What a fun read!! Mallory is such a hilarious character (and quite a terrible con artist lol)! I always enjoy a good Blue Beard retelling and a story written by (arguably) one of the best fairytale retelling writers?? Sign me up!!

ALSO!! Loved the ode back to Gilded and Cursed! It was so cool hearing about the veil, the gods, and the god-blessed children.

I enjoyed the pacing of this book, the ultimate humor of it, and the ghosts! This book seems like it would do well to be read in France in October - creepy, fun, and full of spirits! Overall I really enjoyed this story, but my favorite will always be Heartless :)

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this incredible book!

Marissa Meyer is back in her element with The House Saphir, a new take on the fairy tale of Bluebeard and his wives. I enjoyed the story and the magic of this new world, but overall I felt it was lacking something. The story just didn't quite have that spark to bring it all together into a compelling story you want to come back to again and again.

The House Saphir is a retelling of bluebeard (and i’m going to be so honest, i didn’t actually know the legend before reading this), so i wasn’t totally sure what to expect going in. but Marissa Meyer is the queen of fairytale retellings, and this one was no exception.

what totally surprised me was finding out that this is set in the same world as Gilded. gilded, i believe, is inspired more after german folklore while the house saphir is inspired after french folklore. i loved the worldbuilding in gilded, but didn’t fully love the story. but in the house saphir? this story absolutely fit that eerie, magical world, and there was just something about it that had me loving it so much more. with ghost stories, gothic vibes, and a haunted house at the center of it all? yes, please.

i’m a sucker for a gothic fairytale, especially when it includes ghosts, creepy old manors, witty heroines, and a good ol' grumpy x sunshine dynamic. and this one had all of that. the plot was a bit predictable in parts, and it’s definitely not a perfect book, but it was fun and spooky.

if you’ve read any of marissa meyer’s previous novels and enjoyed them, you’ll enjoy this one too. and if you haven’t read any of marissa meyer’s previous novels, this would be a great one to start with 😉👻🩸💎🏰🍷

thank you to netgalley, the publisher, and the author for sending me this ARC

A retelling of Bluebeard, by the masterful Marissa Meyer. When I first started working as a children’s librarian, Cinder was all the rage with our teens – how wonderful to see Meyer continue this theme of deliciously unique retellings.

Mallory can see ghosts… so naturally she uses that power for swindling. While her mother was a witch, she and her sister don’t possess the marketable skills that came with those abilities (like simple potion making, fortune telling, etc.) Mallory is lucky enough to live next to the first house of Count Bastien Saphir, where he killed his first wife (and where that wife’s spirit remains). Mallory is a veritable expert on the man and gives tours of the abandoned property. Things go awry when his descendant, Armand, asks for her help. He resides in the second house, the winery estate, where the second and third wives were killed, and where Bastien himself was killed while trying to take down the fourth wife. The estate is plagued by Bastien’s ghost, who has somehow gained new power and is using it to cause mayhem. Also… Armand is kinda cute? But Mallory is a little uptight and definitely *not* interested.

So, so, so fun. It takes a bit to get into the world, but Meyer does a beautiful job of taking your hand and leading you in. I hope we get a series from this – there’s plenty of characters for her to play with in the future, and a wonderful world… but it could also easily be a standalone.

a pair of con artist sisters descended from a long line of witches agree to their biggest scam yet: banishing bluebeard’s ghost (for a very nice payday from his great-great grandson, of course).

mallory fontaine can see ghosts, but she makes her living giving tours (that may or may not involve trespassing) of the mansion where count bastien saphir, aka monsieur le bleu, murdered his first wife. just as mallory and her sister’s scams catch up to them, saphir’s great-great grandson offers them an out. all they have to do is exorcise a long-dead murderer’s ghost with the ancestral magic they don’t possess, but their scam becomes more complicated when mallory finds herself falling for the young count—who may be a killer himself.

i love fairytale retellings, but i guess i expected more from a bluebeard retelling by the “queen of fairytale retellings.” bluebeard is such a dark, gruesome story and i wish meyer had leaned into the horror elements more. i scare easily and i was never even mildly spooked. i also thought the death towards the end was out of place and prioritized shock value over a central theme (or what should have been a central theme) of the novel.

i keep going back and forth between 3 stars and 3.5 stars, because overall this was fine. unremarkable, but fine. mallory is fine, armand is fine, the romance is actually quite endearing at points. unfortunately marissa meyer’s reputation set unrealistic expectations and i expected something more substantial from the rest of the story—however i will still be checking out the lunar chronicles and/or heartless in the future.

This review is based on an ARC copy via NetGalley provided by Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. All opinions are my own.

Marissa Meyer’s new novel The House Saphir is an absolute treasure – a thrilling, beautifully atmospheric story that grabbed my heart from the first page! I was immediately swept away by Mallory Fontaine’s witty, courageous voice as she navigates a haunted mansion filled with Bastien Saphir’s ghostly legacy. Tension mounts as Mallory uncovers clues, and Mallory’s growing feelings for the mysterious Armand had my heart racing. Meyer weaves a magical blend of suspense, romance, and eerie mystery that had me on the edge of my seat.

The characters are compelling. I laughed with Mallory and ached with her as she faced betrayal and doubt. Armand’s charm and hidden depths kept me guessing his true motives, and their slow-burn romance made my heart melt even as danger lurked in every shadow. The House Saphir had me cheering, swooning, and gasping by the end. It’s a heartfelt read that I absolutely adored – I couldn’t put it down!

The House Saphir is a perfect read for fall or, better yet, Halloween—it’s mysterious, eerie, and filled with monsters and magic. Inspired by French folklore, the story follows two witch sisters, Mallory and Anaïs, who are down on their luck and given an offer they cannot refuse. All they have to do is rid a haunted estate of a murderer’s spirit, which would be easy if they knew what they were doing.
Although I am unfamiliar with the story of Bluebeard, I found this retelling to be highly entertaining. It took me a bit to really get into it, but once I did, the pages seemed to fly by. The action was fast-paced, and the romance, especially, was very sweet, though it did seem a little rushed. Characters—such as Armand and the ghost wives—were quite likable, and their interactions made for entertaining moments.
Overall, I found The House Saphir to be very enjoyable. It was a fairly quick read, and there were plenty of twists that I did not see coming, as well as ones that were satisfying to have gotten right. I would very much recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, spooky read with lots of mystery, humor, and magic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the eARC and the opportunity to read early.

Marissa Meyer’s is the reigning queen of YA retellings! I have been in love with her books since I read the Lunar Chronicles years ago, so thank you so much to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I love how interesting Meyer’s FMCs are, and Mallory was no exception, she gave slight Wednesday Addams vibes though less monotoned. The gothic setting and ghost story gave perfect slightly-but-not-too spooky vibes to the story as well. I love the way Meyer writes romance too. The yearning is always fun and gives butterflies.

I only have three little complaints that keep this from being a five star read. First, I wish there had been more moments with the love interest to build her falling for him. Second, it was over stated that she had to convince him she was trying to rid the home of ghosts before he found out she was a fraud. I felt that was brought up too many times. Thirdly, I felt we could have had more side characters and red herrings to keep the mystery going longer and a little less obvious. Otherwise I loved this novel and highly recommend it to YA fantasy lovers!

The retelling of the Bluebeard myth was such an interesting premise, and Marissa Meyer definitely did it justice.
I loved watching the slow burn romance between Mallory and Armand. Their dynamic was so engaging to watch unfold. But honestly, the absolute best part for me were the wives of Bluebeard who are ghosts! They were just fantastic and added so much humor and warmth to the story. They really lightened the mood and made the whole experience incredibly enjoyable. Definitely a unique and enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

*4.5 stars*

I will absolutely always read a Marissa Meyer book! This book is set in the same world as her Gilded duology and takes place after those events. If you have read that series it will make the world building and magic a little easier to understand, but even if you haven’t you will be fine.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It felt like there were a lot of moving pieces at times and I wasn’t sure how they would all fit together, but everything came together in a super cool way! There were parts of the story that I kind of saw coming, but the ones that I didn’t? AMAZING! I loved so many of the side characters like Triphine and Constantino too. My favorite character though would have to be Armand!!! A count who loves plants and reading and just wants to be an apothecary?? And he is so considerate and funny. I really hope we get a second book so that we get more of him and get to find out more of the story with Anaïs and her adventures!

Any Marisa Meyer book makes me so excited! I jumped on this one. This would have been absolutely perfect for spooky season. Personally, I loved the spirits, descriptions of eerie places, monsters, mansions, death, and everything in between. I loved Mallory’s character, rooting for her to rid of Bastein’s spirit, her banter, sass, and spirit kept me engaged and entertained. I also enjoyed the intertwined romance between she and Armand, which was on the lighter side of Meyer books have been. If you are in the mood for a spooky read, a gothic touch, with page turning thrills and chills this is for you!
Thank you so much NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Marisa Meyer!

addictive as heck. i loved this so much. fast paced and always wanted more. i love the plot, nothing like ive ever read before.

The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer
4.2⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 0.1/5
Cursing: none
Format/Source: ebook ARC from NetGalley and Macmillan Publishing
Genres/Tropes: Romance, paranormal, French folklore, blackbeard fairy tale retelling
Settings: Morant
Audience: YA
Characters: Mallory, Armand, Anaias, Bastien, Triphine, Lucienne, Beatrice, Constantino, Fitcher, Yvette, Gabrielle, Julie
👍 short-med chapters, magical systems (ghosts, witches, monsters, etc), unique storyline, no cursing
👎 very rarely slow

Description:
Mallory is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think.
Mallory is a self-proclaimed expert on Count Bastien Saphir - who brutally killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet his great-grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy, and convinced that the Fontaine Sisters are as talented as they claim. The perfect mark. When he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his ancestral home of Le Bleu's ghost, she can’t resist. She’ll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.
But that all sounds relatively easy compared to her biggest learning to trust her heart. Especially when the person her heart wants the most might be a murderer himself.

Opinion:
Marissa pens an atmospheric French fairy tale retelling about Blackbeard! The short-med chapters made for an easier read. I enjoyed the unique magical systems to include ghosts, witches, French monsters, etc). Learning about French folklore was very intriguing. I appreciated that there is no cursing to pollute the storyline. The plot was quite different from other novels I've read. I did find myself wanting to speed up the novel in a very few spots. Overall, I was quite entertained by this novel and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys clean paranormal novels.
#bookstagram #arcreader #booklovers #paranormalbooks #fairytaleretelling #booktok #marissameyer #blackbeard
***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was great! I went into it under the impression that it was an adult book, but it is definitely listed as YA by the publisher and reads very much as a YA. The plot moved quickly and had appropriately spooky vibes. The romance felt a little rushed and insta-lovey even for a YA. Looking forward to more adventures with the side characters, they seemed a little out of place here but that might have been just awkward set-up for the next book. Also the term "petty magic" was really confusing because it didn't seem small or minor at all? I do want Meyer to write an adult book!

Firstly, many thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for allowing me to read an e-arc of the newest books by one of my very favorite authors!

This was a dark fantasy, with a small mystery added in. Perfection. It was maybe not as dark a tone as the Gilded duology, but it still got a little spooky and gruesome in places. I thoroughly loved it. Marissa Meyer is great at loose fairytale retellings and creating unique worlds and this one was a very interesting Bluebeard retelling with magic and folkloric creatures. I loved the FMC, Mallory. She is smart, funny, and strong. Her little budding romance was adorable too. I would say that this is not going to be a series, but I definitely would not mind more books set in this world. Following the adventures of her sister would be fun, but Mallory's story seems pretty much done and was very satisfying. I am definitely going to be recommending this book to plenty of people.

I really enjoy Marissa Meyers books but this was not for me. I felt it dragged a little to bit in the middle of the book and took me awhile to read because of it. Thanks netgalley for a chance to read!

“She remembered the power she had felt tingling in her finger tips. She could still feel the absolute certainty she’d had in her abilities, her lineage, herself.
Mallory Fontaine. A witch, through and through." - Mallory, The House Saphir

The House Saphir is the newest novel from the well established writer Marissa Meyer. This story is part fairy‑tale, part gothic, part murder mystery, with a dash of romance.

The main character, Mallory Fontaine pretends to be a witch with powers who can see ghosts. She is hired to exorcise the House Saphir, a haunted mansion with a well-known violent past. A new murder occurs and she finds herself in the position of having to solve the case using magic she really doesn’t possess. As Mallory navigates hauntings, clues, and a charming but potentially dangerous heir, she not only has to find a killer but reclaim her past and trust herself.

In full disclosure, this is the first Marissa Meyer’s novel I’ve read.

The premise of the story is intriguing. I had never heard about Bluebeard and the folklore around him. The twist she gives on the tale makes the plot more sophisticated and engages readers. The setting has fantastical elements yet was very believable. However, I did feel like it dragged in places. I think the author was trying to create opportunities to build the romance between Mallory and Armand but it slowed the pacing down.

This novel is full of quirky characters, especially the trio of ghosts and the two monster hunting characters Fitcher and Constantino. The levity they add balances out the heavy dramatic moments. Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting to Mallory. On the one hand, I liked her boldness and sass and that she cared for her sister very much. Something about her just didn’t work for me though. I felt she came off as swarmy and glib at times. I don’t think her journey was so much about trusting her heart as it was about being honest with herself and open to accepting her possibilities so she no longer felt she had to lie to people. As for Armand, I didn’t walk away having a great understanding of who he is. The swing between awkward boyish nerd and confident master of the legacy didn’t gel for me.

This was the perfect quick read. It wasnt one of those fluffy romances but it was an awkward one that was incredibly cute despite the haunted ghost trying to kill everyone and come back to life.

This was a fun, not particularly deep or complex, somewhat spooky Bluebeard retelling. It was a quick read, though I thought it dragged a bit in the middle. Thankfully the last third picked back up. If you’re looking for an easy and distracting read, this could be it. The writing is fine, but not amazing. The characters are interesting enough, but not particularly compelling. There might be set up for a sequel with the main character’s sister? I’m honestly kind of more interested in that story. A solid three star read. Fun, but forgettable.

As someone who absolutely adores fairy tale retellings, I was ecstatic to see that Marissa Meyer—Queen of Retellings—was publishing a new book based on the Bluebeard legend. The House Saphir is a magical and humorous read, full of adventure, mystery, and young love. Fans of Disney’s Twisted Tales series will especially enjoy this reimagined folktale that keeps you guessing and on your toes.

Non-Spoiler Book Summary
Mallory Fontaine, a local tour guide specializing in all things Count Bastien Saphir (aka Monsieur Le Bleu), is just a normal girl (who can talk to ghosts) trying to make ends meet alongside her sister, Anaïs. But when one of her routine tours about the infamous Monsieur Le Bleu is unexpectedly interrupted by local authorities, Mallory is thrown into a whirlwind of confusion and trouble. Thankfully, Armand Saphir—the great-great-grandson of Monsieur Le Bleu—steps in to rescue her from the fiasco and an impending arrest.

Instead of pressing charges, Armand invites Mallory to his family mansion to help him deal with a very unusual problem: a ghost. And not just any ghost—the lingering, mischievous spirit of Monsieur Le Bleu himself.

What follows is a whimsical, heartfelt journey with Mallory, Anaïs, and a vibrant cast of both living and ghostly characters. Together, they work to rid the house of its haunting legacy while exploring themes of identity and the complicated nature of family legacies.

Reviewer’s Overall Thoughts
• Meyer’s world-building is immersive and vivid. I was completely captivated by her descriptions—so much so that I felt like an 8-year-old child again, discovering a fairy tale for the first time.
• The humor throughout the book was a delight. The character interactions were natural and genuinely funny; I found myself laughing out loud more than once.
• It feels like Meyer may be setting the stage for future adventures with some of the supporting characters. I’m especially excited to (hopefully) see more of Anaïs, Fitcher, and Constantino in future installments.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for this advance reader copy of the book and the opportunity to submit a review.