House of the Beast is a strong debut novel from Michelle Wong. It has garnered comparisons to anime in tone and I would say that feels pretty accurate, especially because the fight scenes jump off the page. I appreciated that the novel didn’t shy away from body horror and gore. There were also some gorgeous illustrations by the author peppered throughout that were absolutely delightful to me.

The heart of this novel, and the most compelling aspect in my opinion, is the dynamic between Alma and Aster (the eldritch god that has latched onto her). Honestly, I loved it. Aster encourages her darkest impulses and fans the flames of her rage into a fire, while still somehow coming across as mischievous/cheeky instead of evil. It made complete sense how Alma, in her grief and isolation, would become so close to and codependent on such a being. Ultimately, I wish the book had leaned into this relationship just a tad bit more and taken it further because the restraint with which the relationship was handled made it feel like I was reading a YA novel at times. I wanted more!

There were some things I thought could be improved upon. The world building was interesting, but confusing to me. We don’t spend much page time with the other gods, houses, or pilgrims and by the end I felt like I still didn’t have a good enough grasp on these things or their function in this society. Additionally, about 80% of the way through, Alma made a series of decisions that were increasingly baffling to me.

With tight pacing and main characters that don’t fit neatly into “good” or “bad,” I had a fun time with this novel! House of the Beast inhabits a unique enough niche within the fantasy genre to make it worth your while to check out.

Alma lives in a small seaside town with her mother where they have a modest life. They are generally ignored by the other townspeople due to the fact that Alma's mother had an affair with a married man that resulted in Alma's birth. Alma has always felt lonely and isolated in this small town and despite her attempts to make friends, she has no one but her mother for companionship. She creates an imaginary friend named Aster to curb her loneliness, though she forgets him as she gets older.

One day, Alma's mother becomes very sick and despite Alma's best efforts to beg for her mother to be healed, her please are ignored. While searching for any money that could potentially buy some medicine, Alma discovers a letter from her father. She writes to him and begs him to help her mother. He comes and promises to send the best help there is for Alma's mother as long as Alma leaves with him to be raised and trained in service to their diety, the Dread Beast. She agrees and leaves her mother. Alma arrives at her father's home and is not welcomed by his family. She lives isolated from them and in her loneliness, her imaginary friend returns to her.

This was a phenomenal story. I loved Alma's character with her flaws, but also her strong beliefs. I was absolutely blown away by this book and I am in awe of this story. I don't know if there will be a sequel, but I would definitely read it if there is one!

Thank you to @netgalley, @harpervoyagerus, and @lokhelle for the gifted eARC.

#houseofthebeast
#netgalley
#harpervoyager
#mindblown

House of the Beast blew me away. From start to finish, I was hooked by a world that grew more compelling with each page and a protagonist constantly toeing the edge between monster and savior. The fight scenes are some of the best I’ve ever read, the settings are perfectly executed, and the plot hums along masterfully. I’m left floored that this is the first novel from Michelle Wong, and I’ll be anxiously awaiting her future work.

The Best Bits

The fight scenes - they’re perfectly done
The relationship between Alma and Aster - so strange and compelling
The author’s plotting - the path was perfectly made brick by brick

A Few of My Favorite Things

Again with the Fight Scenes
I honestly loved everything about this book but the fight scenes were breathtaking in their execution. We all know how hard it is to write a compelling fight scene. It’s a mix between individual strokes, actions and thoughts, all leading to a hopefully satisfying conclusion. Each of the fight scenes (and there are many) feels intricately crafted, taking you through each second of the encounter. You feel like you’re right in the middle of the action and I found myself drawn into cheering for the protagonist wholeheartedly. There’s just something about how well these scenes are done, and I honestly can’t wait to go back and reread a few of them. An epic scene with a steampunk-style behemoth kicks it all off and it only gets better from there.

A Rich World Filled with Wannabes
The world itself is so interesting, filled with families blessed by gods, the people who serve them, and everyone else. Everyone is constantly fighting for power while smiling at each other around town and at official functions. You never know who is an ally or who will stab you in the back. There are known and secret alliances, some of which clash against each other. There are so many rules about how society functions and how the pilgrimage that makes up the back half of the book is undertaken. The majority of the people surrounding this story are terrible, and I lived for it. It’s a world desperate for power that sits in the clouds above a sprawling city, and if that isn’t fascinating, I don’t know what is.

The Upside Down
The other side of the gate is truly horrifying and brings in unexpected horror elements that really added to the final third of the book. The book starts with training, revenge and anger against the family who tore Alma away from her mother and then shunned her. It continues with a fight to get to the actual pilgrimage, circumventing rules, hateful rich people, and a few attempts to strike her down. By the time we get to the world on the other side of the portal, so much has happened and it’s hard to imagine where else the book could go. Bring in eldritch monsters, a disintegrating city, and a secret so surprising I found myself shouting ‘what’ to the empty air. The monsters are gross, shocking, and exactly what one would expect from eldritch horrors.

The Plot, The Plot, The Plot
This is Wong’s true triumph. There is so much constantly going on in this book and it’s plotted to perfection. There are no slow moments, no chapters that feel unnecessary or scenes that are stretched to fill space. Every sentence and paragraph has its place in the story, and it all builds to an explosive conclusion that feels completely satisfying. In my opinion, this is fantasy storytelling at its finest.

House of the Beast is a stunning debut from Michelle Wong with its dark and atmospheric fantasy world, rich array of characters, and complex mythological and political landscapes. I had the privilege of toggling between the arc and alc, but did find myself gravitating towards the audio due to the captivating narrator (and because the e-arc did not look the best on kindle). However, sprinkled throughout the arc are brilliant little doodles drawn by the author, who was an artist for The Legend of Korra, so I definitely made sure to rifle through and catch each one.

Compared to The Poppy Wars, I definitely saw a correlation between Alma and Fang. Alma was full of feminine rage (rightfully so) and a complete badass seeking vengeance for her mother she never got to say goodbye to. She and her steadfast companion and ?imaginary friend, Aster, made for a frightful and at times, comical pair. While there is the slightest undercurrent of romance throughout the story, it never overtakes the narrative. It is a tried and true coming of age story featuring the perfect (in my opinion) flawed and deeply introspective heroine. And this world that Wong created was such a fresh breath of fantastical air, and while dark and often gory, I was drawn in like a moth to a flame. This also goes down as one of only two books to make me tear up this year (because what was that ending?!😭), and I am not a cryer when it comes to reading lol. The rich world of Kugara with its subjects, gods and religions, is one I'll be thinking about for a while. I'm also honestly hoping that maybe Wong is leaving the door open for a Kaim and Fion sequel👀...pretty, pretty please?!? Anywaysssss, I've pre-ordered my copy which will feature some more character art by Wong, so I will be camped on my doorstep until it arrives! And I truly look forward to featuring this in my AAPI recommendations next year!

Thank you Netgalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars

Synopsis -

Young Alma lives a quiet life in solitude with her mother until illness strikes. Desperate to save her, Alma seeks out her estranged father, a powerful noble and vessel of the fearsome Dread Beast deity from House Avera. To secure treatment for her mother, Alma makes a desperate pact: she sacrifices her arm to the Beast, binding herself to the House and its god.

Despite her sacrifice, Alma's mother dies, leaving Alma in the care of her estranged father at the Avera estate. It’s clear that Alma is viewed only as a pawn in her father's plans for power. Left alone and seeking revenge, Alma finds an unexpected ally in her "imaginary friend," Aster. Aster reveals himself to be a mischievous god, visible only to Alma, who has chosen her to bring about radical change. Together, they embark on a perilous quest to dismantle the corrupt aristocracy of House Avera and exact vengeance on Alma's father.

Thoughts -

Michelle Wong has done something unique and wonderful, creating an immersive experience for the reader. This novel is filled with drawings by the author herself, which adds immensely to the reading experience.

I don’t have the words for an eloquent and thoughtful review, since this is a book I will be processing for a long time, but what I can say is that it’s been a long time since I’ve cared for a cast of characters this deeply –
I am proud of Alma’s bravery and growth.
I am sad about the past that Aster had suffered.
I am hopeful for what’s going to come in Sevelie’s future.
I am expectant for romance to find Fion (wink).
And I am madly affectionate for our little cutie, Six.

This is sure to be a top read of the year for me.

HUGE thank you to Harper Voyager for providing me with an ALC and an eARC for review! All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review!

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4,5-4,75 stars - one of the best books I’ve read in 2025, and one of the most memorable fantasies I’ve read ever. How dare you, Michelle Wong

“Death would find its way to me again, and I would look up and see my monster’s smile.”

So here I am, once again, unsure of how to even write a review of a book because my head is just kind of filled with excited buzzing and exclamation points. Honestly, everything worked really well for me in this book. From the very start I was intrigued, and fond of the messy angry female main character, and it didn’t lose momentum for me through the whole story.

“Vessels of House Avera were raised in violence. With violence, we would settle our affairs.”

The world and its history is intriguing and dark and sharp, the characters are all complicated and mostly on a spectrum of grey morally, and don’t even get me started on the illustrations (!!). The illustrations really won me over and was one of my favourite parts of the whole book, along with the dynamic between the female main character and her not-so-imaginary friend.

“Who could be a more constant, enduring companion than an elder god?”

An exciting, emotional, at times a little bit scary story that I can’t wait to gaze lovingly at on my shelf for years to come (and perhaps even reread). Now excuse me, as I have to go annoy all my friends into reading this book as well. And maybe even some of my enemies.

4.5 Stars

I didn’t know what to expect going in, I picked this up completely blind... and I was hooked. This had One Dark Window vibes with the darker monster aspect, with more gothic edge, and I was so engrossed in the world from the very first page. Michelle Wong’s writing is so vivid and atmospheric!!

The world-building was honestly perfection and easy to follow and there’s this eerie, ancient, ritualistic setting throughout that made everything feel high-stakes and heavy.
I loved the way the Pilgrimage and the gods were woven in. This book was dark, cruel and a brutal, blood-drenched gory magic system that just kept me so engaged

Alma this girl!! Her grief and rage were so raw, and I loved the emotional layers to her, deeply shaped by the trauma she’s faced. From the beginning, you feel the weight she’s carrying, and hard messy choices she has to make. I loved how she held onto her anger, it gave her strength but also made her vulnerable and her growth powerful.

Aster was so compelling. Mysterious, intense, obsessive, and completely unreadable at times. I loved the back and forth between him and Alma. There’s so much tension layered with pain, grief, and this deep, unspoken bond.

You never really know who to trust in this book, which made it even more addictive. Everyone has an agenda, and that whole dynamic had me second guessing every interaction - GASPING out loud with a lot of WTF.. A few plot twist I guessed and others I did not see coming!

Beautiful artwork, a unique storyline, but I just couldn’t get into the book.

This may be just a me problem, but the book didn’t suck me in like I had hoped. The storyline was unique, with a unique magic system and I did love the ending but I just wasn’t able to fully immerse myself in the story.

If you yourself enjoy a spooky fantasy with monsters, lots of action, and deadly trials with a hint of romance, I think you should definitely pick this book up and give it a try!

Thank you to the author for providing me this arc, all thoughts are my own.

3.75 stars

Thank you Nerd Fam and Michelle Wong for this eARC!

First off, the illustrations throughout the book were amazing and I loved them. The overall story was interesting but confusing at times. I knew that Aster would end up as the main bad guy but how it came to pass was really interesting. I could have done with more information on the four Gods that were in this story as I felt the world building wasn’t complete to me. I wanted to see more from Kaim and Fion but I was glad to see them more involved towards the end. This book kept me interested throughout but I wouldn’t call it a dark romance.

From the opening lines of this book, the author grabbed my attention. This is an action-packed, never dull fantasy with a well-crafted world and relatable characters. The main character grapples with matters of revenge, power, forbidden love, and morality as she embarks on a journey to become the next leader and protector of her people.

If you love a good fantasy world and lots of action, this book is for you.

House of the Beast was a dark ,unique and compelling novel that I read in one sitting.
The story and the world building were fantastic and the sketches thorough the pages give me some more depth to the plot creating a in immersive reads. Long story short this book, is an atmospheric and dark story that blends heavy topics, mythology and characters development in a magnificent way!

4.5 stars. First and foremost, this book is very dark and I would recommend looking at trigger warnings before you start this. Anyways, this was weirdly romantic in a dark way. Alma is such a strong character and her God is tender yet unyielding in the pursuit of the plot. Also the illustrations were so beautiful and insane. I read this in kindle so it had a hard time formatting the story with the illustrations but I didn't mind too much. This is definitely a book you need to pick up for yourselves to enjoy the most. Thank you so much to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the ARC!!!

Unfortunately I could t get into this book, the premise was interesting but it was a slow start and I didn’t connect with the main character.

House of the Beast is a dark fantasy novel with a haunting, gothic atmosphere.

The story was incredibly unique with an intriguing premise and fantastic world building. There were moments when the story felt akin to an anime or video game, which makes sense given Michelle Wong’s history as a graphic novel illustrator.

I adored the sketches including in the story throughout, which added to the overall reading experience. More books should have illustrations! I also appreciated the complex relationship between Alma, the morally gray protagonist, and “Aster”, her eldritch god companion.

That said, there were a few areas that didn’t land as strongly. As is often the case with debut novels, the pacing was inconsistent. The story dragged in places, and the major climax—the pilgrimage into the Umbral Plane—doesn’t occur until the final quarter of the book. As a result, some of the most anticipated conflicts felt rushed or anticlimactic.

Also, while the book is marketed as adult or new adult, the tone and character dynamics felt more aligned with upper YA. Aside from the dark themes and graphic scenes, little about the story’s structure or dialogue reads as truly adult. I think this book would be best suited for a mature YA audience.

Overall, House of the Beast is a unique and atmospheric debut that blends gothic fantasy, mythology, and emotional character work into a richly imagined world. While the pacing and tonal balance may not be perfect, Wong’s distinctive voice, striking visuals, and morally complex characters makes this a memorable read. I’m excited to see what she creates next—and I’d gladly return to this world if she ever revisits it.

Thank you to Harper Voyager for access to an eARC via NetGalley!

Thank you Michelle Wong and Harper Voyager
for giving me the opportunity to read this!

“House of the Beast” is for sure one of my top reads of 2025. I was hooked immediately.

The illustrations throughout the book are beautiful and really add to the vision Wong has.
The story itself is intriguing and different compared to a lot of fantasy out there at this time. It was refreshing.
A story of revenge and balancing the rage and guilt that comes along with it. Alma, our main character, is an outcast in her town. She dreams up her own friend, only for this imaginary friend to really be an eldritch god.

Once her mother falls ill, she must reach out to the man who will forever change her life. She is then whisked off to house Avera, who serves he Dread Beast, one of the four eldritch gods that looks over their land.
From there the story unfolds into a fantastic fantasy.
The combat scenes, which are a good majority of the story, are written in such a way that it was easy for me to imagine each slash and block.

The politics within the world of Kigara and Almas family were easy to understand without being bogged down with pages of red string connecting them together.
Alma was a dynamic character that you find yourself rooting for until the end. Strong and badass.

The vibes were gothic; full of horror, bloodshed, yearning and conflict.
I absolutely recommend this.

I give this a 3.5
Thank you NetGalley and Nerd fam for the Advanced reader copy !

This is a debut book, described as dark romance but there was only a tiny bit of that in here. It’s more of a fantasy with A touch of Drop Dead Fred( iykyk) I was super hooked at the start , it did get a bit slow for me towards the end.
Overall great story

This was such a unique gothic fantasy story and I'm shocked it's Michelle Wong's first novel. I read this book over a month ago and the story still lingers in my mind with it's vivid imagery and story. "House of the Beast" has a very dark storyline full of violence, rage, death, and a lot of grief/trauma from all of the characters. It covers heavier topics some younger readers should consider before deciding to pick up this book.

All the characters were well though out and explored in this story. Following Alma who lost her ill mother at a young age and forced by her estranged father in the "House of the Beast" she is hellbent on revenge with the help of a young god/imaginary friend Aster. You feel the friendship grow from Alma/Aster and the codependency as she ages and they train together. As the story becomes increasingly terrifying for Alma I couldn't help but root for her in her quest for vengeance and destruction.

The illustrations throughout the chapters are stunning and really shows off the World that Michelle Wong wanted to build in the book. As someone who gets easily lost in high fantasy in some of the more fanatical descriptions of monsters/creatures it was nice to have well crafted wording and beautiful hand drawings to visually show the story.

Overall, I completely devoured this book and it left me feeling utterly guttered toward the end. I recommend to lovers of gothic fantasy, morally grey characters, politics, and light monster romance.

Thank you to Michelle Wong, Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars
House of the Beast has a unique premise that had me so excited to read it. I did enjoy it, but at times it felt like it was a little too long. I will say it read more like YA than adult fantasy and I’ve seen it referred to as romantasy which it really isn’t. There’s a hint of romance but it’s not the focal point and it’s very minimal so be prepared if that’s what you’re looking for.

That being said, the world-building was amazing and I loved Alma and her monster, Aster. Their dynamic was so good and heartbreaking at the same time. I couldn’t get enough.
This was dark, brutal and gory in all the best ways. Alma is fueled by vengeance and this book does not hold back. I was rooting for her to get her revenge the whole way through. I really liked the umbral plane but was surprised when monsters resembling Weeping Angels showed up. Considering how much I loved them in Doctor Who though, it was a fun addition.

If you read the e-book or physical edition, you’re in for a treat because there is some absolutely beautiful artwork included throughout the book!
If you like dark, twisted fantasy with complex characters, then you should definitely pick this up. I’m looking forward to whatever Michelle Wong writes next!

Many thanks to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Death would find its way to me again, and I would look up and see my monster's smile."

Thank you x1,000,000 to Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC!

Alma Avera has the odds stacked against her from birth. Born a bastard to a mother who swears no fealty to any of the 4 gods that control their society, she only has her mother and an imaginary friend who appeared to her when she was young to keep her company. One fateful day, Alma's mother becomes gravely ill and as a last resort, she reaches out to her estranged father for guidance; a vessel of the Dreadbeast. He offers Alma help for her mother as long as she comes to reside with him and the rest of House Avera, and bind herself to their God. Alma accepts, unknowing that in order to bind herself to the Dreadbeast, she must sacrifice her arm. Even after Alma's sacrifice and the promise from her father, her mother passes. Now Alma only has her eyes set on revenge... and her monster would love nothing more than to help burn everything to the ground.

House of the Beast is an absolute masterpiece. I became so attached to Alma, Aster, and the world Michelle created that it got to the point I was delaying reading more because I didn't want the story to end. I adore dark fantasy and this book hit the sweet spot for me. The lore of the world and its gods reminded me so much of Soulsborne games that it actually had me geeking out at a few points. If you love FromSoftware games in any capacity, ESPECIALLY Bloodborne, this is a MUST. READ. I've been searching for a book with a similar bleak world, and the whole idea of communing with a god causing madness???? Chefs kiss. I adore this book with every ounce of my being and preordered it as soon as I finished the last page. This is now officially my all time favorite book and I am b e g g i n g you all, READ. THIS. BOOK.

Alma is no stranger to solitude. She was born out of wedlock and her father’s identity has remained a secret. Other members of their village believe this is reason enough to ostracize the two. As long as the two of them have each other, it’s enough.

However, that small comfort is too fragile to endure the tribulations fate has in store for them. When Alma’s mother grows ill and her condition rapidly worsens, Alma becomes desperate. Digging and grasping for any possible solution, she uncovers the identity of her father. He’s a noble lord of House Avera, sworn to the elder god The Dread Beast. He has the resources to provide for the treatment that Alma’s mother will die without. So she writes him a letter begging for his help. He agrees, but now that he knows of his daughter’s existence, he demands that in exchange she come live in the Avera palace and adopt their surname. For her mother’s sake, she agrees, but it’s not enough to save her.

Once there, she must offer herself as a vessel for the Beast through the sacrifice of her arm. If he accepts her offering, she will be able to make use of a prosthetic. By devoting her life and herself to him fully, she may even be lucky enough to hear his voice and instruction. At least, that’s what her father tells her. That’s why it surprises her when she hears him almost immediately, and can even see him in the room. She’s even more surprised to recognize him as her imaginary friend from childhood. He promises to guide her to her revenge.

I knew I was going to love this book before I’d even read halfway through the synopsis. At the very end of the blurb was where I saw the author’s credentials. Although this is a debut novel, Michelle Wong has been telling amazing stories for a while now. Prior projects she’s been a part of include Goosebumps and The Legend of Korra. Both series are near and dear to my heart.

It’s very easy to see the influence of anime on this story. I’m the type of reader who will get a very vivid visual experience when reading a well-written story. This time, those visuals even appeared animated. From the choreography of battle scenes to facial expressions on characters, it’s astoundingly easy to picture the way an animators would portray the narrative. I believe this would have been true even without the included illustrations, which were absolutely lovely. I’m not certain whether those are in both the deluxe and standard editions or only the deluxe. If the latter, the illustrations alone are more than worth upgrading your purchase for.

The worldbuilding is both rich and unique. I found it utterly fascinating, and the characters even more so. Those familiar with my book reviews already know how much I appreciate complicated characters. This story had an abundance of them. Much like the real world, nothing and no one felt truly clear-cut or overly neat. If it ever appeared so, there was always another layer of complexity to uncover. The pacing felt flawless as well. I felt neither bored nor inundated at any point, and each section flowed very naturally to the next.

House of the Beast was another five-star read. I absolutely devoured it, and I’m hungry for more. I will be anxiously awaiting any and all future titles from Michelle Wong.