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A review by booksbyabbi
House of the Beast by Michelle Wong
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
WOW!!!!!! THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talk about everything I was craving wrapped up in one dark, decadent, and dangerous bow. I have never been so vehemently behind a character--whether they're making right decisions or wrong--than I was with Alma. The story starts when she is still a child and on the cusp of the most frightening, formative period of her life. Then, we flash forward and meet the young woman forged in those trials and desperate for revenge against those who inflicted them. Her story broke my heart and stitched it anew </3
That's not even to mention the quality of every other character in the book who were all so well formed and written. Aster has my heart forever. That is all I will say at this time. I loved coming to love Fion and Kaim; Sevelie and Six brought much needed comic relief and companionship when the going got tough; and boy did Zander provide the perfect villain to hate to the bitter end. All of it was so beautifully crafted and effortlessly executed, giving me a story that I inhaled in two sittings but will remember for the rest of my life.
Rich in worldbuilding, character development, mystery, political intrigue, and inventive magic systems, this book shines like obsidian or onyx. It glimmers with beauty born of darkness and, though precious as any other gem, stands distinct from its peers. Honestly a required reading for anyone who has ever loved dark fairy tales, lessons in revenge, or fantasy stories in general.
Talk about everything I was craving wrapped up in one dark, decadent, and dangerous bow. I have never been so vehemently behind a character--whether they're making right decisions or wrong--than I was with Alma. The story starts when she is still a child and on the cusp of the most frightening, formative period of her life. Then, we flash forward and meet the young woman forged in those trials and desperate for revenge against those who inflicted them. Her story broke my heart and stitched it anew </3
That's not even to mention the quality of every other character in the book who were all so well formed and written. Aster has my heart forever. That is all I will say at this time. I loved coming to love Fion and Kaim; Sevelie and Six brought much needed comic relief and companionship when the going got tough; and boy did Zander provide the perfect villain to hate to the bitter end. All of it was so beautifully crafted and effortlessly executed, giving me a story that I inhaled in two sittings but will remember for the rest of my life.
Rich in worldbuilding, character development, mystery, political intrigue, and inventive magic systems, this book shines like obsidian or onyx. It glimmers with beauty born of darkness and, though precious as any other gem, stands distinct from its peers. Honestly a required reading for anyone who has ever loved dark fairy tales, lessons in revenge, or fantasy stories in general.