.

Gosh this book was sooo gd! I went in blind and didnt really know what to expect?!

The gothic vibes and the romance really sold it to me! I thought the writing was really well done and the plit moved at a good pace.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book! This was a much anticipated read of mine so I’m really glad that I got to read it early.

Overall, this was a good read. It was quick and easy, while being entertaining. I really liked the concept of this book and some of the intricacies, such as the magic system, were really interesting!

Unfortunately, I found the overarching plot to be predictable in terms of both the romance and the “twist”. I feel that I’ve read that exact plot line before in other books. I also would’ve loved more worldbuilding as I felt that I could picture the characters well enough, but not the settings.

That being said, I’m still planning to read the sequel, as I’m interested to see if this story takes a different twist.

First and foremost as always thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Loved the story of this one so much! Definitely worth the read!

Perfect book for Spring!! Happy release day
This book was the perfect mixture of slow burn fantasy, Gothic vibes and secrets. I had a hard time knowing who to trust or what was going to happen, frequently on the edge of my seat wondering what is next. Well written!

Can't wait for the next book!
Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins and Maxym Martineau

ARC Review | House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau
Release Date: April 8, 2025
Rating: 3.5 stars

House of Blight has strong Victorian-era gothic fantasy vibes, set in a world where healers known as threadmenders work alongside powerful, immortal beings called the Ever. The atmosphere is dark, moody, and full of secrets—perfect if you love a fantasy with a touch of the eerie.

I’ll be honest, the pacing was a bit slow in the beginning. It took a while for both the plot and the magic system to really click for me, and I didn’t feel fully invested until later in the story. But the last 10%? That’s what bumped this up to a 3.5 for me. The ending had tension, emotional payoff, and left me wanting more.

Even with the slower start, I’ll definitely be reading book two. I want answers..Can they actually cure the Blight? I’m also hoping for some serious groveling, because certain characters have a lot to make up for. I feel like the series has the potential to grow into something really strong.

In a world ravaged by a deadly disease known as the blight, an apothecary in a small village is forced to confront the loss of her family and friends. The blight has claimed almost everyone she’s known, and now it threatens her brothers. She possesses a forbidden healing power that allows her to cure nearly any ailment, but at a great personal cost—each use shortens her life. Despite being warned never to use it, she faces the devastating choice of healing her brothers, fully aware that it might cost her life.

Before she can act, a fae lord, overseeing the land, intervenes and strikes a deal with her: in exchange for saving her brothers, she must work for him to find a cure for the blight, serving only one fae in return for her freedom. Reluctantly, she agrees, and her brothers are placed in a magical stasis while she embarks on her mission. As she delves deeper into the mysteries of the blight, the fae, and their hidden agendas, she uncovers dangerous secrets, realizing that the path to saving her brothers—and herself—may be far more perilous than she could have imagined.

Thank you to net galley and publishers for this eARC.

Edira is a threadmender, but because she has the rare power to save lives, heal and cure diseases, but all power comes with a cost, and every time she heals, part of her life is cut short. But no one knows just how much. Because her power is so rare and an incurable disease called blight is running rampant, she hides her power so she isn't taken by the Evers and suffer the same fate as her aunt.
When her brothers fall to blight, she's also discovered by Orin Fernglove, a powerful Ever who requests her assistance.
He makes a deal to encase her brothers so their disease doesn't run rampant, if she agrees to come to his estate and save his grandmother.
When she arrives, she is met with a house full of personalities, none of which seem to care for her. She is warned to trust no one.
This fantasy has alllill of the elements you've come to love: unique magic system, hidden powers, magical families and their drama, angsty feelings and some gothic vibes. This was such a good book with all of the elements I enjoy in a fantasy.
And what's even more exciting is it's a duology!

This was so good!!! I am not a big fantasy reader so I was a little intimidated by this book at first. But wow it sucked me in immediately! The writing and worldbuilding and character development and plot were all so well done. I was expecting more romance since this has been marketed as a romantasy, but I still really enjoyed. I look forward to what happens next.

I'm so in love with this book! It was great start to what I hope will be an amazingly popular series. I still cannot get it out of my head.

This book is a Gothic Romantasy with amazing characters, unique magic system and has an amazing MFC. Edira is an amazing character. She is strong, stubborn, and incredibly loving (sometimes too much).

This was a great first book in the duology and I cannot wait for the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC

I had an excellent time reading House of Blight!
The tense, eerie, alluring atmosphere bursts onto the scene and I relished every single moment in it. Heightening the tension is the magic system at play. This is one of intrigue, possessing a uniqueness all of its own. From its emergence my fascination of it continuously grew. I so easily immersed myself in this tale, the narrative keeping my attention captive to the very end. The magic fed into the world-building marvelously. It also jumpstarted the plot brilliantly. Then there's the romance-- a romance full of surprise, twists, and turns. 4.5

Simply stated: I'm all in for this spectacular tale unfolding.

Our heroine Edira is a wonderful lead to follow. I matched her every step in her journey, I rooted for her heartily all the time, and admittedly wanted to shake some sense into at other times. I cried every time she used her magic, knowing what she is sacrificing. The narrative does not shy away at all over what is at stake, and that includes Edira's very life hanging in the balance. As much as I loved Edira, I did become exasperated by her one too many times. For a character as intelligent and aware as she, it became overly frustrating to see her continuously harbor mistrust and hate towards the one character who was rather overtly trying to help her. While on one hand I do understand her stance, on the other hand it's a stance unevenly dealt, as she eases her tension towards other characters who arguably deserve the same level (if not more) of spite. Nevertheless, I will always appreciate a lead who is not without flaws. It's easy to root for Edira regardless of shortcomings, because she remains at her heart a character willing to learn, to try, and to make the right choices (even if some choices must be course corrected). She's a heroine I'm so very happy to follow to the very end.

The romance was one of my favorite facets of the narrative! If you read the synopsis, there is definitely a certain level of expectation heading into this tale. At least I certainly felt it. But from the onset something never quick connected the way as anticipated. In fact, I think the narrative sways the reader away from that initial expectation subtly yet cleverly. And it directs the eyes onto another, and once they land on him-- they won't be so easily turned. The less I say the better, because this is a narrative choice I wholly embraced and what I will be most eagerly anticipating as the journey continues!

Overall, House of Blight is setting up something very special. Already in this first book I have found much to delight in, from its tantalizing magic system, its spine-chilling setting, its slowly burning romance, and its clever plot. I'm seated for that sequel, consider me first in line for that release!

Thank you to The Nerd Fam, Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for this advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Gothic romantasy that ate and left NO crumbs

Y'all. Y'ALL. I'm still processing what this book did to my emotions!

Imagine a world where healing magic comes with the ULTIMATE price tag - your own life force. That's what our girl Edira is dealing with as a threadmender, and honestly? The magical system in this book is chef's kiss BRILLIANT. No convenient magic here - just delicious consequences.

When Edira's brothers catch the blight (which is exactly as disgusting and terrifying as it sounds), she ends up making a deal with the enigmatic Orin Fernglove that screams "this is a terrible idea but I'm going to do it anyway." And I was HERE FOR IT.

The vibes we're tracking:
🖤 Gothic manor with secrets in EVERY corner
🪡 Life-thread magic with actual stakes
🐛 Insect-based powers that are equal parts beautiful and horrifying
🔥 Slow burn tension that had me SCREAMING
👑 Family drama that puts the "fun" in dysfunctional

Let's talk about the Ferngloves. This family? CHAOS. Some with wings, some with horns, all with agendas that had me suspicious of EVERYONE. The sibling rivalry between Orin and Rorik? Deliciously toxic.

The atmosphere Martineau creates is absolutely immersive - I felt like I was wandering those creepy hallways alongside Edira, jumping at every shadow. The way the manor itself becomes almost a character? Gothic perfection.

Fair warning: this book ends on a note that had me clutching my pearls, and the fact that it's only book one of a duology means I'm now in a state of emotional distress until the next one drops.

If you're into gothic vibes, magical consequences, and a slow burn romance that will have you throwing the book across the room (in the best way possible) - this needs to be your next read! Also, definitely snag the audiobook if that's your jam - perfect for getting those eerie manor vibes while you're driving or cleaning!

Huge thanks to Harper Voyager for the ARC and finished copy! This one's going on my favorites shelf, no question.

4.5⭐

Thank you Maxym M. Martineau, Harper Voyager US and NetGalley for the ARC!

I was absolutely immersed into House of Blight when I picked it up from the very first pages . . . especially the haunting proplgiue. It's the first installment in the duology and surprisingly does not end in a cliffhanger.

The writing style had me immersed into the world and the haunting and detailed descriptions made the narrative atmospheric to read about. There is plenty of secrets hidden in the walls of the story and twists and turns will have your jaw dropped at the end of the confessions.

The Immersive and gothic world building was very well developed and intriguing to read about. The magic system was unique, and Threadmending is a concept that I don't think I've ever heard about. The 'Evers' are essentially fae with their own twists and tweaks.

Edira, the FMC constantly questions the motives of the Ferngloves. She's a very dynamic character, full of sass and doesn't take any of their shit with an animal companion Ywena. Fernglove family are so entertaining. The imagery is immersive and beautiful but absolutely disgusting.

Overall, i enjoyed reading this book. The banter and love triangles was something i did not expect to love at all. The ending had me intriguing to what would come next and I can't wait for the next installment!

4.5!

House of Blight was a ride! It has everything we love from our romantasy reads yet was all its own. The premise was unique and the characters were intriguing.

Edira was a fun FMC and I had a good time learning her power and going in this journey with her to save her family and come into her power even more. While she was a bit naive I think it made sense for her character and I liked that she wasn't without fault and even admitted to that fault. She went through the typical strength training of a FMC of a romantasy but I liked that the author didn't have her just automatically become stronger and better with her power in the matter of weeks.

The story was engaging and interesting. The setting was well described and the plot was well written. While it had a slower start I was engaged the whole time. It had some predictable twists, yet it happened differently than I predicted, and some not so predictable.

I truly can't say too much more without spoilers so if you like romantasy but are wanting something a little different and darker this is the book for you! I'm really looking forward to the next book in this duology and see what happens in this world next!

Thank you to the author, publisher, The Nerd Fam, & NetGalley for the ARC!

Instant 5⭐️ read, already know it’s going to be one of my favorites of the year.

The Gothic vibes are immaculate.

There’s a disgusting and vile sickness plaguing the city with vivid descriptions and incredible imagery.

Our FMC, Edira, is strong-willed, fierce and resilient despite having her whole world crumble before her.

Two MMCs, brothers Rorik and Orin, who are incredibly mysterious and obvs hot as fuck. One kind and generous, the other brooding and menacing….a little bit of a love triangle-ish?? The romance and plot are balanced beautifully with a hint of spice!

There’s a cast of side characters that add depth and interest to the story and an adorable magical moth-like companion named Ywena 😍

Oh, and did I mention there’s beast forms and elemental magic? And Edira is a threadmender and can heal people?

AHHH I can’t explain how immaculate the vibes are- I NEED the next book in my hands right now!!

If you love books like One Dark Window, Phantasma, Belladonna or Starling House- you’ll probably vibe with this one too. If you like reading gothic fantasy during spooky season, this one would be perfect!

Thank you SO MUCH to Avon and Harper Voyager for the e-ARC of this book, I’m so grateful and it was amazing!!

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Voyager for the E-Arc of House of Blight in exchange for an honest review.


"The only pain I'd ever intentionally inflict on you is the agony of making you wait to feel the pleasure of release."


House of Blight is a story all on its own, and fantasy lovers will go crazy for it. You get pulled in right at the dedication. Our story starts with Edira, our threadmender, whose power to heal the sick makes her a target. There's only one sickness she can't cure, and that's the blight. One day, her brother ends up contracting it, and Edira makes a deal with Orin Fernglove. He promises to help her train her powers in exchange for helping him get rid of the blight. We all know you shouldn't make bargains with fairy-like creatures; something sinister lurks in Fernglove Manor, and not everything is what it seems.

This is a fairly quick and easy read. The book very much gives ACOTAR and a sprinkle of Crimson Peak. If life hadn't gotten in the way, this definitely could have been read in one sitting; that's how engrossed I was. You can't help but root for Edira to figure out her powers and hopefully succeed.

I give this book a 4.5, and that's only because I wanted to know more about the Threadmender power and how it came about.

I think everyone should pick this book up when it comes out.

House of Blight is a gothic romantasy with a feisty FMC just trying to save what’s left of her family. Edira is a human hiding her true nature, a thread mender who can heal others by spending her own life force. Edira has spent her whole life hiding her abilities so her she isn’t exploited by immortal beings called the Evers. One day tragedy strikes and Edira’s twin brothers catch Blight, an immediately deadly plague in that land. As Edira tries to save her brothers’ lives, an Ever appears and offers her a bargain: he can halt the Blight by putting her brothers in a coma-like state if she comes to work for him and cure the Blight using his resources. Edira agrees and is thrown into the world of the Evers. The ensuing events are full of mystery, magic, bickering family dynamics, insect daddies, and pretty dresses.

Honestly, I enjoyed this book a lot. I was able to predict some of what was coming, but there were still some twists at the end that I appreciated! I really liked Edira’s character and am excited to see where her journey goes in the next book.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️

This is the first book in The Threadmender Chronicles.

House of Blight started a little slow and took me a minute, but once I was immersed in the story I couldn’t put it down!

Edira has grown up being told to keep her threadmending powers hidden at all cost, especially since time she uses them it shortens her life! But when her brothers, her only remaining family, life’s are in jeopardy from the Blight there is nothing she wouldn’t do to save them, including sacrifice herself. She finds herself in a magical bargain where she must help find the cure for the blight. But what she doesn’t know is the Ferngloves, the magical immortal family, is hiding secrets at every turn. When she thinks she learns one thing she finds is another secret.

There is so much to unpack in this book from the world building to the crazy family dynamic. I can’t wait for book two!

Thank you Maxym M. Martineau, Harper Collins Publishing and The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC!

Tropes:
🩷Gothic Romantasy
🩷Slow Burn Romance
🩷Female Rage
🩷Forced Proximity
🩷Magical Vows
🩷Threadmending
🩷Beast Form

"The House of Blight" is a unique gothic romance fantasy centered around Edira, a threadmender with the ability to stitch the threads of life. The Fernglove family wants her to stay with them in the hopes of curing the creeping blight disease. However, once Edira arrives at the Everglove manor, she discovers that nothing is as it seems, and she learns this the hard way. She is there to protect her family, but with a love triangle, immortal family secrets, and hidden agendas, Edira is faced with many dangerous situations. She must make quick decisions due to the secrets she uncovers along the way.

There is so much happening and so much to learn in this fantasy world. The House of Blight is very interesting and, at times, suspenseful. The story is filled with tension, a touch of romance, a dash of spice, magic, ghosts, mystery, and an abundance of gardens, all blended with dark cottagecore vibes.

If you're looking for a unique and beautifully written gothic fantasy, this is the one to read!

Thank you to @nerdfam and @maxymmckay for the digital copy. I enjoyed reading this book! It was unputdownable and a fantastic read!

From the moment I read the prologue I knew this book was going to sink its claws into me.

Edira lives a quiet life and is forced to hide one of the most unique traits she possesses. She is a threadmender, a rare type of healer who can help save people, but each healing cuts her own life short. When her brothers are infected by the incurable “blight,” she will do whatever it takes to heal them - even swearing allegiance with the one family she swore she never would.

While House of Blight does have the hallmarks of other romantasy novels, I really enjoyed the “blight” concept and found the magic system interesting while still being easy to understand. I’m rather new to this genre and think if you’re looking to dip your toes in this is a great place to start. Edira may have made some questionable decisions along the way, but I still found her a really captivating main character. She was easy to root for and I did feel like she grew as the story progressed.

And that ending! I really hope we will be blessed with book two sooner rather than later 🙏

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for a review copy.