House of Marionne by J. Elle was so good and I really enjoyed it. If you like books that are young adult, have fantasy, magic, and romance then you will love this book!!

Quell and her mother have spent their lives on the run. She has a dark magic within her that she doesn’t want but can’t get rid of. This magic has made her a target and she is being hunted. She makes a decision to flee to her grandmothers at the House of Marion where she thinks she will be safe and protected. Once she is there and accepts her grandmothers rules she is in a whole new world of magic and must learn their way of magic while trying to learn about the magic in her and keep it hidden. Everything is not what it seems at The House of Marion.

This world building , magic system, and the description of the magic was amazing. I wished I could’ve learned a little more about the characters and their pasts. I was really into this book and didn’t want to put it down at times. It left me in a cliff hanger and I cannot wait for the next book!! Thank you to Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions. I’m ready for the next book bring it on!!

This book was a little hard for me to get into at first, but halfway through I couldn't stop reading. I like the originality of the storyline and how the magic works. The ending did have a couple twists I didn't see coming and I can't wait to read the sequel.

DNF at 55%.
The pacing and worlding building in this book are the reasons I could not finish. 200+ pages in and I still have no idea what is going on. Why am I halfway through the book with no answers and no action? Instead we spend our time at tea parties and etiquette classes. I wanted to love, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be.

Quell...Jordan...Yagrin...WOW
I typically sniff out what's going to happen or where a book is going to go between 45% & 70% of the way through but the reveals (that's right, plural) at the end got me.

Things I saw coming:
Quell would accept her toushana.
It would drive a wedge between her and Jordan.
Her mom was definitely either dead or being held somewhere and that it wasn't her who came to drop off the letter.
Nore is dead.

Things I gathered but was still surprised by the reveal:
I knew someone must have had toushana in Quell's family but I did not expect it to be her grandmother.

Things that left my mouth hanging open at the end:
Octos was Yagrin all along
Yagrin is Jordans brother

Things I liked:
I really enjoyed the story and how the world is being built. The balls, glitz, and glamour. The money and secret societies.
The magic and the description of it and how it's used.
The simmering push pull of Quell and Jordan's relationship.
The whiffs of Quell's grandmothers dark nature.
THE ENDING!
Yagrin. I really liked Yagrin. All things Yagrin.

Things I took issue with:
How Quell breezed through rites that people prepared years to pass.
The lack of insight into why her mother ran away with her (I wish a little bit more was revealed - I'm sure it's coming in subsequent books). I just struggle with her being on the run with Quell for so long and Quell having zero clue about the world they're running from except for the fact that she has deadly magic. I struggle with her mom being able to keep so much to herself when it seems like it would come to Quell's detriment.
The reveal of Felix and Shelby and Shelby's problem was abrupt, more insight into each of the houses (again, I'm sure it's coming in subsequent books).

I can't wait to jump right into Shadows of Perl. The end really sunk its claws into me and I can't wait to see where this goes!

This was fun, but Quell made some weird logical leaps. The world is interesting but still pretty mysterious at the end. I hope we learn more about Quell's mom in the next book.

This book is a whole vibe. Dark academia meets magic princess prep.

I really enjoyed the whole book, I read it all in one sitting. I can’t wait to read the second book in this series.

I received an ARC for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this magical fantasy. ! The ending had me completely shocked! I can't wait to start the next book!

This book was an exciting mix of dark academia, magic and fantasy. For me this book was just a little too much with the complicated magic system. I like magic systems but I had a hard time following this and I think that I tried that too much and it took the focus away from the story. I did enjoy the characters and following them as they build through the story.

I initially liked the premise of the book, a little Bridgerton, a little romantasy and a whole lot of forbidden magic. I liked the beginning with setting the stakes and important players but then it didn’t hook me further. I read it find out how it would all fit together and come to a conclusion. The story moved along, the romance had some cute parts and one twist reveal fell a bit flat for me but I did like the last one. Personally I think a lot of people will love this book, it just unfortunately wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of House of Marionne!

There were parts of this book I had fun with and parts that felt a bit cliche. It was definitely tropey but tropes are tropes for a reason and I can definitely see how this book could appeal to certain audiences. It does read young and I think if I read this in high school, I would have loved it.

Some things I liked:
-I thoroughly enjoyed the setting with the magical houses/secret societies. I thought it was the perfect backdrop.
-I thought the diadems, masks, and magical daggers were original and their descriptions were beautiful. It also gave us a way to differentiate the characters.
-I was okay(ish) with the romance but I am really happy with the way they were pitted against each other at the end. I think it's going to create so much tension in the next book and it's set up to be done really well.
- I really enjoyed Yagrin's POV. It felt significantly darker and more complex than the rest of the book and I'm excited to hopefully see his villain arc in the next book.

Some things that could be improved:
-I wish that the mother took a bigger role in this book. I felt like she should have been so essential to Quell's character and whenever it popped up, I had forgotten about that element of the story. It would have been great to see a POV from her and know what she was doing while Quell was away.
-The magic system was a bit confusing and under explained. I would have liked to know more about Toushana earlier in the book. I guess it could have been an attempt by the author to make us feel more immersed in the story because we learned about it at the same time as Quell. But, I don't think that was the right choice.
-It made me feel disengaged from the story because I couldn't pinpoint Quell's goals or motivations. Like, she wanted to find her mom but we would go entire chunks of the book with hardly a mention about it.

Overall, I gave this book 3 stars. I think there was room for improvement but my thoughts were generally positive and I will continue with the next book in the series. I'm hoping that book ties up all the loose ends and will be worth another star!

I DNF'd this one. I just couldn't get into it. It was marketed as Bridgerton but with a shadow daddy and my brain wanted to cry at it being more modern day. Like can we stop comparing things to bridgerton if it's modern day? Perhaps I will give this book a chance in the future but as someone currently seeking out more thinks actually like Bridgerton, I have to pass on this for now.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Razorbill for this ARC!

"House of Marionne" by J. Elle is an enchanting and imaginative fantasy novel that transports readers into a world of magic, intrigue, and complex relationships. The story follows Quell Marionne, a young girl with forbidden magic, who is sent to the prestigious House of Marionne, a magical academy where she must conceal her true abilities to survive.

J. Elle's writing is captivating and richly descriptive, bringing the world of the House of Marionne to vivid life. The intricate magical system and the academy's unique culture are well-crafted, adding depth and originality to the story. Quell is a compelling protagonist, whose bravery and determination make her an easy character to root for as she navigates the challenges and dangers of her new environment.

The plot is filled with twists and turns, balancing action and suspense with moments of emotional depth and character development. Themes of identity, power, and belonging are explored thoughtfully, making the story not only entertaining but also resonant.

Overall, "House of Marionne" is a spellbinding read that will appeal to fans of young adult fantasy and magical school settings. J. Elle delivers a thrilling and heartwarming tale that leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in this exciting new series.

I know this has been out for awhile but I saw it on NetGalley and scooped it up for more a personal read then something to add to our library and I really loved it! Dark academia assassin school is so up my ally and some super fun moody romance. Even if it could be a little teen at times I still loved it and ate it up! Will be recommending and def checking to see if it’s in our library already!

House of Marionne was overall an entertaining YA fantasy - dark academia, forbidden love, dealing with family (found family and blood-related) and identity. The boarding-school aspect - delving into learning magic and the rites required to fully embrace one's magic- was good. There is a lot of the day to day life of Quell once she arrives to the House of Marionne. I wanted to know more about the magic so I think their could have been more explanation and world building - for instance the diadems and masks, Quell's mother and her abilities, etc. Quell and Jordan's relationship was just barely developing - they of course jumped to the word love very quickly. And since we only saw them from Quell's perspective - Jordan's personality doesn't come through strongly. I definitely want to see how the duology concludes - the new love/hate relationship between Quell and Jordan and the dual perspectives especially - so I'm looking forward to reading Shadows of Perl. Thank you to Penguin Random House, Razorbill, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

Dark academia assassin school! Yes please! Angsty teenage romance...eh, but if you go in expecting a cheesy time that's what you get. This will go into my "guilty pleasures" because I enjoyed it for what it was.

Much thanks to J. Elle, Penguin/Razorbill, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book hits many of the same story beats as other YA fantasy*, so I could understand if some readers accuse it of being formulaic. I didn't mind its predictability. I liked Quell (pronounced Kell) and Abby. Jordan.... Something about Jordan kept me from liking him too much. His eagerness to please the headmistress, perhaps, or his lack of decisiveness. Or maybe lack confidence? Not sure, but he lacked something. I did not buy his and Quell's love; they barely had a relationship. *That's why I didn't call this a romantasy. Quell could do better.

I think Elle rushed the story; she didn't build the world enough, didn't build Quell's relationships, didn't flesh out the lore. Just plot point to plot point to plot point. I didn't completely understand toushana, how it was different than normal magic, what's so bad about it, etc. I also didn't understand the class structure very well; is there a minimum of schooling order members have to undertake, or can they seriously progress as fast as they can pass the rites? Why the diadems and masks? Why do they have to grow out of you? So many questions.

The ending was pretty disappointing. Not the cotillion, although I'm not super fond of the idea of equating academic success with societal gatherings, but rather the end-end in Yagrin's POV. Not just the cliffhanger but the revelations he casually thinks about. Yeah, the ending sucked. I'm not entirely clear on why we needed Yagrin's POV at all.

And Red. I have never read nor seen a more unrealistic or cliched depiction of a farm girl, at least one that wasn't trying to be cliched. Wide-brimmed hat--I'd bet it was straw--overalls, barefoot, walking through a field of tall grass? She'd just left the porch, so I'm to understand the front yard is a field of tall grass? Their house has to be overrun with bugs and rodents. I hate this description so much. Sorry to burst your bubble, but farmers do have tidy yards they mow. As for barefoot--I know some people love being barefoot, but it drives me insane. I live on a farm and my yard is full of poop, mud, rocks, holes, sticks, ant hills, and old nails. Do you know how many flat tires we get in a year? Sometimes you come across a random piece of barbed wire from the old pasture, or shards of glass from the distillery that was here before it was a farm. Lord only knows what's been buried in the yard decades past just waiting to resurface. Walking around a farm barefoot is the height of stupidity, and if they've got livestock, that girl is asking for a hoof to shatter the bones in her feet.

I hated Red so much. [I didn't even get to see her die. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I was entertained by this book, and I liked some of its original ideas. The story intrigued me and I liked the main character. But it just wasn't well thought out.

House of Marionne by J. Elle

First of all, I want to say that this book wasn’t generally bad, I just don’t think it was marketed towards me or my specific age group.
At all.
Which is good, because this is YA and it certainly felt like YA.
Usually, I can handle these younger stories, but with House of Marionne, I felt like I was constantly rolling my eyes or cringing internally (and externally, at times).
Which is a shame because, for the most part, the premise was interesting and some themes seemed exciting. All the interesting parts, though, were overshadowed by cringy themes and a lot of flat characters.
This should be an interesting review.
Let’s get to it.
Plot Summary:
House of Marionne is centered around our main protagonist, named Quell, who has been on the run with her mother since she can remember. The reason she’s been on the run? A dark and dangerous magic is running through her veins, constantly threatening her and her mother’s safety.
When someone finally discovers Quell and her secret, she is forced to return to her grandmother’s home and discovers a word full of magic and class. To bury her dangerous magic and keep her mother safe, Quell decides to join a school centered on teaching her magic.
But will she succeed?
Plot Review:
Starting with the plot, this whole book gave me Dark Academia, Harry Potter vibes with urban fantasy sprinkled in for flavor.
Which, unfortunately, I really disliked.
It was too much of so many different storylines and themes thrown in for me to be able to keep up with everything. We have Quell struggling with her dangerous magic, assassins trying to kill her, and a magical school that isn’t really explained all that much.
Is magic normal in this world? I still have no idea.
We also follow a lot of different dilemmas, such as Quell’s “bad magic” which she spends so much time tamping down instead of trying to understand and control, and a Sphere with a *capital S* that is breaking somehow.
And I’m also wondering: Where is Quell’s father? Does she have one? Where is he? Is he dead? Did he abandon his family?
What’s going on with that?
And I also wish that Quell had spent time having her magic explained to her by her mother instead of just following her blindly, no questions asked. That might have helped us understand why Quell’s magic was so bad and feel more connected to her struggling with this as a character.
In short, the plot was kind of a mess, but the lack of depth isn’t all that surprising. Like I said, this book very much reads as YA.
Characters:
Discussing characters now, this book suffered from the age-old issue of making main characters who “aren’t like everyone else” and love interests broody, intense, and, well, downright rude.
Quell (pronounced ‘Kel’ which is something we don’t find out until much, much later in the book), is someone I think we were supposed to connect to and sympathize with. She’s in a school full of people who hate the kind of magic she has an affinity with, a fact that should make us feel at least a little bit worried and connected to her.
Yet I felt nothing short of annoyance for her character. She’s either super naive or just downright foolish. She doesn’t ask questions, doesn’t try to understand who she is or where her magic came from, and is too busy gawking at Jordan to really care about anything else.
Also, the whole thing with crowns and masks growing out of people’s faces? Why did Quell just accept that? Like, that is EXTREMELY concerning! And we don’t talk about that, Quell? We just shrug and say “Oh, well!” and move on?
She frustrated me SO much!
Especially with the plot line following her mother. I won’t reveal that because it’s kind of a big spoiler, but that part really irked me!
But, her character didn’t annoy me nearly as much as our main love interest, Jordan, did.
He’s like all the “sad boy” “broody” “bad boy” tropes thrown into one, but make him sound like a middle school teenager full of “angst” and attitude that “softens” for our main character.
Why was he there? What was his purpose? We only ever read about him being unnecessarily rude to Quell or sitting around BrOOdInG like the “bad boy” he is.
And the other characters?
They were all pretty flavorless. I have no idea what any of their personalities were like, because they’re pretty much all the same and designed to support Quell or make fun of her.
The only other character I paid much attention to was Shelby, and that’s literally ONLY because we share the same name.
I’d like to think I’m not as vanilla as her personality, but who knows?
Overall Thoughts:
I did not intend for this book to turn into a rant, but something must have awoken in me when I started reflecting on the plot and characters more closely.
It’s not enjoyable. Not for me. For a younger audience, I think it would go over well.
Especially if they like the word “angst” which is used seven times in this book. Not a lot, but it was far too much for me.
It made me feel angsty.


Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the advanced reader’s copy.

I've been hearing about this book for awhile. It's popped up in my various feeds and recommendations a bunch of times, so I was excited when I saw it was available on NetGalley.

Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The writing's decent enough for the most part and the premise was interesting. The beginning seemed really promising to me. It didn't really hold my attention after that though. I just didn't connect with the characters or the plot. It wound up being a skim read for me.

That said, there is a lot of promise here. The sequels could be interesting, especially if the writing's tighter.

I read a copy of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Quell has spent her life on the run, running from the magic that hides in her blood. She thought her secret was safe, until she catches a mysterious man on her tail. She flees to the only place she knows to be safe - her grandmother’s home. What she quickly learns is that her grandmother is actually the matriarch of a secret magical society and Quell has just fled to a magical boarding school. Can she hide her secret between the magic and etiquette classes? More importantly, can she hide her secret from her grandmother and her very handsome shadow-wielding mentor?

This was a a bit of a disappointing read for me. The premise captured my attention - Fourth Wing meets Bridgerton, but it quickly fell flat. The only similarities with Fourth Wing were the boarding school and shadow almost-daddy (sorry Jordan, you had no personality). There were even fewer similarities with Bridgerton - just that they curtsied and drank tea. The etiquette classes were boring, and I felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over again. No momentum. The last three pages were more interesting than about half the book. I really wanted to love it, but sadly could not. I did, however, really appreciate the diverse cast of characters and the magic system in this story.

Thank you for the e-ARC!

House of Marionne by J. Elle

This eARC was provided by NetGally, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Razorbill. Thank you for the opportunity to review.

After living her entire as a nomad with her mother, to hide the magic that lives within her, assassins discovered the FMC—17-year-old Quell—while picking up her paycheck in a bustling market. Now on the run, she travels solo to meet her maternal grandmom, Marionne, (leaving her mother behind to fend for herself) and joins her society of magical elites, called the Order, by mastering their proper form of magic and passing three tests.

If the assassin catches her, she will obviously die, but at least she trains with an assassin in training—Jordan—who is the obvious choice for the love interest.

If like YA books with both first person POV for the FMC and a third person POV from another guy you barley get to know; academia setting; cotillion balls; high society; etiquette lessons; dark, forbidden and shadow magics; and a dash of forbidden romance this may be for you. The publisher marketed this book as enemies to lovers, but I would say it appears to be dislike to like at the most. It is very much an ‘angsty girl meets boy who just wants to help.’

If you require descriptions of settings and people, or of anything at all, this book will not be for you. If you want the romance to sweep you off your feet, this book will not be for you. They don’t even kiss until after the 70% mark. If you don’t enjoy learning in a classroom setting, this book will not be for you.

The first thought I had while reading this book was why wasn’t Quell homeschooled? Her first worry is about her high school graduation two weeks away, but why would she ever risk a public education in a building full of those that may be hunting her because of her inherent magic—her toushana—and she’s worried about the small bit of freedom a high school education can offer?

I’m not going to go into any more of them, mostly because they weren’t that big of a deal overall, but real life consequences and questions such as this riddled me the entire book.

Anyway, the book starts off with a POV from a young man named Yagrin. You have no idea what’s going on, no reason to care, but he murks someone in a pink beanie (off page).

If I’m honest, this book would have been better served told from both Yagrin’s and Jordan’s POV. Quell almost has nothing to offer other than going to classes and being extra good at learning to use her magic, which, oddly, isn’t really explored in a satisfying way. Nor is Jordan/the Dragon’s (the group name of the assassins that work for the Order) that uses Quell’s type of magic, toushana.

But Quell, as in many YA fantasy novels, is the very best underdog you could have hoped for. She gets into this school, and hardly stumbles before she starts passing all the classes and tests other students have been preparing for their entire lives. As she blossoms into her magic, she grows the biggest, most fancy diadem out of her head that anyone’s ever seen. So impressive.

I think this is one of the most unique parts of the magic system. Once the student starts developing and harnessing their “proper magic,” they can choose to grow a diadem or a mask out of their head, and the fancier it is, the more power the student has. Quell’s is large and impressive, so beautiful… but it’s black. It’s not explained very well why this is a bad thing, but she basically goes to her friend that works for the black market of magic and gets him to turn it to rose gold, and don’t worry, the spell will last forever.

I feel like I am typing a lot of words, but I’m not saying very much, and I have to say, this experience of writing this review feels similar to reading the book. There are a lot of words, but not a whole lot happens. In the end, I felt the characters were flat, the descriptions were lacking, and the story had a lot of promises that it didn’t fulfill. I will not be reading the second installment of this book.