Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Kay Synclaire’s House of Frank is a heartwarming and imaginative tale that beautifully explores themes of grief, healing, and the power of found family. Set in the enchanting Ash Gardens, this debut novel offers a unique blend of fantasy and emotional depth.

The story follows Saika, a witch who has lost her magical abilities following the death of her sister. She arrives at the Ash Gardens, a sanctuary for magical beings, to fulfill her sister’s final wish of planting her remains. There, she meets Frank, a gentle, cardigan-wearing mythical beast who runs the sanctuary. Frank offers Saika a place among the caretakers, a diverse group that includes bickering cherubs, a mute ghost, and a cantankerous elf.

Synclaire excels in creating a cast of memorable and endearing characters. Saika’s journey from a grief-stricken, powerless witch to someone who finds solace and strength in her new community is touching and inspiring. Frank, with his nurturing presence, serves as a symbol of the healing power of love and acceptance. The supporting characters, each with their own quirks and backstories, add richness and depth to the narrative.

The author’s prose is lyrical and evocative, capturing the magical essence of the Ash Gardens while delving into the profound emotions of the characters. Synclaire’s ability to balance whimsy with serious themes of loss and recovery is commendable. The narrative is interspersed with letters Saika writes to her deceased sister, adding a poignant layer to the story.

House of Frank explores the complexities of grief and the journey towards healing. It highlights the importance of community and the idea that family can be found in the most unexpected places. The novel also touches on themes of self-discovery and the resilience of the human (and magical) spirit.

House of Frank is a beautifully crafted story that will appeal to fans of cozy fantasies and emotional narratives. Kay Synclaire’s debut is a testament to the healing power of love, friendship, and acceptance. A must-read for anyone looking for a heartwarming and magical escape.

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.

"House of Frank" by Kay Synclaire is a cosy fantasy that gently explores grief and the healing process. Told in first person (sometime 2nd), you really feel the main character’s emotional journey as she mourns her sister. Despite the heavy theme, the story is filled with warmth and lovable, quirky characters that bring a sense of comfort.

While it didn’t completely blow me away, the writing is beautiful, and the way it blends loss, family, and magic gives it heart. It’s a sweet, heartfelt read for anyone seeking a character-driven fantasy with depth.

What a wonderfully cozy and heartfelt book.

The main character, saika, lost her sister 2 years ago but now feels ready to follow through on her last wish, which was for her ashes to be buried at ash garden, so she can grow into a magical tree. When she arrives she’s greeted by the best cast of characters, frank the big furry beast that runs ash gardens, 2 cherubs, 2 witches, a fairy, a ghost and a grumpy elf. While there she creates bonds and learns how to cope with her grief. Please be aware that grief is a central theme of this book. The main character is grieving her sister and as it’s told in 1st person we see how much it’s affecting her. The other characters working at ash gardens all stayed to help after losing someone themselves so their grief is also explored to varying degrees. It continues through the whole book too so please be aware of that in case it is something you would struggle with.

The characters are so diverse and multifaceted and I applaud the author for making me care about so many characters so quickly. The interactions between the characters made me laugh but also at times made me feel emotional. Honestly found family vibes are just chefs kiss. The writing was great, the dialogue felt really believable and the plot moved at a fast pace for a cozy. My only gripe is that saika kept talking to her dead sister in her head. It was relevant to the story and I understand why the author did it but I really struggled with the switch from 1st to 2nd person and each time it happened it pulled me out of the story. It’s my only gripe and I loved every other aspect so overall a really enjoyable read

The general premise is appealing and the world is one I am interested in. As a reader I needed more solid character development to fully buy the story. The wishy washy nature of the lead lost my interest midway and I stopped looking forward to picking up the book. Because of this the romance didn’t land and even the friendships felt so-so.

This book is about grief. It has magical witches, elves, a furry caretaker, a sprite some cherubs and a wonderfully tatted up half gargoyle. There are curses and death and a lot of emotions. Warning here, this book is going to make you cry. Like ugly crying at 2am. If you enjoy reading anything from TJ Klune you are going to enjoy this one also. Hard hitting and emotional I loved it.

Okay, so… this is 2024 TJ Kline and I’m not upset about it but… it’s been done and it’s okay to move on?

This was a great exploration of grief but like I said, TJ Klune has done the same thing twice over and I can’t say that this was better or added to anything. I felt like Saika was very bitchy and you can say she’s grieving all you want, but everyone there is grieving and they don’t act like that? It’s just… it’s not it and I feel like it’s a little too late for it.

House of Frank is a cosy fantasy about grief and finding a family. The writing is beautiful, and I truly love every character, each with their own unique traits. Overall, I adore this book and highly recommend it. Also, the cover is stunning, and I can't wait to see it on my shelves. Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books | Ezeekat Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

House of Frank is a delightful cozy fantasy novel that focuses on grief. Honestly, the narrative gave me Ghibli vibes and the prose flows very well. The characters are relatable and I adored Frank.

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC

This book was really beautiful. Thank you so much to Bindery Books and NetGalley for the eARC of this book! This is perfect for fans of “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “Somewhere in the Cerulean Sea” we have a fun cast of mythical characters while also highlighting the heavier aspects of death and grief.

We follow Saika as she finally goes to plant her sister’s ashes in Ash Gardens, a magical arboretum run by a beast named Frank. While there, she meets a variety of creatures and as Ash Gardens starts crumbling at the seams, she is determined to help. As she watches everyone around her move through her grief, she finally starts to understand the importance of letting go.

The narrative style of this story is definitely interesting and it took me a bit to grasp. It’s told in 1st person, but as if Saika is talking to her sister, Fi, using the 2nd person. I thought it was an interesting concept but overall it’s a little bit jarring and really pulled me out of the story at some points. I think this could’ve been done through letters and made a lot more sense and just flowed better overall.

I also felt like the romance was a bit underdeveloped and rushed. This story would’ve done perfectly fine without the romance that appeared out of seemingly nowhere. I really like the relationship arc that Oli and Saika go through, but it could’ve ended with friendship and have been just as good (if not better) in my opinion.

I do really like the story as a whole. The world is very fantastical and it’s developed just the right amount. We have the basics of the world without getting into the nitty gritty of maps and species and whatever else may exist. The plot of the story itself is also very intriguing, but I wish there was more explanation of “Death” as we see him portrayed.

Overall, this book didn’t absolutely blow me away, but it did have its good parts and it was overall a fun story with lovable characters.

Ever since losing my dad, I have been drawn to books that do grief and grieving well. I am SO thrilled to report that this special little book absolutely knocks it out of the park! The cozy fantasy plus the very real, nuanced reflection on grief worked for me on so many levels. I adored this one and cannot wait to share it with my audience for spooky season!

I've been looking for a perfect book centred around grief and this truly helped me so much. It was such a wonderful read, a love letter I never knew I was missing out on.
Synclaires writing was so beautiful and wholesome. The acceptance around such a hard topic is something so difficult to navigate but I felt this done it such an honour.

4.5 stars

House of Frank by Kay Synclaire is a beautiful story about grief, acceptance, and learning to let go. Saika lost her sister Fiona, and she is at the magic arboretum to plant Fiona's ashes in order to fulfill her last wish. As Saika is not ready to let go of Fiona, she can stay at the house to help with chores until she believes it is time to plant the ashes. There, she meets a diverse group of characters who eventually become found family.

I thought the depiction of Saika's grief was so beautifully and serenly done. I feel like this book is unique in the respectful and realistic way it depicts grief, yet still being quite a cosy story. I definitely recommend this!

*The following content warning can be found within the book: "This book contains portrayals of grief, death, mentions of death, the death of a child (off page), the mention of suicide (off page), minor ideation of suicide, and mental illness."

*Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was so beautiful and cozy and wholesome. A lovely fantasy that dives into the complexities of grief and love. I really don't have proper words to express how special this was.

I loved the little mysteries around the inhabitants and the house, and how it all unfurled so sweetly, despite some troubles. I loved the bright cast of characters - really, some of the most memorable I've read all year - and their stories. I loved the romance, and I loved Frank. What a wonderful read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books | Ezeekat Press for giving me early access to this book! All opinions are my own.

This book is so moving, prepare to potentially cry! The writing style is very unique, it felt like a love letter for dealing with grief and loss. That being said, the writing was often…short? It felt like it could have used a little more time in editing. But the story and the character growth more than make up for it. This was very enjoyable, a beautiful moving story about the challenges of dealing with loss and the life that happens after. 3.75⭐️

House of Frank with the aid of Kay Synclaire is a heartwarming and resourceful story that delves into issues of grief, love, and the recuperation energy of found circle of relatives. The tale follows Saika, a powerless witch, who is grappling with the loss of her sister. Her journey takes her to the Ash Gardens, a magical arboretum, wherein she meets Frank, a mythical beast, and a diverse organization of characters who help her rediscover her magic and herself.

Pros:
Engaging Characters: The e book functions a rich solid of characters, every with particular personalities and backstories. From the bickering twin cherubs to the mute ghost, each person adds intensity and allure to the narrative.
Emotional Depth: Synclaire masterfully explores the complexities of grief and recuperation. Saika’s adventure is both poignant and relatable, making it smooth for readers to connect with her struggles and triumphs.
Inventive Setting: The Ash Gardens is a beautifully crafted placing that feels alive with magic and thriller. The descriptions are vibrant, making it smooth for readers to immerse themselves on this captivating world.
Themes of Love and Acceptance: The book emphasizes the importance of affection, attractiveness, and the energy discovered in network. It’s a touching reminder of the power of human connections.
Cons:
Pacing Issues: At times, the story’s pacing can feel uneven. Some sections may also drag, at the same time as others rush through big events, that may disrupt the general float.
Predictable Plot: While the characters and placing are particular, the plot can be incredibly predictable. Some readers might discover the storyline follows familiar tropes without many surprises.
Limited Character Development: Although the characters are attractive, some of them should gain from deeper improvement. Certain secondary characters experience underexplored, leaving readers wanting extra.
Conclusion: House of Frank is a lovely examine that mixes fantasy and emotional depth. Despite minor flaws in pacing and predictability, its engaging characters and heartfelt topics make it a profitable addition to any bookshelf. Kay Synclaire has crafted a tale that resonates with the pain of loss and the pleasure of locating love and recognition in unexpected places

House of Frank had a lot of promise and hooked me fast, but by about the 30% mark I was dragging with it. And I'm so upset 'cause I genuinely wanted to love it so bad!

Unfortunately this read like a debut/ new writer's novel, with too much foreshadowing throughout I guessed every single "big reveal"/ twist. I will say the set up was great and there were no major exposition dumps.

The repetition of addressing Fi, the lost sister the MC's thoughts are directed to throughout, definitely had its place, but to be used so often - and always in the exact same sentence structure, at that - became downright infuriating by halfway. The way that the MC just sort of collects everyone's stories between like 60-80% felt to me like there was no real middle planned out, or the author couldn't figure out a smoother way to insert those side stories.

I'm still struggling to figure out why it was necessary to out a certain character as trans when it never played into the story once or was mentioned again; feels tokenistic to me in that regard.

I also took issue with the way another character exposed the MC, knowing she was super self-conscious about her appearance, on purpose, just to make a point. It felt ill-timed and tacky when she bared her own soul AFTER doing so, as if her pain made up for the whole "we all have scars" charade.

This book really wasn't for me, so I am rating it 3 stars, because you have to give it a star rating on netgalley. I really love Jaysen and wanted to love this book, but alas, it was not in the cards. I wish him and the author all the best!

This was so cozy. I wasn’t crazy about the parts where Saika talks to Fi. But I do understand how they were a self soothing grief technique & that that may be important to some. I would love to see this as an animated film. Thank you to Bindery Books & NetGalley for the complimentary copy.

To be honest, books from debut authors are either hit or miss for me, but the premise of this book was intriguing enough to jump to the opportunity to read it before its release. House of Frank by Kay Synclaire acts as a love letter to grief. While the book is whimsical and sweet, it holds a lot of heart and sadness. It was sometimes difficult to get through to be honest, because having lose someone very dear to me, I could understand the MC better than I could've imagine.

With that being said, I can't say I completely enjoyed the writing style. The changes between first person and second was jarring to say the least. I wish the author would've sticked with just one. Other than that, I will check out her next release in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.