A review by that_reader_naomi
House of Marionne by J. Elle

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

My friend bought me this book as a gift so I had absolutely no expectations! I was a little hesitant at first because I felt certain of a chance that it could fall into tropes and lack the emotional depth it needed but NO! I was really invested in the plot, the stakes were high, and I really cared about our main character, Quell. Her struggle with wanting to belong and self acceptance was relatable and honest, and I really believed the path it took.
My main problem, and the only one I can put to words right now, was the writing. It wasn't terrible, but J. Elle utilizes a lot of simple sentences and sentence fragments. While this works great for making the dialogue feel modern and natural, it didn't always read very easily in the prose. I think it got better as the book progressed, but I was also so engrossed with all the twists and turns of the plot that I wasn't paying that much attention to the writing style anymore.
The pacing was great, especially in the romance! And the romance. It did not feel dependent on tropes, and I always love characters to have a real friendship first. (I'll be honest, I fell in love with Jordan, too.)
Overall, a really great book and I would definitely recommend to any modern fantasy lovers. I'm cautiously excited for the next book!