A review by midlife_fantasy_reader
House of the Beast by Michelle Wong

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I was really disappointed with this book. It was marketed as a dark gothic adult romantasy, which it very much isn't. The writing was more suitable to a YA book, as was the plot and pacing of the story. The first 25% of the book I enjoyed, setting up the main FMC, her background and getting her to were she needed to be for the main plot to start. However after that things just didn't progress. I skim read the middle third of the book as nothing much happens. The ending is were all the action happens, and is a satisfying ending, but everything else just falls a bit flat. The narrative and plot are simplistic, the FMC doesn't seem to have much internal struggle or dialogue with her revenge plan (or if she does it's very easily squashed in 5 seconds). 

There is quite a bit of gore and violence, which I suspect is why it wasn't marketed as a YA book, but I think it should have been edited for a YA audience as this is a disappointing adult book, and definitely not what it's marketed as!

If this had been marketed as a YA book about revenge (similar to For She is Wrath) I think I maybe would have enjoyed it more, but this is definitely not what it's marketed as.