By: Deva Fagan
Releasing: August 26, 2025

Happy Friday everyone! Today’s question- yearning or instant love trope?

I want you guys to know- despite how it might seem- I don’t put every book out here on my feed. Just the ones I need to read with someone or having omg-I-can’t-believe-that-happened conversations with in my DM’s. So we are skipping flat lay Friday for now so I can present to you this amazing book. Thank you to DAW for the advance reader copy and below is a no spoiler’s review.
House of Dusk- you NEED this book on your shelves. It centers around a FIRE wielding nun that has a slowing burning (get it? because she is fiery?) and yearning filled sapphic romance with the princess. The other POV is our princess, who also happens to have the gift of prophecy. My only first bone to pick- I can’t believe this is a standalone. I need more!
The vivid world building, compelling dual POVs, and beautifully written female characters are a refreshing change of pace in their ability to actually communicate with one another. There also wasn’t an instant “fated mates” connection, which I think led to the story being more believably for a fantasy. Don’t get me wrong, I love that trope, but it was nice to see the love story build over time. Both characters are morally grey BA women and will make you ru around your kitchen making little punching moments or longingly looking into your coffee wondering if anyone will ever hold such tenderness for you? Or maybe that was just me!


Stars ✨ : 4.5/5
Spicy 🌶️: 0/5
Girl power 💪🏼: 10/10
Yearning, pining, longing: ♾️/10

Lesbian dragons!? It felt like this was written for me until I actually read it. Both characters seemed very one dimensional and frankly unpleasant. Any character growth felt deeply unearned

There were a lot of good ideas in this book, and the worldbuilding was promising, but the execution lacked maturity and complexity, and it let the story down as a whole. My two biggest gripes: there are 2 POV characters, and while one—the soldier turned nun—has an interesting arc and narrative, the other—a spy posing as a princess’s bodyguard—reads very juvenile. It felt as if an adult book and a YA book had been intercut, which was jarring and disappointing. Second, both POVs had moments where the characters discovered some sort of plot twist, but the same twists were revealed twice, once in each POV. Not only did it completely break the narrative tension, it also missed a huge opportunity. If the two POVs revealed different plot points, each a piece of the puzzle that the characters couldn’t figure out but that we the readers could, there would have been so much more complexity and fun for us. A shame.

thank you so much for the approval- i cannot wait to dive in, this is one of my most anticipated reads of the year! i will be sure to leave a review on GR/retailers to come! 💞

An ex-soldier fire-wielding nun, a spy bodyguard, a prophetic Princess, and dead bodies turning up.
Gideon the Ninth fantasy edition meets The Jasmine Throne and The Priory of the Orange Tree…

Sephre is an ashdancer, running away from her past. Her order’s duty is to guard the holy flame, to cleanse the dead and to destroy any creature of the underworld that dares trespass in the mortal realm.

It is lucky for Princess Sinoe that Yeneris had been hired to guard her life. Otherwise, Yeneris would almost certainly have murdered her. Naive, impulsive, infuriating, pretty. I mean, pretty annoying.

Sephre is filled with guilt and shame. Yeneris is tugged between two duties. Sinoe is struggling with her responsibility of the Sybil of Tears.

<b>Maybe there was a difference between the pains that were done to you and the ones you inflicted on yourself. The pain that was pure suffering, and the pain you could learn from.
</b>
This was fun! Lots of conspiracies and sneaking around. Lots of do-I-hate-or-love-this-person. Lots of internal strife.

Yeneris and Sinoe did act like teenagers, but it did make this lighter and gave you an angsty romance to root for (and roll your eyes at).
Sephre’s romance did feel slightly more forced and rushed, but a sequel could fix this…

This is currently a standalone and is satisfying as one, but there is so much potential for more. Similar to Samantha’s Shannon’s Priory set up, there is a lot of lore, twisting of history and prophecies, and threads for a sequel too.

Arc gifted by Daw publisher.

4.5 stars. There’s adventure, complex females characters, characters at different stages of life, and the romance is there as well yearning . The author does a great job with world building, and Deva Fagan has a beautiful writing style that made it easy for me to immerse myself in this world.

This was a good read with nice world building and complex characters. It took me a while to get into it fully but I had a good time once i got there.

It took me a minute to get fully into House of Dusk, but once I was in, I was IN. It's the perfect blend of magic, adventure, action, and romance, set in a beautifully crafted world with characters that I could practically feel breathing from the pages. In a market saturated with carbon copy shadow daddys and stabby FMCs, everything about House of Dusk felt fresh and new. The cast was robust, but I appreciated the limited POVs, because too often I think authors get caught up trying to show us everything, and then lose traction, leading to flat and boring characters. But I never once felt that here. Yen and Sephre are both strong and stubborn, yes, but their differences are obvious enough that each chapter was compelling. The plot twists are subtle, and even if some moments were predictable, I wanted to know how everything ended. If I had to offer any criticism, it would be that the climax felt a little rushed--but even this isn't really a complaint. I just didn't want it to end! Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for the ARC!

I have mixed opinions about this book. There is so much I enjoy about it ( the characters, the world building) however, I don't think the writing style is something I would enjoy reading again. This book was fairly easy to get through and engaging enough that I found myself interacting with the texts. Would I buy this myself? Probably not. But I do see a audience that would love this.

House of Dusk was a stunning romantic fantasy that had me at fire-wielding warrior nuns and a slow-burn sapphic romance between a prophecying princess and her bodyguard. And it more than lived up to my expectations.

This was a proper slow-burn too, with plenty of yearning, no kissing until the 75% mark, and wrestling with moral dilemmas of loyalty to the bodyguard's spy mission or to her heart. I didn't mind that I didn't get the POV of the princess too because I could tell how she felt through Yeneris's interpretations and hopes.

The story follows two points of view, starting with Sephre, a middle-aged nun for the House of Dawn who sought refuge in the cloisters from her PTSD from her previous life in combat. There used to be more houses, but only House of Dawn still stands. I found it interesting how the author emphasized that the philosophy of the stories the conquerers tell are the ones we believe in, even if they're wrong.

Sometimes the pacing could get lost in ethical dilemmas and political machinations but I loved the characters and worldbuilding.

The other pov follows Yeneris, bodyguard to Princess Sinoe, also known as the Sibyl of Tears. Cursed with the gift of prophecy, she is controlled by her father who believes himself to be the Ember King. But she's also a girl who sighs over romantic poetry and treasures a pet dragon/bird of prey creature. Yeneris is a double agent, secretly working for a group that seeks to return sacred bones to their rightful home. But she's also fighting a growing attraction to the princess.

I loved seeing two strong, smart butch women in this in the forms of Yeneris and Sephre, who has her own side romance with a mysterious green-eyed traveling man. I did not find that romance as compelling as that with Yeneris and Sinoe and almost felt that was too much romance for the story. They acted too much like teenagers.

The characters are fighting the rise of undead creatures who I thought at first were vampires because of the puncture wounds on their necks but act more like ghouls. They played a smaller part in the story than I expected vs the mythology and the politics of the religious houses.

Overall though I really loved this book, this world and the romance between Sinoe and Yeneris was swoonworthy. Priory of the Orange Tree was an excellent comp title. I hope this book has series potential because I would read more in this world. I got closure with the ending but it also felt like a small opening for that.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover and the idea of fire wielding nuns, but unfortunately in the end the book didn't really work for me. It was a bit predictable, and felt a little too similar to books at times (especially Priory of the Orange Tree). While the two POV characters are not teenagers, the story uses a lot of the usual tropes of YA fantasy books which I just don't really enjoy anymore.

I received a free copy from DAW via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Publish date August 26th.

I requested this book because I was intrigued by its sapphic fantasy premise. In House of Dusk, an ex-soldier has buried herself in a monastery to try to escape her past, but her home is about to be ensnared in the king's ruthless power grab. Meanwhile, a young bodyguard to the princess is secretly a rebel agent--but as she learns more about the truth behind the throne, she must choose where her loyalties really lie.

House of Dusk is a dual POV book with little direct interaction between the two storylines. Although the two plots influence each other, the characters never meet. Yeneris is a youthful and hot-headed rebel who begins to question her handler's plams as she gets closer to the princess and the princess' secrets. Sephre is a woman well into her forties who deeply regrets the things she did as the king's soldier, and has dedicated herself to the flame as penance. Also she can throw fireballs. Of course, the problem with a two POV book is that you inevitably prefer one storyline to the other. In this case, I strongly preferred herbalist Sephre's middle-aged regrets to Yeneris' impetousness and extremely youthful romance, which felt a touch too YA for my taste. Both plotlines had their own romance arc, which felt a bit forced. However, I did like the bittersweetness of the resolution of Sephre's romance. I won't spoil it here, but it was beautifully done.

The mythology the book is grounded in is an intriguing mix of the familiar and things that Fagan has invented. There's the serpent god of the dead, the eternal flame, the barge that crosses the river of the death, the labyrinth of souls. In a book that's focused to revealing the truth behind the mythology, I liked that no one culture had the correct story, just fragments of the truth, even the culture using mythology to justify brutal foreign wars. Although the setting is mistily vague, I would tend to place it as earlier than the usual medieval setting.

A leisurely paced fantasy novel about faith and myth and prophecy. It reminded me a bit of Priory of the Orange Tree (albeit with much crisper pacing), or of the upcoming The Lost Reliquary by Lyndsay Ely.

Beautiful read… strong female leads, magic, mythical worlds. Strong plot with lots of twists and turns. Great world building. Is there more? Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This was such a pleasant surprise. I think as a debut, this was absolutely fantastic. The characters, Sephre and Yenneris are ones you truly want to root for in all sorts of ways! I also didn't realize Sephre was part of the House of Dawn and not Dusk but that's just me I think! I really enjoyed the myriad of Mediterranean influences, especially Greek and perhaps even Egyptian with the whole Serpent and Chaos creation story.
The romance was also great, I like that the main focus was still on the world and not the romance hence why I would not label it as a romantasy unless the author deems it so. The sapphic yearning was SO good and the romance between Sephre and Nylos? To die for!
Overall, really enjoyed the book and I cannot wait to read book 2!
Final rating: 4.75 stars

4.5 stars rounded up

Ahhh this was so good! I love that it was a fantasy not focused on an 18 to 20-year-old but instead, one of the POV's is a former soldier/current fire wielding nun in her 40s. Sapphic rep? Check. Diversity? Check. Slow burn romance? Check. Well paced fantasy with well thought out world building that doesn't make the story drag? Check. I am so disappointed, actually, that this is a standalone. I want so much more from this universe and I was so invested throughout the entirety of the story. Deva Fagan, you will pay for your crimes of only giving me one book in this world!!

I really enjoyed this. It felt epic and atmospheric, but the characters are grounded and likeable. It's very Priory of the Orange Tree (arguably including its somewhat problematic racial politics, what with brown servants/bodyguards falling in love with light-skinned royals - although there are very few references to the POV characters' appearance in this, so I'm basing this on a few passing mentions).

My biggest issue with this was repetition, especially when it came to lore and prophecy. There are things we're told over and over again about the gods, and word-for-word repetition of prophecies as the characters discuss them and make plans. For me this feels like either the author is thinking "out loud" through the characters (which makes total sense to me as part of the writing process, but could be edited out), or they don't trust me as the reader to keep up. It also would have been nice to have the two storylines intertwine more meaningfully.

Even so, this is described as a standalone but I would read a sequel in a heartbeat and I look forward to reading more by this author.

With fire-wielding nuns, a god of death, spies, and betrayal, this book checks all of the boxes for an epic fantasy. Following multiple POVs, House of Dusk offers a unique magic system and strong female protagonists, a fast pace and addicting storyline. The main characters are admirable and inspiring, while still being written with humorous and relatable inner monologues. Following the two FMCs is both inspirational and reflective, with a lot of character development and growth. The writing is immersive, with world building so detailed you'll feel like you're there. It's a story you won't want to put down.

House of Dusk a fiery novel!
I really enjoyed this book, so 4.5 stars. The book follows two women, Sephre; a soldier that became a nun and the orphan Yeneris, who is a spy. Both are strong women that are dealing with the current events while also dealing with their trauma’s, the romance and the conflicting feelings that come to show. My favourite storyline was that of Sephre, and would have loved to have more of her story, however the romance on her side felt a little forced and I would have been satisfied with just the love story of Yeneris.

The world building, especially the lore was excellent and was flowing easily and comprehensive throughout the book. I loved that there was no ‘info-dump’ at the beginning, but that you learn al the necessary information when you are reading along.

For a debut novel it was really enjoyable, well written and the pacing was on point.

Thank you NetGalley and DAW books for an ARC!

House of Dusk is a riveting young adult fantasy novel which expertly weaves two seemingly separate storylines. The slow-burn build-up of the two intertwining storylines creates a rich and emotionally satisfying climax, making the journey to the end feel well-earned.
One of the standout aspects of House of Dusk is the author’s refusal to over-explain the world or the magic. There’s no lengthy exposition or info dumps—readers are immediately immersed in the action and the mystery. This approach keeps the story feeling fresh and unpredictable, as we learn about the world in tandem with the characters. It’s a bold move, but it works brilliantly. The author trusts the readers to be curious, and in return, the narrative feels far more organic and engaging. You’re not bogged down with unnecessary details; instead, you're invited to piece things together as the story unfolds, making for a more interactive reading experience.
The world-building in House of Dusk is rich and immersive without feeling overwhelming. By not explaining everything upfront, the novel allows readers to explore its intricacies naturally. The society is well-drawn and woven into the narrative without slowing down the plot.
While we don’t get all the answers right away, that’s part of the appeal. The author allows the story to unfold at its own pace, keeping readers on their toes. The themes of power and identity are explored in subtle yet impactful ways, with each character forced to confront what they are willing to sacrifice for what they believe is right.
With strong, relatable characters, an immersive world, and a compelling exploration of themes like identity, power, and belonging, House of Dusk is a standout addition to the young adult fantasy genre.

Thank you NetGalley and DAW for the ARC!

House of Dusk follows two alternating POVs against a backdrop of mythology, prophecy, and an ancient scheming evil. Sephre, a flame-wielding nun trying to forget a horrific war crime she helped commit, is thwarted by rising corpses and a mysterious man who accompanies a trail of death across the country. Meanwhile Yeneris, an undercover agent orphaned by the same war and tasked with recovering the stolen bones of her people's saint, is waylaid by the charismatic princess and a much darker secret within her enemies' palace. Each of the two women follows her own path toward preventing a cataclysmic event that would destroy the world.

I went into this with high expectations, and while I enjoyed elements of the story, overall I think it lacked the emotional punch suggested in its premise. The worldbuilding is fun and inventive, if not particularly original (though I did really like the nuns' powers, both the flame wielding (windup nunzilla, anyone?) and a second, in my opinion even cooler power introduced later on that I won't spoil!) The romance between Yeneris and the princess Sinoe was probably my favorite part, as it was well-developed throughout. Sinoe in particular had layers of characterization that made it easy to sympathize with her and root for her the whole way through. Actually, I wish the novel could have spent more time with Yeneris and Sinoe working together to uncover the villainous plot. Sephre's romantic subplot felt a little more forced, though I had warmed up to it by the end. I think the problem was that even though this book is quite long, there wasn't time to develop both romances fully because this is essentially two separate stories disguised as one book.

Which is why the dual POV aspect of this novel didn't work as well for me, even though I'm usually a sucker for unusual story structure. The two main characters are separate for the entire story, but as they move along their individual narratives, they're each uncovering the same information, and frequently by putting two and two together the same way the reader does (so rather than taking some sort of action or making a discovery in-scene, they basically think about what they've learned already and make a conclusion). So the reader is already doing that, and then you watch the first character figure it out, and then the second character. This really slows down the pacing and sort of kills any anticipation of what's going to happen next, so the second half in particular dragged quite a bit as I waited for the characters to figure it all out. That said, the finale had some good action and the ending was satisfying.

———
Is it queer? Yes! This book has both a sapphic and a hetero relationship.

Is it diverse? It's kind of fantasy diverse, but no, not really.

How long did it take? I spent around 12 hours reading this and that was spread across 11 days because I was struggling to keep my attention on it for long stretches at a time.