Overall Vibes: Eldritch Fantasy
Hot Sauce Scale: 1 (Nothing beyond kissing)

Quick thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing me an ARC so I could review it.

House of the Beast is my first 5-star rating for 2025. I am shocked, shocked this is the author's debut novel! There is such an intricately crafted world here. At the end of the book, I wanted to know more about the setting beyond what was presented in the narration. There's room here for the author to craft more stories in this world that they have created, and I am all for it! I want to see more!

If you took Lovecraftian horror nightmare creatures and shoved them into a fantasy setting, you'd basically have the kingdom of Kugara. An isolated peninsula kingdom that worships four elder gods. Elder gods are a way of life for the people here, and it's got kind of messed-up vibes. The devout followers of the Beast, one of the Four, in House Avera cut off their arm as sacrifice in order to tap into his bloodlust. While it is not overtly spelled out, it is implied that the other gods also take from their vessels: sight, emotion, and soul. So, yeah, screwed-up little society going on worshiping these eldritch abominations.

Above the capital of Kugara is a "heavenly" gate from which the gods descended. On the other side of the gate, there are horrible tentacle-y monsters and lesser god-adjacent beings also desiring to feast on humanity. The Four don't want to share their little buffet-o-humans, so they choose vessels that must venture into the gate and clean up when something inside gets a little too powerful.

The FMC, Alma, is the daughter of a vessel of the Beast. She chooses to leave her home and her dying mother after her estranged father promises medical care if she comes with House Avera and offers herself as a vessel. House Avera is having a bunch of internal ~~Family Drama~~ over succession. Alma is seen as a pawn of her father and is not welcomed inside the main estate since she was the product of his affair. But, hey, she's got this super cool "imaginary friend" that's totally just her elder god talking to her and leading her down the path to get revenge on those who have wronged her. The countdown until the next time the gate opens starts, and Alma is planning to shake things up with her elder god buddy.

One of the major tags on this is "Romance." Yes, there are some romantic inclinations going on, but they do not dominate the story. There is no lewd content, there are no sex scenes, the most we get is a kiss. If you're looking for the more "hardcore" romantasy tropes, you won't be finding them here. I think writing this off as just a Romantasy is doing a disservice to the incredible amount of worldbuilding that the author has done.

Ended up finishing, but I was not a fan. The story started much too slow for me, so I was never hooked.

I wanted to love House of Beasts, I really did, but I just did not vibe with it. It read more YA than adult, and just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC.

This novel exceeded my expectations!

Alma's world is wondrous and horrifying, creating a fairy tale amongst eldritch gods and unfathomable revenge. The lore is incredibly rich without info-dumping. I learned about the deities and devoted families alongside Alma. The magic she encounters is terrifying to imagine...

Alma herself is motivated by her grief, binding her to the Dread Beast. She is consumed by her hatred of the paternal lineage that allowed her mother to die. Together, she and the Dread Beast plan for her ultimate vengeance. Alma's obsession is refreshing to read--I'm numb to protagonists who accept others' manipulations. She has a plan to ruin her father's family and destroy their power; she's not willing to forgive and forget.

i received this as an e-arc on netgalley. thank you to harper voyager us and michelle wong.

when i first started to read this book, i did not expect for it to suck me in as much as it did. the fantasy aspect intrigued me, but i can be very hit or miss on romantasy. as it turned out, i got very attached to the romance by the end, far more than i think i even knew while reading it.

the tone of this book is honestly quite young. the prose is written descriptive but blunt first person, with the protagonist consistently making declarative statements about her emotions and thought process, a writing style more common to YA fiction rather than the adult novel this is being marketed as. combining with the age and relative immaturity of the protagonist, i think this novel would be better marketed as YA, or even with the NA tag that is on netgalley. the book is very dark, so i understand why it was aged up, but i don't think it's too much for older YA/NA to handle.

the set up of the romance pretty much intrigued me immediately, and i think michelle wong very keenly understood her characters, and what drew them to each other. it's not hard to understand why alma is so dependent on aster and vice versa. i also really loved how wong explored the actual ramifications of having your lover be an ancient powerful creature who can spurn you or empower you at his own whims. alma's story of falling in love with someone who you never quite stop being wary of was excellently done. aster and alma were just so devastating and so in love. i would not recommend going into this book looking for cookie cutter romantasy of brooding old man x spunky little girl, because that is not their dynamic at all.

i loved the plot far more than i assumed i would. michelle wong's talent truly shines in fight scenes or in times of high tension and dramatics. the pilgrimage itself, was especially excellent and on par with the first hundred pages for my favorite parts of the book. the middle was a tad more muddied, as it had to do the work of closing the opening act and setting up the final act in a very quick and abrupt manner due to the time jump. you could maybe trim some of the fat there, but it also contained some of my favorite scenes in the whole book, so i'd say just leave it be. i will say that later plot points and themes probably could have begun their set ups a tad earlier, especially parts of alma's character and the main romance.

the world building was very unique, especially in the construction of the gods. i can definitely see the elden ring comps, but for some reason i was reminded a lot of coraline (the movie specifically) in terms of the aesthetics and dark whimsical tone, most strongly in the first 100 or so pages. wong definitely has a strong aesthetic vision, and i felt that through her illustrations.

this is definitely a slower paced book, and michelle wong does an excellent job of edging you for more while still giving you enough to stay engaged. this was around a 450ish page book and i tore through it in two days. objectively, this probably sits at a 4.5 for me, but subjectively i'm giving it 5 stars. i'm really looking forward to what she puts out next.

This was such a unique and fun read! I was especially drawn to the emotional isolation that Alma experienced. It was heartbreaking to see how her community pushed her aside and how that shaped her ability to connect with others as she grew older. The world the author created was fascinating and full of depth. It felt fresh and original, which kept me engaged from start to finish. The writing was also very accessible—easy to read and follow, making the story even more enjoyable. I’d definitely love to read more by this author in the future!

I give House of the Beast ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I might be on the opposing team cause I’ve seen some mixed thoughts, and I get it: if you’re looking for a traditional romance subplot, this isn’t that kind of story.

But for me, the relationship between Alma and Aster was everything 😭. Their bond felt raw, intimate, and necessary. It didn’t need to be overtly romantic to be impactful. I think it was important to see their relationship dynamic to understand the power they both had. There’s something deeply beautiful about two people finding connection through shared anger, pain, and isolation. It felt like deep friendship love.

The world-building and political structure were so unique. I’m tired of reading about trials 😭 so I’m happy that pilgrimage was different. I was completely captivated by how layered and thoughtful everything felt. The horror elements sprinkled throughout were subtle.

My only real critique is that I wanted a bit more depth from some of the characters, especially Alma. I found myself frustrated at times by how much she still cared about the people who were cruel to her at the start. We did finally get a glimpse into her true grief and moral struggle toward the half way point, which was done excellently—but I wish we’d seen more of her during that eight-year time jump, especially in terms of her training and growth.

Aster’s backstory, on the other hand, was fascinating and the betrayal had me sobbing. He could not let go of his rage and vengeance which resulted in his downfall. And don’t even get me started on the ending it was utterly devastating and beautiful. I honestly wasn’t expecting the ending which left me literally sobbing.

If I had one other wish, it would be for a bit more action. The pilgrimage doesn’t really begin until around 70% in, and while the world-building is rich and immersive, I think a few more action scenes could’ve added momentum earlier on.


Thank you NetGalley and HarperVoyager for the free electronic arc in exchange for an honest review.

I love a full cast of morally grey characters and Michelle Wong absolutely delivered here! I also love a villain romance. Full disclosure, this book is not a romantic romance. That part of the plot is not the main plot but it’s so well done. I loved this story and also hated parts of it but my hatred kind of fueled my love of it? I hated that the romance was so slow burn but also loved it because it made me crave more. I hated that we didn’t get more of the side characters because they were so good (Fion, my fave!) but I also loved that Alma was the focus.

This book wasn’t on my radar but I’m so glad I ended up reading it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First I loved the illustrations and kinda wish more authors did them throughout their novels!

So a few minor criticisms, I wouldn’t market this as dark as it seems more new adult fantasy. Dark to me screams trigger warnings.
Was this book easy to read and fun? yes. Will I likely remember it after I’ve read a few more books? no.


If you read a lot and enjoy fantasy, then I would definitely recommend. If you want Dark, twisted and unique… I’d pass

Welllll, this wasn't bad, but it wasn't what I was expecting. This read very much like a YA 2000's goth Howl's Moving Castle, and not an adult, dark, gothic romantic fantasy which what I was expecting going in. This had similar vibes to Cassandra Clare's writing style, rather than Ava Reid's writing style, and reminded me a bit of Caraval in terms of tone. Other than the use of "fuck" a few times, I'm not really sure why this is being marketed as adult. The world building was interesting, if not a bit info dumpy in the beginning, and I enjoyed the characters - though I think their relationship development was a bit lacking. This had a lot of potential, and I think fans of YA Fantasy will really enjoy this one. I've just haven't been the audience for that genre in awhile. If you are looking for an adult, gothic historical fiction with a similar plot, I would recommend A Skinful of Shadows. Though this does lack romance - if you're looking for that, I would recommend Clockwork Angel.
Overall, I this was good with the correct expectations, and would be interested in this author's future work.

Wow, this book definitely pleased and surpirsed me in the best way possible. The world-building felt so rich and immersive that I did not want to put down the book for even one second! Not to mention the characters, who added a whole other layer of suspense and anticipation to the overall plot. I enjoy stories that uphold a gothic atmosphere with a sprinkle of romance, which this one delivered on all fronts. The pacing did feel a bit slow at certain points throughout the story, but nothing that kept me too out of the loop. I would still very much recommend this read for anyone who enjoys a suspenseful and somewhat terrifying tale that creeps up on you and will keep you coming back for more at every turn.

3✨ for House of the Beast. Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I think this was a solid debut novel but felt it was lacking in certain aspects.

The marketing seemed a bit off - it reads as YA rather than adult. I also wouldn’t say there is much romance aside from some flirting and mutual pining. The characters and the plot are a bit bland. Despite being a more character driven story, the characters could have been more fleshed out. It almost needed more world building and detail. I struggled to picture some of the scenes due to lack of detail. The action/fighting scenes were cool but so far and few in between. The ending was quite anticlimactic and somewhat predictable. Overall, I think this book had a lot of potential but needed a lot more work. The artwork scattered throughout the book was interesting and a nice bonus.

House of the Beast releases August 5th!

It is 3 AM and I am sad?? House of the Beast is a great introduction to dark (grimdark?) fantasy with fast paced story telling, immersive world building, and gory, cinematic fight scenes. And it has beautiful illustrations.

We follow Alma, an ostracized gal, who strikes a deal with her estranged father: her participation as a vessel to a deadly god in exchange for help with her mother's health. With a strange connection to this God, Alma ventures on a revenge plot that explores familial, societal and religious toxicity, codependent relationships, wrong vs. justified, as well as resilience and love.

I really loved this book. It was fast paced and the world was interesting to be in. Think Full Metal Alchemist vibes. Alma is a character that will break my heart the longer I think about her. A lot of these characters, specifically the younger generation, are just products of their environment, and that makes me sad.

Anyway

This was an excellent debut novel, and I really hope to read more of these characters and/or other stories from this author.

Thank you Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC in exchange for a review. This review is my own opinion.

The book captured my attention from the beginning. The world building and the premise of the two devinez, really stood out for me. However, the plot was repetitive and nothing original. The outcome was easily predicted and as much as I wanted to love Aster. The story just really fell short.

I just really enjoyed this story and I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Overall: 3.5

This was such a unique read. If you enjoyed One Dark Window and want a more Fantastical setting, you’ll definitely enjoy this.

Pros:

Michelle Wong weaves a story about a lonely girl and a lonely God. We watch the two grow up against the world that has wronged both of them.

There were lots of unpredictable twists along the way that made the story satisfying to read. Early on, we’re emotionally drawn to both Alma and Aster.

The ending was unexpected but overall extremely satisfying. I honestly loved that ending.

Additionally, there are beautiful illustrations spread throughout the novel. Michelle Wong is an exceptional artist! It really made the story come to life.

Cons:

When I pickled this up, I did expect at least a romantic subplot. But I really felt that it was almost nonexistent (unless you count 1 chapter of romance). That 1 chapter of romance though, was exquisitely done. I wish there was more of it.

Towards the end, Alma (FMC) gets a little Mary-Sue-ish. I kinda thought she’d eventually be hardened by life, but she still remains well-natured and wants the best for everyone.

Overall, I recommend this for fans of One Dark Window with more Fantasy and less romance. While the writing, world building, and art were exceptional, I don’t think I was the right audience for this.

Thank You NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

"House of the Beast" by Michelle Wong is a chilling and atmospheric horror novel that delves into the dark secrets of a secluded mansion and the family that resides within. The story follows Emily, a young woman who takes a job as a caretaker for the enigmatic Blackwood family, only to discover that their ancestral home holds a sinister history.

Wong's writing is haunting and evocative, creating a palpable sense of dread and unease. The plot is masterfully crafted, with each chapter revealing new layers of mystery and suspense. Emily is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist, and her growing sense of fear and isolation is expertly conveyed.

As Emily explores the mansion, she uncovers a series of disturbing events and unsettling truths about the Blackwood family's past. Strange noises, eerie visions, and unexplained disappearances plague the house, leading Emily to believe that she is not alone.

One of the strengths of "House of the Beast" is its exploration of themes such as family secrets, inherited trauma, and the dark side of human nature. Wong delves into the psychological impact of isolation and the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets.

Overall, "House of the Beast" is a must-read for fans of gothic horror and psychological thrillers. It's a haunting and atmospheric tale that will leave you questioning the nature of reality and the darkness that lurks within us all.

**Thank you to NetGalley, author and publisher for giving me this eARC**

Personal Book Review: House of the Beast by Michelle Wong

I just finished House of the Beast by Michelle Wong, and I’m honestly still processing everything—what an incredible ride! From the start, Alma’s fierce determination and emotional struggles drew me right in. Wong created such a vivid and haunting world filled with ancient gods, intense rituals, and complex characters.

Alma’s bond with the mysterious, alluring deity Aster fascinated me deeply; their dynamic had me feeling every emotion imaginable. I loved Alma’s resilience and strength, even through heart-wrenching betrayals and unexpected alliances. There were definitely some twists I didn’t expect, especially surrounding her family and Aster’s true motivations, that kept me eagerly turning pages.

There were a few minor elements that threw me off—I struggled briefly with an attendant referred to as “they,” which initially confused me. Also, the reveal involving Fion didn’t quite click with me personally. But overall, the emotional depth, intense action, and beautiful writing overshadowed those small distractions.

The ending was absolutely stunning. Though bittersweet, Alma’s final choice moved me deeply and left me satisfied yet reflective. Wong wrapped things up beautifully, giving Alma closure and hope alongside Six.

This book is amazing, and I genuinely loved it. It was emotional, gripping, and beautifully crafted—definitely one I won’t soon forget!

We’re immediately drawn into the emotional isolation of Alma—a child labeled a "bastard" and cast aside by her community. Her inability to connect with other children is heartbreaking, and her frustration and anger are palpable. Yet in the midst of this pain, her mother becomes a quiet beacon of strength, offering Alma a moral compass even as they both are pushed to the margins.

Alma makes her own companion, imaginary or not, their care feels real. But when tragedy strikes and Alma is left to seek help for her mother, she turns to the one person she’s never known: her father. From that moment, her story takes a dark and irrevocable turn. You sense that she’s meant for something greater—but what, and at what cost?

Driven by sacrifice and a mind twisted with revenge, Alma’s journey leads us deep into a world of eldritch lore and ancient horrors. The reverence shown to the gods is anything but holy; it's manipulative, self-serving, and deeply unsettling. Through it all, one question lingers: is there anyone who truly sees Alma's worth? Can anyone love her for who she is? Perhaps—a demigod can.

This dark, atmospheric tale wraps its claws around your heart. Wong leaves us questioning our own sense of justice as we grieve, rage, and almost root for vengeance at the cost of everything.

A special thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy; All thoughts and opinions are my own.

2.5 stars

I unfortunately found this book pretty underwhelming… I think my main “issue” is that my expectations were set on something much darker and grittier than what is actually here. This is perfectly exemplified by the main character: I wanted someone unapologetic in their cruelty—this is sold a story of revenge after all—but what you get is someone morally struggling with the implication of their actions throughout, being pushed by an elder god to do evil things. No “bad,” per se, but certainly not as interesting to me.

The other characters weren’t particularly multi-dimensional either, though I did enjoy the female friendship that developed. But the slow pacing and the under-developed mythology/lore just kinda made this a mediocre experience for me overall.