Tropes:
*Female Rage
*Chaotic Evil Trickster God
*Deadly Trials
*Revenge
*Morally Grey Characters
*Contemporary Heroine

I want to first start by saying, I was not expecting the beautiful art work that was within this book! I mean absolutely stunning. This book is a standalone, single POV dark fantasy book with a small amount of romance. However, there is a ton of action, trials, very emotional with moments of thoughtful insight. About 40% of the way in, I did feel it drag a little but then once it really started to get into the trials, it picked right back up. The narrator for the audio book was fabulous and really helped bring the characters to life. This book was a great read with a great amount of world building and again beautiful illustration throughout the entire thing. I would recommend the audio book as I feel like it really helped me dive into the world. Thank you netgalley for allowing me a ALC copy of this book!

This was an instant “Yes I want to read that” when I first read the book description. This debut dark fantasy is written by Michelle Wong who previously worked on The Legend of Korra graphic novel as an illustrator.

Alma is born out of wedlock and raised by her mother. At 11 years old, Alma’s mother becomes sick and in Alma’s desire to help her mother, she sends a letter to the father she never imagined. This small moment launches Alma into a world and life she could never have imagined. Her only friend, unseen to everyone but her, has protected her and steps in to be the monster she needs. Together they scheme and survive given the difficult circumstances they are forced into.

I am BLOWN away by this debut novel! It is a strong start for this author and perfect for fans of RF Kuang. The book is well structured and organized with a medium to fast pacing. The plot and development reminded me a lot of Avatar: The Last Airbender with deep themes of family, loyalty, honor, trust, destiny, fate, and good vs evil. Alma is a strong and well developed character with many layers that are open to the reader. The remaining characters are also well thought out and feel real. They add to the story and not one character felt out of place or interjected just to move the plot.

The world building is incredible and easy to follow. Families are connected to God’s that give them power and it just happens to be the year a falling star will be in the other world. Killing this fallen star will grant the person a connection to God and the ultimate power. Although it may feel complex at times, Wong has packaged the world, politics, and plot twists so perfectly it is easy to understand and does not overwhelm readers.

This is a dark fantasy with a lot of action, violence, and graphic scenes.

There is a little romance, but a strong relationship is a main focus of plot. The relationship has depth and is rooted in loyalty, trust, and genuine love. Be ready for yearning and excitement over the smallest moments of physical contact and understanding.

RECOMMENDED FOR:
-Fans of RF Kuang, Avatar the Last Airbender
-Incredible world building, political scheming, and a religious power system
-Enjoy yearning romances with a relationship founded in real values
-A strong female main character who wants to be strong while protecting her softness

AUDIOBOOK:
Narrated by Jeanne Syquia. I absolutely LOVED this audiobook! The narrator did a phenomenal job with many different characters and expressing their thoughts and emotions through the written word. I highly recommend the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperAudio Adult, and Harper Voyager for providing this advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book took so many surprising turns. Alma has always been different from those around her. Everything she says comes out wrong and no matter how hard she tries, she just can't seem to make a single friend. She comforts herself with the presence of an imaginary friend - a young boy named Aster who is always willing to lend a listening ear or partake in some mischief together. Where she cracks, Aster holds Alma together, even in her darkest moments. So when all of Alma worst fears come to fruition and he offers her a relentless path to revenge, she can't help but oblige.

Maturity: 15+

This book includes:
- manipulation and grief and longing and (worst of all) hope
- complicated family drama
- greed and selfishness
- politics steeped in the will of Gods
- unlikely friendships
- necromancy?
- secondary character queer rep
- ambitious and smart women

This book had me on the edge of my seat. A few times I even had to dip into a few spoilers because I just could not wait to know what happened next. As an adult reading this book, I could see all the emotional manipulation and secret motivations behinds each character's action, and it added layer of intensity to my reading experience. I imagine teens may miss it, but then be pleased with a bit of a twist at the end.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Michelle Wong, and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863 and it will be posted to my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/ and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

I just reviewed the actual book itself but this audiobook is also amazing! I really enjoyed the voice actor!

2 Stars
The premise of this book drew me in and it had so much potential but a lot of it fell a bit flat for me - the pacing was achingly slow, it felt longer than it needed to be, and the ending was underwhelming. The magic system was pretty cool and the world-building was interesting but there wasn't enough to really keep me invested in this and it read a bit more like a YA to me. Though the narrator did a good job at holding my interest enough, I think maybe the illustrations could've added more to the story for me.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult/Harper Voyager for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this unique dark fantasy! It did feel very YA, almost in the same vein as the Caraval series. I really enjoyed that it was a standalone. I loved the world building and the unique system of magic with gods.

Rounded up from 3.5 for the audio! Story itself was a 3 for me.

Kinda feel like I went through a Pilgrimage getting through this one.

I think I’m especially frustrated because there is SO MUCH potential here. The world-building, the dark vibes, the tenacious, tortured FMC you want to root for—all amazing. Fun side characters galore (Fion was a gem). The art?! Incredible. I ran to get the deluxe edition as I was still reading just to see all the gorgeous artwork.

Unfortunately, so many pieces here just fell flat for me.

First: this felt so long. Draggingly long. The pacing was a trudge in some parts, and then in others (e.g. Alma’s becoming-a-bad-ass-warrior journey) we just suddenly jump ahead. I nearly DNFed a few times, but like Alma, I persevered.

Second: I wanted a toxic, manipulative, dark MMC. This boy though is more Peter Pan than Darkling. Their dynamic is strange—codependent, yes, but more awkward flirting than magnetic pull. He thoroughly rationalizes all her bad choices in a way I loved but like—I’d want him around to help me justify all my book spending, not because I’m into him.

I loved the character development and the imagery and most of the writing. I know this one didn’t promise some epic dark romantasy either, so for most people who know what they’re getting, I could see this working so much more. I think the potential here is what I’m struggling with the most, because it really has all the ingredients for something incredible.

🎧 On the Audio: I did some immersive reading with this one, and switched between the ALC and the eARC. Jeanne Syquia was very good, and kept me locked in and on track with her differentiation of voices and emotional style. I felt like she really nailed Alma’s uncertainty and angst. I also LOVED that Harper Audio included an accompanying PDF with maps. More ALCs need to offer that!

This was such a strong debut. I especially loved the beautiful artwork throughout that made the story feel immersive and I found myself looking forward to Wong’s illustrations.

The first half is fantastic. I loved the dark, gothic, steampunk vibe. I also really felt for main character Alma, who sacrifices herself for her mother’s health. Her grief, loneliness, and need for revenge hit hard and i found myself really wanting for her to come out on top.

The second half lost me a bit. There’s a lot of action, but the emotion didn’t land the way the buildup suggested it would. I think it’s because we don’t really see Alma’s bond with Aster develop. Even though their relationship is toxic, it never quite reaches the intensity you expect. Still, I found myself rooting for Alma. I felt her rage and the loneliness and pain beneath it. Wong’s prose really shines in those moments.

The narrator did amazing! She was able to really give a unique voice to all the characters. Her narration was vivid and created an elevated experience.

Thanks to HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for the ALC!

3.5 stars
The magic system and world were very interesting. I wish there was more background to the word. Both Alma and Aster were well written characters. I felt myself wanting more of the side characters like Kiam and especially Fion. I felt like they were just there to move the plot along. Sevelie was one of my favorite side characters. I really enjoyed her character arc. I really enjoyed the ending and left me feeling like more could be written about this world. Solid debut and I would be interested in reading more from this author.

Audio: The narrator did a great job keeping my attention and I had no problems telling characters apart from one another. The tone she would use made me feel what the characters actually felt. I would definitely recommend the audio

Well.... although the story premise was interesting it was way too slow for me. I found myself bored many times.
The author is great at describing scenes & creating a world. The romance was light... a bit too light for me.

House of the Beast is an enthralling gothic fantasy about a fearless girl and the monster only she can sense. I’d describe it as a mix of wholesome fairytale and mythical legend with a touch of dark and gruesome. 🖤🖤🖤

Alma is an extremely lovable protagonist - honorable and brave, even when she doesn’t realize it. You just can’t help but root for her from the very first page.

I really enjoyed this on audio. Jeanne Syquia’s narration was mesmerizing, lyrical, and bold - exactly how I imagine Alma’s inner voice would be.

Overall, I was into this! Giving it 4 stars instead of 5 because there was a small portion where I had to work to keep my focus, but overall I suspect this book will stay in my mind for quite some time. I’d happily read more by Michelle Wong.

Thank you to HarperAudio Adult for the ALC!

Wow!!!! This book was gory and gruesome which I didn’t expect. It started off so strong and just kept propelling into action. The character felt a little naive at times but we also skipped several years sooo… hmm. 🤔 the side characters added so much more to the story without feeling overwhelmed. The narrator did a spectacular job on the characters and getting you emotionally invested! Really making the story feel real and scary 😱 which was really entertaining. I have to say the manipulation from the MMC on her killing spree was just a little too much for me personally but it worked well in the book. I enjoyed it so much! The only thing that bothered me was that the MMC could have been written with a little more maturity since he was hundreds of years older. A little more spark 🔥 because his love and her love felt a little lacking. Aside from that This gruesome story is amazing!

I ended the book feeling somehow both devastated and content, betrayed and relieved. The author did an amazing job capturing all the strong emotions the main character went through. Such a good job that I feel a bit off kilter. If you are looking for a fantasy that is imaginative and intense with violent gods and a rageful FMC, this is the book for you.

The narrator's voice was perfect. The narration was vivid and filled with emotion. I could hear the hurt and rage so perfectly that I felt transported. So much so, I finished the book in 2 days even though I listened at 1.25 speed.

The illustrations heightened my reading experience. Each drawing perfectly captured key scenes within the story and made it hard to put the book down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Audio for the Advanced Listener Copy in exchange for my honest review. I also had the Goldsboro special edition on pre-order, which I received last week, allowing me to have an immersive read.

This book was great! The narrator did an amazing job!
This dark, atmospheric, and unique book will keep any fantasy lover entertained. Also this broke my heart but in a way that I love from my books. Incredible debut fantasy!

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

Alma has not had an easy time growing up. Having been raised by her mother and born out of wedlock, and with rumors about who her father might be running through town, she's always been treated as someone undeserving of affection. But when her mother falls ill and no one will help, she goes looking for something she can sell to pay anyone who is willing to help... which is when she learns a clue about her father. Who shows up to take Alma away. She might be his bastard, but she's the only heir now to House Avera -- one of the four noble families who serve the gods, imbued by their powers. And her house's god? The Dread Beast, harbinger of death. She agrees to go with her father on the condition that he save her mother. And so Alma agrees to bind herself to her father's house, and with that she sacrifice's her left arm. But when her mother still passes and Alma realizes she's trapped and still treated as less than by her father's family, Alma begins to scheme. It doesn't hurt that the Dread Beast has been her one and only companion, disguised as a beautiful prince, she was young, and together they will change the world.

Where should I start with this because I honestly have no words for what I just read. I loved this. From the moment we meet Alma you are given this image of her as this lonely girl who has no friends and just a mother who loved her, but because she had her out of wedlock, people treat her terribly. It's when her mom is sick and she finds out who her father is that things really pick up, and luckily it doesn't take long to get there. Almost immediately after you meet her father and you see the world that she now will be living in do we learn that one, her mother dies, and two, that her imaginary friend that she created when she was a little girl might not be so imaginary. I loved the world building here and I think that's one of my favorite things about this book. You have these families that can use gifts from the gods but only after they sacrifice parts of themselves, so in her household they sacrifice an arm, in another an eye and so on, and it's gory and gruesome and just so well done. I had no problem following any of it. The plot of the trials got interesting because I don't think I've seen this before with books where there's some sort of trial/tournament kind of plot that she has to go up against her own father, so I thought that was really unique. But what I also found interesting about this was the lack of a solid happy ending. Like, the way things end is imperfect and messy. There's no pretty ribbon tied neatly at the end, and it makes it feel more real and I actually appreciated it. I love the action sequences, the monsters, and of course the villains... which I'm not going to say much about because it's so worth it to get to that point. Overall this was well done and I liked how dark it got.

I would also highly recommend the audiobook for this -- it's not only well done, but it lends to the atmosphere.

I really liked this. It didn’t play out nearly the way I thought it might. It’s been on my list to read/listen to for a while now. I hadn’t read the blurb just dove right in.

We get a poor FMC who is barely scraping by with her mother. No father in sight. She reaches out to him when her mother falls ill in hopes of getting help for her. It turns out very different than she planned. She had to go live with him. She’s treated like a pariah because she shouldn’t even exist and no one is happy about her arrival. She finds solace in her made up/ used to be imaginary friend. He just shows up one day and no one else can hear or see him. He’s an old god. They decide together that they will take down her father and his house. She trains for the next eight years to be better and able to win the position of power over her father and cousin.

While this story isn’t a romance there is a little bit of romantic feelings around the FMC. And there are definitely hidden truths that make this overall an interesting storyline. I think it was well done. The ending isn’t what I would have pictured but it was still good nonetheless and also kind of leaves room for more if the author chooses. Maybe not directly with the current fmc but within this world.

The narrator also did a great job with the voice acting. I could feel the emotions from the characters as described. And there were plenty of times she was giving heart beating narration to the action scenes.

First of all: this deserves a lot of credit for being very, very cool. I don't typically read Things Like This but this felt Adult and worth my time, and I'm glad I did.

I'm not a romantasy reader and frankly, a lot of tropes and discourse around the genre turn me off a lot - but this is doing a LOT outside of the romance and a most of it works really well. The world-building is strong - the Elder Gods and Houses are all interesting, and the gradual unfolding of court intrigue and eventual monstrous climax kept me going capably. The protagonist, too, defied my expectations and I enjoyed being in the head of this self-loathing little weirdo. At its best, it reminded me of The Locked Tomb, which is about the highest praise I can give to genre fiction.

That being said, there's a lot here that screams "debut," and I found myself cringing at the clumsier moments of exposition or detail. For every fascinating complication (Xander's dedication to reform, for example), there was an all-too convenient plot development that made me shrug. That's okay! I liked this much more than I didn't, but I think that Wong has room to develop as an author to avoid the familiar or formulaic traps that she occasionally falls into here.

The romance(s)... well, I feel quite conflicted! Fundamentally it's Not For Me on principle (see aforementioned romantasy aversion) but I spent longer than I thought I would ruminating on the complications of their unique situation and how Alma was atypically resistant to his barefaced manipulation. I kind of love her fucked-up little devotion and dependence on Aster, but I have a hard time with him being a cute anime boy instead of something a little more terrifying. (I know, I know, there's a good-enough explanation for why he appears as such to her... still!) I'm very compelled by the core narrative of a girl groomed by an Elder God to be his devoted, murderous servant, and this delivered much more than I expected it to on that front.

Cool book! Really drew me in and compelled me to the end. I didn't even mention the illustrations, which are unique and worthwhile - read this with the illustrations included (or the companion PDF) if you can! I will definitely check out what Wong does next, and expect that she only builds from here.

Thanks to Avon, Harper Voyager, and HarperAudio Adult for the NetGalley preview. This comes out today - if this kind of thing is up your alley, rush to pick it up.

This book was freakin' good! What a unique take on gods and mortals and the relationships between them. I really enjoyed this. Will definitely read more by this author.

Your next dark fantasy obsession! An amazing debut!

"If you use all your ever energy fighting yourself, how shall you defend against the ones who actually mean to hurt you!"

This story had me entranced! I loved Alma and Aster! The author sure knows how to break your heart!

The song "All that really matters" is Alma & Aster's song!!! I've heard this song about 20 times since l finished this book (maybe cried a couple of times)

Thank you Harper Voyager for this ALC!

Audiobook/Book Review ✨
thank you so much partner @harpervoyagerus + Harper Audio for the gifted copy + audiobook!

House of the Beast
by Michelle Wong
Narrated by Jeanne Syquia

About the book 👇🏽

Alma would not have chosen the Beast. But when her mother falls ill, she is not left with the luxury of choice. After all, luxury was never something they could afford.

Forced into a desperate bargain with her estranged father and his house, one of the noble families that serve the gods and wield their powers, she irrevocably binds herself to the Dread Beast, the most fearsome of the gods. However, it is a vow made in vain when death comes for her mother anyway.
Now vengeance is Alma’s sole aim. And she has a god on her side – a beautiful, eldritch monster with starlit hair. The Beast that has chosen her.

🖤 My thoughts:

“My monster, my friend, my prince from the stars…”

Oh my gawd, how I loved and devoured this book!! This was a hybrid read split between physical read and audiobook listen and honestly you need to experience both. This book had its grip on me from page one and ripped my heart out in chapter 35. There’s a reason Harper Voyager sent tissues with the copy… tears will be shed. The narrator brought so much to this story and really amplified the experience. I can’t remember the last coming of age story that ruined me, but House of the Beast did just that. With a twisted romance, family rivalries, and violence this is what they call a page turner. What makes this book extra special is the illustrations within its pages done by the author, it truly brings this story to life right before your eyes. If you enjoy deadly trials, morally grey characters, and chaos, you absolutely need to read this one. House of the Beast is out TODAY 8/5/25!!

“I always knew this story wouldn’t have a happy ending. But still, I wanted to dream, for a while.”

Happy reading 📖 ✨🖤🎧