House of Frank is a beautifully and gently written indie-pub debut fantasy (not particularly *cozy* although marketed as such) by Kay Synclaire. Released 15th Oct 2024, it's 320 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a sensitive and moving story about loss and found family, grief and the often messy and non-linear way the grieving process goes. There's a lot of loss and anger as well as a surprising amount of hope. It's tagged/marketed as a mystery, there's really very little mystery involved, ditto cozy, there are some terribly raw and distressing depictions of grief which are difficult to read in places.

That being said, there is a surprising amount of catharsis, and the overall impression readers go away from the book will probably be hopeful and positive. I wonder if the author is writing her personal loss into the story, because it reads with a great deal of verisimilitude.

Four stars. This is an indie-pub book, so possibly not on acquisition folks' radar. It would be an excellent choice if available for public library acquisition, maybe even for grief groups or fantasy/SF book club discussion.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

"House of Frank' by Kay Sinclair is an adult cozy fantasy that is a perfect comfort when confronting the realities of grief. Full of queer representation, this book will make you weep but warm your heart at the same time"

Saika, a witch who lost her powers, is finally ready to lay her sister’s ashes to rest and winds up at the Ash Gardens. There she meets Frank, the mystical beast owner, and a whole ensemble of colorful characters who help her confront her grief and guilt over her sister’s death.

I felt deeply connected with both Saika and Oli, the nature witch who helps take care of the house and arboretum. They both have to overcome their grief and personal trauma to save each other as well as the mysterious threat of storms on the house before it is destroyed completely. I love the friendship that blooms between them as they grow closer in connection with their grief.

I really hope to see more from this author. Thanks to Kay Synclaire, NetGalley, and Bindery Books for the ARC! Sorry I am late (I had a kid.)😅

I wanted to love this book, but didn't. It wasn't bad, per se, but the pacing and tones were really uneven, and some parts were heavy and some were not. It was basically just all over the place, and you can tell it was a debut. I will definitely try this author again, but probably not anytime soon. 3 stars

I really liked the book. It was a bit hard to get into, but it's bittersweet and lovely. I really enjoyed this read.

It took me a while to convince myself to read House of Frank, because I KNEW it would be an emotional punch to the gut-and boy, was I right, but I was also left wishing I had picked it up sooner. A really lovely first foray for a new publishing house, if every book they offer is as thoughtful and reflective as this one then I'll certainly be subscribing to the newsletter.

Death and suicide, witches and Ash Gardens. This is a book with a lot of heavy plot points. I didn't get to finish it, but it seems quite promising. I am sure it will be highly enjoyed, especially with the sapphic storyline.

This was my debut into the cozy fantasy realm. I think if you liked Legends and Lattes, House of. Frank will be a book you should consider.

But like all debuts…..some things could be improved upon. The writing style was young. Initially, I honestly thought this was YA, but I kept pushing and overall I enjoyed it. It goes take a minute, and a lot of things are thrown at you before it settles into a rhythm.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read!

I really wanted to like this book. The premise is great, but the execution wasn't my cup of tea. I had different expectations of what this book would be. The plot was a little all over the place and the characters, no matter how intresting and cute they were, couldn't win me over.

I received a copy through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All opinions are my own.

DNF'd this one at 16%

I kept thinking I would came back to it, but I just have no motivation to pick it back up again. The writing style didn't work for me with some sections being these weird second person type perspective that felt really off. And while I liked the concept, the story just wasn't grabbing me.

House of Frank is a cozy fantasy focused on processing grief and the different forms it takes. I loved the variety of characters that populate this story and how they help each other get through the most difficult parts of life. Anyone who is ready to feel their feels and love on some wonderful characters should check out this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I would describe this book as an ode to grief. I'm not sure how I would feel about the book if I was actively grieving when I read it, but I definitely found it moving, and loved the characters.

DNF. I felt confused for most of the book. The concept is amazing, and I was eager to dive into a cozy fantasy setting, but the style wasn't working for me. The characters felt plain, the dialogue empty, as if there wasn't any passion in the writing. I would love to give the author another chance in another book, but this wasn't for me.

This was such a beautiful story. It made me more emotional than I was prepared for, but I’m not mad about it

This book was so emotional and heartfelt. Truly an unexpected gem. You should definitely going to need to have tissues ready going in but the character work is amazing and definitely worth the tears that you are going to shed.

a different kind of cozy fantasy, HOUSE OF FRANK is both a warm hug and a tearjerker. Beautifully queer, kind to its readers, and a comfort read while also making you think, I think its a breath of fresh air amongst the genre

I wasn't completely sure what to expect from this, but it was a really pleasant surprise! I'm really impressed with the comforting and healing way this book managed to talk about death, grief and remembrance. It has a super interesting cast of characters where the characters aren't just fun, kind and loveable, but they are flawed and complex. The writing fit the story really well, and felt very immersive.

What a fresh, heartfelt and heartwarming, queer found family story—absolutely sobbed my way through parts of it, but left with my heart feeling healed. Thank you for this, Kay! Cannot wait for more!

I won't be reading this. I've tried multiple times and haven't gotten into it. Thank you though for the opportunity. If I read it in the future I will come back and change this review.

While the premise was nice, the writing was... not what I expected. I wanted more from the characters because I felt that what was on the front cover and the front flap was not what we were given.

The story has a really lovely way at addressing grief and I love the found family trope. Overall I enjoyed this book but it did feel a little slow at a fe wparts