4.5/5 Thank you Netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I love Marissa Meyer’s books, especially Heartless. The Cinder series was great but I felt it lost some of its appeal through the later books. But I am becoming a believer that she writes amazing standalones. I enjoyed this so much. Similar to the authors other books, this is a retelling. This one is a retelling of Bluebeard. I am not familiar with the original story but that did not affect my enjoyment of this at all.

The story follows from Mallory’s point of view. Mallory and her sister are supposedly ‘witches’ (this is what they tell people) but they spend their time conning people. Mallory cons people with tours of one of the Saphir houses and sells knockoffs of trinkets. But everything changes when the Saphir heir shows up and actually needs a real witch’s help and Mallory is ready to con the heir. Mallory and her sister and invited to the main Saphir House where Count Bastien Saphir murdered his wives. His spirit has come back and the heir (Armand) needs Mallory to try to expel the Count from the House.

The story has murder, suspense, magical monsters and witchcraft. I enjoyed the thriller aspect of the story and felt that the author did a great job with the story from beginning to end. The end did not feel over the top, rather I am satisfied with how everything wrapped up. My only complaint was that I was not a huge fan of Mallory, I get she is a con artist but I got annoyed at times with all her faking of spells and theatrics. It felt over the top at times. Towards the middle/end of the book, I enjoyed Mallory’s character more and especially with Armand.
If you are a fan of Heartless I definitely recommend giving this book a try, because it feels more similar to Heartless rather than the Cinder series. But if you haven’t read any of her books, I still recommend reading this! I had a lot of fun reading this and I am sad it is over. It is a book I can see rereading as well!

I absolutely adore Marissa Meyer's retellings so I was super hyped to read The House Saphir! Admittedly, I'm not familiar with the Bluebeard fairytale, so my perspective is coming from reading this as a completely independent work.

I immediately enjoyed the gothic feel of the setting of this story and was drawn in from the very start. I loved the FMC immediately as well and loved her as a narrator. She's smart, a bit snarky, and not afraid to break the law to protect herself and her sister. She felt like such a strong and well developed character who was super easy to root for.

The plot of the story was fascinating, as it encompasses everything I love in a haunted house mystery. From cursed families to ghosts, this book had everything. It also wasn't just a traditional mystery, the magical aspects of the world gave the mystery so much more depth and fascination.

The MMC was a great love interest and the romance was both intriguing in terms of the chemistry between the main characters as well as the doubt if everyone is who they think they are.

All in all, this was a great murder mystery that is enjoyable without knowing the original story! The atmosphere and vibes of this story were impeccable and I can't wait for the next Marissa Meyer retelling!

This was a fun book from the GOAT of fairytale retelling, Marissa Meyer. I read the fairytale of Bluebeard in college and was astounded that this was considered a children’s story. This book was a great reimagining of such a creepy and disturbing tale. This had a fun mystery element that kept the reader guessing. It was a little predictable, but that’s because I come up with a thousand theories when trying to solve a mystery. The writing is great, and the dialogue flows well. Marissa Meyer knows how to write characters that you want to root for, even if they have flaws. I can’t give it 5 stars because there were some dull parts in the middle, and I didn’t fully connect with the characters, but it was still an excellent book. I highly recommend this book.


Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book early. I am writing this review based on my own opinion.

All of my students are huge fans of Marissa Meyer, and The House of Saphir is another hit. A gothic blend of mystery, romance, and magic, this Bluebeard retelling is rich with atmosphere and suspense. Mallory is a clever, flawed heroine, and the twists kept me guessing. A darkly enchanting YA read!

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer

The House Saphir was an absolute triumph—a darkly enchanting fairytale reimagining that wove together gothic mystery, ghostly intrigue, and slow-burn romance in the most delicious way. The author took the chilling legend of Bluebeard and gave it new life through Mallory Fontaine, a self-professed fraud of a witch with just one real gift: she can see ghosts.
Mallory was a brilliant, snarky, and surprisingly vulnerable narrator, and watching her navigate the eerie halls of the cursed Saphir estate—while pretending to banish ghosts and possibly falling for a man who might be a killer—was pure reading joy. Armand, with his tragic family legacy and questionable secrets, made for a compelling love interest, and their chemistry crackled from the first page.
The murder mystery element was tight and twisty, keeping me guessing until the end, and the atmosphere? Impeccable. Gothic opulence, creeping dread, haunted wives, and hidden magic gave this story a cinematic richness I couldn’t get enough of.
This was this author at her best—clever, emotional, immersive, and wildly entertaining. I didn’t want to leave the House Saphir, and honestly, I kind of want to read it all over again.

Oooo the witchy, gothic, fantasy vibes!!! I was pleasantly surprised by how fast paced this was. Mallory is such a badass and I loved how well her personality is written. I felt like she was my best friend or sister.

The House Saphir is a retelling of Bluebeard. I wasn’t familiar with Bluebeard’s story prior to reading this book.

Mallory Fontaine can see ghosts and has an affinity for all things related to Count Bastien Saphir. Count Saphir murdered all his wives generations ago. Mallory uses her knowledge to run an off the books haunted house of his estate. She stumbles upon Count Bastien’s heir and his estate in modern day is eerily suspicious. Question is can he be trusted? Is evil hereditary?

There were a few aspects of the story, I did not see coming. Throughout the book, we received more background on Mallory’s past and it helped tie the story together.

I enjoyed this book and have always enjoyed Melissa Meyer’s books. This was a fun time! 4/5 for me as a I did feel the book started off a bit slow. The last 50% was well paced.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan for the eARC.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillian Publishing for an Arc in exchange for an honest review

This book was fun to read, and kept me on toes the whole time. I was not super familiar with the tale of Bluebeard before this retelling, which made the twists and turns of the book really get me.

Mallory (FMC) is the epitome of Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss and I respect the heck out of her for it.

This wasn’t for me but I think it was more of a me problem than any problems with the book. It was well written with plenty of drama. I just couldn’t get into it. It felt too predictable.

The House Saphir was such a fun and clever addition to Marissa Meyer’s magical universe. She’s always so good at blending whimsy with darker undertones, and this one really delivered on that front. It felt like a fresh spin on fairytale vibes, but with emotional depth and plenty of surprises.

What I loved:
• The sibling dynamics were a highlight—genuine, complicated, and full of heart.
• Meyer’s world-building is as charming as ever. The House itself felt like a character, and I loved the magical quirks woven throughout.
• The pacing was solid, with enough mystery and tension to keep me turning pages.
• The emotional beats hit well—especially toward the end. I definitely got misty-eyed a couple of times.

What didn’t quite land for me:
• A few side characters felt underdeveloped—I wanted more time with them, especially with how intriguing they were.
• Some plot twists were a little predictable, though still satisfying.
• The romance subplot felt a bit rushed or secondary compared to the rest of the story.

Overall, The House Saphir had that classic Marissa Meyer charm: magical, heartfelt, and just a bit sharp around the edges. It’s a solid, enjoyable read that fans of her work will definitely appreciate.

💀 Ghosts, Grifts, and a Gothic Mansion Full of Secrets

This wasn’t a murder mystery in the traditional sense — no fresh bodies, no “whodunit” — but The House Saphir still gave me exactly what I was hoping for: moody gothic vibes, rich atmosphere, morally gray characters, and a spooky manor with way too many secrets and way too many ghosts.

Mallory Fontaine is a witchy con artist who can actually see ghosts, even though she and her sister mostly scam tourists by selling bogus spells and haunted house tours. She’s smart, chaotic, and delightfully bitter — basically the kind of heroine I’d follow anywhere. So when she gets hired to cleanse a haunted country estate tied to the legendary wife-killing Count Bastien Saphir? Yeah, I was immediately in.

The ghostly wives? Iconic. Especially Triphine, who absolutely stole the show as a needy, dramatic, hypochondriac ghost with A LOT of opinions. The haunting stuff is atmospheric but not scary — think more Addams Family than The Haunting of Hill House — which makes it perfect for cozy fantasy readers who want mood without gore.

Now, the romance is there, but it’s not the heart of the story. Armand is soft, sweet, and totally unbothered by Mallory’s sharp edges. Their chemistry works in a slow-burn, lightly flirty, not-too-spicy way. This isn’t a “romantasy” in the genre sense — it’s more like fantasy with a side of feelings.

There’s a ton of lore hinted at — gods, fallen veils, magic markings — but don’t expect deep worldbuilding. The strength of the story is the house, the ghosts, and Mallory herself. The broader fantasy elements feel like window dressing, not the main act. Honestly? I didn’t mind. I was here for the ghostly drama, the family curses, and the snappy dialogue, and I got all of that in spades.

If you’re into:
• 💎 Gothic retellings with a twist
• 👻 Ghosts that talk back
• 🖤 Morally messy heroines with sharp tongues
• 🪴 Plant-loving soft boys
• 🏚️ Creepy castles with drama in every hallway

…then this book will be your cozy, witchy, fall-ready jam.

I’d 100% read a spin-off about the monster-hunting side characters.

I loved it.

This was a pretty solid introduction to Marissa Meyer for me and a fun one, too. I really loved the concept, and even though it’s a retelling, you don’t need to know the original story at all to enjoy it — and I can confidently say that considering I hadn’t even heard of the story it was based on prior to starting this.

The pacing was great. Things kicked off immediately in the first chapter and never dragged. Even though it’s over 400 pages, it flew by. One of the standout elements for me was how the monsters and magical creatures were based on French folklore. I haven’t seen that done before, and it made the world feel fresh and unique.

I do wish the world-building that wasn’t related to the house had more depth. The setup is interesting: the veil between realms has fallen, magic has spread, and some people now have marks to show their connection to it, but there wasn’t much explanation behind any of it. The fall of the veil is treated like this major event, but we’re never told how or why it happened. There’s also stuff about the Seven gods, but I couldn’t tell you a single thing about them aside from they are worshipped and there are seven of them. I honestly think the story worked best when it focused on the mystery inside the house since that part was explained and explored well. But once things shifted into the broader world, it started to feel a little underdeveloped and raised more questions than it answered.

The villain’s motivation also didn’t quite land for me. There was so much build-up around this character’s return that I expected something bigger or more intense. Instead, the goal felt surprisingly small in scale, especially coming from someone with such a legendary reputation. It didn’t ruin anything, but it left me wanting more from that reveal.

And just a quick heads-up: while this is being marketed as romantasy, I wouldn’t personally call it that. There is both romance and fantasy, but the romance is very much a subplot. As long as you go in with that expectation, I think it works well. In fact, I actually liked the balance here and that the romance added to the story without overshadowing the main plot.

And as for that romance, it was fine for the most part, albeit a little dull, but toward the end, there’s a certain unresolved aspect to the romance that left a weird taste for me. All I can say without spoiling is that some important truths between the main characters never fully come to light, which made their relationship feel a bit less convincing.

Overall, this was a fast-paced and intriguing read with a cool magic system and a spooky, immersive setting. A few more layers to the world and stronger stakes would’ve taken it to the next level, but I’m definitely interested in checking out Marissa Meyer’s other books after this because I’ve been meaning to forever.


Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

~🅞🅥🅔🅡🅐🅛🅛 🅡🅐🅣🅘🅝🅖: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ . 5~

Part fantasy, part romance, part ghost story, and part adventure, this novel wastes no time immersing readers in its richly imagined world. As a longtime fan of Marissa Meyer’s previous work, I was eager to dive into this fresh take on the classic Bluebeard tale—and it absolutely delivered.

What follows is a story packed with unexpected twists, magical creatures, and a cast of both living and ghostly characters who blur the line between ally and enemy. The fantasy elements are imaginative and fun, with the tone and pacing reminiscent of later Percy Jackson books or even The Hunger Games, though with a darker, gothic flair.

The character development stands out—nuanced, emotional, and believable. Mallory’s journey is especially compelling: a heroine navigating loss, power, and self-discovery with resilience and wit. The dialogue is sharp, the worldbuilding vivid, and the emotional stakes are high. This isn’t just a fairy tale retelling—it’s a heroine’s journey in the truest sense.

Whether it’s officially categorized as YA or not, it certainly reads like one in the best possible way: accessible, thrilling, and full of heart. A beautifully eerie, empowering story that lingers long after the final page.

I loved this book. I expect nothing less from Marissa Meyer but the banter and dialogue in this book are top notch. I absolutely loved the characters interactions as well as the found family vibes with the ghosts and Fitcher and Constantino.

I am desperate for a sequel about those two and their travels because this world is fascinating as well.

The romance was sweet and not too prominent in the plot which I liked. It was something appropriate for a younger YA reader but also it felt right for these characters and I liked that the murder mystery plot was really at the core of the story.

I’d love to see a sequel / spin off book here because I just loved this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.75 ⭐️
I loved the whole set up from all these different monsters to Mallory and Anaïs and all the other characters they met on their journey. Especially Triphine, Fitcher and Constantino!
The banter between these characters was great and really funny sometimes.
The monsters and the different locations where this story took place were soo eerie and atmospheric. Also the twists were great!!

Im soo thankful that I got to read an arc! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher.

This was a super-fun, quick, and thrilling read. It was dark and spooky and had a good twist, but it also had a nice happily ever after at the end. I really enjoyed it.

(4 stars)
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Marissa Meyer delivers a chilling and atmospheric reimagining in The House Saphir, this time drawing inspiration from the haunting tale of Bluebeard. As someone who adored The Lunar Chronicles, I was excited to dive into a new world crafted by Meyer, and I’m happy to say this book lived up to my expectations.

What stood out immediately was the premise. The story centers around two sisters descended from a long line of witches, one of whom has the rare ability to see and interact with spirits. When a mysterious opportunity arises to investigate a haunted estate tied to a dark family legacy, the story unfolds with thrilling tension, eerie ambiance, and a touch of the supernatural. Such good qualities to hook a reader!

This premise hooked me immediately. The pacing was steady, and Meyer gives you just enough tension and intrigue to keep the pages turning, or in my case, keep me tapping my Kindle screen. I’ve always enjoyed her writing style and how she draws from folklore, and this book is yet another testament to that talent. My one small critique: While the book does include romantic elements, I wouldn’t categorize it as a romantasy. The romance, while enjoyable, is more of a subtle and minor subplot rather than a driving force in the narrative. That said, the chemistry between the leads is engaging and adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story.

Overall, The House Saphir is a haunting, magical read that fans of dark fairytales and folklore-inspired fiction will enjoy. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to read it early and look forward to seeing others fall under its spell.

4.5/5 rounded up. I loved this!

I mean, I knew I would love this because I loved the Renegades trilogy by Marissa Meyer.

This is a Bluebeard retelling with some really cool magical, mythical creatures. And I really appreciated that there was a list at the beginning of the book with descriptions of all the creatures that you could reference when they showed up throughout the story, that was helpful (especially because I hadn't heard of most of these creatures before). I love learning about new mythology and mythical creatures, so that was such a cool part of this book.

Due to the lore of this book, I think you'd really like this is you liked Where the Dark Stands Still and For the Wolf.

This story has a spooky cursed guy, a spooky castle/house/manor/whatever you wanna call it, witches, ghosts, creatures, and a money-related deal that turns out to be much more than originally expected.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

4.25
Marissa Meyer is a must buy author for me. And this book is no exception. Let me start by saying I didn’t realize it was a retelling. I honestly didn’t read the description I just jumped when I say the author and he cover. I still didn’t realize after reading it because I’m not familiar with the source material. That being said I don’t think you need to be familiar with it. I really enjoyed this book. Mallory is a con artist, so is her sister. She can see ghosts but she isn’t advertising that fact. She sees the ghost of Triphine, Bastien’s first wife, whom he murdered. She sells tours to the haunted House Saphir. She is a self proclaimed expert on the Saphir home and family. She also sells memorabilia, including fake wedding rings that she claims are real sapphires. On her last tour she is almost arrested for fraud and trespassing but one of the guest steps up and says he is a part of the Saphir family and is not pressing charges. Armand Saphir wants Mallory and her sister Anais to come and rid his country home of the ghost of his great-great grandfather Bastien Saphir. Saphir has been terrorizing staff and visitors alike. Mallory accepts the job because she and her sister are running from the police and Armand is offering to pay a lot of money. When they arrive they encounter two more ghosts, Bastien’s other murdered wives.

I really enjoyed this one. I loved all the characters. Mallory is funny. I love when she is trying different ways to get rid of Bastien. She knows they won’t work but she has to find ways to extend their stay. I love Triphine. She’s hilarious. She’s a lonely, needy, hypochondriac ghost. Need I say more.

I loved how knowledgeable Mallory was about Saphir house and the Saphir legend. She was the perfect tour guide because she was genuinely interested in the story and knew all of the history. When she gets to the country estate she is excited to see the fountain and can’t wait til Bastien’s birthday so she can see if the water turns to blood. I love how her perfect date invites a cemetery. I loved the slow burn romance with Armand. I love that he didn’t judge her darker tendencies. He is the one who suggested the cemetery. He never judged her. I lived the way the story unfolded. I thought I knew everything that was happening but I was surprised with some of the twists.


Thank you to NetGalley and McMillian’s Children’s publishing for providing me the digital ARC in exchange for the honest review.

(4.25 stars) As someone who (somehow) isn’t all that familiar with the tale of Bluebeard, I was still completely enthralled with this story. I’m a big fan of anything supernatural, and I was not disappointed. I thought the awkward (in a good way) tension between Mallory and Armand was so endearing, and I really liked how different the personalities of all the ghost wives were. That ending really picked up and had me reading double speed with how high stakes it got. Overall, a really fun read that put me in a Halloweeny mood in the middle of May. Also I would DEVOUR a book about Fitcher and Constantino.