House of Frank is a cosy fantasy about grief and love and I adored this warm hug of a book so so much.

Saika is grieving the loss of her sister, and travels to Ash Gardens to lay her to rest in the magical arboretum, but struggles to let go, and is invited by Ash Garden’s caretaker Frank (a big fluffy monster who wears knit cardigans!) to stay for as long as she needs, helping around the house, finding a new family and maybe even falling in love. :’)

I loved all the characters, especially Evette and Oli, and thought the pacing and reveals were super well done. I read this book over the span of a couple of days and every time I wasn’t reading it, I was just thinking about how much I wished I was.

I would recommend House of Frank to any fantasy/cosy fantasy readers, and especially to fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea, Legends and Lattes, and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bindery Books for the ARC!

A big hearted, grief heavy, queer, cozy fantasy that was made with so much love and care it felt like the book itself was a gift crafted by Hilde. I can't wait for this to come out so I can pass it along to my fellow readers. I'll be recommending this to any cozy fantasy fan, but especially those who loved Sangu Mandanna's "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" , Emma Mills's "Something Close to Magic" or T. Kingfisher's "Nettle and Bone"

"House of Frank" is a beautiful debut novel by Kay Synclaire, in which our protagonist Saika is confronted by grief and experiences healing and forgiveness in found family and community. This book is wonderfully thought out, the characters are compassionate, and even though there is no true villain, those who are perceived to be a bit "mean" are treated with empathy. This is a gentle and cosy fantasy filled with bittersweet love from the first page to the last. It wraps you in magic and feels like a warm hug.

I absolutely loved this cozy queer fantasy about grief. This book will always hold a special place in my heart

I really loved this quick and cozy story about love and grief. I found the narrative style of having Saika speaking directly to her lost sister added a lot to the use of grief in the story. You can really feel her pain, and see her struggling with her journey through her inner dialogue. I also loved the way the unknown elements of the story unfold themselves naturally, and the reader gets to slowly pick up the pieces as they go along. I always find that much more enjoyable than being spoon-fed the backstory.

This kind of isolated story often feels limiting in how much exploration of the fantasy world and background we get, and while that did feel present here I think the length of the story allowed it to be a minor setback rather than a large glaring issue. It feels like a small bite of a grand world, and that makes it very digestible and focused.

This was absolutely wonderful. Cozy, heartwarming, magical... honestly, a warm hug in a book. Wonderful portrayal of grief and comforting.

Such a beautiful exploration of grief, that readers will absolutely connect with. The voices of the characters were real and meaningful, along with authentic character development throughout the story. I loved the setting too, the house and arboretum came alive in my mind. I will be handselling this to those interested in cosy fantasy and diverse representation in the genre.

I loved this book so much!!! I recommend everyone to read this book asap. I gave it 4 stars. Loved every single second of it.

House of Frank is the perfect cozy fantasy book that wraps you up in a warm hug and makes you feel ALL of the feels.

Powerless witch Saika arrives at the stormy Ash Gardens to fulfill her sister’s final wish of planting her remains, where she is welcomed by Frank, a fluffy mythical beast who offers her a role as a caretaker. Desperate to avoid her grief, Saika accepts the job, despite being disconnected from her magic since her sister’s death. Using a fragment of a fallen star to cast enchantments, she hides her lack of intrinsic power while getting to know Frank, the decaying house, and its eclectic staff. Over time, Saika learns to reconcile her joy and grief, rediscovering the meaning of love, and healing in the process.

This book just swept me up in its magical world and I just adored my time with it! I read the whole book in one sitting, which is quite an impressive feat for me and speaks volumes about how all-encompassing and engrossing the reading experience was. The characters popped off the page and I felt so connected to their storylines. I was brought to tears multiple times during the book. Multiple times!! I just wanted to wrap them all up in a huge hug, they were just so wholesome.

The romance in the book was also just adorable, so if you like the dislike to love (not really hate to love) trope, this one will give you exactly what you need.

Oh, and if you are a sibling, you are in for a ride. let the tears ensue.

I do want to say that while the book is cozy, it heavily deals with grief. The story essentially follows a cast of characters grieving different losses, so it inherently feels heavy, but with that dash of magic, it balances out perfectly.

If you're looking for something to warm you up in the Fall, curl up with this one. I'm sure you won't regret it.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: October 15th

House of Frank is sort of like being wrapped in a soft blanket. This is peak cozy fantasy. At the same time, it's also heavy; it's about grief, in every aspect. It's the story of Saika, a witch who has lost her powers, and is finally fulfilling her sister's dying wish to be put to rest at Ash Gardens, a beautiful arboretum where the deceased are planted and can become something beautiful. When Saika arrives, she realizes she's still not ready to go, but Frank, the owner, offers her a job. The Ash Gardens are crumbling and need another witch to keep it going, so Saika doesn't mention that her powers aren't exactly working, and she takes the job.
The cast is beautiful. There's Oli, the half-witch who doesn't know her own strength. Phil, the silent but knowing ghost. Evette, a fairy and incredible cook. Cherubs Merry and Morose, who are twins but can't agree on anything. Hilde, the empath, Ignatius, the engineer. And Frank, who is just trying to hold Ash Gardens together in the wake of his wife's loss, trying to keep her memory alive by carrying on her life's work.
It's definitely character driven; at times, it can be slow and dense. As I said, it's heavy, but it's beautiful. It's absolutely worth it.

You know you are in for a tear jerker when the main character is mourning her sister, and is carrying her ashes with her, as the story opens.

Saika has lost her sister, but we dont’ know any details, other than she is a witch, as is her family, and that in this world that is quite normal. She is a music witch, and she was asked by her dying sister to have her ashes put in the Ash Garden, where the remains will be used to grow magical trees.

But Saika isn’t ready to let go, so Frank, who is some type of mythical furry creature with horns, offers to let her stay, and work, until she is ready to bury the ashes. Everyone else who works at Ash Gardens, Saika learns, also came when they lost family members, and never left.

Although this is a sad book, there is humor. There is also a mystery. We know that something happened, we just don’t know what, or how.

And certainly there are lots of things to be sad about, throughout the book.

I enjoyed having my heart played with. Because there was such beauty in everyone, from grumpy elves to cherubs to other witches. We even have dreams that are trying to tell Saika…something.


Thanks to netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published the 15th of October 2024.

Overview
This book is sad, heartfelt and so beautiful. The author's love for the story and the characters just vibrates off the page. House of Frank is filled with magic, mystery, love and grief - it's almost overwhelmingly beautiful. The author portrays the sense of grief in a deep, heart-breaking way that feels so, so real. I'm not going to lie. I cried reading this. It's just beautiful.

Characters
This is one of those rare books where my favorite character was actually the main character, Saika, but honestly, it was a tough call, because I love the entire crew of Ash gardens. (Especially Frank, Phil, Oli, Merry, Morose, Evette, Bee and Ignatius 😄) Each one of them adds to the story in their own way, each one of them has their own burden to bare, yet they still manage to love each other more than anything. House of Frank is the ultimate found-family story. Not to mention that the cast of characters includes pretty much all the colors of the rainbow. 🌈

Plot
House of Frank read as cozy fantasy to me, yet it certainly had a story to it. I absolutely adored how Saika gradually uncovering the hidden secrets of the house and its inhabitants - and even herself. There was zero info dumping, (much appreciated ❤️) When I found out something about, say, the characters, it felt earned. (And trust me, there's a lot to find out.)

What did I love the most?
How the book proudly stayed true to itself until the very end, no matter what.

Anything I didn't like?
A few overused phrases. Occasional over-explaining. I could've used more worldbuilding. But that's honestly just me being a wannabe-writing professional.

Favorite quote?
"I trust you with my pain. I trust you with my heart. It's all I can give to you."

Similar books?
TJ Klune: Under the Whispering Door (Close similarity)
TJ Klune: House in the Cerulean Sea (Same type of crew of characters)
Travis Baldree: Legends and Lattes (Similar concept)
Maja Lunde: History of Bees (I don't know, just had the same, beautiful vibes)

Final thoughts
I predict a very, very bright future for House of Frank. For anyone who loves found family, uncovered secrets and sad, beautiful stories - this is for you. From now on, I will constantly recommend House of Frank (meaning I won't shut up about it) and I just feel really blessed to have been able to read it before publishing. It is truly a ride.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC! This was a heartbreakingly beautiful story of love, loss, grief, and healing. I felt such a strong connection to the characters and I cried many times. Highly highly recommend.

This novel is a gentle hug. Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for sending this egalley in exchange for an honest review! What a warm, cozy fantasy about a witch's grief, about the piece of Saika that passed, her sister Fiona. This book confronts that pain and the journey that follows. What I loved about this piece, apart from the found family element, was Saika's second person address to Fiona. This thread continues throughout the book, and it greatly expresses Saika's struggles with greif, love, and loss. I did, however, want to explore that aspect even more. I would highly recommend this book to cozy fantasy lovers, especially if you're looking for something healing, something comforting. 3.5 / 5.0 ⭐️

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book. I absolutely loved it! I will be posting my review on Goodreads.

Reading this book was such a beautiful experience. Every character was so unique and their relationships with each other were intricate and wonderfully written. I’m truly in awe of how Kay managed to capture such complex emotions and share them in such whimsical and tender hearted ways. 5 out of 5 fallen stars ⭐️

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this amazing ARC!
I just knew I would love this book. The queer, found family, fantasy mix just really hits home every time.
The House of Frank is a beautiful story and truly a five star, must read.
The only thing that confused me a tad was the “you”, however, it just took some getting used to and made complete sense for this story.
Overall, amazing read!

What a precious book.
It gives a whimsical look at grief and grappling with loss with carefully crafted lovable characters.
It’s cozy like a warm cup of tea or hot soup when you’re sick. I hope others find this as healing as I did.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

With all the bravado and emotional gusto of Howl's Moving Castle paired with the coziest of cozy fantasy settings, "House of Frank" is a force to be reckoned with; a no-holds-barred looking glass into which readers experience the true depths of grief, and the lengths people will take to cope with even an ounce of the darkness that grief thrusts upon us.

Each character, from Saika to each of the wonderfully diverse cast of creatures at Ash Gardens, holds a fragment of grief in different ways, manifesting in messy character choices and flawed internal rationalities. This is a story that doesn't ask for you to look BEYOND grief to see the person within, instead gently guiding readers (and Saika) to look at how grief works in conjunction to molds the person you see before you. So while Saika initially makes some dubious choices that had me questioning her morality and sense of justice, her growth as a character shines brightest as she opens up to the family at Ash Gardens, and vice versa. Most of all, I absolutely adored how the plot revolved around the found family/platonic love aspect between all the characters, and how, even though there is a sliver of romance, it doesn't monopolize the greater story of family that the book offers.

Beyond the characters, the world-building of the story is intricately detailed, while remaining light enough to cushion readers in the "cozy" aspect of this cozy fantasy. I loved all the glimpses into the greater world Saika and Oli's character offered to the story, and every aspect of the group's trip to the city felt so purposeful in expanding the world.

My one and only criticism is that I wish the book had offered more in-depth physical descriptions of the characters themselves, specifically Saika and Frank, both which I struggled a bit to picture in my mind. However, the lack thereof did not hinder my total enjoyment of the story, and I would still give this story my highest recommendation for all those who love cozy, queer (sapphic!) fantasy stories.

This book has everything I'm searching for in a novel - magic, found family, and queer stories. As an added bonus, it also tackles grief in a way that was heartwarming and easy to digest. While it's easy to get swept up in the idea of magic and a special arboretum, the underlying need for our MC to confront her grief and begin healing is still present. It would be easy to let this consume the whole book, but the author still found moments for levity and knew exactly when to play into the magical components rather than the real-world connections.

I was unfamiliar with the author prior to this book, but I loved this and would definitely read more from them in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bindery Books. This book was so lovely!! Ash Gardens is a magical resting place for witches run by Frank. Saika is a powerless witch who comes to Ash Gardens with the remains of her sister to grieve and mourn. But while she is there as she puts off the ceremony to bury her sister, Saika learns more about Frank and the other mythical creatures who live and help run Ash Gardens. This book is a sweet story about grief and learning to be yourself and letting go. I can't believe this is a debut novel. I loved this and will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author in the future.

The way this book is about to become my entire personality. I immediately connected with this author from the humor on the pronunciation page.
It's a beautiful story of loss and grief and finding your new place in the world. I love the way that it's written in a way that it seems like you are the sister who has passed. It's full of amazing representation and one of my favorite tropes, found family. I loved it from page one and was in tears by the end.

This genuinely messed me up & had me sobbing on the floor. So so so so beautiful, I will treasure it forever and cant wait for the release!

Very imaginative and cozy story, with a huge take of a found family and dealing with grief. Perfect for fans of The house in the Cerulean Sea.
4 stars

This is a great, grief-centered cozy fantasy novel, though it wasn't quite for me (because the focus on grief was a little more than I prefer in my 'cozies', whatever genre they may be). I'm so glad this is going to be out in the world, and I know so many people will love and feel affirmed by it.

Wow. If I could have only one book to read for the rest of my time , it would be this wonderful, heart warming novel. I absolutely loved it and it was exactly what I needed for this much dreary time of life. The world is a cold place these days, and this was the warm hug I needed to make me have hope in this world again.
Such a beautiful story. So , I will definitely be following this authors work

I don’t often read sapphic stories, but I’m certainly glad I read this one!

Saika has a past full of heartbreak. She has arrived at Ash Gardens to inter he’s sister’s ashes. What she finds when she arrives is a magical house full of amazing characters.

This is a great story for lovers of the found family trope. It is beautifully written, and a joy to read. Sai’s growth and healing are comforting.

In this story you will encounter a mythical beast, a fairy, witches, cherubs, and more. It’s a great story for fantasy lovers!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. This is a cozy fantasy book that deals with the topics of love, grief and loss. I really loved the main characters journey of dealing with the loss of her sister. This story has a quirky cast of supporting characters that make the story even better. The setting of the story enhances the story being told and not just a background to it. This story drew me in and once I got about a quarter of the way through the book, I could not put it down. I recommend giving this book a read.

I loved this book with a passion (and an amount of tears) that I was honestly not expecting. I just loved everything about it. The cover is stunning, it really captures the vibes of the story without giving anything away. And it’s just so beautiful. The characters feel extremely real and are all so so lovely. I really truly and deeply cared about them and their friendship with one another, and I found the sheer kindness of their actions, so powerful that bleeds through most of the pages of this book so heartwarming. All within a plot that is unexpected and an approach to grief and loss (two of my biggest personal triggers) that is oh-so-refreshing. Definitely a five stars read.

Normally, at this point I would summarise the plot, but I think the less you know the better it is, so I’ll tell you a story instead. It’s a bit of a long and winding story, but bear with me. My mum has this body oil that she would bring on vacations. It’s a friction oil (I think that’s what they are called in English), which you put on your legs or your arms after having done sports to soothe muscle pain. We would use it after days walking in new cities, and it would really help getting our legs to feel light again – and to be useable the day after. She calls it “the magical oil”, because what it does is “it finds the spots within your muscles where you are (going to be) most sore, and then it acts specifically there.” You know it because you feel a cooling sensation only in specific parts of your legs. Now, letting along the fact that this is EXACTLY how this oil feels, I cannot find better words to describe the experience that reading House of Frank was for me. Going through the pages really felt like a sort of balm was coating my heart and my memories, finding precisely the points that were ‘sore’ and just healing them. I felt parts of me glow after I finished the epilogue.

In the last few years, only two other books have had this effect on me: Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki and A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers. House of Frank is NOT a read alike for either, but the sensations that it leaves you with are absolutely comparable.
Reading this book was such a joyful and cathartic experience to get through. I had to force myself to read it at a leisurely pace (like over two days instead of one setting), because I just wanted to tear through it but the language, the feelings, the plot, and the characters needed to be savoured.

I really really really can’t wait for it to be out. I honestly can’t wait to get my hands on a hard copy and reread it, maybe even a bit slower than I did this time. Oh, and I can’t wait to see the fan art that I am sure will flourish after this book hits the shelves.

House of Frank is a sweet and cozy story about grief and self-discovery. The main character, Saika, was a wonderful conduit to watch the story unfold- I thought the way that her grief was portrayed felt very true-to-life, and reminded me often that grief never grows smaller, but that our lives grow around that grief and make it easier to carry. The found-family aspect of this book was also really gratifying- the characters were unique and memorable, and all dealing with their own stories in different ways- I was excited to learn more about each of them and discover how they fit into the fabric of the house. I particularly loved Phil the ghost, and thought he was a really fun addition to the house. The magical aspect was also well-done; I liked the explanation of it and how it added to the overall story, though it might have been interesting to understand more about it and how it worked. I don’t think this is really a negative- the story is really cozy as is, so it wasn’t pressing that I needed to know more or anything, but I thought that the magic system that Synclaire was building was interesting!

At times, it was difficult to connect with Saika’s voice- sometimes she would fall into repetitions and spirals, and while those are understandable since we’re dealing with a story about grief, they did sometimes disconnect me from the story. In addition, I wasn’t sure how I felt about Saika relaying her thoughts throughout the book to Fiona- at first, I thought it was a sweet addition, but sometimes (and I think this ties in with the spirals) it got to be a little too much for me.

Overall, this is such a sweet read, and it left me feeling hopeful and uplifted; and I would recommend to anyone who’s looking for a sweet read about grief and growing and finding exactly where you belong.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bindery Books for the ARC copy!

This book is really sweet: found family vibes, emotional moments; quite reminiscent of the very secret society of irregular witches in some ways except sapphic and with the addition of exploring grief. I think it lands somewhere around a 4 star for me: there were some moments with the love interest in the beginning that had me rolling my eyes HARD (think overly grumpy mad at the world cringeyness) and then a few moments in the middle that I could tell were supposed to be grand emotional reveal type things that just didn’t hit me quite perfectly. BUT the ending really wrapped it up so well and left me feeling all the things. Overall a lovely read! So excited for it to hit the shelves- thank you to Netgalley and Bindery for this eARC

Such a good book! Saika was a great main character. And all of the people she meets at Ash Garden are compelling in their own ways. Saika arrives in a rain storm to bury her sister’s ashes yet finds she can’t part with her right away. She stays to help around the house making friends with everyone and bringing us into their stories. Everyone was well written.

Currently ugly crying my eyes out at 2:30 in the morning as I write this... oh god. Oh my lord. When I heard of this, and requested it on Netgalley, my first thought was oh, is it gonna give House in the Cerulean Sea/Under the Whispering Door vibes? And it did, but better. I almost don't have the words to describe how I feel about this book but hands down it is easily one of my most favorite books this year in total.

It was so painful seeing how Frank suffered throughout the book. I get the metaphor that was being made with his character. Everyone here suffered, and it was sad knowing that everyone there lost someone. It was an honest and accurate depiction of how everyone deals with grief differently. Some go mad, some lose themselves, some clam up, some get angry. Everyone reacts different, and I think it's important to know and make the distinction, but also to know that everyone is still loveable despite losing a big part of their lives and personage.

I loved how everyone's story was highlighted, at least a bit. Some, more than others, like Phil, and Hilde, but I think their stories were important and lent themselves to the overall narrative, in order to push the plot line along, or to showcase who they really were at the core of themselves behind all the oohs and aahs of it all.

I laughed, I swooned, I gasped, I cried. House of Frank took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, and it is hands down a beautiful, sad, lovely book.

I had a real good time reading House of Frank. Would definitely recommend. Frank was my favorite character!

oh i am in shambles, this is lovely. The main focus of this novel is healing from grief: how different individuals deal with it, how incessantly every single one of them go through each stage of it, and how important community is while grieving.

House of Frank is a story told from the point of view of Saika, a witch who is grieving her sister Fiona's death. Saika subsequently switches from regular storytelling to direct address, talking to her dead sister Fi every chance she got.
She brings Fi's ashes to Ash Gardens, where you bury your dead's ashes and they grow into trees. Saika had put this task off for the longest time because she couldn't bear officially letting go of Fiona. She went on adventures and travelled everywhere for a long time before she could face the task of burying Fi.

Saika never found out why Fi wanted to be buried in Ash Gardens, only that she did. And in there, she doesn't bury Fi's ashes right away. She puts it off, again.

And it's easy for her to, because Frank makes it abundantly clear that there's no need for her to rush through the process, and that she's free to wait for however long she needs to be ready to bury her sister.

There in Ash Gardens she meets others like her: witches, ghosts, beasts, cherubs, etc., all brought together in the same house. Eventually Saika finds out that this is a house needing help--something that she's all too willing to give.

So she does! She buries herself in work, and does everything else except bury her sister once and for all (':

In the time she spends doing so, she finds love (platonic and romantic) and re-ignites the love she has for her sister in the process.

This book tackles heavy themes for sure, but they were all handled with care.

I finished reading this during Pride month so WOOHOO Happy Pride Month to all the characters in this book--the found families depicted here resemble many found families we have out here in the queer, queer wild.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC!

If you want a book to pull at your heart strings this is the one for you! House of Frank is possibly one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read.

We follow Saika our main character on her journey to lay to rest her sister Fi’s ashes after Fi requested to be planted at Ash Gardens in their magical arboretum.

This story is so heavily filled with grief but don’t let that put you off, despite the hard topic and theme this story is so utterly cozy, it feels like a warm hug.

For a debut novel I’m pleasantly surprised at how well this was written, it balanced the conversation of grief with light hearted banter and a beautifully written sapphic romance that felt natural and had me kicking my feet in the air, giddy. I also loved the diversity of all our characters!

Saika’s story is beautiful, the friends she makes (of the mythical kind) and the relationships she builds are heart warming and really bring the whole thing together. Her character was thought out and realistic and I instantly felt connected to her and her loss and will to keep the one she lost close.

This book is about loss and found family, it’s about magic and the cost of loving something so much but also being able to let go to move on and grow.

I’ll stop rambling before I spoil this beautiful book but please just read it for yourself because it definitely deserves the love!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this arc!

A fantastic book. Entertaining…witches, cherubs and more. I loved it and it had a much deeper course running it through it. I will think about it for a while . Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

House of Frank is a wonderful debut novel by the amazing Kay Synclaire. It is a story about grief and the process of healing while struggling to find your own self again. It has tropes and themes like Family, Sacrifices and Love. It’s a story that I believe everyone can relate to and find solstice in.

Initially I had to adjust to the point of view and Synclaire’s writing BUT once I did I really think it added to the emotions. Being a part of the story makes you feel as if you are there instead of spectating and I think it adds another level of whimsicalness and magic.

I loved the romance, its sapphic and all heart warming. Since its pride month no one is allowed to critique me when I say… Oli give me one chance. I have the biggest crush on her and no one is allowed to bully me.

The last 40% had be audibly gasping and laughing, I definitely got sent through a wave of emotions but things all worked out for the best, it was painful and unfair but real and I loved that. It’s just a beautiful example of the lengths people will go to to save and hold their chosen family dear.

Thank you NetGalley for early access, Kay for writing this and the team of people that helped support it enough to get it into my hands.

A comfy, melancholy, whimsical tale of grief and found family.

3.75 ⭐ , rounded to 4 ⭐

Told through the voice of Saika talking to her dead sister Fiona, we experience everything along with her. How do I explain that I was so sad but in the cosiest way possible? I felt like grief and I were passengers in Saika's story, how Saika, grief and I came to Ash Gardens and how we watched it evolve into the beautiful House of Frank. I deeply loved the world that Synclaire constructed and the range of personalities that made the story. Oh how I wish I could meet all of these gorgeous characters! Hilde was a particular favourite of mine, as well as Phil the friendly ghost. This story felt cathartic and explored grief in so many ways, stretching and pulling in different directions, showing how it impacts people so diversely.

Also, as an illustrator working in books, how could I not include my love for the cover art? That's what grabbed me in the first place! Illustrator Barry Blankenship did an incredible job. 10/10 no notes.

I think what could have been improved was the narrative structure and overall storytelling. A few major plot points would be revealed but it would feel slightly anticlimactic, or a scene would end quite abruptly. With some narrative editing, this would definitely be a 4.5, or even a 5 from me!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Perhaps arriving at closure a little quickly, this book introduces us to a fascinating set of magical and mythic personalities while reflecting on how we help one another grieve and live with grief. I appreciated the range of responses to loss that the book depicts as well as the different kinds of loss, recovery, and regret that can distance us from ourselves and others. This book is a delightful addition to modern fantasy that has all the whimsy of magic while having the people in a magical world cope with otherwise very realistic and human-scale problems. Look out for capably handled queer and trans representation which are present without being the focus of the book.

ARC Reviewer!

Wow. House of Frank is emotionally powerful. I love the representation of queerness and found family.

Saika, a witch with a secret, has to keep her promise of laying her sister, Fiona, to rest at Ash Gardens. This was her sister's dying wish and something Saika has put off for a while. She arrives and is greeted by a beastly Frank who treats her with kindness even though she didn't call ahead and was just dropping in. Saika slowly meets all of the staff of the house including Oli (a half witch), Phil (a ghost!), Hilde (an architect witch), Evette (a fairy!), Merry and Morose (two twin cherubs), and eventually Ignatius (a half elf). Each has their own role in keeping Ash Gardens afloat while a mysterious string of strong storms threatens to reduce the building and all the beautiful trees and plants around it to rubble. Saika struggles to find it in her to lay her sister to rest and instead decides to help out around the house until she is ready. Will the team be able to keep the house from crumbling or even find out why? What is Saika's secret and will it be the key to saving the house?

I could not pull myself away from this book. Kay Synclaire writes so beautifully and it was such a stunning story. I would recommend this book to anybody who wants to feel all of the feelings about death and family and what that means for you. I can't wait to read more from this author. Thank you to Net Galley and Bindery Books for providing me with this opportunity.

3.75 rounded up.
Saika travels to Ash Gardens to plant her sister's, Fi's, ashes. The staff include two witches (one part gargoyle), two cherubs, a light fairie, an elf, a ghost, and a beast named Frank. Saika is struggling with laying her sister to rest, while trying to hide her own failing power, but she's not the only one with secrets.

Things got off to a slow start, but this grew into a somewhat cozy, melancholy fantasy story. The melange of magical beings reminds me of The House in the Cerulean Sea with the business akin to Under the Whispering Door; I think fans of TJ Klune will enjoy this book. Though it's handling some heavy topics (death, some suicidal ideation, losing loved ones) there's a strong theme of found family and some joyful moments. There's a range of friendships and queer relationships

Thank you to Bindery Books / Ezeekat Press for an ARC on NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This book is due to be published 10/15/24.

Saika, a witch, grieving the loss of her sister and keeps her promise by bringing her sister’s ashes to Ash Gardens and Arboretum. Saika rides the train with her sister's ashes and walks to the gardens in a storm. When she arrives, she notices two cherubs eating fruit and talks with them before knocking on the red door. Frank, a gentle beast in a beige knit sweater wearing reading glasses answers the door. He convinces her to stay the night since the weather is too bad for her to leave. She decides to stay on as an employee to have more time with her sister's ashes. The story is both grief-filled and cozy, making it a must-read. Warnings: grief, death of a child, suicide, and mental illness

This was exactly as advertised: cozy fantasy about dealing with loss, grief, and sometimes survivor's guilt. Please do check out content warnings beforehand but this book deftly deals with heavier topics like deep grief in a very wholesome way: via a found family and characters who help each other and heal slowly together.

The fantasy here is almost incidental. There are cherubs, one of which is delightfully crass and grumpy, witches, beast persons, dragons, and even ghosts. I appreciated the light touch on the magical system and the variations between general witches (nature witches) and specialised witches who studied that specialty. Saika is a deeply sad but very likeable protagonist and the non-obvious source of her shame and regret is not hard to work out before the reveal. What matters is that we can feel how much Fi was her "second half" and without her sister, Saika is just wandering the world, bereft and incomplete.

I also enjoyed how well all the supporting cast in the house are, from a silent ghost to a fairy who loves to cook to a flirty half-demon witch. Each of them has their own circumstances and history but is bound by the comfort the Ash Gardens give to those who are grieving through their ceremonies and it's honestly moving as we get to know each of them.

Simply put, this was a wholesome and moving book about loss and I would recommend it to anyone who likes cozy fantasy.

This is a low stakes cozy fantasy novel, which is also not super long, so a very good first step into the fantasy genre! It covers grief in a thoughtful and beautiful way, and the characters are just amazingly well written. I might have put it as young adult though, instead of adult fiction.

If you are looking for an intro into fantasy, this is the perfect book for you. This short, low stakes fantasy novel covers grief in such a beautiful way. I connected with each of these characters and want to live in The House of Frank. The development of the characters is so thoughtful and well rounded that you can’t help but fall in love with each of them.

What a beautiful melody entangled with grief, love and magic.

Now this is a book that wraps you in a warm hug on a stormy night. I truly loved it and devoured it. Saika is mourning the loss of her sister. She had tried everything to avoid her feelings and coming to terms with her loss. That is until she takes a step towards The Ash Gardens. But she finds much more than she bargains for. This book is full of hope, found family and secrets.

I was quickly lost in the words of this book. The author did a beautiful job creating characters to love and relate to. Each reader will find a bit more inside this book than just another fantasy read. They will find a little piece of themselves. I truly wish we had a place like this in our world. But maybe we do we just have to open our eyes to those around us to find peace for our grieving hearts.

Don’t forget to wish upon a star you never know when that wish will be heard.

This was such a beautiful cozy fantasy. Fans of Legends and Lattes will love House of Frank. I enjoyed all the representation in the book! It is a great read about grief, found family, and perseverance.

eARC provided by Netgalley. Thank you!

I was first introduced to The House of Frank, written by Kay Sinclaire, from ezeekat, a TikTok and Instagram content creator I follow. This is the first book he acquired to publish by Bindery Books and I’m honored to be able to read it.

This novel is more than just a cozy fantasy novel. It is a journey of grief and self healing. It is about living, laughing and loving. It is about found family. It is a letter written for the dearly departed.

If you’ve ever lost someone, you can feel the anguish and heartfelt emotions conveyed by the main character Saika. It feels like you’re the only one suffering, but soon you come to terms with reality and that you can rely on others to help you through the tough times and find light in the darkness.

The cast of characters are diverse, with cherubs and witches, and mythical creatures. There is some queer romance in this as well, though not the main point of the story.

And as the title of the novel is called, it is about the house of Frank. A wonderful resting place for those who have passed on, and what a wonderful thing Frank does for those.

I would highly recommend this novel, to those who have lost a loved one in their life.

5/5 stars.

I thought this was beautiful, and I definitely shed some tears while reading. This was a lovely cozy fantasy that dealt mainly with the topic of grief. The found family storyline was deeply touching and well done. I'm not normally a fan of a second person narrative, but I thought it really worked for this book!
The pacing of this story was perfect and the character development was just superb. I ended up loving every single character in the end.

This book was a good read. While flawed, the characters were all loveable (or at least relatable) & you really wanted everything to work for the House of Frank. I enjoyed this story about friendship, family and the toll grief takes on us all.
I would like to read more about the characters & their stories that brought them to the House of Frank.