kariann_reading_journey 's review for:

House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau

4.0

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I love a good gothic read and House of Blight was atmospheric in the best way. I also found the magic system that Martineau built to be fascinating especially, Edira’s powers. Edira is a threadmender and can “mend” the soul threads of those in need. However, this magic comes at a price. It’s an even bigger price when she gets caught by the Fernglove family and has to work for them. The good news for readers is that the Fernglove family is fascinating. I loved seeing how Edira interacted with each individual member. There’s also romance in this story, but it’s not as straightforward as it initially seems. This was great for me because I was rooting for a certain character the whole time. I will say, though, an “insect daddy” is a first for me. As someone who really hates bugs, it took me a bit to adjust to that. Ywena, though, was the real winner for me. I love an adorable sidekick, and Ywena definitely meets that. In terms of plot, the story started a little slow for me. However, it quickly picks up with twists and turns. Some of the twists were more predictable than others, but it was still enjoyable to see how Martineau carried out the twist. I combo read this via ebook and audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by Alexandra Hunter and Stephen Dexter. Hunter definitely carries the bulk of the narration in this installment, but I’m hoping we get more of Dexter in book two. They both did so well. There was plenty of energy and emotion. I don’t think you can go wrong with either the ebook or audiobook. I’m excited to see where book two goes.

eARC courtesy of Harper Voyager US
ALC courtesy of Harper Audio