I got into this book but then it just fell flat. I had a hard time caring about the main character. I got about 1/2 into the book and had to DNF. I just couldn't connect or care about the story line. It has potential I'm sure

Wow just wow!

This book follows Quell who is on the run with her mom because of a terrible power she has. The power she has is not accepted by the magical community and anyone with this power is hunted down. She gets traced and has to run again while her mom stays behind and the only place she can think of going is to her grandmother. Turns out her grandmother runs a magical school of sorts and she is thrust into it and the magical world and have to hide her bad magic to keep herself safe.

I am blown away by this book. I absolutely loved it! I love all the magic and how it’s described so easily. The whole book was a roller coaster. I love how her character evolves. My heart was ripped about with what happens with her and Jordan! And the last chapter!! OMG!! I was gasping in shock! Definitely had me on the edge of my seat hanging on to every word. The story is left on a jaw dropping cliffhanger.

{4.5/5}

Read via NetGalley.

A little confusing and slow to start, but then a really interesting read.

Quell has only ever known a life on the run. With just 3 weeks left before she graduates, just 3 weeks until she and her mom can settle down somewhere and hide permanently, everything comes crashing down. Separated from her mother and hunted by men who can wield shadows, Quell seeks refuge with her grandmother. Finding herself at the equivalent of a magical boarding school, Quell devises a plan. A plan that hinges solely on one thing—Quell’s ability to hide her curse.

I should clarify my initial statement— the story starts off with some confusion, but it makes sense for the character. Quell knows nothing about this world, she really doesn’t even know anything about her own curse, and she gets a crash course in the history, structure, and culture of an entire group of people she didn’t even know existed. If you can overlook one relatively minor instance of info dumping and just go with the flow, learning alongside the character, the story rapidly evolves into something really magical and fun. The lack of more information isn’t so bad that it impedes the story, and by the end of the book there’s enough relevant content to sort through the events.

With all of that in mind, it’s also fair to note that the world building is deceptively immense. At first glance it seems like we’ve just got a secret magical society doing their own thing and that’s all there is to it, but that would be a false impression. The further you go and the more you discover, the more it becomes apparent that the author has done a *lot* of behind the scenes development. Between the depth and the actual descriptions, the whole setting just feels magical and sort of ‘other’ in an almost creepy way. It’s something I’m really hoping to see more of in book 2.

Quell as a character is an odd blend of traits. She’s mature for her age, presumably since she’s had to be hyper vigilant and overly responsible for basically her entire life, but, at the end of the day, she’s also only 17. She makes some really questionable decisions and takes some really big risks that sometimes make you cringe just a little bit. Interpersonally, she’s both incredibly stunted (because it’s kind of hard to get a good foundation for friends when you keep moving all the time) and really aware (because when you need to blend in all the time you get really good at it), and it makes for an interesting, if sometimes frustrating, set of interactions. Fortunately for our character, she’s likable and clever, so it’s easy enough to root for her and overlook some traits that would be borderline unforgivable in an older character.

The plot itself was an odd mix of character growth and action, so I don’t really know what to label it, but it held my attention pretty solidly the whole way through. This is definitely one of those books where you’re just going to have to be willing to go along for the ride and see where it takes you, but it’s got some intriguing twists along the way that I felt made up for the end goal being a little abstract at times.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s definitely in that upper-YA/lower-NA age category, and we can see that reflected in our MC and in some of the depth of interactions. Keeping that in mind, it still manages to present a plotline that gave plenty of fun twists and surprises with a subtly creepy undertone. I’d call it ‘high society magic’ crossed with ‘dark academia’ and sprinkled with just a smidge of ‘creepy groups that feel almost like a cult.’ If that sounds like a good time to you, then you’d probably enjoy this book

I tried picking this one up a few different times between different books but I just could not get into it. The synopsis sounded great. I’m not sure what it was I just had to accept it as a dnf. :/

Wow! The ending of this book was so good! I have to admit that I struggled to understand the world building and the magic system. Even as I progressed in the book, I understood more but I never quite had a full grasp of the magic system. Overall the story was intriguing. The ending was the best part. Questions that I had were answered but I’m still left with wanting to know more! I’m excited for book two, The House of Perl!

Dark grey academia with a glittery cover.

Quell has been on the run with her mother since she was a young child, mainly because her toushana (magic) is dangerous. But when she and her mum get separated, Quell crashes her grandmother's place, only to find out that it's a school for magic.

I really enjoyed this story both reading with my eyes and listening to the audio book. I enjoyed the characters, the thought processes that Quell goes through in making decisions and also the uniqueness of the magical system with all the different flavors of magic (from the surface to the deep). I appreciated the guidance and history about the different magical schools (Houses).

I am super excited for the next book in the series.

Highly recommend if you want a magical school series that has a little more teeth than a series about an 11 year old.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

House of Marionne by J. Elle is a mixed first and third person dual-POV YA contemporary fantasy blending magic schools and debutante culture. Quell has been on the run with her mom for most of her life, hiding Quell’s magic from the world around them. When someone discovers Quell’s magic and comes to kill her, she goes to stay with grandmother, who is a headmistress of a magic school and expects Quell to become an Heir.

The diadem and dagger aspects of the magic system are very cool. Physical representations of where someone is in their journey to learn magic but also take beautiful and unique forms for each person is a great worldbuilding detail that allows the main characters to feel their magic getting stronger. The daggers also give an element of choice as the magic debutantes choose which stones, and which aspects of magic, to strengthen.

Quell is in the dark about a lot of things happening in the magic world and relies on her friends, grandmother, and love interest, Jordan, to fill in the gaps. It shows that Quell is quite trusting but also guarded; she doesn’t reveal a lot about herself and will observe other people to the best of her abilities, but she will also trust that someone who she doesn’t really know will tell her the truth.

I really liked the use of Cotillion culture for magic schools and debuts. It is European but it’s also very Southern American that does still happen in some corners. Cotillion allows every girl to be a princess for a day and reading teenage girls get to be genuinely excited about getting to wear beautiful gowns and have cake and send invitations was a nice change of pace from some of the YA fantasies I’ve been reading lately.

I would recommend this to fans of YA fantasy looking for something that uses Cotillion and debutante culture and readers of YA fantasy who want a magic school with a twist

I really enjoyed this book. A magical school setting with exceptional world building. A mostly strong FMC. I can't wait for the second book in this series.

🖤From the moment I opened House of Marionne, I was completely captivated by its richly woven world and intriguing characters. J. Elle has crafted a spellbinding story that blends magic, mystery, and heart-pounding secrets in the most enchanting way possible.

🗡️🌺The FMC, Quelle, is trying to hide from the intense stakes of a world on the brink of chaos. She leaves the protection of her mother, but looks forward to seeing her mother again. Learning to hone magic, passing trials, and preparing for cotillion has consumed her time. Will Quelle pass and see her mother again? This book will keep you turning the pages late into the night. This is a must-read for fans of Romantasy!🌺🗡️

🖤If you haven’t picked this one up yet, you’re seriously missing out! I can’t wait to see what J. Elle has in store for us in book 2! Shadows of Perl will release September 3rd, 2024.

This was a great start to a series. Quell was a great strong FMC although at times I did find her a little annoying. Even then I could understand and see why she was making certain choices. Gave me vampire academy x Bridgerton vibes.

House of Marionne by J. Elle is a captivating YA romantasy that weaves together dark academia, magic, secret societies, and action into an enthralling narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed this story; J. Elle's vivid writing and well-developed characters make it a standout read. The blend of intricate plot elements and engaging world-building ensures that this book will remain a comforting and cherished favorite for me.

House of Marionne by J. Elle is 3.5 stars (rounded up) for me.

Quell, a 17-year-old girl with a dangerous forbidden magic, has been on the run with her mom since she was five, always staying one step ahead of The Order, a powerful magical society hunting those like her. When they’re finally tracked down, Quell seeks refuge at the House of Marionne and reluctantly enrolls in a debutante-style magical training school. Here, she tries to strengthen her "proper" magic while suppressing the dark power that threatens to consume her.

I found this YA fantasy to be a fun, easy read. It’s filled with magic, ballgowns, slow-burn romance, betrayal, secrets, and social elites, all wrapped up in a unique magic system that kept me turning pages. The author’s writing style is beautiful and intriguing, making it hard to put the book down. While it leans very young adult, capturing all the awkwardness and emotions of teenage life, it’s an enjoyable escape into a magical world. The last 100 pages really picked up the pace, and I’m definitely looking forward to where book 2 takes Quell's journey next!

Thank you to Penguin Teen for the read-along experience.

Thank you to J. Elle and Penguin Group| Razorbill for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

House of Marionne is a YA Fantasy filled with Secret Societies, High Class Elite, Cotillions, and Magic. It follows Quell as she reluctantly inducts into The Order to hide herself, and her dark magic from those hunting her.

Tropes:
Forced Proximity
He’s her tutor
High Fantasy
Dark Academia
Enemies to Lovers

I found it a little difficult to get into the book at first because it’s Fantasy but set in the modern human world. Once I got past that, I loved the book!! I love how far Quell went to hide her secrets, and how she learned who and who not to trust. Jordan was your typical broody YA MMC, although many things about him surprised me.

House of Marionne has 3 POVS: Quell, Jordan, and Yagrin. Honestly, I really wish we learned more about Yagrin, and that he had a bit more page time, although I’m assuming that we’ll get much more of him in the next books.

House of Marionne is the perfect fall read, it has spooky and gothic academia vibes that fit in so well with spooky season. I recommend this to anyone who loves Urban Fantasy, Dark Academia, Secrets, Betrayals, and Dark Magic.

This was for me a good book. It reminds me of a lot of my favorite YA books when I was growing up that I loved. I will say it was repetitive and a little long but that's kinda normal for YA.

I enjoyed the magic system in this! To me it was interesting the difference between 'Sun Dust' Magic (light magic) and toushana magic (dark magic). I love the parallels between the two. It talks a lot about how dark does not mean evil and how light doesn't necessarily mean good. There is no black and white but shades of gray and that its the person that wields the magic that makes it what it is.

I know that for some people the angst will bother them but to me it made sense in this story. Quell the main character had just come from never being able to trust anyone ever and always on the run. Her questioning everyone and everything around her made sense though I think it did make the book a little long and repetitive because she was questioning everything in every chapter. Again it made sense for this character. I also loved watching Quell become her strong, beautiful, resilient self. She grew into her own and was so stunning at the end.

Jordan....he's the dark brooding, quiet guy. Again with his past and what's happening to him right now this matches his character great. I love that he treats Quell like a queen and with respect. In the beginning he's a little weary of her but she showed up in strange circumstances so again not unusual. Once he gets to know he he's a prince to her. He does try to keep his distance because he's in a dangerous situation but Quell puts a stop to that.

The Grandmom....she's the quintessential wealthy people are more powerful and above average people mindset. I really did not like her. But your not supposed to so. The Grandmom is complicated. I do not like the way she does things but she is a product of the society she grew up in. I loved Abby she was a balm to all the angst the ball of sunshine and the friend that will always take your side and root for you.

The plot was pretty fun and engaging but, it was similar to a lot of other YA books. That being said it was executed great and I flew through this book in 2 days. Really enjoyed the overall experience.

I can see this series being well liked by YA fantasy readers, but I felt like it needed more character building (especially with Jordan.) It would have been great to incorporate more of the world building into the book itself into of in the “Appendix”.

That said, I liked the dynamic between Quell and Jordan; she’s a likable character that’s reminiscent of Sarah J Maas FMCs in her YA books.

It ends on a massive cliffhanger, revealing more about some of the key characters in one chapter than I got from most of the book. If the lead up had been nearly as creative and interesting as the last 25%, I would have loved it.

𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆 it's a ya urban fantasy that, thanks to the particular magic system, won me over.

Quell is forced to move from one city to another due to the black magic that courses through her veins. When she reveals herself to the wrong people, she is forced to find a safe place to hide.
What better place than the Magic Academy run by her grandmother?
Between spell lessons and luxurious balls, he will have to keep his secret hidden at the cost of his life.

I loved everything about this book, from the Bridgerton vibes to the tension created by the protagonist's fear of being discovered.

In a world of pompous clothes, magic and social events, Quell finally feels like she belongs to a place.
Too bad she risks her life every day because of his secret. And that makes it all that much more interesting.

It's the perfect read if you like the following tropes:
🗡️ Forbidden romance
🗡️ Mystery
🗡️ Dark academia
🗡️ Secret society

This is the first of a saga, so I can't wait for the second one to come out!

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Young Readers, for the free ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was very good I liked it a lot. I am going to preorder the next book and then get a physical copy of this book as well.

Loved this Bridgerton-esque fantasy book! It was unique, and the magic system was intricate. The worldbuilding was lacking just a little bit but I really liked the characters. I'm looking forward to book 2!

Wow. I haven’t been this conflicted about a book in a long time. I love it, but at the same time, I’m disappointed. I really liked it, but some aspects weren’t fully fleshed out. I ping-ponged between 3 and 5 stars, and everywhere in between.

I want to preface this by saying I’m considering this as a YA book. To me, that means the target audience is between 13 and 17 (i.e., teenagers). When reading and reviewing YA books, I apply a bit more flexibility to my expectations. I try to view the story through my teenage self’s perspective, considering what I would have enjoyed back in high school.

The story begins with Quell and her mom on the run because Quell has dark powers that could get her killed if discovered. Quell eventually separates from her mom and arrives at her grandmother’s estate, which also happens to be a magical school. There, she meets Jordan and must navigate hiding her dark powers while becoming an heir and debutante to banish her dark powers forever. As she adjusts to the new magical society, she tries to avoid falling for Jordan. Readers are taken on a dark urban adventure into a magical school with high teas, sacred rites, and the strict Order.

Highlights:
⭐️The ambiance: The magical school setting, where students learn both magic and etiquette, adds a unique charm.
⭐️The mask or crown choice: I loved that students could choose between a mask or a crown, with different visual interpretations for each student.
⭐️The twists: The plot twists were a major saving grace for the book.
⭐️Quell: I enjoyed her character and her growth throughout the story.

Neutrals:
⚪️Romance development: It’s not an enemies-to-lovers story, and Jordan’s background is scant. The romance felt rushed, but it can be attributed to young love.

Pitfalls:
❌Character development: Characters needed more depth and physical descriptions. Their personalities weren’t fully fleshed out.
❌Plot execution: The novel’s premise is intriguing, but it wasn't fully realized. There was a lack of world-building and detailed history, leaving readers in the dark about much of the setting.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Young Readers, for the free ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you for the arc.

It took me a bit to get through this book. But mostly due to the formatting, it didn't read well on my kindle and I'm not a fan or reading on my phone.

Read a little too YA for me. (I feel too old to read YA sometimes) but I enjoyed it and that cliffhangggeerrr.

I am invested and ready for the sequel!!!