This was a pretty interesting story. I have felt burnt out on most fantasy books lately because they all feel too different. This book is not that even a little. It felt very unique and I enjoyed the characters.
I definitely want to check out a physical copy because I am interested in seeing the photos!
I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed the narrator. She had good tone, pitch, and pace. I felt like her voice blended well with the story.

Overall I am giving this one a 3.5.

This book was absolutely amazing. I'm a huge fan of both fantasy and horror and this book was a fantastic combination of both. The characters are complex, flawed, and captivating. Following Alma on her journey of revenge and retribution against House Avera, and the entire system, is strangely inspiring. Alma's relationship with her god is also interesting to follow. I enjoyed the world that the author created, and the inclusion of illustrations made the book that much more enchanting. I also liked the audiobook and think the narrator did a great job.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this ALC!

4.75 stars

A dark Romantasy with INCREDIBLE art throughout the pages. The FMC’s cruel father offers her as a sacrifice to a monstrous god. Alma must face deathly trials and strikes a deal for revenge.

Highlights:
-Monster Romance (without spice)
-Only she can see him
-Deathly Trials
-Amazing Book Art

House of the Beast is written by Michelle Wong, acclaimed graphic artist of the Legends of Korra graphic novels (which I know well, because my daughter is obsessed and made me buy them all for her). Michelle’s art is breathtaking but so is her debut novel and as excited as I was to receive this ALC, I was equally nervous that it would be a train wreck, and I have never been so happy to be completely wrong! This book is a work of art all its own. (Full Disclosure: After I finished listening to this I subscribed to Goldstone’s GSFF book sub just to get the gorgeous special edition because this book is a keeper!)

The audiobook is published by HarperAudio and will be available on August 5, 2025. It is narrated by Jeanne Syquia, and while I am not familiar with her other work, I love what she did with this and will happily listen to more. She brought these characters to life and did their unique voices justice in a way I don’t think many others could have because these characters are so varied in their mannerisms, many are men, some are gods…and it’s absolutely perfect. She is not just narrating the story, it’s almost like she’s living the characters like an excellent actor would. You hear the compassion, the anger, the rage, the sorrow; every emotional sentence of this book is dripping with the authentic emotion you read on the page and its breathtaking.

You all know by now that I am picky about narration and distinct voices, and now there is a new bar for narrators to meet – can they make the emotions and characters as authentic as real people the way Jeanne Syquia did? Can I feel what they feel while I’m listening? As much as I love other books and certain narrators, even that full cast narration stuff, this was so much better.

In our story we follow Alma who lives in poverty with her mother. Because her parents are not married, Alma and her mother are generally shunned by society. This is typical mistreatment of people who are different and whose families are non-traditional. You see this going all the way back to ancient plays and historical writings right through today, because sadly it’s still an issue. It is done well here, because it portrays the harshness of it when Alma’s mother becomes deathly ill and no one can cure her. They suggest she goes to the some elite healers, but that doesn’t pan out. Then magically, her father shows up. She begs him, literally begs him, to save her mother. She’ll do whatever he wants if he will promise to do this. He wants her to come with him and become a part of his house, who worships “The Beast,” make a sacrifice and become part of his world. She agrees only because he promises to save her mother. This is a tragic dark fantasy, so how do you think that went?

Alma’s father takes her to their temple and severs her arm as an offering to their god, the beast. He takes her into his home and sends her to classes, but again she is “the bastard daughter of Xander.” She is treated badly by family, staff, guards, and every time she seems to do well, she is cut off from whomever was helping her get there. Eventually she is basically left to her own devices for education and training. Her father “trains” her, but she feigns ineptitude to a certain degree so that he does not realize how powerful she has become. This is due to the fact that her imaginary friend, Astor, who she thought she made up for herself when she was a child, as appeared. No one else can see him or hear him but her, but now she can feel him. She can interact with him in ways that break all the invisible friend rules. Astor reveals that he is the beast and has been with her all her life. That he chooses her and is here to help her become the hand to the beast which is what her father is after, though, her father wants to be a god.

I feel like I have already given away too much and I didn’t even get tot the cousin or his “girlfriend” or the stepmother yet. Eventually, Alma is betrayed in pretty much every way you possibly can be and she endures. This story is fast paced. Beautiful, tragic and the makings of a classic book I think people will be recommending for a very long time. This is not a romantacy, though there is romance here, the fantasy, the journey of the tragic hero, the fight against evil, these are all things that are far more important. The romance is a nice diversion now and then. It adds confusion, tension, longing, fear and so much more, but it is not the focus of our story. Really, its about a corrupt father and his daughter who is capable of so much more than he ever imagined. This is Alma’s story and I beg you to read it (after you check trigger warnings of course).

This is a standalone, so there’s no need to worry about a cliffhanger and having to wait forever for the next book. I am anxiously waiting for Michelle Wong’s next book though because writers usually get better as time goes on, and starting at this level means we should be in for some amazing story telling in the future.

I would like to thank HarperAudio for trusting me with another one of their audiobooks though NetGalley. I truly appreciate the opportunity to review amazing books like this. All opinions are my own, and as usual, if I don’t like a book you will definitely know it.

Overall Rating 6 Stars (a first for me).

House of the Beast by Michelle Wong 4.5⭐️
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Wow was I swept away by this book. House of the Beast is much more straight fantasy and reads like an epic anime. Aster is an amazing sunshiney chaotic evil deity and an awesome foil to master swordswoman and storm cloud personified Alma. I found the world and magic system unique but easily understandable. While the romance in the book was subplot, I was obsessed with the banter between Aster and Alma and loved the glimpses of Kaim and Fion we got. I was lucky enough to receive both an eARC and ALC. The audio performance was well done but I found myself preferring the experience of reading the book myself in order to enjoy all the gorgeous drawings the author sprinkled throughout the story.
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Overall I loved this book and am very much hoping that this is just the first in series because I need more!
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**Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Voyager, and HarperAudio for the eARC and ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

Not usually a fan of haunted houses in real life or in stories, but House of the Beast was super interesting and immersive. As a fan of folklore and retellings, Wong does an incredible job of stitching together a clever story with memorable characters in a page-turning book you won’t soon forget.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, HarperAudio, HarperAudio Adult, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this advanced copy! You can pick up House of the Beast on August 5, 2025.

I'm obsessed with this magical, fantastical world of gods, monsters, and the vessels that serve them. Michelle Wong has created a unique premise with this book, and I loved the lore and ceremony that surround it.

Our protagonist, Alma, is a bastard daughter of a lord of the House of the Beast. When her mother gets sick, she travels to see her father and asks for aid. Instead, he steals her away to his world and demands she sacrifice a piece of her flesh to the Beast so she can train to serve her father in his retinue. Little does he know that the "Beast" has been with Alma her whole life in the form of her imaginary friend, Aster.

The dynamic between Aster and Alma was incredible. Even though he shows himself as a child, slowly growing up with Alma over the years, she (and we, the reader) know that he's actually a thousand-year-old god with his own agenda and machinations. But they form a surprisingly tender bond that transcends the revenge and retribution that drive them both.

But I also love how much Alma starts to separate herself from Aster over the course of the story. She's relied on him for love and companionship her entire life, but throughout the trials she endures at Aster's will, she forms new connections with her distant family and competitors. It's not just her and her monster against the world anymore; she now has the space and time to form new friendships and lasting bonds.

The ending was as devastating and climactic as I expected -- but it also surprised me! I love how Michelle Wong wrapped things up, and I can't wait to see what she writes next!

If you need a new, standalone fantasy featuring gods, monsters, trials, and family drama, this is your book! Go pick it up!!

Thank you to HarperAudio Edit for the ALC!

House of the beast is a dark fantasy and holy do we get that right out of the gate(please read the content warnings). Alma, our FMC who has struggle with being an outsider her whole life truly shows us what can happen when you are lonely and the situation becomes dire. I am all for a good revenge story, and the story itself was fantastic. The divine beings, and the reflection of what can happen when one serves them was absolutely resounding throughout the book. WHile I would have loved to see more spite, especially at the gods, to retain ones humanity despite your circumstances is so important.

While I loved the story, honestly, the writing style wasn’t for me. I feel like we got most of the world building in the last 25% of the book, where some it could have come sooner to keep the middle a bit more interesting. For a standalone I felt that it had a Wheel of Time world building feel, which is great for a series but I think was a little too much at certain points of this book. I feel at times it was a bit repetitive, but I am so happy I got through it because even thought the pacing and style wasn’t for me, that ending was divine.The crescendo we got was insane, and I truly did not see some of the twist that was coming. Also note, it is OK that it was not my style, and I still recommend that you check it out. If slow pacing is not for you, check out the audio. It was a great production, with Jeanne Syquia doing a phenomenal job. You could feel the passion and the emotion coming through, and I was able to set a reading speed that was good for me despite the slow build. The production quality of the audio book was phenomenal and despite having a single narrator, Jeanne was able to create such diverse voices and tonality amongst the characters. Highly recommend the audio version. I am really happy I was able to have an immersive experience with both the ARC and the ALC.

I simply cannot stop thinking about this book, y’all! Michelle Wong has masterfully created the most sinister, lush, idiosyncratic world that both gave me the creeps and intrigued the hell out of me. Filling this riveting setting is an expansive cast of characters, all fully fleshed out with their own motives and desires. Believe me when I say the word count is worth it for this level of detail!

House of the Beast literally starts off with the main character’s left arm being cut off by her father, as per family tradition. Like uhh wtf, but also please tell me more because I’m already hooked. If you’re looking for another sweet romantasy arc, you won’t find it here. The relationship between the FMC, Alma, and Aster, her kinda-imaginary-but-also-very-real monster/god, is twisted, codependent, and utterly addictive. I mean, Aster pretty much enthusiastically encourages Alma to murder people in the most grotesque ways possible, as often as possible. At the same time, there are so many endearing elements that you can’t help but love them together. It just…works in its warped strangeness.

I love that this is a standalone novel, but my heart is also completely shattered that it’s a standalone novel. I need 50 more books set in this world, please. With this one book, Michelle Wong is easily solidified as an auto-buy author for me. You can now find me over here, impatiently waiting for her next novel like my life depends on it.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and HarperAudio for the gifted eARC & ALC!

I was drawn to this book by the beautiful art I’ve seen leading up to its release. Good character art will get me every time. It led me to such a good book! This fantasy book was set in a world with a very unique religious system. In sacrifice to whichever god, the devotee offers a part of themselves. Literally. That in itself was so gruesome and interesting. These “vessels” are high-ranking individuals from noble families. With the brutal nature of what it took to be revered, it’s no wonder that the court politics were just as brutal.
Our main character, Alma, was not raised among the nobles. She lived far from them with her mother. When her mother fell ill, she took matters into her own hands. This led to her own sacrifice to a god. Through all of her trials in her new life, reminders of her mother carried her through. There were so many examples of the enduring power of love in this book. Alma and her mother were just one of them.

Alma often found herself on the outside of society. In her loneliest moment is where she discovered Aster, the prince of the stars. They were each other’s guiding light and closest friend. He encouraged Alma when she felt weak and supported her ambitions. He even loved her monstrous parts. Without spoiling anything, I love how the conflict was resolved. It truly was the only way it could have been! No matter how much it hurt.

The audiobook was a great way to experience this book. The production was high quality and easy to follow. Even with the different terms and places mentioned, I did not find myself confused. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for allowing me access to an advanced audiobook of House of the Beast.

I have so many thoughts and feelings about the book (mostly positive). The story was very creative, and the eldritch and body horror parts were perfectly horrific. I read the description of the novel, but somehow missed the part where it said twisted romance. I'll be honest, if I had seen that part before reading, I may have skipped over the book because I usually prefer HEA romances. I did genuinely enjoy the book, it just wasn’t exactly what I was expecting (entirely my fault).

The magic/religious system in the book felt fresh. Different houses serve different gods, and a person can gain power by sacrificing a part of their body to their god.

I enjoyed Alma as the main character. She was a bit naive and probably should have asked certain characters a few clarifying questions, but she went through a lot of character development by the end of the book. Sevelie, Kiam, and Fion were interesting side characters, but I wish Alma’s relationship with them had been expanded upon. The story sort of flies through the 8ish years that she lives with her father’s family, and I would have enjoyed some more info from that period. The ending of the book was satisfying, but I wish the ending had been a bit longer (not really a complaint, I just liked the story).

When I read any book, I’m simply along for the ride and don’t try to predict the ending, but I can honestly say I was shocked by how the story ended.

This was a phenomenal debut novel, and I will be keeping an eye out for more from Michelle Wong.

Narration: 5 stars

This is one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to. Jeanne Syquia did a phenomenal job of conveying each character, their emotions, and their goals. Each character has a distinct voice but it felt very natural and not over the top as I’ve seen in some audiobooks.

Story: 4.5 stars

This story felt so vivid and unique. It is dark, gritty, and each character is morally questionable and yet it’s so easy to see and understand each of their motives. Alma is a great character to follow and I love seeing her internal battle between vengeance and keeping others safe (even if those same people don’t like her). The only thing I wish is that we saw more depth in the twisted and toxic connection between Alma and Aster. As it stands, it feels a bit surface level until the end.

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook for review. All opin are my own. Thanks to Harper Audio for the ALC!

🚨THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE🚨

If you, like me, read the blurb, saw 'a boy only she can see' and thought HELL YEAH I SHIP IT, that's not where this goes.

I requested this because the author illustrated for the TLOK graphic novel and this definitely feels like it could have been a season arc in the show.

Please prepare for a chaotic review because my thoughts are all over the place.

House of the Beast sounded like Iron Widow to me, so I went into it expecting that amount of rage. And while Alma is angry, she's still kind of soft and trusting. So I wouldn't really put it in the realm of feminine rage bloody vengeance type books. (It's bloody but different. Trust.)

Anyway I clocked the *twist* pretty early on, but I don't think it detracted from the story for me, because I wanted to see how it played out. I actually expected a slightly different outcome (see above about the romance).

All the relationships in this book are toxic af. Except the one with Alma's cousin, and I'm glad the author chose to make them friends rather than keep them as enemies, because we need more women supporting women.

Something I appreciate is the time skip of eight years--I've seen enough training montages in fantasy books. I get the gist.

This isn't advertised as YA but it felt YA to me--somewhere between Hunger Games and Iron Widow, but with less social commentary, wedged into a season of The Legend of Korra.

The narrator was good!
3.5/5

5⭐️

This just rocketed to my 2025 favourites.
Big thanks to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

House of the Beast is one of those books that completely pulls you under — dark, eerie, emotionally charged, and so beautifully written. Michelle Wong’s debut reads like a gothic fairy tale told in candlelight, full of gods, monsters, grief, and impossible choices. And her illustrations scattered throughout? Stunning. They add such a rich, moody layer to the story that made it even harder to put down.

Alma is such a strong, complex lead — not perfect, but deeply human in how she carries her pain and anger. And the Beast? He’s as fascinating as he is unsettling. I really appreciated how the story never romanticizes their relationship. It’s toxic, controlling, and rooted in desperation — and the book makes that clear. This isn’t a “beauty and the beast” love story. It’s about surviving the things that try to claim you, and figuring out who you are once the dust settles.

It’s dark, yes, but it’s also weirdly tender and full of heart. And it absolutely stuck with me.

Michelle Wong is an author I’ll be watching closely from now on — I can’t believe this is her debut. Highly, highly recommend for fans of twisted fairy tales, eldritch magic, and emotionally layered storytelling.

House of the Beast is a strong debut novel from Michelle Wong. It has garnered comparisons to anime in tone and I would say that feels pretty accurate, especially because the fight scenes jump off the page. I appreciated that the novel didn’t shy away from body horror and gore.

The heart of this novel, and the most compelling aspect in my opinion, is the dynamic between Alma and Aster (the eldritch god that has latched onto her). Honestly, I loved it. Aster encourages her darkest impulses and fans the flames of her rage into a fire, while still somehow coming across as mischievous/cheeky instead of evil. It made complete sense how Alma, in her grief and isolation, would become so close to and codependent on such a being. Ultimately, I wish the book had leaned into this relationship just a tad bit more and taken it further because the restraint with which the relationship was handled made it feel like I was reading a YA novel at times. I wanted more!

There were some things I thought could be improved upon. The world building was interesting, but confusing to me. We don’t spend much page time with the other gods, houses, or pilgrims and by the end I felt like I still didn’t have a good enough grasp on these things or their function in this society. Additionally, about 80% of the way through, Alma made a series of decisions that were increasingly baffling to me.

With tight pacing and main characters that don’t fit neatly into “good” or “bad,” I had a fun time with this novel! House of the Beast inhabits a unique enough niche within the fantasy genre to make it worth your while to check out.

The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job! They were great as Alma and made the other characters sound distinct from one another. Would recommend to enhance your reading experience.

House of the Beast is a stunning debut from Michelle Wong with its dark and atmospheric fantasy world, rich array of characters, and complex mythological and political landscapes. I had the privilege of toggling between the arc and alc, but did find myself gravitating towards the audio due to the captivating narrator (and because the e-arc did not look the best on kindle). However, sprinkled throughout the arc are brilliant little doodles drawn by the author, who was an artist for The Legend of Korra, so I definitely made sure to rifle through and catch each one. I usually struggle with fantasy books on audio, but this one was easily digestible and vivid to me in my mind.

Compared to The Poppy Wars, I definitely saw a correlation between Alma and Fang. Alma was full of feminine rage (rightfully so) and a complete badass seeking vengeance for her mother she never got to say goodbye to. She and her steadfast companion and ?imaginary friend, Aster, made for a frightful and at times, comical pair. While there is the slightest undercurrent of romance throughout the story, it never overtakes the narrative. It is a tried and true coming of age story featuring the perfect (in my opinion) flawed and deeply introspective heroine. And this world that Wong created was such a fresh breath of fantastical air, and while dark and often gory, I was drawn in like a moth to a flame. This also goes down as one of only two books to make me tear up this year (because what was that ending?!😭), and I am not a cryer when it comes to reading lol. The rich world of Kugara with its subjects, gods and religions, is one I'll be thinking about for a while. I'm also honestly hoping that maybe Wong is leaving the door open for a Kaim and Fion sequel👀...pretty, pretty please?!? Anywaysssss, I've pre-ordered my copy which will feature some more character art by Wong, so I will be camped on my doorstep until it arrives! And I truly look forward to featuring this in my AAPI recommendations next year!

Thank you Netgalley, Avon & Harper Voyager, and Harper Audio for the advance copies in exchange for an honest review.

So I unfortunately didn’t like this.
The dialogue was very juvenile for an adult fantasy book, this could be in part due to the narrator who I really didn’t enjoy. I feel like this easily would’ve been more successful if the book was marketed as YA as there was no romance, minimal explicit language, and the protagonist was freshly 19.
Alma, the main character, was supposed to be fuelled by rage and constantly talked about getting revenge but was always nice and proper in action. I wish that she had been pushed further to be a morally grey protagonist. All supporting characters were also very flat including the all mighty “dread beast” who was manifested as a blonde teenage boy which I thought was an interesting choice. I do feel like this was so they seemed similar ages so that her having a crush on him wasn’t weird, but I wish that had pushed into the romantic relationship more or had him seem more wise/ancient in being.
The fantasy aspect wasn’t fully developed/explored though I feel had lots of potential and just got lost within all the filler (as there was a lot). I also fear I guessed the “plot twist” at the beginning so that was anti climactic for me.
I feel like if I read the physical book I would’ve liked it (a little) better. Plus the physical edition has illustrations throughout and a map!
Thank you Harpercollins and Harper Audio for the ARC!

What an interesting book. The book follows Alma as she deals with the father she hates and tries to get revenge against him for her Mother’s death. There is court intrigue, gods and monsters, betrayals and surprises around and every corner, and a twist to keep things extra interesting. The book feels slow at the beginning but after chapter 6 it really picks up and ends up being really interesting.
The narrator did a great job telling the story in an interesting way and her voice acting was really good.

Loved this story! I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but I absolutely loved it!

This story follows Alma, the bastard daughter of the House Avera, as she is taken into her father’s family and prepared to assist in an ancient ritual to the Dread Beast.

This story is action packed. It features a strong female character fueled by anger and the need for revenge. All the characters could be considered morally grey, but Alma knows how to pick her own battles, even if it means angering her beast.

The intro throws you right in, meeting Alma as a young girl, living with her mother, and then being removed from her mother, when she falls ill. The story follows the first few months at House Avera, and then quickly progresses to 8 years later.

A large part of the story is spent building the story. Building the history, the customs, and developing the relationship between Alma and Aster, her “Imaginary Friend” Any lag or lull is worth it, as each relationship, each person, is crucial to the overall story.

Once the pilgrimage begins, this book becomes another beast entirely, full of action, violence, monsters, and gore. It does not disappoint!!

I was lucky enough to be provided the e-arc through The Nerdfam, and the advance listening copy from Netgalley and Harper Audio.

Sprinkled throughout the book are illustrations drawn by the author, which add such a special touch to the story. We get to see what the author envisions her characters looking like and get to see a few scenes come to life on the page.

The narrator, Jeanne Syquia, does a fantastic job at narrating this story. Making it easy to tell each character apart, and building tension, and emotion throughout the story!

This story was so good. I highly recommend checking it out!!

🏰✨ Just finished "House of the Beast" by Michelle Wong and wow—what a weird ride! 🎧 This audiobook had me questioning if I truly loved it or just found it intriguingly bizarre. Jeanne Syquia's narration brought Alma and Aster to life in a hauntingly beautiful way that perfectly matched this strange, fantastical world. 🌌 This story is like nothing I’ve ever encountered. It follows Alma as she embarks on a dark quest for revenge against her father’s house after the tragic loss of her mother, with her "monster" companion by her side. 🌟 In a gripping battle, she must defeat a fallen star to become the first hand of her house’s god, all while navigating the disdain of her cruel family. 💔 Alma, born out of wedlock due to her father's affair, faces a family that makes no effort to hide their contempt for her. But she and her monster are equally determined not to let anyone stand in their way! 🔥 It’s a thrilling race to see who will triumph when the dust finally settles. Fair warning: This book doesn't hold back on the violence—it's dark, it's weird, and it's undeniably original. 🖤 I rated it 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 because I admired Alma's strength as she contemplates the cost of embracing Aster's violent nature. After all, what’s the point of achieving your goals if it means losing the essence of who you are? 🤔 If you’re on the hunt for something delightfully strange, dark, and whimsically enchanting, look no further—this is the book for you! 📚✨

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the opportunity to review this story.


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