House of Marionne sounds like a book that would immediately be a five star read for me. Marketed as Bridgerton and Fourth Wing vibes, I thought I would love it. It was confusing and hard for me to understand the world building. I really wanted to like this more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you enjoy dark academia, secret societies, dark magic, fantasy, or elements of mystery, you will definitely enjoy this book. YA continues to not be 100% my cup of tea, but I did still like this novel. I will say that there was a lot going on so at some points the plot could get kind of muddled, but despite that it was still good!

This was a decently passed enemies to lovers edging on dark romantasy but firmly in the YA category. It was really good and I look forward to reading the next one!

While the plot is engaging, it sometimes leans into familiar tropes, making it a bit less groundbreaking than it could be. Still, House of Marionne has a lot to offer. It’s a solid start to a series that shows promise, but it may not be for readers looking for something completely innovative or fast-paced.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

As much as I wanted to love this one, I think it just wasn't for me. I think younger me would have enjoyed this more, but I'm afraid this felt a little too chaotic and underdeveloped for me now.

That being said, I did find the magic and this world to be very original and unique, but I guess I just wanted more. The romance held potential for me because I LOVE a good brooding, tortured MMC, but I wanted more from that, too. It felt like I was being told about their feelings, but I never really FELT them.

Overall, it was enjoyable but ultimately just not for me. I think die-hard YA fantasy fans and younger readers would enjoy it though, so if that's you, I'd recommend trying this one out!

couldn't ever get the epub to work or download so unfortunately wasn't able to read it even with support help but have to leave a star rating regardless!

This one was just okay for me. The world building was different and not quite at the caliber I would have wanted. I felt like the story had promise, but it just wasn't quite there. I felt like it was a cross between fantasy and Bridgerton. I love a book that includes dark academia, world building, and I love Bridgerton, but I felt like combining these made for an odd mix.

This book was amazing! One of my top books of the year! It's packed with magic, action, romance and fantasy. Everything you'd need to fall into this book and not come out till it's over. I couldn't put it down at all. I can't wait for the second book!

Thank you netgalley for this arc!

House of Marionne is a YA fantasy that leans heavily on familiar tropes—magical secret societies, forbidden powers, and a brooding love interest—but doesn’t quite break new ground. The premise is intriguing, with Quell navigating a world of elite magic users while hiding a dangerous secret, but the execution feels more style than substance.

The magic system, particularly the diadems and masks, is a cool concept but lacks explanation, leaving more questions than answers. The romance and courtly drama add entertainment, but the world-building feels underdeveloped, making it hard to fully immerse in the stakes.

That said, if you’re in the mood for magic school meets deadly intrigue and don’t mind a few logic gaps, this is a fun, fast-paced read. It won’t leave a lasting impact, but for those looking for The Selection with a fantasy twist, it delivers enough drama and romance to keep the pages turning.

Fast-paced dark academia with Bridgerton undertones written by a BIPOC author, sold. This was everything I wanted it to be and more. A quick read, it's very hard to put down. Magic, intrigue, romance, and danger, this one has all the tropes but it's written beautifully with interwoven layers of dark magic and the ethical question of which road to take.

It took a minute to get into the story—in fact I had to set it down for a solid four months before picking it back up to try again—but once the story truly started rolling after that first quarter, I was swept away alongside young Quell into a fantasy world filled with secret societies and dark magic festering amongst the elite debutante academies.

Quell has been on the run her whole life along side her mom, hiding a deadly secret that could get her killed. They’re able to keep up the practice until she’s 17, only to be separated and Quell thrust into an academy for magical debutantes when she turns toward where she knew unmet family lie for assistance. Young Quell was an outsider to the toxicity that runs the magic world which is a common FMC type that I tend to enjoy reading.

I say toxicity because, case in point: Grandmom??? Never liked her; she’s over-obsessed with public opinion and grooming Quell to be her perfect heir. There was always something shady about her from the start. I mean, true colors were shown so many times throughout the book, but Quell’s need to please and desire for connection were a rose colored glass to those red flags. Put together Grandmom being shady AND one of the heads of those magical society?? Well, self-explanatory.

Another important character to Quell’s development: Jordan was what you’d expect of a YA main love interest: broody, good-looking, contrary, somewhat unattainable and emotional-whiplash inducing. He’s drawn to Quell but his secretive duties cause a strain on any relationship, friends or otherwise, that could begin to develop between the two. Him being Quell’s magic mentor adds an additional layer to their complicated connection which I know readers tend to enjoy. And like any YA romance, their journey is fraught with trials and angst. Sometimes their chemistry came across a bit forced, but I know my younger self would’ve been eating up every interaction between the two and the drama they endured.

There was a third side character that I totally should’ve seen coming given the signs throughout the book. Delighted is what I’d described my feelings about the book’s ending revelations. I mean, there’s still so many secrets but Quell’s journey and the truth behind this third character I’m not naming are building it to be an intriguing continuation indeed.

I’d definitely recommend for those readers who enjoy YA fantasy tinged with dark academia and magic. The debutante flair really puts a unique spin on the world within these pages.

I wasn't pulled into this one like I wanted to be. It gave a huge promise of YA dark academia, and it started out with action and secrecy, but then it fell apart, and I honestly was just confused about what was happening for most of it. Nothing was explained well, and the characters were flat. I think the premise was good to start with but grew to become to much to handle. I think J. Elle has potential so I will probably read more of their work in the future.

This book started out slowly, but by halfway had significantly grabbed my attention and made me want to finish the book ASAP to know what was going to happen. My stomach dropped with the twist at the end and I was completely unsuspecting of the twist that occurred. I loved the chemistry between Jordan and Quell, and I was utterly shocked at how cold and unfeeling the grandmom was when Quell found out her secret! I can't wait to read book #2, and see where the characters go!

This one had me from the first page and, while it’s a YA read, it’s infused with characters with depth, action-packed with morally grey decisions that must be made, and the angst of forbidden young love. J. Elle’s writing is pristine and sucks you into the world of her characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book and look forward to moving on to the sequel. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review, though I had already purchased a hard copy planning to read it anyway!

I liked it! I can’t say that I had specific expectations going in, but I loved the world building. Felt like I was slipping away into a different universe while reading.

Seventeen-year-old Quell has spent her life in the shadows, fleeing from city to city to hide the forbidden magic coursing through her veins. But when her secret is discovered, and her mother’s life hangs in the balance, Quell is forced into the gilded world of the Order, a high-society magical debutante system where the stakes are as deadly as they are dazzling. To survive, she must navigate the Order’s trials, master new forms of magic, and resist the allure of her handsome, shadow-wielding mentor—all while concealing her own outlawed powers. But as the dark truths of the Order unravel, Quell faces an impossible choice: tame the magic she fears, or embrace the monster within.

In House of Marionne, author J. Elle offers an ambitious mix of dark academia, magical intrigue, and an enemies-to-lovers romance. While its premise is captivating, the story doesn’t fully deliver on its promise. The concept of toushana magic—a cornerstone of the story—is underexplored, leaving readers with more questions than answers. The visual idea of diadems and masks as manifestations of mature magic is intriguing (if uncomfortably gendered), but the logic behind them feels incomplete. For instance, the practicalities—like how they impact daily life or sleep—are glossed over. I kept wondering how no one ever got their hair tangled in a diadem! (Magical reasons?) This lack of clarity makes the world-building feel more like a collection of ideas than a cohesive system.

The characters fare slightly better, though still not without their flaws. Quell is a strong, determined protagonist, but her decisions—especially her quick trust in her suspicious grandmother—don’t always align with her survivalist upbringing. Jordan, her mysterious love interest, is a mix of brooding intensity and trope-heavy predictability. He seems designed to evoke fan-favorite archetypes like Rhysand (A Court of Thorns and Roses) or Xaden (Fourth Wing) but falls short of their depth and charisma. Yagrin, a fascinating side character with the potential to steal the show, is frustratingly underutilized. It’s easy to imagine a version of the story from his perspective being far more compelling.

The novel’s writing style is accessible and engaging, though it skews toward a middle-grade tone despite its young adult (YA) label. This lighter touch makes the book easy to read but also limits its emotional resonance and complexity. For instance, many of the lines where Quell describes how she views Jordan physically are so beautiful, but the writing never fully convinces me of their deeper connection. The narrative leans heavily on familiar YA fantasy tropes, and while these elements create a solid framework, they lack the originality or depth needed to stand out. As a result, the attempt to weave in themes of power and danger also often feels surface-level, relying more on atmosphere than substance.

Ultimately, House of Marionne knows its audience. For readers looking for a fast-paced story with a magical setting, forbidden romance, and high-stakes danger, it delivers. The Order’s glitzy debutante culture and deadly secrets provide an atmospheric backdrop, and the romance, while not groundbreaking, has its moments. Casual readers who enjoy YA fantasy for its escapism and drama will likely find the book entertaining. However, for those seeking deeper world-building or more complex characters, the charm of this book will likely feel more like a spark than a flame.

Thank you to NetGalley and Razorbill for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

The dark academia vibes, the rivalries, the twists of the romance, I am so excited to see where this series leads.

This felt like dark academia meets gossip girl. Was just what i was looking for and I love that its a series that I can continue. Started off a bit slower but once i was invested in the story, i couldn't put it down.

I think this book and series will find a wonderful audience of readers who will rank this as an instant favorite. Am I one of them? Yes and no.

Unfortunately, it took me two tries to get into this book. The opening with Yagrin felt a bit bland to me, which is really unfortunate because he ends up being such an interesting character. Once I got past that to Quell’s chapter, things picked up a lot, but I found myself wishing there was a little bit more clarity on how the world and magic system worked. I think there is something really great there, but it felt like I was missing a huge backstory.

Once I felt invested in the story, I really enjoyed it. I think some readers may be put off by how much is going on in this book, but I enjoyed the complexity. You have an almost debutante society of magic families full of secrets, wealth, and danger. Then you have your heroine, dropped into this world after being completely isolated from it and raised in a very different way. It’s a familiar setup, but the author still managed to make it feel fresh and mysterious. There is also an enemies to lovers storyline with little to no spice, which is always a fun addition to a story like this.

Overall, I feel really split about this book. I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to, but I liked it enough to read the next book and see how the story changes and matures.

*Big thanks to J. Elle, Penguin Group, and NetGalley for providing me with an e-book copy in exchange for honest review*