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A review by thelitraccoon
House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
TL;DR at the end
House of Blight was one of my most anticipated reads, and I was thrilled to get an ARC from NetGalley. The gothic atmosphere? Perfection. From the eerie Fernglove estate to the tension simmering between its inhabitants, the book immediately pulled me in. It had that haunting, unsettling quality that reminded me of One Dark Window, mixed with the push-and-pull love triangle dynamics that gave me Vampire Diaries vibes. While I really enjoyed my reading experience, a few things kept it from being a full five-star read.
What to Expect:
• A gothic fantasy with a dark, eerie setting
• A love triangle between Edina and the two mysterious Fernglove brothers
• A slow unraveling of secrets—who can really be trusted?
• A heroine balancing survival, duty, and dangerous attraction
• Casual LGBTQ+ representation woven into the world
What I Loved:
The writing was engaging and easy to get lost in, and the gothic atmosphere was everything I wanted—dark, immersive, and dripping with tension. The Fernglove estate felt like its own character, and the eerie, closed-off setting added so much to the story’s mystery. There was a constant feeling that something wasn’t quite right, and I loved how that unease lingered throughout the book.
The romance was intriguing, especially with the two brothers, Odin and Rorick, who each brought something different to the dynamic. While I wished there was more emotional development between them and Edina, the tension was definitely there. It kept me invested, even when I wasn’t sure where things were going. The shifting loyalties and hidden motives made for a compelling read—I was constantly questioning who could actually be trusted.
I also really appreciated the way queerness was casually included in the world. Edina’s bisexuality is mentioned in passing, and same-sex relationships exist without question, which I always love seeing in fantasy.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The biggest issue was the pacing in the middle. The story starts with high stakes, but the main conflict fades into the background at a certain point, making it feel like we’re just waiting for things to pick up again. While the romance had some great moments, certain shifts felt abrupt, and I wasn’t always convinced by how quickly feelings changed. Edina also made some frustrating choices—she overlooked things that felt very obvious, which made some plot developments feel too convenient.
The ending left me with mixed feelings. While I loved the reveals surrounding certain characters (especially Orin), a few elements felt rushed or underexplained, leaving me with more questions than answers. I also couldn’t help but wonder why certain information was withheld for so long when it could have changed everything much earlier.
Final Thoughts:
House of Blight was an engaging, atmospheric read that hooked me even with a few pacing and character frustrations. The gothic vibes were spot-on, the mystery had me second-guessing everyone, and the tension (both in the romance and the story itself) made it hard to put down. If you love eerie, creepy fantasies with morally grey characters and dark secrets, this one is definitely worth checking out!
Will I continue the series?
Absolutely! Even though it may seem like I criticised a lot, it was overall a delightful read, and I can't wait for the second one to come out!
TL;DR
House of Blight delivers immaculate gothic vibes with an eerie estate, a slow unraveling of secrets, and a love triangle that gives major Vampire Diaries energy. The writing is engaging, the tension keeps you hooked, and the morally grey characters make for an intriguing read. However, the middle loses focus, the romance shifts a little too quickly, and some plot elements feel underexplained. Still, if you love dark, atmospheric fantasy with a hint of romance and a constant sense of unease, this one is worth picking up!
Thank you to NetGalley, TheNerdFam and Harper Collins for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
House of Blight was one of my most anticipated reads, and I was thrilled to get an ARC from NetGalley. The gothic atmosphere? Perfection. From the eerie Fernglove estate to the tension simmering between its inhabitants, the book immediately pulled me in. It had that haunting, unsettling quality that reminded me of One Dark Window, mixed with the push-and-pull love triangle dynamics that gave me Vampire Diaries vibes. While I really enjoyed my reading experience, a few things kept it from being a full five-star read.
What to Expect:
• A gothic fantasy with a dark, eerie setting
• A love triangle between Edina and the two mysterious Fernglove brothers
• A slow unraveling of secrets—who can really be trusted?
• A heroine balancing survival, duty, and dangerous attraction
• Casual LGBTQ+ representation woven into the world
What I Loved:
The writing was engaging and easy to get lost in, and the gothic atmosphere was everything I wanted—dark, immersive, and dripping with tension. The Fernglove estate felt like its own character, and the eerie, closed-off setting added so much to the story’s mystery. There was a constant feeling that something wasn’t quite right, and I loved how that unease lingered throughout the book.
The romance was intriguing, especially with the two brothers, Odin and Rorick, who each brought something different to the dynamic. While I wished there was more emotional development between them and Edina, the tension was definitely there. It kept me invested, even when I wasn’t sure where things were going. The shifting loyalties and hidden motives made for a compelling read—I was constantly questioning who could actually be trusted.
I also really appreciated the way queerness was casually included in the world. Edina’s bisexuality is mentioned in passing, and same-sex relationships exist without question, which I always love seeing in fantasy.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The biggest issue was the pacing in the middle. The story starts with high stakes, but the main conflict fades into the background at a certain point, making it feel like we’re just waiting for things to pick up again. While the romance had some great moments, certain shifts felt abrupt, and I wasn’t always convinced by how quickly feelings changed. Edina also made some frustrating choices—she overlooked things that felt very obvious, which made some plot developments feel too convenient.
The ending left me with mixed feelings. While I loved the reveals surrounding certain characters (especially Orin), a few elements felt rushed or underexplained, leaving me with more questions than answers. I also couldn’t help but wonder why certain information was withheld for so long when it could have changed everything much earlier.
Final Thoughts:
House of Blight was an engaging, atmospheric read that hooked me even with a few pacing and character frustrations. The gothic vibes were spot-on, the mystery had me second-guessing everyone, and the tension (both in the romance and the story itself) made it hard to put down. If you love eerie, creepy fantasies with morally grey characters and dark secrets, this one is definitely worth checking out!
Will I continue the series?
Absolutely! Even though it may seem like I criticised a lot, it was overall a delightful read, and I can't wait for the second one to come out!
TL;DR
House of Blight delivers immaculate gothic vibes with an eerie estate, a slow unraveling of secrets, and a love triangle that gives major Vampire Diaries energy. The writing is engaging, the tension keeps you hooked, and the morally grey characters make for an intriguing read. However, the middle loses focus, the romance shifts a little too quickly, and some plot elements feel underexplained. Still, if you love dark, atmospheric fantasy with a hint of romance and a constant sense of unease, this one is worth picking up!
Thank you to NetGalley, TheNerdFam and Harper Collins for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review!