Okay, so, "House of Monstrous Women" is WILD. The first half is a slow burn, but then BAM! It hits you with everything and doesn't stop. I basically mainlined the second half in one night. It's creepy AF, and I'm officially obsessed with Filipino Gothic horror now.
Josephine gets invited to her maybe-witch, maybe-aswang friend's mansion for a game of tagu-tagu (kinda like hide-and-seek), and things get seriously messed up. Like, insect-people and murderous insanity messed up. Josephine's loyalty is kinda sus (like, girl, red flags EVERYWHERE), but she's also brave and clever.
The setting is amazing – not just the creepy mansion, but also the 1986 Philippines. I learned so much about the history and Ferdinand Marcos.
There's not a ton of gore, but one chapter is pretty 🤮. Trigger warnings for suicide, murder, and ALL the insects. If you're into well-written Gothic novels with exotic settings and fascinating characters, read this. 4 stars.

"A young woman is drawn into a dangerous game after being invited to the mazelike home of her childhood friend, a rumored witch, in this Gothic horror set in 1986 Philippines.

In this game, there's one rule: survive.

Orphaned after her father's political campaign ended in tragedy, Josephine is alone taking care of the family home while her older brother is off in Manila, where revolution brews. But an unexpected invitation from her childhood friend Hiraya to her house offers an escape....

Why don't you come visit, and we can play games like we used to?

If Josephine wins, she'll get whatever her heart desires. Her brother is invited, too, and it's time they had a talk. Josephine's heard the dark whispers: Hiraya is a witch and her family spits curses. But still, she's just desperate enough to seize this chance to change her destiny.

Except the Ranoco house is strange, labyrinthine, and dangerously close to a treacherous sea. A sickly-sweet smell clings to the dimly lit walls, and veiled eyes follow Josephine through endless connecting rooms. The air is tense with secrets, and as the game continues it's clear Josephine doesn't have the whole truth.

To save herself, she will have to play to win. But in this house, victory is earned with blood.

A lush new voice in horror arises in this riveting gothic set against the upheaval of 1986 Philippines and the People Power Revolution."

Oh, yes, an oh so haunted house. My summer catnip! And right in time for my birthday.

House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama is not for the weak. This is definitely not a book I would normally pick up and it is truly a house of horror. Some of the scenes described had me cringing and I don't do well with it. But for others, this would be a perfect read. There was some good mystery parts in the book which I enjoyed. The main character was left to her brother after her parents died. It takes place in the Philippines in the 1980s.

The buildup is incredible. It would have been very difficult to end this book in a way that didn’t feel at least a little trite. Fama does her level best, but it doesn’t quite pay off. Still, I believe her that the phillipines has the most interesting magic in the world, after this.

It’s truly the House of Horror.
Not much fazes me but one of the scenes as described almost made me sick becssje it was so gruesome to Contemplate.
It is a slow burn book because it took a long time to warm up to the book.
I did find the setting interesting because it’s in the Philippines in the 1980s.
It’s a ghoulish read about a house that is like a hotel in California- you’re never gettin out!

Wow. As a Filipina-American, I was so excited to hear about a book written by a Filipino author that takes place in the Philippines. It’s horror and not my usual genre, but it made my skin crawl.. in a great way!

I learned a good bunch of Filipino mythology which was much appreciated. The characters all felt real and the setting was truly terrifying. I didn’t know what to expect, but it held my attention all of the way through! I loved the queer representation and I really really just wanted Josephine to be happy. I wanted all of them to be happy. The author shocked me with the twists that the central game in the book had and I enjoyed this a lot!

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC! I am always so thankful to be able to read such wonderful books!

4.25 stars

Wow. I don't have a love of insects, and this book definitely didn't endear me to them. I haven't read a lot of horror but the premise sounded very interesting so I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm glad I did. There were times when I had to put it down, and I didn't like to read it before bed but it was really good. I could just imagine what a great movie this would make too.

Our FMC is Josephine, a young woman labeled a spinster. She is the only one left of the family besides her brother, after everyone else was brutally massacred by political enemies. She lives alone in the family house while her brother is off in Milan, trying to make something of himself. He doesn't seem to be having any luck. When she receives an invitation from a childhood friend to play a game, she jumps at the chance. She's tired of being alone in her hometown, and this might be the chance to change her future. Unfortunately for Josephine, the game is deadly, and she must fight to survive and win her future.

The story is set in the Philippines at the beginning of the People Power Revolution. I don't know much about this period of history, but it provided a perfect backdrop to the story unfolding on the island. The people lived under a dictator's regime, and they had to fight to regain their rights despite it looking hopeless. Josephine also has to fight for her rights as a woman despite being dealt a terrible hand in life.

The writing is well done and very descriptive. I don't usually have a movie playing in my head, but there were parts that were so well described, I was able to visualize it perfectly. This is not for anyone who gets grossed out by bugs because there are a lot of them. I definitely enjoyed it, and I might start looking into more horror novels.

This book gave me the same vibes as several Mexican Gothic thrillers that I've read--though this one is set in the Philippines. It starts out slow with the characters coming together on a secluded island and ends with a manic chase for the characters lives. I didn't feel fully invested in the characters though. I actually wanted to see more of Sidapa (who shows up as more of a side character).

Most of the book dealt with how the characters hated their lives and wanted something better (which is why they wanted to play the game at the house). But it just felt as if they were always complaining. And then a big chunk of the book was the characters going room to room in the house--either exploring or running for their lives. It was kind of tiring. I love Gothic thrillers and horror but this one just wasn't for me.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Daphne Fema’s House of Monstrous Women is a compelling blend of gothic mystery and simmering suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Josephine, freshly orphaned and desperate for a break from her tumultuous life, finds herself drawn into her childhood friend Hiraya’s strange and labyrinthine estate. From the moment she steps inside, the house seems alive with whispered secrets, veiled eyes, and a sickly-sweet scent that hints at darker things lurking beneath the surface. The story unfolds like a tangled game—one where victory comes at a steep price. Josephine’s desire to change her fate pulls her deeper into the house’s eerie corridors, where every room feels like a trap and every whisper could be a curse. The tension between friendship, betrayal, and the shadows of the past makes this a richly atmospheric read that lingers long after the final page. Fema masterfully crafts a world where the line between monsters and humans blurs, weaving Filipino folklore and haunting imagery into a story about resilience, secrets, and the monstrous parts we all hide. It’s a rollercoaster of dark beauty, unsettling twists, and even moments of hope—definitely worth four stars!

I absolutely loved House of Monstrous Women. I’m a sucker for a big house with a mysterious maze of rooms, so this title did not disappoint. This story is genuinely creepy, forcing me to read through the night, morning-after consequences be damned. While very frequently horrifying, this multilayered tale is interspersed with moments of hope for the future and reminders of the power of family - both those we’re born with, and those we find along the way.

I really loved the idea of this one and the parts about the house, cavern, and family mythology were intriguing but overall the novel was a little too unbalanced and repetitive for me to ever really immerse myself in it. Editing was a big part of the problem but there wasn’t much character development beyond the trope and the gross out bits , while necessary to the plot, needed something else to recommend them.
That said, again, I really did love the concept and I would definitely try another book by this author in the future. I think this one just needed a little bit more time in substantive edits.

Set in 1986, against revolution in the Philippines, the story of The House of Monstrous Women focuses on Josephine as she travels from her small town to visit the island home of her best friend Hiraya Ronoco. Joined by her brother Alejandro and another childhood friend Gabriella, the four then of will compete with a game tagu-tagu--a form of hide-and-go-seek. This game, however, has a different prize then their childhood play, the chance to have a wish fulfilled. Complicating matters is the Ronoco house itself, a complex system of hallways and mazes with narrow corridors, darkened corners and multiple passages that make winning, and even surviving the whole night of the game, a questionable endeavor. Can they all get out alive, will the house permit it?

The prose in this book is complex and layered and truly beautiful. It can be a bit daunting to get into but it is absolutely worth it to stick with this haunting tale of revolution, class, friendship, family and magic.

Told from the POV of Josephine, the characters are well written and easy to believe in this story. The setting during the Philippine revolution is perfect for its similarities to the tale of classism, patriarchy and family that author Daphne Fama skillfully builds. The use of the insects in multiple ways, first as pests that are always present, then later as agents of the house is an excellent examples of her world building.

The pacing was off in the first half of the book, with lots of slow sections. It's worth it, however, to stick with it because it picks up mightily after the halfway mark when it becomes a case of 'finish the rest in a sitting.' 3.75 stars rounded to 4.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This book is a slow burn at first, but once it hits the halfway mark, I was completely hooked—I couldn’t put it down. The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, with a labyrinthine, claustrophobic house that practically becomes a character in its own right. I was especially intrigued by the inclusion of Filipino folklore, which was new to me and added a unique, captivating layer to the story.

Things escalate quickly in the second half, and while the plot gets wild, I found myself wishing it would push just a little further into the madness. The female main character is definitely flawed—and occasionally makes some questionable choices—but I found her compelling nonetheless. The supporting cast adds even more depth and charm to the narrative.

If you're into moody, folklore-laced horror with a slow build and a wild second act, this one's worth adding to your list. Definitely recommend picking it up when it publishes on August 12, 2025!

This book delivers on so many levels: it’s thrilling, it’s emotional, and it’s got that perfect combination of mystery and horror that keeps you turning the pages. I loved how it balanced the supernatural with the very real political turmoil of the era. And the twists! Just when I thought I had a grip on what was happening, the book threw me for a loop, keeping me on my toes. I’m definitely going to be thinking about this one for a while.

This was a very cool concept that didn't quite soar in execution, for me personally. Maybe like a 3.5-4

I loved the setting and characters, but the pacing was a bit off. From the beginning (mostly due to the "Monstrous" title and cover) the reader is inclined to guess that this "game" will be scary and perhaps involve death (especially since the first section of the book gives us mysterious backstory and talks about how bonkers this house is). So it's was a surprise to me that everyone was so surprised that the stakes were high.

I think I wanted less back story on the characters and more in-depth action in the present, since most of the book revolves around the final game (which basically amounts to hide and seek.) The game is certainly creepy and gothic with some horrifying visual moments, but it also felt a little rushed.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. The bones are there and it's certainly memorable, with interesting things to say about female rage and power. I think I was mostly frustrated because there might be an even better book INSIDE this version, and I really wanted to read THAT book.

I did love this quote though: "I never understood the obsession with demonizing women. The pretty, unmarried women. The old women in the woods. Instead of the very real threat of jealous, lustful boys, skulking in the shadows, trying to follow you home."

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

definitely a slow burn and interesting book. doesn't kick into full horror action until, like, 50% in. but after that it's super dramatic. and before that its' really intense. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This was such a creative book. I’ve never read anything quite like it. The ambiance of the jungle teeming with life stays with you after reading. I loved the characters themselves and the relationships between the women. I definitely could have had more romance between the two leads. Their energy was sizzling. The mystery pulls the story forward and is resolved in a satisfying way. I’d highly recommend checking this book out.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Four stars for atmosphere, and maybe two-three for the historical background. We get why the protagonist accepts her old friend/love interest's invitation, as well as the parallels between the characters' fight against the Ranoco 'curse' and the larger, nationwide struggle against Marcos' dictatorship. However, the mentions of protests and resistance later in the book felt a little awkward. As a reader of Filipino descent, these felt like they were thrown in to underscore the personal stakes involved for the protagonist (and her brother)--instead of helping to drive the plot forward. Would this story have been stronger without this particular historical setting? Not sure, although I think that I still would've read it. Kudos to the author for attempting to blend a less-often examined history (at least in US fiction) with a spine-tingling tale of legacy, kinship, and found family.

this was so good! thank you to net galley for the ARC, i got super invested once i had time to sit down and read this and really take it in. a horror novel that really takes you by surprise as it nears the end. great writing, the right amount of violence and unease. if you’re looking for a gothic historical fiction this is it! releases in august :)

Actual rating: 3.75 stars

When I was really getting into the horror genre, I watched Ready or Not (Gillett & Bettinelli, 2019), a movie about a newlywed couple and the groom’s cult-ish family with a deadly game of hide-and-seek. Daphne Fama’s debut novel House of Monstrous Women follows a similar plot, yet remains unique and bakes its own delicious horror into the plot. It is a very quick read, and you will feel terrified as you learn about the truth behind the Ranoco family.

Fama provides some really interesting information in her author’s note, saying that this story is based on her experience with the aswang and generational trauma and suffering. I know next to nothing about Phillippine folklore, so I was thrown into this novel completely clueless. Fama does an excellent job creating a story based on this unique folklore, culture, and familial suffering that radiates with beauty.

Where I was a little lost, however, was the pacing. With just under 300 pages in the eGalley edition and the insanely long chapters at the beginning, I struggled to motivate myself to read more and dive into the story because nothing was really pulling me in, and I put this down a few more times than I’d like to admit in my reading time. The pace picks up when the game starts, which made it much easier to read the rest of the book, but I really do wish that a similar pace could be kept throughout the entire novel.

I do think that this is a great horror novel that follows an interesting premise and strong characters that breathe life into the story. The additional sapphic romance was an added bonus and yet didn’t take away from the book’s themes and main plot. Elements of House of Monstrous Women are entwined together perfectly to capture an intriguing premise that will make you question your own fears.