REVIEW: Happy #pubday to House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson! This was a 3.8 ⭐️ read for me—a solid horror novel for those who like their spooky season fare to be gory and vampiric, with a sapphic twist.

To me, one of this book’s biggest weaknesses is that it’s a bit reminiscent of The Year of the Witching. Although House of Hunger is more sapphic than Henderson’s debut, it seems like it takes place in a world that’s a bit too similar to The Year of the Witching for my taste. It’s fine to have all your books take place in the same world, I guess I was just hoping for something a bit different.

It’s hard to write an original novel that’s meant to be a Dracula retelling, and that’s the other point of weakness that I saw. This book is entertaining, but it’s essentially the same set of metaphors about love and lust and pain and pleasure and hunger that we’ve all heard before.

I will say that I enjoyed the way the pacing picked up for the last third of the novel, and I think that House of Hunger would make a kick-ass movie. For castles, sapphic steam, and womanly bloodlust, look no further!

Thank you to @berkleypub and @netgalley for the e-ARC!

CWs: Torture, racism, poverty, homophobia, chronic illness, sexual assault, victim-blaming, torture/torture porn, body horror, gore, mental illness, institutionalization, animal cruelty, hunting, drugs, alcohol, child abuse, self-harm.

ID: The cover of House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson is collaged in front of a gray, stone-colored backdrop, with the word “REVIEW” in white letters at the top.

I received a digital advance copy of House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson via NetGalley. House of Huger was released on September 27, 2022.

House of Hunger is the story of Marion, a young woman who has grown up in a family struck by tragedy and deep in desperation. She applies for a position that has the potential to immediately change her circumstances and give her what seems an unlimited fortune for her future. She applies, and is accepted, as a bloodmaid in the House of Hunger. With all of her problems seemingly solved, Marion finds herself pulled toward the head of the house, Lisavet, a young countess who suffers from a mysterious illness. As Marion works to gain the favor of her new mistress, she begins to realize that her new position may indeed be too good to be true.

The strength of this novel lies in the second half, where Henderson really embraces the gothic aspects of the story. Here we are getting hints that things are not quite what they seem and that the house is holding more secrets than we may have realized. I do wish these elements came into the story sooner. Before the midpoint of the story, while we are in a house where blood drinking is the norm, the story did not have me asking questions. For me, this is what makes a gothic story so engaging. I want to have suspicions and questions and uncertainties from very early in the story.

I also would have liked more development of the characters. Even for Marion, our main character, I did not feel like I had a good sense of who she was outside of this situation. The other girls in the house (there are four other bloodmaids living there when Marion arrives) seem to have no story outside of their service to Lisavet. We get some hints to Lisavet’s “illness” and why blood helps her, but even in the end I did not fully understand her story, which is ultimately the story of the house.

Overall, House of Hunger delivers solid gothic vibes for a portion of the story, but I would have loved the gothic elements to be spread throughout the novel.

I received a complimentary advanced copy of HOUSE OF HUNGER by Alexis Henderson. Thank you to Berkley Publishing and PRH Audio for the chance to provide an honest review.

HOUSE OF HUNGER is set in the world of wealthy nobility where people live in luxury and survive on blood. Bloodmaids are sought to offer up their life in indentured servitude for a contracted period. We are following Marion, a young woman desperate to find a way to leave her life of poverty, so when she sees an add advertising for a woman of taste and strong will, she sees an opportunity. It seems Marion’s blood is prime and she’s accepted into a world she couldn’t have anticipated as the bloodmaid to Countess Lisavet.

After reading and really enjoying the dark story Alexis Henderson wrote in THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING, I was highly anticipating reading this one. I am glad to report that this book held up to my expectations, carrying over the dark and atmospheric writing I was hoping for. I really enjoyed exploring this twist to the typical vampire lore that the author creates. It had a lot of the trademark features of darkness and blood, but it gave some unique twists as well.

Marion was a great character to follow as she is drawn into this world and enraptured with Lisavet. Even as she feels that draw, she is also concerned for her life and her fellow bloodmaids as they begin to go missing. I found the story hard to put down and the mystery of what was going on behind the surface kept me reading.

HOUSE OF HUNGER is perfect for fall reading and it is out today!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for allowing me to read this ARC!


Content Warning: death, murder, violence, sexual harassment, animal death.


Marion Shaw has grown up on the streets of Prane, forced to learn how to thieve and manipulate for survival. Now, as a grown woman, she lives a life of drudgery, working as a housemaid. Secretly, she aspires for something better, a world outside of the poverty and deprivation that is the cornerstone of her life. This time, when she sees the advertisement for a Bloodmaid in the papers, she decides that the luxury they promise will be hers -- and, in a shocking turn of events, she is picked to go and live in the House of Hunger, one of the great, blood-drinking houses of the North. But when Marion arrives, she quickly learns that not all is as it seems -- and that the price of being a Bloodmaid is far higher than she ever could've imagined.

The beautiful cover and interesting, rather unique premise drew me towards this book. Gothic is certainly having its revival, which I'm quite excited about, and I was secretly hoping that this book would be a twist on sapphic horror/love stories like Carmilla, or the wonderful reimagining of Erzsébet Báthory and her lover's life in Borowczyk's Immoral Tales (the standout of the film, which perfectly mixes eroticism and death). This, too, is based off the legends around Báthory's purported love of blood and torture of her female servants, but as it turns out, House of Hunger never quite reaches the full potential it's capable of, even with such fascinating figures as Báthory being inspiration.

Admirably, though, Henderson is never short on ideas, and if anything, this book is unique. I've never read anything quite like it before, and I sincerely doubt that I will in the future, either. It was a surprise to me that this was actually secondary fantasy; when I picked it up, I assumed it would be taking place in our own world, not in one of Henderson's creation. Some people felt that this bold move didn't pay off, but for me, I rather liked it. It doesn't always feel fully fleshed out, but all in all, I think that Henderson does a pretty good job making her world captivating.

The protagonist, Marion, is one of the reasons this didn't manage to rise above three stars for me. As the novel progresses, it seems as if Marion doesn't grow as a character, and in some ways, her emotions and her personality remain static over the entirety of her journey. There was a lack of depth that left me feeling a bit confused -- and I had this same problem with all of the side characters, as well as Marion's mistress/lover, Lisavet. In the very first scene with Lisavet, I had an inkling of what Henderson could've achieved with her character. She came off as complex, dark, a little strange. But once again, the same problem arises: everything feels slightly shallow.

I think the length of House of Hunger is one of its faults, and, in fact, one of the reasons why everything feels as if it's lacking a certain depth. I rarely ever say this, but it was simply too short. For everything that Marion goes through, there was not enough time for any of it to feel realistic. She falls in love, out of love, she apparently strikes up this deep rapport with her fellow bloodmaids... and yet I couldn't bring myself to really believe any of it. Everything happens way, way too fast, and the times she actually interacts with Lisavet in any meaningful way, on page, are few and far between. The plot, too, is rushed, and many things don't make sense (some of which I cannot mention without spoiling the entire thing).

Overall, while I did enjoy the journey, and some of the storytelling was lovely, the entire experience of reading House of Hunger just felt average. Some of Henderson's writing is truly beautiful, but there were so many amateur mistakes that left me thinking this was actually her debut, another problem that perhaps prevented me from "clicking" with this book.

Although I didn't love this, I think so many people will. I love its darkness, the way it lets its female characters be ugly and vulgar and mean and petty, and Henderson's way of looking at her characters as complex regardless of their acts of villainy.

Recommended if you love Gothics, female characters who are allowed the full spectrum of emotion (the good, the bad, and the ugly), and dark fantasy.

This is a unique and intoxicating dark gothic horror read. This is not your typical story about vampires but it holds true that blood is still power. This luring story brings you Marion who lives a poor life in the slums of the south slaving away every day to barely put a loaf of bread on the table who stumbles upon an advertisement to work as bloodmaid for the affluent nobles of the north. She’s offered a position in the House of Hunger and quickly finds herself entangled in a bloodthirsty web. She quickly learns there is more to this house and its master than meets the eye. The story is perfectly paced to pick up at the right moment making this such a fast read because it’s impossible to put down. I highly recommend this to all horror fans out there!

Oh, I liked this book quite a lot! I liked Marion from the very start and the writing drew me into the story immediately. I enjoyed learning about the world that Marion found herself in along with her and had a feeling that things were not exactly as she had been led to believe. I couldn’t wait to see how things would work out in the end. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a chance.

Marion lives a hard life in poverty. She works hard but it never seems to be enough. Her brother is the only family that she has left and he is no help at all. She wants a better life and hopes that the chance to be a bloodmaid is just what she needs. She soon finds herself in a whole new world and she hopes that all it will cost her is just a little blood.

I was so curious about Marion’s new environment once she signed on as the new bloodmaid at the House of Hunger. It seemed like there might be a little more going on than what appeared on the surface. I found the story to be exciting with just enough twists and turns to keep me glued to the pages. There were times that I was very worried about Marion and the other bloodmaids and hoped they would be okay in the end.

I would recommend this book to others. I thought that the writing was superb and I loved how unique the story felt. Marion was a character that was easy to like and I just wanted to see good things come her way. I plan to read more of this author’s work just as soon as I get the chance.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group.

Marion Shaw grew up in the slums of Prane, working as a housemaid, living with her ailing brother…and wanting more. Until one day, when she spots an ad in the paper requesting a bloodmaid for the mysterious nobles in the North. Bloodmaids live a life of luxury, so they say, and retire after a few years of indenture with hefty pensions and comfortable lives. All they must do in exchange is bleed. Marion is soon whisked away to the dark and haunting North to serve as a bloodmaid for Countess Lisavet, whose affections and secrets entangle Marion in a twisted game of life and death.

I greatly enjoyed Henderson’s debut novel and was thrilled to receive an ARC of House of Hunger. Unfortunately, I found her sophomore novel lacking in both atmosphere and development.

The premise of the story is very interesting. It appears like a vampire tale, but there are no mystical creatures of the night here. Just wealthy nobles who have a taste for blood—literally. I appreciated the way Henderson explored class dynamics and the power of greed, lust and envy throughout. In the end, though, like Marion, I wanted more than I was given.

The pacing in the book’s first half dragged a bit, despite things happening extremely fast. Marion’s acceptance and travel to the House of Hunger felt too easy. Although some grave situations stood between her and “freedom,” it didn’t feel like there was much of a challenge getting her to the North, or to Lisavet’s side. The world of the North held so much potential, too, but it felt like we just barely scratched the surface.

Marion herself was a peculiar character. Aside from her desire to escape the slums (which felt more like survival instinct than greed, which was somewhat hinted at), she didn’t have much of a personality to hold onto. I didn’t know what really drove her, and even her traumatic past didn’t haunt her much…unless it was convenient for the story. Her obsession with Lisavet came out of nowhere, as well, which made their relationship seem forced and unsteady.

I liked the second half of the book much more, mostly because the plot’s intrigue picked up and it was finally revealed that something darker was at play. I wish we had more of that darkness in the beginning to really build up the tension. There was some beautiful prose throughout the book, but the gothic and spooky atmosphere didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

I can’t say I cared all that much about what happened to the cast by the end. Overall, I feel like this book needed a bit more development in the characters and world.

Marion Shaw lives in the slums with her abusive brother, so when she sees an ad for a noble seeking a new bloodmaid, she seizes the opportunity. However, when she arrives at the manor, she finds a molar in her predecessor’s room and begins to discover that something far more sinister may be taking place there.

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson weaves a darkly engrossing sapphic fantasy inspired by Elizabeth Báthory, The Blood Countess.

I want to point out that this book doesn’t have “vampires” in the traditional sense. In this world, nobles drink the blood of the servants called bloodmaids because they believe it can cure ailments and keep them younger longer, and in exchange, bloodmaids gets to live a life of debauchery.

Throughout the story, we’re also teased bits and pieces about the other noble houses and the warring politics between them, which I found really interesting. In fact, I almost wished we could have gotten to have learned more about the world.

However, the absolute highlight of the book for me was the Countess Lisavet herself. She’s a tall, morally questionable dommy mommy along the lines of Lady Dimitrescu from Resident Evil or Lady Verity from The Wicked and the Willing, so if that’s your type, you’re in luck here.

3.75 stars rounded up.

I absolutely adored Henderson’s debut novel, The Year of the Witching, so I was really excited to check out House of Hunger. I continued to enjoy Henderson’s prose in this book, and it was filled with gothic, atmospheric vibes that really set the tone for the story. This book was extremely readable (and short), and I had a good time reading it.

That being said, I do think the pacing was a bit off. We spend a lot of time in the set up for the story, that once we finally got around to the weird/spooky things happening, the book was nearly over. The ending felt rushed, and I could have used a bit more build up to the villain and more tension.

Overall though, this was a really enjoyable read that is perfect for the fall/spooky season. If you are someone that likes beautiful prose and gothic vibes, definitely check this one out!

This book tries so hard to be a new twist on the vampire genre, and it does come close but it just misses. Countess Lisavet's bloodmaids are few in number, unlike at other houses (apparently. we don't really learn much about how other houses work). Marion's introduction into the household follows a great description of the life she's led in the poor southern slums, and there's a lot of description of the new place but there's also something seriously missing. For example, Marion is given lots of rules to follow but there seems to be very little consequence for her breaking them. Or the fact that her position (bloodmaid to the Countess) appears to offer little protection from others in the court (and the explanation of why these others are in the castle to begin with is sketchy).

Overall, a good attempt but could have used some editorial guidance. And the twist at the end is another in the "let's wrap things up neatly" trend, rather than an organic outcome from the preceding story. More hinting at the twist-to-come or more integration into the story would have helped. There's also an extended scene that just is implausible beyond the usual suspension of disbelief needed for vampire books.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

House of Hunger an intoxicating sapphic gothic worthy of your spooky season TBR!

We meet Marion Shaw as she struggles to survive in the southern slums. Exhausted and eager to change her stature in life, Marion sees a peculiar listing in the local paper.
"WANTED - Bloodmaid of exceptional taste. Must have a keen proclivity for life's finer pleasures. Girls of weak will need not apply." What we see next next is a masterfully paced look at what happens when one leaves everything they've ever known. Marion excepts the position, travels to the north, and is thrust into the opulent and dangerous life of a working Bloodmaid.

Henderson plays heavily on the line between pain and pleasure in this story, using familiar vampire lore to weave something completely unique. She creates a dark and gritty world thats sensual and seductive to readers. I personally found House of Hunger a story of considerable restraint. The author giving us just enough to make the tension palpable without anything feeling overly gratuitous. As a stand alone novel this one really worked for me in a way that singular books rarely do. It felt like such a complete story and while it left me contemplative I wasn't longing for more.

If you're a gothic horror fan I think this is a must for your fall reading stacks!

Bloody good!

4.5⭐
This is a dark and delicious gothic horror set against my favorite cold weather setting. Alexis Henderson did a wonderful job with vivid descriptions and held me mesmerized from clothing, and food to ruby tea cups. The slums of Prane, a little brick shack with a twisted chimney that Marion Shaw calls home, to the night train journey that took her north to serve Lisavet, Countess of the House of Hunger as her bloodmaid. Per the written contract, Marion will be rewarded handsomely at the end of her indenture.

"House of Hunger" is repulsive yet seductive, a poor slum girl bleeds for the nobles. It gets quite steamy too! I want to say I love it, but there are times I want to scream when the protagonist does silly stuff and there's a tiny plot hole.

Love the steady pace of the story that leads to a rollercoaster pulse-pounding ending. It's one of those books I want to know the ending but at the same time don't want it to end. A perfect read for the spooky season!

Short synopsis: Growing up in the slums, Marion decides to answer an ad in hopes of finding a better life as a BloodMaid in the House of Hunger.

My thoughts: The first half sucked me right in (yes, that was an intentional pun). It was a gothic atmosphere with historical tales of vampires weaved throughout. It gave me total Interview with a Vampire vibes and was a great book to start out spooky season.

The concept of this book was great, poor girl trying to improve her lifestyle by submitting herself to a home of wealth and riches, without realizing the huge health disadvantages she’d also get along the way.

I didn’t love how it ended. It felt so rushed and abrupt in my opinion. I’d hoped for a little more closure.

Overall a fun atmospheric Gothic Horror October read to sink your teeth into!

Read if you love:
* Interview with a Vampire
* Gothic horror novels
* Atmospheric reads
* Wealth and Class disparities

House of Hunger is a gothic romance filled with blood hungry royals. They ravage "Bloodmaids" to ward of sickness and aging. This novel doesn't shy away from the gore in love and life.

Marion, a desolate teen, isn't above leaving her home for the House of Hunger to become a Bloodmaid. She's recruited with promises of riches after serving her term as a indentured "blood" servant. But things are not as they seem in the House, and the happily ever after she dreamed might just be an allusion.

The Vampire lore makes this novel a fast-paced read perfect for the spooky season. Thank you Berkley for the complimentary copy to read and review.

I was very excited to receive a copy of this for review as the concept was absolutely <i>fascinating</i> to me -- a sapphic gothic-horror inspired story? Sounded absolutely perfect.

The setting of this book is developed within the frame of Marion's knowledge -- we do not really get to know more than she knows, which does at times mean that some questions are left unanswered. It was an interesting choice not to give the country in which the book is set a name; of course, that isn't actually the important part of the book.

Marion was a brilliant character to follow: she is not completely naive and helpless, but neither is she calculating: you know, like a real person is not ever one thing. Lisbet was fascinating as well. The way Marion interacted with the characters around her was always different. Speaking of side character, they were all unique -- it was wonderful to see a range of character types within a paranormal-ish horror novel as I feel like characters in horror always fit into a mould.

The way that the book is written was quite intricate, I would love to pick apart the language in it one day. The overall message of the story was somehow overt and quiet at the same time. The atmosphere of the book is haunting; beautiful and grotesque at the same time.

The only issues I had were slight ones with the pacing and structure of the story. The pacing was such that the story felt very slow but as though some parts were rushed at the same time. My issue with the format is that it's slightly formulaic.

Overall, though, I really did enjoy the book! There is definitely a specific atmosphere to it that many readers will enjoy.

If you want a new twist on the old vampire story, then read The House of Hunger. It loosely resembled the Elizabeth Bathory historical figure who was a Hungarian Countess who bathed in the blood of young girls…this book has blood, lots & lots of blood.

It takes place in a version of our world that resembles the Victorian Era, but with its own laws and fantasy elements. There are noble Houses vying for power, a clear class system + dangerous secrets.

Blood drinking is a norm for each House & nobles have Bloodmaids, whose sole purpose is to provide top level blood for the leaders to consume in order to maintain optimal health & heal any ailments. The most prominent House is the House of Hunger.

This book is dark, disturbing, and unique in a lot of ways. It has a strong start, but lulls in the middle & then goes on to rush the lead up to the ending. Some of the interactions felt forced and didn’t make a lot of sense + there were some plot holes.

However, the writing itself is atmospheric and I really like the style. I also appreciate the horror elements and exploration of the concept of how far those with power will go to exploit those who are deemed vulnerable. Sometimes if you corner an animal, it will bite back and I think the very end was well done.

The Year of the Witching is still my fave of Henderson’s, but this is a good choice if you don’t mind gruesome scenes and are looking for a spooky atmospheric read.

I loved the main character is a brown queer girl. Great representation I don’t see much in fantasy. Unique plot line that just sounds like it would be good, and it did not disappoint. Well written, no fluff, and held my attention the entire time. I thought it was sad Marion felt she had no other choice in life, and in reality, this may have been her best choice for a girl like her at the time. “Your only job is to bleed.” What a statement! Way easier said than done. A few questionable areas, but overall well written and I definitely recommend.

House of Hunger is a great scary story to get you into the Halloween spirit! Marion is looking for a way outside of her poor situation. When she finds a calling for a bloodmaid, she takes the opportunity. But being a bloodmaid is much more than she realized it would be.

This story takes a look at vampires and gives a deep thought as to what it means to suck the blood from someone. This dark twist gives a new fear to these creatures of the night. This initial book came off as a mystery and romance but as the story goes on we begin to see the real horror of the world. Usually, I can see a plot twist coming from a mile away but I gasped when these plot twists came to life at the end. I was legitimately scared.

Besides being a horror story, this book discusses a lot about ownership, jealousy, and taking power into your own hands. There's a lot of thought about whether a decision makes you a good or bad person.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

I was already expecting to like anything Alexis Henderson released, thanks to the dark, gritty fabulousness that was The Year of the Witching, but House of Hunger is even better. I’ve come to love the villainous/murderous sapphic narrative, and this may be one of the best executions of the archetype I’ve found. And the fact that it’s also inspired by Elizabeth Bathory is also a plus.

Henderson is a master at crafting a story that is atmospheric, creepy, and unsettling. The dark environs of the House of Hunger and the literally cutthroat ecosystem that exists within it truly come to life, and there are some truly frightening moments.

An issue that does come up in the narrative surrounds the issue of the power structures, whether it be due to class, queerness, or race, as it’s not just an issue of a noblewoman who exerts power over these lower born women, but Marion is also a young woman of color. But Henderson is careful to interrogate these dynamics, and what it means for women similar to Marion to be in similar situations. There’s a delicate dance of sensuality and horror that is navigated with self-awareness.

Marion is a compelling lead, even as she does embody many of the Gothic heroine traits. She’s young and somewhat naïve, and her experiences with poverty make her susceptible to the lure of opulence, just as her sexual inexperience allows her to feel drawn to Lisavet.

Lisavet herself is mysterious, yet enigmatic. This isn’t a story that aims to reinvent the wheel about the Elizabeth Bathory myth, to try to humanize her in spite of her crimes, but she’s compelling nonetheless. It’s easy to see how many young girls, especially with few options, can find working for her and being her companion attractive due to her initial displays of charisma, but there’s just enough divulged about her past and personality that suggests how dangerous she truly is.

The narrative is pretty fast paced, and I more or less read it in a single sitting. I was on the edge of my seat throughout, desperate to find out Marion’s and Lisavet’s fates.

This book left me enraptured (even if slightly horrified) from the first page to the last. If you’re a fan of Gothic horror, especially classics in Gothic/vampiric literature like Carmilla and Dracula, you might like this one.

Feeling a little disappointed because I wanted this to be more rooted in the veins of a gothic vampire story but it just didn't meet that mark for me. Marion is an interesting character and the House of Hunger provides a great spooky setting, but something about this just didn't quite work for me, likely due to a false expectation I had. Ultimately, I found myself not enjoying this book mostly because the second half and end were muddled and rushed like it was a race to fit every thought the author had into the book rather than figure out what works best.