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scross25 's review for:
House of the Beast
by Michelle Wong
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Engaging? Yes—haunting and visceral narrative that leaves you wanting more
Thank you to Harper Voyager for the ARC!
Perfect for fans of gothic revenge tales, divine bargains, and illustrated fantasy that bleeds with symbolism. House of the Beast is a bold debut that weaves cosmic horror and familial betrayal into a coming‑of‑rage fantasy drenched in atmosphere.
Plot –
Alma, the bastard daughter of the feared priest of the Dread Beast, sacrifices her arm to an eldritch god in a desperate bid to save her mother—only to lose her anyway. Plucked from the countryside and forced into service with her aristocratic family, she rapidly becomes enamored with Aster, her mythical companion—and her key to revenge. Together they embark on a Pilgrimage into a nightmarish realm to challenge her father’s power and rise within House Avera.
The opening and final acts rush by with ritual violence and cosmic stakes; the middle can drag at times, especially during political intrigue in the capital. I found it hard to stay with the story during these slower parts. The illustrations throughout helped me get through but when momentum builds, it crashes forward like a tidal wave.
Characters & Writing –
Alma’s voice is raw and filled with fury. Her transformation is the engine of the story. Aster, the spectral god‑companion, is as enigmatic as he is dangerous—setting up a romance layered in power imbalances and haunted devotion. And while the supporting characters occasionally feel sidelined, their overall arcs are consequential to the story and make you want to see more.
Overall, Wong’s prose is lush and evocative, but does read like a debut novel. Some descriptions lean on visual intensity more than emotional clarity but are reinforced by the illustrations throughout the book, however, I can see the potential.
“A story is a mouth. You decide what it devours.”
If you crave haunting, morally complex tales where gods demand sacrifice and grief fuels revolution, House of the Beast is a beautifully grotesque fairytale to get lost in. Not perfect—but powerfully unforgettable.
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Engaging? Yes—haunting and visceral narrative that leaves you wanting more
Thank you to Harper Voyager for the ARC!
Perfect for fans of gothic revenge tales, divine bargains, and illustrated fantasy that bleeds with symbolism. House of the Beast is a bold debut that weaves cosmic horror and familial betrayal into a coming‑of‑rage fantasy drenched in atmosphere.
Plot –
Alma, the bastard daughter of the feared priest of the Dread Beast, sacrifices her arm to an eldritch god in a desperate bid to save her mother—only to lose her anyway. Plucked from the countryside and forced into service with her aristocratic family, she rapidly becomes enamored with Aster, her mythical companion—and her key to revenge. Together they embark on a Pilgrimage into a nightmarish realm to challenge her father’s power and rise within House Avera.
The opening and final acts rush by with ritual violence and cosmic stakes; the middle can drag at times, especially during political intrigue in the capital. I found it hard to stay with the story during these slower parts. The illustrations throughout helped me get through but when momentum builds, it crashes forward like a tidal wave.
Characters & Writing –
Alma’s voice is raw and filled with fury. Her transformation is the engine of the story. Aster, the spectral god‑companion, is as enigmatic as he is dangerous—setting up a romance layered in power imbalances and haunted devotion. And while the supporting characters occasionally feel sidelined, their overall arcs are consequential to the story and make you want to see more.
Overall, Wong’s prose is lush and evocative, but does read like a debut novel. Some descriptions lean on visual intensity more than emotional clarity but are reinforced by the illustrations throughout the book, however, I can see the potential.
“A story is a mouth. You decide what it devours.”
If you crave haunting, morally complex tales where gods demand sacrifice and grief fuels revolution, House of the Beast is a beautifully grotesque fairytale to get lost in. Not perfect—but powerfully unforgettable.