A review by reedrl333
House of the Beast by Michelle Wong

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

House of the Beast is a dark fantasy novel with a haunting, gothic atmosphere.

The story follows Alma, a young girl who lives with her mother on the outskirts of society, shunned due to the questionable circumstances of her conception and their refusal to participate in the region’s religious observances. When her mother falls ill, Alma begins searching for a way to save her—and in the process, uncovers the truth about her lineage. She is the illegitimate daughter of a direct descendant of House Avera, one of the four High Houses of Kugara and vessels of the Dread Beast, one of the eldritch gods that rule their world. Alma agrees to leave behind her old life and train under her father in exchange for the care her mother desperately needs. But she is despised by her new family and soon realizes that her father has no intention of keeping his promise, instead planning to use her as a pawn in his political schemes. Lost in despair, Alma finds an unexpected purpose through her peculiar connection with the Dread Beast, which sets her on a path to reshape their world and destroy those who took everything from her.

The story was incredibly unique with an intriguing premise and fantastic world building. There were moments when the story felt akin to an anime or video game, which makes sense given Michelle Wong’s history as a graphic novel illustrator. 

I adored the sketches included in the story throughout, which added to the overall reading experience. More books should have illustrations! I also appreciated the complex relationship between Alma, the morally gray protagonist, and “Aster”, her eldritch god companion. 

That said, there were a few areas that didn’t land as strongly. As is often the case with debut novels, the pacing was inconsistent. The story dragged in places, and the major climax—the pilgrimage into the Umbral Plane—doesn’t occur until the final quarter of the book. As a result, some of the most anticipated conflicts felt rushed or anticlimactic.

Also, while the book is marketed as adult or new adult, the tone and character dynamics felt more aligned with upper YA. Aside from the dark themes and graphic scenes, little about the story’s structure or dialogue reads as truly adult. I think this book would be best suited for a mature upper YA audience.

Overall, House of the Beast is a unique and atmospheric debut that blends gothic fantasy, mythology, and emotional character work into a richly imagined world. While the pacing and tonal balance may not be perfect, Wong’s distinctive voice, striking visuals, and morally complex characters makes this a memorable read. I’m excited to see what she creates next, and I’d gladly return to this world if she ever revisits it.

Thank you to Harper Voyager for access to an eARC via NetGalley! 
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