Mallory was a very well written, well rounded character. Her journey was amazing to read. The romance in the book was just the right amount. Wasn't too much. I would love to read another story about Mallory! Thank you so much for allowing me to read this story.

The House Saphir is a story of twists and turns, which Marissa Meyer reveals slowly as the plot develops. The main twist involves Armand, Bastien’s grandson. In an elaborate scheme, he lures Mallory and her sister to his mansion to exorcise his grandfather’s ghost and stop a curse on his house. That scheme makes the story compelling and sets up the climax. However, the story was only mildly interesting until the middle of the novel when Bastien’s ghost appears, the sisters call on two men with the knowledge of magic and an association with their mother, and the revelation of Bastien’s plan. From that point, I found that I couldn’t put the book down.

I need to start the review by admitting that I thought I would struggle with this book because swindlers make me so uncomfortable…. And at times it was a little bit. BUT I’ll say it added to the story and made me love Mallory and Anaïs even more by the end! So if you’re of a similar mindset, absolutely do not let that deter you!

So, onto why this was easily worthy of 4 stars. I loved the slightly different, but not wildly so, world and creatures (opening the book with the descriptions was such a well played decision by the author to save from having to over describe her creatures). I also enjoyed the characters: sweet, slightly awkward Armand (I don’t usually cast actors but he is Jonathan Bailey and nothing will change my mind), witty and slightly pessimistic Mallory, the ex-wife ghosts! Everything about them! I loved the banter between the ghosts themselves and especially with Mallory.

Meyer writes so descriptively that I often felt like I was really in the room with all characters, but especially like I was truly seeing and hearing the ghosts for myself. I loved the little bit of spooky and supernatural factor that was mostly lighthearted and not totally scary (though Bastien did give me the heebies, not a nightmare vibe at all).

Funny, mysterious, a bit spooky, and a sweet dose of romantic.

Thank you, NeyGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

Mallory and her sister are witches (not really), trying to make a living by conning people through card readings and ghost tours. When a tour goes wrong, Mallory is saved from being arrested by the heir of the Saphir house and offered a job to exorcise the ghost of Count Bastien Saphir, who famously murdered three of his wives. She accepts, despite not knowing how to perform an exorcism, but she can figure something out, right?

I devoured this in two sittings. The middle did drag a bit, and I would have liked a more fleshed-out ending, but overall this was fantastic. It takes place in the same world as Gilded, but you don't need to have read that duology for this story to make sense. Mallory is a strong female character with believable flaws who grows throughout the story. The romance is cute, with some heavy kissing scenes. This is a standalone with a couple of unanswered questions left over for a sequel.

A faux petty witch obsessed with serial killers and ghosts. A histrionic ghost (but really aren’t all ghosts like this). A mysterious Count who lives in a haunted mansion with a gory family history. I love a gothic mood piece. This novel was a mix of horror and paranormal, I had chills reading this at night knowing an omnipresent ghost stalked the characters at night. Le Bleu was everywhere and no one could be trusted. I vaguely knew the story of Bluebeard but ended up doing a deep dive after finishing this book because I loved the lore. An all too familiar story of men made monsters, luring women with promises of romance and luxuries.

As far as the characters and relatioships,

Armand: I wish the book gave more time to Armand and Mallory’s relationship to make the romance subplot more believable. It went from 0 to 100 with minimal foundation for the attraction to build.

Anaiis:
Anaiis seems to serve two purposes: 1. to juxtapose how “not like other girls” Mallory is 2. to set the stage for what I am assuming will be a duology.

Speaking of duology, the story randomly drops monsters and monster hunters that really do not serve a purpose to the overall story - more of a prelude to the sequel? It seemed like an odd interlude & too much set-up.

This was my first Marissa Meyer book and overall I enjoyed it, despite some flaws. I know Meyer does retellings on traditional folklore and this novel was exactly that. 3,5 stars.

⋆｡°✩ 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 ⋆｡°✩

5 stars | a haunting and suspenseful retelling of a somewhat unknown French tale | 1/3 spice, 1.5/3 violence, no trigger warnings that I could think of | another masterpiece from my absolute QUEEN marissa meyer <3


*:･ﾟ✧♡ 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 *:･ﾟ✧♡

Wow. Just wow.
The rollercoaster of emotions I felt while reading this books is absolutely unbelievable.
Love. Adoration. Distrust. Betrayal. And then love again. And like, at that point I was just heart eyes, like oh my gosh-
But, no spoilers!
To what I can talk about.
I'd never heard of Bluebeard before this book, and I was admittedly skeptical coming into this book. I had, during a reading slump, DNFed one of Marissa's other books, Gilded, disappointed in myself and put down (because I've loved all of her other works).
So when I read this book...
Gilded was clearly a fluke because this book has me in. A. Chokehold.
Mallory? Not your typical FMC, and I love that for her.
Armand? ❤️🥰😘🫶😁❣️💋🌹🔥 No words necessary.
Everyone else? Yes, just yes.
The plot??? I loved the beginning, and I was scared it would go downhill when the setting changed. But- NOPE! Loved it.
The freaking twists?????? Like Marissa?? You trying to kill me through ink on paper (or, in this ARC's case, words on a screen)??? In a good way, of course.
I'm having trouble describing this book in coherent, professional thoughts; because O. M. Freaking. G.
In love <3


‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.

The ending felt a tiny bit rushed (the very end, epilogue type thing btw) but who said I care???????? Still 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


* ੈ✩‧₊˚ 𝕨𝕣𝕒𝕡-𝕦𝕡 * ੈ✩‧₊˚

All in all; yes. I was absolutely in love, and you will be too. I'd recommend if you've read any of Marissa's other works, like fairytale retellings (with a sprinkle of murder, of course), or if you just exist. You should read this book. Really. Give this book the hype it deserves!!!!!


⋆˚⚡︎˖° 𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖 ⋆˚⚡︎˖°

The House Saphir releases November 4, 2025!!!


˙⋆.˚𐙚 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 ˙⋆.˚𐙚

Thank you so much to the publisher, Feiwel & Friends, and to NetGalley for giving me a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
All thoughts are my own <3

Another Marissa Meyer book? Yes, I think I will.

I was unfamiliar with the Bluebeard story that this story is a retelling of, but I found myself enchanted nonetheless! The overall vibes of the story felt very BBC Ghosts with the main characters sole ability to speak to spirits, especially with snarky ghost characters like Triphine. Its gothic and eerie plot and setting will make the perfect read for fall!

Also, the romance with Armand is delightfully tension fraught with the reader wondering whether he’ll discover her lack of witchy powers (all the while he’s being very overtly affectionate).

There were parts that felt a bit predictable and slow-paced, but overall, this was another wonderful book by Meyer with great character work and intriguing plot!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book!!

5/5⭐️

Okay so first off I would like to thank NetGalley for providing an Advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review (:

✨Review time✨
Okay I would like to say that I absolutely loved the writing style of this book! I really enjoyed how Mallory’s character is relatable in some ways. And don’t get me started on the ghosts, I loved how we could sympathize with them (the wives). The magic was also really interesting, and I kind of need a second book or a novella.

Romance 💘
I absolutely loved the romance, Armand is sooooo soooo cute <3 and I absolutely love him so much! If he were real I’d want to be his friend (I love him and Mallory together).

Characters 🤪
Armand 🌱
I absolutely loved his character development, and how he is written <3 I also love the hobby’s he has!

Mallory 👀👻
Yes I know she’s a con artist but I still love her character lol. I also love the relationship she has with the ghost wives (it’s so cool she can see ghosts)
(Her sister Anaïs is kind of real lol)

Age rating: 13-14+

Trigger/content warnings:
- Death 🪦
- Violence 🗡️
- Blood🩸
- Ghosts 👻
- witchcraft 🪄
- ✨Cute book boy ✨
- Heart shattering plot twists 💔

Marissa Meyer does it again. As one of my favorite authors, I always have high expectations when I pick up one of her books and she always exceeds them. The way she pulls the reader into the story is masterful. The setting is always so fascinating and her details make the reading experience so special. Although it was a retelling of Bluebeard, it still felt so unique.

I was obsessed with Armand and whenever she writes love interests, I am always swooning. I was invested in the sisters' journey, even if I could not pull of anything close to the cons they did. I couldn't even dislike them for that as they were just trying to survive. I finished this in less than 24 hours and it was just so fun to read. I cannot wait for November so I can have all of my friends pick up a copy.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the ARC. I loved it!

I have a very high standard for Marissa Meyer: the Lunar Chronicles are some of my favorite books of all time. However, this one was a little lackluster. I've read a couple of Bluebeard retellings that I've enjoyed, but it felt like the pace just never picked up. I didn't feel the same connection to Mallory and the other characters as I did to the characters in the Lunar Chronicles or any of Meyer's other books. I did like the ghosts, especially Triphine, and the romance was cute.

Extraordinary ghost story/murder mystery with lots of snarky humor to add levity and fun. Nice little twists with just the right amount of romantic tension.

This is my new favorite Marissa Meyer book!
I was completely hooked on this book from the beginning!
And I mean that quite literally, I read the first sentence and everything else was put completely on hold!
I LOVE Mallory so much and wanna be her bestie!
This book was filled with (sort of) witches, ghosts who are so fun and awesome , a dash of romance and an insane amount of plot twists!!!!
Beware that when reading this you probably won’t be able to stop so make sure your schedule is completely free!!!

(Full review is on Goodreads)

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Marissa Meyer and the publishing company for this ARC! I loved it!! 😁

When I was a little kid, I was gifted a Charles Perrault fairytale collection. My favorite was not one of the usuals that are so famous nowadays, but rather a story that, at least in America, has lost popularity: Bluebeard. There was something about the way that tale was written; the descriptions, the horrific situation, especially when viewed through a child's eyes—that captured my imagination so completely that, even now, I can recall most of it vividly. So, when Marissa Meyer announced her reimagining of the Bluebeard fairytale, I quite literally jumped out of my seat; it was a dream come true.

The House Saphir follows sisters Mallory and Anaiis Fontaine, many, many years after the notorious Count Bluebeard met his well-deserved end. Together, they're just trying to survive—Anaiis with her supposed gift for fortune-telling, and Mallory with the ingenious idea of giving haunted house tours of the infamous Saphir House, the same mansion where Triphine, the count's first wife, was murdered and where her spirit now lingers, until one night when a mysterious stranger arrives during one of the tours claiming to be the last living descendant of Count Bastien Saphir, desperate for the sisters' help in banishing the ghost that has been tormenting his family's estate for the past seven years. The only problem with this is that while the sisters come from a long line of powerful witches, proudly calling themselves such, neither has the power of an actual witch, and therefore, they are incapable of magic other than the scams they used to survive.

My favorite part of this story is, without a doubt, how Meyer uses the original characters and plot to shape the foundation of her own. This isn't a retelling of how things might have gone differently, but a continuation—what would happen if this monstrous man came back to finish what he started? The gothic atmosphere, the haunting details, all reminded me of the original tale, and for that, I bow to Meyer. She truly shines in this story. However, I do think that in her effort to keep the original tale alive, some parts of the plot became a bit predictable.

The main characters were lovely. Mallory is one of those brave, sharp-witted heroines who refuses to sugarcoat the world around her. She's determined to change her circumstances by any means necessary, all for the sake of giving her sister—and herself—a better life. Anaiis is her opposite: dreamy, romantic, and always lost in a romance book. I loved the contrast between them because it created some wonderful moments.

Armand Saphir, the enigmatic heir, on the other hand, is very opposed to Mallory. Committed to his family legacy even though his heart lies elsewhere, Armand carries his family legacy with a reluctant grace. And while Mallory guards her heart like a fortress, Armand is open, and even though he is the shy type, he's unashamed to declare his affections.

Overall, The House Saphir is a reimagining that honors the fairytale that has lived rent-free in my mind since childhood, and it asks one of my favorite fairytale questions: what happens after the story ends? While there are moments where the plot feels a bit predictable, it's still a thrilling read. Meyer's skillful blend of gothic suspense, supernatural elements, and characters makes this book a standout, especially for fans of classic fairytales with a dark twist.

First, I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book! Marissa Meyer is one of my favorite authors, so I may have squealed like a little school girl when I was chosen.

I am not the biggest fan of ghost stories, but I will say that i absolutely adored this one! It was written in a way that gives the story a more gothic feel, but not in a way that is scary. Thank goodness because i am terrified of my own shadow.

The thing I love most about Marissa Meyers writing is that she writes super compelling characters that you can't help loving and rooting for! Mallory was amazing and perhaps one of my favorites yet. She reminded me so much of myself and many of the characters i love. She did not like to adhere to the standards set for her. She set her own standards. She was in no way a damsel, but instead was strong and headstrong. I loved her.

The lore and storyline in here was also to die for. I loved the rich history and character arcs and seeing a ghost story come full circle. To see how everything was connected was interesting. I still have some questions i wish were answered, but I think that's what made this an amazing story. It left me wanting more.

I absolutely devoured this!

On finishing it, I see why this read so much like a recycled Gilded with a tad less of its charm: The story here is set in the same world.

In the beginning, it sounds intriguing: a post-facto retelling of Bluebeard, in which the action takes place a century after the events of the fairy tale, when the last scion of the noble House Saphir, the line of Bluebeard, hires a witch to rid his ancient mansion of the evil influence of his serial murderer ancestor, who is refusing to leave for the other life and threatening to take over the place again. On the surface, it reads like a typical Ancient Evil Returns plot, all you need is a feisty character to do some sort of spell or exorcism to vanquish it, and that's it. No complications.

And in that sense, The House Saphir delivers. It has a reliably predictable plotline with a predictable outcome, with some twists that are made to fit in a somewhat forced manner, and an unnecessary death that rubbed me the wrong way because of how it was handled. It seems like Marissa Meyer still has a lot to work with her propensity to pad up her plots to bloat proportions and her penchant for gratuitous shocks/deaths. But, credit where credit is due, she has improved considerably with her endings, and seems to be doing her best to not overstretch her stories because this book was threatening to need a sequel for most of it, and thankfully it ended at the right point, with no cliffhangers.

(Full review in link.)

AGHHHHHHHHHH

This book was so freaking amazing! I loved all the characters, the vibes were soooo fun, and it was so fast paced and entertaining!

I can’t even begin to describe how much I absolutely adored the characters

Mallory was a baddie and the grumpy/sunshine vibes between her and Armand were so cute.

Omg and Armand was so cute and sweet I loved him so much!

However, I think my favorite characters would have to be the wives. They were so entertaining to read about and so funny!

And the plot at the end was like… plot twist… another plot twist… so many plat twists! 😁
I did guess a few of them, but they were so good that I don’t even care.

This book gives perfect fall vibes, and y’all should definitely go read it as soon as it comes out!

I loved this book! I ripped through it in less than 3 days, and was absolutely captivated from the first page. I actually downloaded it while I was at work, which was a mistake because I couldn't put it down! The setting was atmospheric and set the tone of the story straightaway. And speaking of the story, it was a heck of a good time! The darker setting with a mystery to solve drew me in and would not let me go. I highly recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed Meyer's other books and writing style, as well as anyone who loves a mystery with a sprinkle of paranormal. The marked genres include romance and romantasy; the romance is definitely secondary to the main plot and is very PG. I personally don't feel that romance or romantasy are appropriate descriptors. It is definitely more YA, paranormal, retelling, and mystery.

As a fan of Marissa Meyer, I was excited for this new book. It did not disappoint. Based loosely on lesser known creatures and monsters, and the legend of blue beard, the author created a cohesive and exciting world. With Strong female lead characters who were able to solve their own problems and stand on their own, she once again will delight her fans. I Hope she writes a sequel one day to continue the story of the younger sister and her adventures.. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I look forward to recommending it to others when it is released!

If there’s a Crimson Peak-shaped hole in your heart, The House Saphir is here to fill it. This Bluebeard retelling centers female rage and the taking back of stolen power, whirling readers away to a lushly haunted fairytale.

Bluebeard (Monsieur Le Bleu) is a terrifying sorcerer who killed each of his wives to master a powerful spell, back from the grave to complete his ghastly work. Our protagonist is his only obstacle; with a peculiar fascination of all things macabre, Mallory Fontaine has quickly cemented herself as one of my favorite Marissa Meyer heroines. Spooky, bold (and a closet romantic), she’s a dynamic conwoman who takes no shit - even from murderous ghosts.

The rest of the cast is just as spell-binding: Le Bleu’s murdered wives, Mallory’s sister Anaïs, the mysterious and lovable Count Armand Saphir, and two magical monster hunters round out our motley crew. Theatre haunting of House Saphir makes for a hair-raising, darkly seductive fairytale.

On a selfish note, I hope we get a spin-off of Anaïs’s adventures🤞🏻Fitcher and Constantino are too fun of a duo to leave in one book, and someone’s curse still needs breaking…

"Mallory Fontaine is a captivating protagonist in a story filled with intrigue and supernatural elements. Despite her family's witchy heritage, Mallory's true talent lies in her ability to see ghosts, which leads her into a web of deception and danger. The premise of her and her sister running a scam business is both humorous and engaging, making for a light-hearted yet suspenseful read.
The introduction of Armand, the charming great-great-grandson of the infamous Count Bastien Saphir, adds an enticing romantic angle. His belief in the sisters' abilities and his offer to pay Mallory to rid his estate of a ghost set the stage for thrilling developments. The blend of mystery and romance keeps readers on their toes, especially as murder strikes the Saphir estate once again.
However, the true strength of this story lies in Mallory's journey, not just in solving the murder, but in learning to trust her heart. The tension between her feelings for Armand and the looming threat of danger creates a gripping emotional layer that resonates deeply.
While some plot twists may feel predictable, the engaging characters and witty writing more than compensate. This book is a delightful mix of mystery, romance, and a touch ofthe supernatural, making it a must-read for fans of the genre."