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billies_not_so_secret_diary 's review for:
House of the Beast
by Michelle Wong
adventurous
dark
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:
Complicated
House of the Beast
by Michelle Wong
Fantasy New Adult
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Aug 5, 2025
Avon/Harper Voyager
Ages: 16+
When Alma's mother becomes ill, Alma contacts her father. Even though she is his bastard child, shunned by society, he agrees to help her mother only if she comes to live with him.
Agreeing, she leaves her mother and goes with her father to his home, finding out that he is from House Avera, one of the four noble families that serve the gods, and her father is a vessel of the Dread Beast, the most frightening god. Being his child, Alma must sacrifice her left arm to the Beast, binding her to the house and to the Beast.
But still a bastard child, she is despised, and she finds that she is a pawn in her father's goals.
Her only friend is her imaginary friend from childhood, who may be more than just imaginary.
A lot of readers who were considered outcasts because of their looks, disabilities, being poor, or other things that made them different from everyone else could relate to Alma. I know I did.
She was a nice kid until she got fed up with being used and 'abused', and decided to get revenge. Her father was the one who hurt her most. I completely understood her. (I'm not agreeing that violence is acceptable, and just because she wanted revenge, doesn't mean she went out and hurt anyone and everyone).
I disliked her father right away. And Alma's imaginary friend... spoilers..., but I did like his character. Very creative.
The plot was unique, and the ending reminded me a little of the 'Hunger Games', but sadly, there needed to be more to that 'world' and to the 'Gods'. While they and the history were highlighted, I felt a lot was missing from them. The Beast was highlighted because it was a main focus, but his history still felt vague. The other three Gods, I can't tell you much about them because not much was said to make an impact. I don't know the importance of the female God at the end. She seemed important, but why, I don't know.
Those missing elements are why this book didn't reach the next star.
There is a lot of violence, but I think mature readers sixteen and older would enjoy this story.
3 Stars
by Michelle Wong
Fantasy New Adult
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Aug 5, 2025
Avon/Harper Voyager
Ages: 16+
When Alma's mother becomes ill, Alma contacts her father. Even though she is his bastard child, shunned by society, he agrees to help her mother only if she comes to live with him.
Agreeing, she leaves her mother and goes with her father to his home, finding out that he is from House Avera, one of the four noble families that serve the gods, and her father is a vessel of the Dread Beast, the most frightening god. Being his child, Alma must sacrifice her left arm to the Beast, binding her to the house and to the Beast.
But still a bastard child, she is despised, and she finds that she is a pawn in her father's goals.
Her only friend is her imaginary friend from childhood, who may be more than just imaginary.
A lot of readers who were considered outcasts because of their looks, disabilities, being poor, or other things that made them different from everyone else could relate to Alma. I know I did.
She was a nice kid until she got fed up with being used and 'abused', and decided to get revenge. Her father was the one who hurt her most. I completely understood her. (I'm not agreeing that violence is acceptable, and just because she wanted revenge, doesn't mean she went out and hurt anyone and everyone).
I disliked her father right away. And Alma's imaginary friend... spoilers..., but I did like his character. Very creative.
The plot was unique, and the ending reminded me a little of the 'Hunger Games', but sadly, there needed to be more to that 'world' and to the 'Gods'. While they and the history were highlighted, I felt a lot was missing from them. The Beast was highlighted because it was a main focus, but his history still felt vague. The other three Gods, I can't tell you much about them because not much was said to make an impact. I don't know the importance of the female God at the end. She seemed important, but why, I don't know.
Those missing elements are why this book didn't reach the next star.
There is a lot of violence, but I think mature readers sixteen and older would enjoy this story.
3 Stars