When I read the book blurb of House of Marionne I was really intrigued. It boasted of magical secret societies and dark academia so I had really high expectations going into the book. Unfortunately House of Marionne did not live up to my standards. While the premise held great potential and sparked my interest, the execution of the plot left much to be desired. In the past, I had read J. Elle’s Wings of Ebony series. Although I wasn’t a fervent fan, I found elements to appreciate and chose to overlook certain weaknesses, considering it was her debut series. However, encountering many of the same flaws that hindered my enjoyment of The Wings of Ebony in House of Marionne was disheartening.

The magic system depicted in House of Marionne held immense potential, yet I found J. Elle’s execution of it to be lacking. It failed to captivate my interest as I had hoped, leaving me constantly yearning for more and leaving unanswered questions in its wake. The world-building felt sparse, and the writing itself failed to evoke any sense of joy or excitement. I believe it would have greatly benefitted the story if the author had integrated the histories of The Houses directly into the narrative, rather than relegating them to the end of the book as a glossary. This would have added depth to the plot and enriched the reading experience. Unfortunately, the plot itself felt shaky, and the actions of characters like Quell’s mother and grandmother lacked believability.

Also I never really understood how The Order’s governing system actually worked. It was overlooked and never explained properly. Though the author always mentioned The Order being so powerful I never really got a sense they actually were. Also I didn’t understand the inclusion of diadems and masks as they served no purpose at all. The greatest disappointment was the magic system. It had a lot of potential but wasn’t done justice.

Quell’s character in House of Marionne was unfortunately lacking in depth, making it difficult for readers to form any significant attachment to her. It felt as though Jordan, the love interest, was merely a plot device rather than a fully fleshed-out character, only serving to provide some depth to Quell’s perspective. I found myself questioning the necessity of Yagrin’s point of view. Did it truly serve a purpose in advancing the plot or contributing to the overall narrative? Additionally, the romance between Quell and Jordan felt lukewarm and unconvincing, failing to evoke the desired emotional connection between the characters.

It is indeed disheartening when a book like House of Marionne, possesses significant potential but falls short of fulfilling its premise. I felt as though J. Elle failed House of Marionne with numerous plot holes and a lackluster overall execution. It is unfortunate when a promising concept fails to reach its full potential due to weak execution and unresolved issues within the narrative.

My sincere thanks to Netgally, Penguin Young Readers Group, Razorbill and J. Elle for providing me this advance reader copy.

Small Business BookTok ARC Reviews: “House of Marionne" by J. Elle

Note: This ARC was given to me for free by the author and I am reviewing this book voluntarily.

Quell Marionne and her mother have been on the run for as long as she could remember. Her secret? She was born with toushana, a dark magic that many considered to be forbidden and many who possess it are hunted for sport! When an escape from an assassin lands her on the doorstep of a magical academy and secret society, with her grandmother acting as one of headmasters, she attends the academy in order to find a way to restrain her toushana. Will she succeed in her academic endeavors or will the very academy be the undoing to her magical secret and put her life in jeopardy?

Well, I'm currently in my Magical Academia/Regency Era, and I have this book to thank for it! Wow, when I tell you this book has the potential to be the next big YA Fantasy duology or trilogy, it definitely has the potential! Where to begin on what makes this book brilliant?
Let's start with the world-building!

While the book is said to take place in New Orleans, the narrative primarily takes place at one of the magical academia residences known as the The Houses, more specifically, Chateau Soleil, or the titular House of Marionne. From the description of the houses and the headmasters that reside there to certain magical ranks and abilities, the book effectively gives us engaging exposition and lore while at the same time leaving you theorizing, wanting more. The vibe of the book takes the magical academia elements of Atlas Six by Olivie Blake and effectively combines it with the regency romance aesthetics and dynamics of the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn!

And now, to discuss the characters! The four characters I would like to highlight: Quell Marionne, Darragh Marrione, Jordan Wexler, and Yagrin. Quell Marionne by far could be one of the most empowering YA Fantasy Heroines of the decade! J.Elle does an excellent job of developing Quell's character from a reluctant protagonist suppressing her magic to a heroine that discovers her wants and needs in life, her true calling, and her inner power!

Jordan was quite the complex love interest. Throughout the book, we see him torn in an internalized battle between duty to The Houses and his budding connection with Quell. The dynamics between him and Quell, without giving too much away, was truly a combination of both heart aching and heart wrenching. Yagrin was an interesting character as well. Acting as Marionne's Assassin, we are provided with some POV chapters that illustrate his mission and the complicated double life he's led. I'm calling it right now..I can definitely see him in a bigger role somehow if the story were to continue.

Last, but not least, we have Darragh Marrione! This character is not your typical Grandma. She's a headmistress and aristocrat with a no-nonsense attitude who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. Think of her as a sinister version of Queen Charlotte from Bridgeton! Every time she is on page, you'll either be entertained by her character or downright intimidated by her!

If you love YA Fantasy books with magical world-building and lore, elaborate regency balls and ball gowns, secret conspiratorial societies, romantic tension, and a dash of family drama, then don't miss this book when it hits the shelves on August 29th, 2023!

Rating: 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

- Tropes to Expect: Magical Academia, the Reluctant Heroine, Regency Romance, Forbidden Romance, Slow-Burn Romance,Secret Identities, Assassins, Family Secrets, and Secret Society.

- Trigger Warnings: Child Abuse,
Family Discord, and Societal Peer Pressure

I loved the characters, the monsters and the magical world of social elites. It was unexpectedly funny too, which just added to my enjoyment.I highly recommend and look forward to book #2!

Thank you Penguin team, idk how I was approved for an ARC, but I was, and I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to review my first ARC.

So I read House of Marionne in 3 days, but I wanted to sit with it b/c I had some conflicting feelings. I like the idea of an opulent society that's hiding in plain sight. I like the extra info that we get at beginning and end of the book about the Houses and magic that just adds to the worldbuilding and magic system. I liked Quell as a character, I liked her determination and her resilience, even if I found some of the things she says to Jordan a bit hypocritical; speaking of Jordan, I really enjoyed how conflicted his character was throughout the story, he was the second best written character. I loved the romance between them and the push and pull dynamic of it all, but I definitely stuggled with understanding what started it all, how did they catch feelings for each other, since at that point I think they both probably just found each other attractive and hadn't yet even gotten to know each other.

The characters that were given focus, shined and really added to the supsense of it all of who Quell could or couldn't trust, but it also felt like there was a lack of a presence of a supporting cast, it doesn't matter to me if the supporting cast is small or big, but so many of the characters introduced were fleeting and even if they were a big deal their presence wasn't always felt. There was a particular character who's involved in a twist, and while that reveal is shocking it didn't hit as hard as it could have b/c after a few interactions they disappear then appear maybe 2 more times before disappearing and then reappearing for that reveal. For most of the characters that appeared it was out of sight out of mind.

Something that I particularly struggled with was the lack of detailed description for the characters; Quell has curly hair and freckles, Jordan has sculpted features and green sometimes blue eyes, Abby has dark hair, another character has a blonde pixie cut and chews gum; I think personally I needed something more concrete than this to visualize a character.

After reading this book and getting over that amazing ending, all I could think about was the things that I struggled with b/c I had stopped reading a couple of times wishing it had this detailed character descriptions or a prominent supporting cast with presence, but sitting with this made me realize that I enjoyed this book and that the things I struggled with didn't effect that. enjoyment. I was right anticipate this book and I didn't regret it. There are questions that I have, but I know that it can be answered in future books.

I do want to add that the way this book was formatted or structured made it difficult to sometimes know who was speaking what line of dialogue; there are also some grammar errors still present throughout the book.

Thanks again for this opportunity Penguin team.

House of Marionne by J. Elle (@authorjelle) is an imaginative YA fantasy about Quell, a 17 year old girl who essentially has a death sentence due to the type of magic she has within her: toushana. The story follows Quell, who has been in hiding all of her life, as she finds a safe harbor within Chateau Soliel, a boarding school-type setting that trains students in magic and inducts them into The Order. No one is aware of her secret and Quell is expected to learn and train and become inducted into The Order… but her story has some *interesting* developments as it unfolds.

I really enjoyed reading this story. It had interesting fantasy elements, characters, and plot. It was a bit of a wild ride, with the last part of the book rivaling the shocking moments that another fantasy author is known for. I assume this is the first in a series and if so I plan to read the future books for sure.

Thank you to Net Galley (@netgalley), the publishers, and the author for granting me an ARC. This book is expected to be published in August 2023.

I really enjoyed this novel!

Quell’s life turns upside down when she must run from the Draguns who want to take her life. To survive, she must live in a foreign place with a grandmother she barely remembers. She battles with her feelings for her grandmother and a mysterious guy, and as the heir to the House of Marionne, there is a lot of pressure on her to be the best. But as she strengthens her magic, a cold reality settles in and threatens to take everything she’s worked so hard for away.

This is an intense story with some great surprises. The characters are memorable, and the setting is so richly described that I'm still visualizing being there. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!

Readers interested in YA fantasy and magic will love this novel.

I'd like to thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!

OMG, HOW I ENJOYED THIS NOVEL!!!! I was hooked as soon as I started reading Yagrin's perspective, and even more obsessed when I got run away with Quell on her mission to Chateau Soleil. This novel was so, so good, with all the twists and turns, and how nothing was ever specifically good or specifically bad, which connected strongly to how the book is advertised with having almost all if not all "morally gray characters." I truly loved that about it because I felt with going into the novel with that knowledge, you knew that things probably wouldn't end up how you may expect, and was I completely right about that!

I truly loved Quell and her narrative through House of Marionne, as well as her relationships with all the characters, but especially Abby and of course, Jordan! I feel that with their story, it was perfectly written and was paced just right. I won't give any spoilers in this particular review, but I think how they end up by the end of this novel makes sense for the story, and you could tell that J. Elle was very meticulous in her writing this novel.

And oh my gosh, don't even get me started on Quell's grandmother Headmistress Marionne. I swear, all of these characters were amazing, the plot was amazing and truly kept me on the edge of my seat every single time I was reading it. And the plot twists right at the end? Y'ALL?!?!

The only thing that could have been better in this novel is that sometimes what was occurring would get misplaced because of it feeling like the novel was really fast-paced but then was not at times, so I got confused a few times while reading. I would also say that some characters' stories had some missing background details that we kind of knew about by the end of the novel, but maybe that was the case because I can definitely tell there is much more to this story, and oh, how I can't wait to read it!

With that, I will get House of Marionne 4.5 stars!

Since Goodreads doesn't allow half stars - I give this 3.5 stars.

I think the reason this wasn't ranked higher for me, is actually my own fault. While listed as Young Adult, I think it is more on the "young" part of that, however that does not mean it was not enjoyable. I really liked the mix of a magic school that functions almost like a finishing school with debutantes and the unique way people would "come in" to their magic with their masks and diadems. I would have liked some more background on the "dark magic" earlier in the book since me trying to figure out the history behind it really distracted me from the story at some times. I also feel like the story unraveled super fast with the main character basically giving it all up with barely any questions. I thought she'd have more questions about her mom or would think things were off a lot quicker than she did.
I still really liked the story and the relationships between characters, especially trying to figure out who was friend and who wasn't. If you like regency era fiction with magic - this is definitely something you would enjoy and I will still probably read the rest of the series when it comes out.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book took me forever to read, It was good but I don't know if her writing style which many have pointed out is just not for them, or the fact it's an ARC with formatting not being right, or if there are just so many details that to me are not explained enough for me to fully grasp it like levels/houses/and the passing of time in general. But there is just something.....A good chunk of the way through the book I was planning on just reading this one and not continuing the series. Then the last 25% of the book happened, and I was hooked and will be reading more. I did like the MC, the romance felt a bit off, her Grandma was a piece of work, and I enjoyed Octos TBH. Giving it 4 stars because of how much the last 25% of it had me wanting more.

My gratitude to Penguin Young Readers Group, Razorbill and NetGalley for so generously providing the advanced reader’s copy!

I very much wanted to adore “House of Marionne.” The positively gorgeous cover and intriguing description caught my eye right away! I love romantic, coming of age, mystical, magical stories and intricate world building. But this particular tale just wasn’t for me. I struggled with the pacing. I can definitely understand how it would be very appealing in the YA market (and have no doubt it will be greatly received by many!).

Quell has been running all her life. Her mom whisking her away from a death sentence for possessing magic she never asked for or knows anything about. When she's found, she runs to the only place she can think of with the power to protect...but also has the power to destroy her. Set in the Deep South with glittering debutantes, powerful family roots and a dark mystery waiting to be uncovered, J.Elle transports us to a magical school where the walls hold a ton of secrets!

What an amazing and lush beginning to a new series! I absolutely adored this book and loved all of it! It's very nostalgic YA that can easily be one of my top comfort reads to come. The world building was phenomenal and the magical system is so well thought out and thorough. I loved the idea of schools linked to the houses and certain magical powers!

I can see the hype around this book. The cover is gorgeous. The main character is complex, and I sympathized with her immediately. Themes of embracing who you are, struggling to fit in, etc are set in an extremely unique and glittering magic set in the modern world. The magic order is almost like Harry Potter without the wands and with extra glitter and rhinestones.
I recommend this book for fans of ballroom scenes, glittering gowns, hidden secrets, and family secrets!

“If this world is made of glass, I will dance with a hammer in my hand”

WOW. This book was honestly amazing!
The pacing, characters and depictions of magic were all extraordinary

Quell & Jordan ❤️

One thing that did seem a bit unnecessary was the POV of Yagrin - it was packed with a lot of information that wasn’t relevant until the very end

Overall a very intriguing read - I’m excited for the sequel!

Quell has been on the run with her mother for her whole life due to the dangerous magic living within her. Just before finishing high school, Quell has a run in with a group of magical hunters and is forced to leave her mother and end up at their last resort: her grandmother’s estate. The estate just so happens to be the equivalent to a magical finishing school and Quell is now in the spotlight as the headmistress’ long lost granddaughter. She has to navigate hiding the truth while growing her magic amidst new friendships and an unfamiliar magical society.

This was a fantastic read! Compelling plot, great cast of characters, and several surprising twists!

I was very bored by this book. I felt like it was very flat and the tension never really increased. I also thought the romance was pretty stagnant and I didn’t get any chemistry between leads. This one wasn’t for me!

Thank you for Netfalley and the publisher for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book expecting a sophisticated story of intrigue during a season of society events. The cover and descriptions lead me to make those expectations. What I found was a boarding school like setting with a poorly described magic system and simple writing that made me think this is more middle grade than YA.

The opening chapter is set in New Orleans and had me thinking I inadvertently picked up an urban fantasy book. We’re quickly transported to a fantasy location. The main character is going to hide from an assassin at her grandmother’s castle, where she’ll have lessons in magic and comportment in preparation for being presented a Cotillion.

The world isn’t always described clearly, perhaps because the story is told in present tense by the main character. She’s simultaneously observant of certain things while completely clueless about others. For example, she can see someone who is using magic to be invisible, but then she can’t figure out how to hold a teacup while having tea with her grandmother.

Her roommate grew up in this world and has been at the castle for two seasons trying to pass three tests. Our main character, who didn’t grow up in magical society, is able to pass two of the three tests in days. She is completely untrained, but is also a Mary Sue with the best powers.

As a reader, I was constantly pulled out of the story by wondering why something was happening or by writing that was trying hard to be dramatic without artful prose. The sentence “I searched his eyes for knowing” is seared into my brain. A chandelier is called a candelabra (it’s said to be hanging from the ceiling). “A hushed gasp sweeps” through a room during a ceremony that has happened many times, but we aren’t told what’s different about this time. A hallway “halts” instead of ends.

The ending exists. Kind of.

The premise is interesting. I think that a young reader might enjoy this book. Perhaps if the publisher positioned this as middle grade, I’d have a different experience with it, but it doesn’t stand with other YA fantasy books I’ve read. It’s not the kind of writing I find engaging and I think the world building needs work. It was unsatisfying and a bit of a chore to finish this one.

Thank you Netgalley and Razorbill for a copy of this book for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I discovered House of Marionne in an email from Penguin Teen. It was advertised as "Brimming with ballgowns and betrayal, magic and mystery, decadence and darkness, House of Marionne is perfect for readers who crave morally gray characters, irresistible romance, dark academia, and a deeply intoxicating and original world" and had a stunning cover.

Unfortunately, these things all felt very surface level and the writing style was too plain for the decadent and lush atmosphere it was advertising, and even at 50% did not hold my attention, so I have chosen to DNF.

House of Marionne follows Quell Marionne, who, while escaping an unknown assailant, ends up at a private magic boarding school run by her grandmother she hasn't seen in years. Can she survive boarding school and impress her grandmother while hiding some sort of dark magic hiding within her?

This is more of an urban fantasy (starts in a large modern city and lots of speech like "OMG, what a hottie!"). If you enjoy this (I do not and requested because it was tagged High Fantasy on GR), you may enjoy this book more.

Omg this was so fun! Modern day but with an almost regency style debutante twist. Dark academia adjacent and a really interesting, if not a little complicated, magic system.

Quell and her mother have been on the move since she was young. She has dark, destructive magic inside of her and her mother needs to keep her safe and hidden from the Draguns, or assassins, of the magical world she was raised in. A young dragun finally tracks them down and Quell has to flee on her own and as a last ditch effort, manages to make it to her grandmother’s grand estate. While there she realizes she also has good magic and decides to stay to enroll in the school to learn how to use it and hopefully bind with it to eradicate the dark magic from her for good.

Of all the characters, none really seem to be 100% honest and every feels very morally ambiguous. It’s a cut throat world where the weak are removed as quickly as they show any weakness. I found the magic system and the Houses to be super interesting, but also confusing. I always felt like I was a step behind because I’m not sure everything was explained super well. There’s a little romance but it felt like it went from 0-100 overnight and felt very rushed towards the end.

The writing and prose was very nice although the pacing felt off. I’m supposed to believe that this 17 year old is thrust into this world and has 5 days to emerge (physically manifest her magic) and then when she managed that, she has less than a week to prepare for and pass the second part of this three part test? A part that her roommate told her took her over a year to complete? A girl who had been brought up in the world and had an objectively HUGE head start in terms of knowledge?? Idkkkkkk about that. Oh and if you fail this second part, you’re out? Feels like a set up for failure to me.

Other than that, the story was rich and delicious and only had a few plot holes. The ending had a couple of surprise reveals that I didn’t see coming at all so that was super fun, even though they were awkwardly revealed.

I’m not gonna lie.. the first 30%-40% was not great. I found the magic system to be a bit strange and a little confusing at first. (Picturing a diadem growing out of someone’s head.. gag). I also didn’t really like the chapters from Yagrin and found them to be a little boring. I thought for sure I was giving this book 3 stars MAX.

I’m really glad I decided to stick with it because it got SO good! After the dance Quell and Jordan have in etiquette class, I was hooked. This was truly a slow burn romance and I loved every second of it. They don’t kiss for the first time until almost 80% of the way through but I didn’t even notice it took that long because it’s written so well.

The last 50 pages or so were by far the best part of the whole book. The betrayal of both Jordan and her grandmother. Quell completing Third Rite. Finally enjoying a chapter from Yagrin! I’m still reeling from all reveals. I only partially saw one of them coming but the rest were a total shock! I cannot wait for the sequel to see what happens to Quell next!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC to review!

Wow… this book was something else. I wasn’t expecting to be hooked from chapter one, but here we are.