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.

I just finished The House Saphir, and I'm still reeling from the experience. Marissa Meyer has once again delivered a masterful blend of fantasy, mystery, and romance that kept me hooked from start to finish.

The story follows Mallory Fontaine, a self-proclaimed witch who, despite her lack of magical prowess, finds herself entangled in a chilling mystery at the infamous House Saphir. The setting is richly atmospheric, with the mansion's dark history and lingering ghosts adding layers of intrigue and suspense.

Mallory is a compelling protagonist—flawed, witty, and determined. Her interactions with Armand, the enigmatic heir to the Saphir estate, are filled with tension and chemistry that had me eagerly turning pages. The slow-burn romance is perfectly balanced with the unfolding mystery, making for a truly immersive read.

What I loved most is how Meyer reimagines the Bluebeard legend, infusing it with fresh twists and a modern sensibility. The themes of trust, deception, and self-discovery are woven seamlessly into the narrative, making it both thought-provoking and entertaining.

If you're a fan of gothic tales, strong heroines, and stories that keep you guessing, The House Saphir is a must-read. It's a hauntingly beautiful novel that will stay with you long after the final page.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Marissa Meyer unsurprisingly delivers an easily devourable retelling. This time, it’s darker, more mysterious, and haunted. Full of romance, mystery, and ghosts, The House Saphir was a fun read. It also sets up a promising companion story.

This book was fun. I adore Mallory and her obsession with all things monsters and murder and morbid. A character with dark humor is the perfect narrator to make a bloody story more light and fun and not feel as dark, in my opinion.

Marissa Meyer is one of my favorite authors so I may be a bit biased when I say that I loved this book. It had a great combination of magic and ghosts with a romance that didn’t feel like it overshadowed the main plot. The characters are easily lovable and very diverse, they feel like beings in their own right, each has their own wants and desires and they make that clear.

Mallory is a con artist at heart and I greatly enjoyed watching her come up with various ways to pretend to dispel the ghosts while she bought herself time. I also loved the parallel of Anaïs rolling her eyes at Mallory’s attempts while pocketing any valuables she saw laying around.

About halfway through the book, I thought I had the whole thing figured out. I was a little bummed at how predictable it was and boy was I surprised when the reveal finally came about. Marissa Meyer does an excellent job of keeping the mystery without it feeling like there was no evidence to back it up once it was revealed.

However, I do wish we got to spend more time learning lore that wasn’t directly tied to Le Bleu and the wives. I would love to know more about the gods mentioned and the fall of the veil. I don’t feel like it took away from the story to not have this full context, but as someone who is a sucker for magic systems, I would’ve loved getting to know more and see the world building expand beyond what’s relevant to the House Saphir.

As a huge Marissa Meyer fan, I had high expectations going into The House of Saphir—and WOW, it exceeded them! I’ve loved every one of her retellings, but this Bluebeard-inspired romantasy might be one of my new favorites. It has everything I love: a morally gray heroine, ghosts, magic, a haunted manor, murder mysteries, and a slow-burn romance that had me questioning everyone.

Mallory is SUCH a fun main character—she’s messy, clever, chaotic in the best way, and full of heart. I loved the morally grey vibes and her fake-it-‘til-you-make-it attitude. And Armand? Complicated, broody, and totally suspicious. I was hooked from page one and didn’t want to put it down. The gothic fall vibes? Immaculate. The ghosts? So much personality. The romance? Swoon. Marissa Meyer has once again created a rich, magical world I never wanted to leave. I’ll absolutely be rereading this one!

Rating: 4.5 stars

Spice: ⭐️ (1) / 5 [only tension and kisses]

Genre: YA fantasy, gothic fantasy, historical fantasy

Tropes: fairytale retelling, morally grey heroine, sunshine hero, historical fantasy


Review:

Thank you NetGalley and the Macmillan Publishing Group for this eARC in exchange for an honest review of the book! This book was great! I have never read any of Marissa Meyer’s books before, and this was a great introduction.

This feels like the perfect fall book. It has major Halloween vibes, and the ghosts, haunting magic, and constant danger all make it a great read to disappear into with a bag of Halloween candy on your lap this fall.

Mallory is SUCH a lovable main character. She’s a little morally grey but done so well? Her every decision makes sense, and it’s so easy to track her thought processes and decisions. She is so fierce and resourceful, and I love how quick-witted she is. Her special brand of chaos is so endearing, and I can’t get over her. There are few MCs simultaneously as lovable and relatable as she is!

The LO is sweet, but I gave this book a 4 stars because I felt like the romance was not quite as satisfying as I’d hoped. There were more twists and turns and complications to be had here, and I felt a little disappointed by it in the end. It was sweet and definitely full of well-crafted tension but it didn’t quite reach its full potential.

Overall, the story was great — well written, original, and entertaining! The world building was unique, the magic system easy to follow and also original, and the setting was an easy one escape into.

If you’re looking for a captivating and cozy fall read, I recommend this one! It comes out November 4th, 2025!

This book is a Fantasy book (which I typically like). This one really didn't do much for me. It was good. It just didn't live up to some of the other books that Marissa Meyer has written.

Mallory Fontaine 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. She and her sister have maintained the family business, eking out a paltry living by selling bogus spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the infamous mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.

Marissa did it again ladies and gentlemen and non-binary friends! She absolutely killed it.

This book has it all: romance, adventure, ghosts, mystery. This is one that you’re going to devour.

It’s giving a mix of Belladonna, Heartless (by Marissa), Phantasma, and The Darkest Part of the Forest. If you love ghosts and mysteries with romance involved, you need to read this one.

Our characters are real people. They’re not just words on a page, and above all, they feel super real. Our fmc isn’t annoying or full of stereotypes like a lot of popular fmc’s are these days.

The romance is adorable! It gave me everything I was looking for and then even some emotions that I wasn’t expecting.

The mystery is well thought out, and even though I figured out some of the plot twists before we got there, I had a really fun time watching it all unravel.

Gotta love ghosts.

Thank you very much to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the manner in which I received it.

No one is sadder about this rating than I am. I have such affection for The Lunar Chronicles and Heartless and was thrilled to get the ARC for this.

The good: The first couple chapters are so strong, and I was sure this would be a four star read. Meyer still writes fun dialogue, vivid imagery and atmosphere, tense action scenes, entertaining side characters, and wonderfully creepy villains. The best parts of the book are when we have multiple characters on page and the big personalities can interact with each other and Mallory. The ending, while rushed, ties together a lot of the small details that Meyer drops throughout in a very satisfying way.

The not-so-good: If I am being honest—and fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on who you ask) I usually am—this was disappointing and left me feeling underwhelmed. There are a lot of underdeveloped side plots, and it makes the world-building and character relationships feel shallow. It is not often I say that a book should be longer, but I would have liked to have things more fleshed out. We have the Bluebeard retelling and murders, gods and spirits and a veil has fallen, monsters and monster hunters, Mallory and her sister are con artists posing as witches, and Mallory can see ghosts that no one else can. With this page count, I wanted a narrower focus, because this is a lot. Outside of the first chapters of Mallory giving the tour of the Saphir Mansion—my favorite part of the book!—the most grifting Mallory does is halfhearted attempts at faking magic while she’s at Armand’s country estate. And sadly, much of that time spent with Mallory dilly dallying around the estate is the most boring part of the book.

I wouldn’t complain if that time was spent on interesting romance/character development or solving the murder mystery I was promised in the blurb (which is barely a plot point at 50 percent), but the romance is so bland. There are glimpses of chemistry and some fun banter, but zero tension. There is no suspense around the reveal—or the romance at all, really. There is never much reason for the reader to question Armand, and even when we have one, we are never given any reason to reflect back on his behavior so far and think it has been suspicious beyond a single obvious moment that happens immediately prior to the reveal. Armand is so kind and thoughtful that Mallory’s distrust of him comes across as more of her “don’t trust any man” attitude rather than rightful wariness based on any inconsistency in behavior. I did like his affinity with plants and how that played into some major plot points.

I sat with this book for a few days after I finished and despite the strength of Meyer’s writing overall, I settled on 2.5 stars. I like a good balance of characters, plot, and romance, but if one area is weak the others need to be strong to compensate. To me, all three were too weak to keep my interest, and I found myself reading just to finish the book, not because I was interested or felt compelled to know what would happen next.

Would I re-read this book: No

Who should read this book:
standalone fairytale retelling enjoyers
Fans of the Marissa Meyer’s style
anyone looking for a fast-paced, easy read set in an interesting setting (magical French gothic mansion, but not too spooky!)

Thank you to Netgalley and Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan for a copy of the eARC.

This is a great read for the Fall as the seasons change. I really enjoyed how the book slowly revealed the story of the Saphir Family. This book shows the story of two sisters that descend from a line of witches. I wish we got a little more of their backstory and how they interact because I really liked the contrasting personalities of the sisters. Overall this is an interesting story that really held my attention and is a great cozy read!

Mallory Fontaine and her sister Anaïs make their living as witches, selling charms and spells, and giving "official" tours of the Saphir mansion. The mansion is haunted by the ghost of Count Bastien Saphir's murdered wife, the first of three women to die at the hands of the man known as Monsieur Le Bleu. When Le Blue's descendant shows up asking for their help in ridding the ancestral home of all of the ghosts, they see a fortune in their future - never mind that their magic is iffy at best, and they have no clue how to actually exorcise a ghost. And Mallory might just be falling for the newest count.

This is a 3.5? They story is well-paced and suspenseful with some good action scenes and a little romance. Even though it's a very dark tale, with plenty of bloody scenes, it wasn't scary at all, and felt almost light and appropriately youthful. It's another fairytale retelling from Meyer, but it works even if readers don't know the story of Bluebeard and his murdered wives.

The half point off is that the world-building didn't feel entirely thought out; various gods and magic rules are mentioned in passing, as if there's a history we should know, except we don't, so the rules are just confusing. Mallory can see ghosts that no one else can but she's not really a witch? The "veil between worlds fell" but what is that? Who are the seven gods and how are they different than the spirits the witches refer to?

‘The House of Saphir’ is an excellent take on the lesser explored tale of Bluebeard. This is an intriguingly dark fairytale that pulls you in from the start. The characters are charming and witty. By the end it was hard to say goodbye. All of the creatures and magic were introduced well without the need for heavy handed world building. While I would’ve liked to see more of the lore and foundation of the setting, there is something to be said about how perfectly digestible the entire story is laid out. For anyone who enjoys a spooky manor, family secrets, and a touch of magic, this is a must-read for sure.

As always, I love a good underdog story, and what’s more of an underdog than having to pretend you have the exact talents of those around you. I won’t say much, because you need to read it for yourself.