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A review by novellynikki
House of the Beast by Michelle Wong
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
This book had me shedding tears at 4:00am! I absolutely loved it.
House of the Beast is a captivating story following a lonely young girl through early adulthood and her imaginary friend who turns out to be not so imagined! The characters really bring the plot alive as each are uniquely their own and multi-dimensional. I thought the world-building was unique and enjoyed the religious system that plays a large role in the book. There are four core gods that this land worships and an otherworld where the barrier between gods and humans thins.
Alma carries so much resentment and anger towards her father and the family that shunned her. Those feelings fuel her desire to compete against her cousin and father for the high title of First Hand of the Beast. This competition brings bloodshed, strategy, and monsters. However, as she grows, Alma starts to really lean into empathy and forgiveness. She begins to understand that a larger plot is developing. There's deception and bribery at play and not everyone is who they seem. You'll also find themes of power, resilience, revenge, and love within these pages.
House of the Beast definitely feels familiar, like a fantasy dystopian novel you may have read before (Fullmetal Alchemist meets the trials of The Hunger Games). Michelle Wong creates something unique through her characters and all the creatures that lurk in the darkness. It's so incredibly difficult to write this review spoiler free! There are a few different plot points, twists, and unraveling that I'd love to talk about.
I think the only critique I have for this book is the pacing. It felt a bit slow for me personally, but I know this is totally subjective and all depends on the reader. As soon as I felt a bit disconnected, the next chapter would quickly take me back into the story. Just know, this book is much more about the journey than the destination!
Overall, I enjoyed House of the Beast! I think this is a strong debut novel and I can't wait to see what else Michelle may write in the future!
Thank you Harper Voyager and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC.
House of the Beast is a captivating story following a lonely young girl through early adulthood and her imaginary friend who turns out to be not so imagined! The characters really bring the plot alive as each are uniquely their own and multi-dimensional. I thought the world-building was unique and enjoyed the religious system that plays a large role in the book. There are four core gods that this land worships and an otherworld where the barrier between gods and humans thins.
Alma carries so much resentment and anger towards her father and the family that shunned her. Those feelings fuel her desire to compete against her cousin and father for the high title of First Hand of the Beast. This competition brings bloodshed, strategy, and monsters. However, as she grows, Alma starts to really lean into empathy and forgiveness. She begins to understand that a larger plot is developing. There's deception and bribery at play and not everyone is who they seem. You'll also find themes of power, resilience, revenge, and love within these pages.
House of the Beast definitely feels familiar, like a fantasy dystopian novel you may have read before (Fullmetal Alchemist meets the trials of The Hunger Games). Michelle Wong creates something unique through her characters and all the creatures that lurk in the darkness. It's so incredibly difficult to write this review spoiler free! There are a few different plot points, twists, and unraveling that I'd love to talk about.
I think the only critique I have for this book is the pacing. It felt a bit slow for me personally, but I know this is totally subjective and all depends on the reader. As soon as I felt a bit disconnected, the next chapter would quickly take me back into the story. Just know, this book is much more about the journey than the destination!
Overall, I enjoyed House of the Beast! I think this is a strong debut novel and I can't wait to see what else Michelle may write in the future!
Thank you Harper Voyager and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC.