After reading this story, now I can't decide if talking to ghosts would be freaky or fantastic. The premise of this book is unique, consisting of a gothic murder mystery with a little bit of magic/witches, romance, and a lot of ghosts intermingled throughout. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it, especially for ghost lovers or during spooky season in the fall.

I was hooked on this story by the first sentence. It was such an incredible adventure and I had the absolute time of my life! The FMC is easily likable, and I just adored her. The story was well-paced and full of magical qualities and characters! It was a little predictable for me, but it still surprised me at some points! I loved all of the unique characters so much, and the story telling was amazing. I cannot wait for the world to be able to read (and love) this book!! 💙
4.75🌟

Preread- Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an ARC ! Looking forward to this one. Ghosts and witches and counts 👀 ? Hell yeah.

WELL GOD DAMN. I am SPEECHLESS. Marissa Meyer has done it again guys. If witches, spells and ghosts is your thing then you HAVE to read this.

The story begins by introducing our FMC Mallory, who's running (technically illegal) tours at the supposedly haunted House Saphir to support her and her sister. Mallory's mother and grandmother and other ancestors were witches, and she and her sister both have gifts. Mallory's gift is the ability to see ghosts. The plot twist ? Jaw dropping. I almost dropped my kindle 😅. I did kind of see it coming, but it was still an uncertain theory.

The House Saphir was my first ARC experience, and it exceeded all expectations. Although this is my first time reading a book by Marissa Meyer, I was immediately struck by her engaging writing style and creative world-building. Her storytelling is fresh, original, and incredibly immersive—I found myself holding my breath, eager to turn each page.

The plot was compelling and fast-paced, with thought-provoking concepts woven throughout. I especially appreciated the attention to detail, from the intricacies of the ring system to the broader landscape of the setting. Marissa Meyer’s ability to build a vivid and unique world is truly impressive.

While the romantic subplot between the main characters was present, it felt somewhat understated, with limited tension or chemistry between the leads. As a reader who typically gravitates toward romance-heavy narratives, I was surprised by how much I still thoroughly enjoyed the story. This speaks to the strength of the plot and the captivating nature of the overall narrative.

I would absolutely recommend The House Saphir once it is officially released. The twists and turns throughout the story make it a great pick for discussion, and I’m looking forward to reading more from Marissa Meyer in the future.

I knew nothing about the Bluebeard fairytale going into this. I thought it was about pirates! (Possibly I confused it with Blackbeard) I remember seeing the post about a year ago that she was writing an adult Bluebeard romantasy story. Personally, I found this very less romance focused than I thought it would be, and also I feel like the YA tone Marissa Meyers usually has was still there. I have no problem with either of these thoughts, but I know some readers might want this to be more romance heavy so fair warning. The vibes were there for this book. The writing and prose was great. The setting was beautiful. I did find the relationship a bit lacking, especially in comparison to uMeyers’s other works. It felt both rushed, and not present enough somehow. I found it hard to feel the chemistry between them as well. I think if this had been marketed to me as more of a mystery it wouldn’t have bugged me as much. I will likely do a reread when the audio is released and see if that changes my rating at all.

I’m screaming!!! I love Marissa and this book was amazing! Firstly amazing adult debut, and the characters and the world were so thought out and interesting! Highly recommend this book, and can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy!!

Marissa Meyer’s The House Saphir is a captivating blend of romantic suspense and supernatural intrigue, masterfully reimagining the Bluebeard legend. The story follows Mallory Fontaine, a self-proclaimed witch with the rare ability to see ghosts. Alongside her sister, she runs a modest business offering fake spells and ghost tours, capitalizing on the notorious history of Count Bastien Saphir, known as Monsieur Le Bleu, who allegedly murdered three of his wives over a century ago.

The plot takes a thrilling turn when Armand Saphir, the charming and wealthy great-grandson of Count Bastien, hires Mallory to rid his ancestral home of his ancestor's ghost. What begins as a lucrative opportunity for Mallory soon spirals into a complex web of murder and deception when another death occurs at the House Saphir. As Mallory navigates the eerie mansion, she must unravel the mystery of the killings while maintaining the illusion of her witchcraft abilities. Complicating matters is her growing attraction to Armand, who may be more involved in the sinister events than he appears.

Meyer's world-building is exceptional, creating a richly atmospheric setting that enhances the gothic tone of the narrative. The House Saphir itself is depicted with haunting detail, its history and secrets unfolding alongside the central mystery. The characters are equally compelling; Mallory's wit and resilience make her a relatable and engaging protagonist, while Armand's enigmatic nature adds layers of complexity to their evolving relationship.

The pacing is brisk, with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged, though some may find the resolution slightly predictable. Nevertheless, The House Saphir is a thoroughly enjoyable read for fans of romantic mysteries and supernatural tales.

Fans of Marissa Meyer will love this Blue Beard retelling full of mystery, strong female lead characters, and family history.

When two sisters are kicked out of their flat after not paying rent and one is arrested for trespassing and maybe selling false relics/gems, they don't have a lot of options. When they are asked to assist in ridding the manor of a ghost, specifically a murdering maniac, Blue Beard, they jump on the chance. Free rent? Free food? How bad can it be?

As the sisters spend more time in the house, they realize things are more dangerous than they thought.

Thank you to netgalley for an ARC to enjoy.

So different from Meyer’s other book but just as good!! I loved every second of this book, the banter between the characters was go great and kept me giggling the whole book. I was surprised by the plot twists and really couldn’t predict how the book was going to end.
The plot was wonderful and the characters had such good depth. Loved this book so much!

This novel is a genre-bending gem—equal parts fantasy, romance, ghost story, and adventure. As a longtime fan of Marissa Meyer's work, I was especially excited to see her dive into a retelling of the Bluebeard legend, and this book absolutely delivered.

Set against the eerie backdrop of The House Saphir, the story introduces us to sisters Mallory and Anais, clever grifters running haunted house tours and peddling fake artifacts to gullible tourists. But the supernatural twist comes in quickly: Mallory isn’t just pretending the house is haunted—she really sees and communicates with the ghosts of Bastian Saphir’s murdered wives.

When Armand, the enigmatic heir of the Saphir legacy, walks through their doors and offers Mallory an unexpected opportunity, the story takes off into a thrilling journey filled with magical creatures, uneasy alliances with the dead, and a heroine stepping into her power.

The world-building is fast but effective, with vivid details that pull you in without over-explanation. The tone reminds me of the later Percy Jackson books or even The Hunger Games—high-stakes fantasy witha strong emotional core and accessible writing that could appeal to both YA and adult readers. The dialogue is sharp, the pacing tight, and the character development nuanced.

Mallory is a standout protagonist—flawed, courageous, and emotionally grounded. Her bond with Anais adds warmth to a story full of eerie tension and hidden dangers. There are some truly unexpected twists, and the blend of humor, horror, and heart kept me turning pages late into the night.

This is a heroine’s journey with teeth—smart, spooky, and emotionally rich. Whether you’re drawn to dark fairy tales, ghost stories, or simply crave a strong female lead navigating a magical world, this book is well worth your time.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC, all thoughts and reviews are my own.

Marissa Meyer comes back again to enchant us with a magical and dark re-telling of Blackbeard with The House Saphir. Weaving mythical creatures, ghosts, and spells this book is sure to have you on the edge of your seat this fall season. While not one of my particular favorite novels by Marissa Meyer , it still is a pretty decently solid read.

3.5 stars out of 5

Thank you NetGalley for the arc~ This book was honestly one of the best books I've ever read on Netgalley as an arc ever. It is seriously one of my most favorite books I've read this year! I found the characterization of Mallory, Anais and Armand to be so fun and realistic. They seem like proper characters and weren't reduced to a flanderization of a trope.
Mallory is such a dynamic and witty female main character. I found her humor refreshing and her stubborn persistence to keep her and her sister safe admirable. She was realistic in her reactions and her attempts to come across as witchy and mysterious were so fun to read. Her sister, Anais, was also such a delightful character to read. She felt like a proper sister character - not a side piece to use as fodder later, and not as a predictable foil. Anais was her own person and obviously had her own feelings.
Armand is SUCH a refreshing male main character too! I was so blown away by his fun quirks and personality. He isn't some token love interest that only exists for the fmc to fall for, but is his own personality who is equally interesting on his own. I also absolutely ADORe how Mallory was so token by Armand's quirks. It's such a realistic representation on relationships.
All in all, the entire book had serious and dark themes, but was presented with a humorous and realistic tone so it was very digestible. I found every progression of the plot engaging and thrilling. Marissa Meyer has a clear talent and knack for writing, and she very much outdid herself. 10/10!!

3 stars rounded up. This was okay, nothing super original or outstanding about the story. Honestly my favorite part was the humor and banter between the spirits! I wasn't a huge fan of the FMC, Mallory, but I did like her sister, Anais. I also wasn't blown away by the MMC, Armand, either. I saw the plot twists from a mile away, and the ending just felt a bit anticlimactic. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

The Queen of Retellings has tackled Blue Beard!
Mallory and Anais are faking tarot readings and haunted house tours when they are tasked with getting rid of a vicious spirit. Will they be able to unravel the mystery in time?
The House Saphir has French mythological creatures, a great cast of characters, and a ghost to be exorcised. This book was action packed and kept me on my toes.
I really enjoy Marissa Meyer's work, and this was no exception!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy for review.

"But Mallory had a job to fake, and she was not a quitter."

This was a fun and creepy read with ghosts, French mythical creatures, murders, and an interesting, hilarious cast of characters, perfect for Halloween/fall season.

This book does not take itself too seriously, which is one of the reasons I enjoyed it. The author has a great sense of humor, I loved it.

It’s very YA, with clean romance and a childish, frustrating 17-year-old FMC. I didn't like Mallory, but I adored her "fake it till you make it" attitude. The quote above describes her perfectly.

Anaïs and Armand, though, were absolutely fantastic. Anaïs is like a ray of sunshine, and Armand is a shy, awkward, antisocial boy, and the way he tried to court Mallory was extremely cute.
I’d love to read a book about Anaïs & co's adventures, there's so much potential there!

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, a bit predictive but still entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a fun retelling of a very dark fairytale. Mallory was a joy of a YA protagonist, but my favorite characters were the brides. Though the plot seemed to skid toward the ending without ever deepening as much as I wanted to, the world and tone remained compelling throughout. Marissa Meyer remains a queen of retellings and I'm excited for this to join her prior work!

I’ve always enjoyed Marissa Meyer’s books, and this one definitely lived up to expectations. The world-building was rich and imaginative, with plenty of unexpected twists. It had a great balance of humor and suspense, and some moments were genuinely thrilling. I highly recommend

I’m really hoping for a sequel—I’d love to follow more of Anaïs’ adventures and explore the different cities and creatures in this fascinating world!

3⭐️

The House Saphir had a lot going for it. From the first page the vibes were strong and the setting was easy to imagine and visualize. As the story went on Mallory got rather obnoxious and the story developed with little depth. While still a good read there just seemed to be a lack of plot that keeps you super interested. The ending switches up the pacing a lot but leaves you with a bit of whiplash having to digest so much information that was lacking throughout. The premise of the story was incredibly interesting and the sister dynamic is something I truly enjoyed! Just wish Mallory was stronger FMC and we had more questions answered by the end!

I will probably buy this book for the library I work for mostly because of the author and age range. I anticipate requests for it based on the author's previous work and that is why I requested it. But even though its still based on a fairy tale, this did not feel like The Lunar Chronicles at all. I dont know if readers who liked that series, will like this work. Although it is not to my taste but there is always demand for gothic romance with the teen/young adult audience.

Mallory and Anais are the orphaned daughters of a gifted witch who make their living by selling fake fortune-tellings and haunted tours of the mansion where the infamous serial killer Bastien Saphir murdered his first wife. One of her tours is crashed by none other than Armand Saphir who is the only living descendant of Bastien. He offers her more money than she has ever imagined if she will only use her witch magic to help rid the Saphir Estate of a vengeful and cruel ghost. Mallory fully accepts. Unfortunately, Mallory is not gifted in useful petty magic like her mother, but rather she can see and speak with ghosts. She has no idea how to actually get one to leave the estate its haunting, but Armand doesn’t need to know that as long as she can fake it long enough for him to pay her and her sister in full.

Marissa Meyer is an excellent fairytale re-teller, and she has tackled the tale of Bluebeard in The House of Saphir with her personal flair. She builds an excellent spooky atmosphere, with a lot of gothic imagery, blood-soaked murders, and vengeful ghosts. I loved the non-stop adventure in this book and the overall mystery had me intrigued the whole way through!

For me, what shined most in this book were the side characters - even the ghosts! Anais and Triphine were my favorite. Anais was cool and kept Mallory grounded while still being her partner in crime, and Triphine just became so endearing to me with her dramatics. I think Marissa was able to give so much life to each side character and they made the story so much richer. The plot was a bit predictable, but I don’t mind that as long as the story is still enjoyable to read like this was.

Unfortunately, the main characters are what didn’t quite hit for me. Mallory was unlikeable. She prided herself on being a con artist and swindler, but she was so bad at lying and was not charismatic enough to make up for it. She also is not a good person, which is fine with me if the character has redeeming qualities, but she is not a good person who is also not very good at her craft. In almost every single problem she encountered, she needed someone else to help give her the solution or fix it for her. I held out hope that she would show growth and have a character defining moment but it just never happened. I felt neutral about her at the end. Armand was a fine character, I liked him well enough but his romance with Mallory seemed very superficial.

Overall, an enjoyable read with gothic and horror themes but the magic and whimsy of a Marissa Meyer fairytale retelling.