For anyone who has felt washed away from grief, "House of Frank" will envelope you with an embrace that you wished you had in your hardest moments.

Saika is a grief stricken witch who ends up on the doorstep of a magic funeral home, ready to lay her sisters ashes to rest. What she finds is a purpose, found family, and the lengths we will go through in our worst moments.

A cozy and queer fantasy that will pluck your heartstrings without sending you over the edge into an existential crisis. Delightfully queer and full of heart, if you're looking for something akin to Under the Whispering Door, this is your next read. 5/5 stars!

A story full of magic that takes us along Saika’s journey through grief and the healing power of love, connection, and found family. This cast of characters is delightful as they each reveal their own grief and the ways they’ve come together at Ash Gardens and find a place where they can heal and feel loved while passing that on to the families who gather to plant loved ones in the arboretum. Parts of the beginning were difficult to read as I processed grief of my own, but what a wonderful story and thought that those we’ve loved stay with us and in this world in some form.

My thanks to Net Galley for the digital ARC.

This book took a while to grow on me but once I spent some significant time with it, I fell hard.

This is the story of Saika, a witch mourning her sister, her best friend. Her sister's last wish was to have her ashes planted in Ash Gardens, a magical arboretum from which a tree would grow. It takes Saika two years before she can even travel there.

Saika has been grieving all alone, but at Ash Gardens she meets other people who bring healing and comfort to the bereaved even as they tend to and hide their own pain. She finds work to do and slowly learns about the community around her.

So much about this book spoke deeply to me and my own experience of grief. At times it was painful to recall, but the vulnerability and truth of Saika's thoughts and words opened a small door into light.

She does grow and change and heal on her own, but her healing is strengthened and deepened as she is supported by and supports her friends.

Some people view fantasy novels as escapism or a way to tune out the "real world," but this novel taps into raw and messy feelings that come from an authentic place. I don't often cry when I think about my sister, but I could cry for Saika and the power of her love and loss. And that's a form of magic too.

Review also posted to goodreads.

I was so excited to read this book, I started immediately the moment I noticed my request for an ARC was accepted. Unfortunately, it didn't go as well as I wanted it to.

Let's start with the stuff I liked because there's unfortunately less of it.

First of all, the premise - it was a great idea that had the potential to be a great cozy fantasy along the lines of Howl's Moving Castle and Under the Whispering Door. The found family, the magical ash-planting arboretum, the magic of falling stars, and a group of magical creatures who are outcasts in one way or another - all ingredients for a great book. On paper, it sounds perfect.

Another thing I loved was the casual queer rep. Most of the characters were queer and there was a cute wlw romance with a grumpy badass witch. It was accepted as the norm and everyone was happy for the characters that got together.

One last thing was some of the characters - Oli and Hilde especially, but also Evette, Merry, and Phil, even though they had a bit less pagetime. They were the ones who didn't annoy me to no end and while they still were a little bland, I liked them most of all.

Okay, now to the bad. The main character, Saika was the worst. She was self-centered, judgemental, and extremely co-dependent on her dead sister. She constantly addressed her sister in her inner monologue, even in scenes that seemed absolutely inappropriate, such as romance scenes. She was also whiny and constantly thought her life was the worst and nobody had it as bad as she did. She judged Ignatius without ever meeting him and not knowing what was he doing for Ash Gardens. During the book, she learns about a dragon that used to belong to Frank's wife, Kye and she does something that is completely inexcusable. Until the end of the book, she insists that she was in the right and that Frank will at some point be grateful for it and needed her to make that decision for him. Even in the epilogue, the book goes out of its way to insist that what she did was right. She drove me crazy.

The plot of the book is full of small, illogical things that simply don't make sense. Characters don't know things they should know based on their previous relationships - for example, Frank had no idea how to take care of the dragon even though he'd been married to a person who loved it and spent a lot of time taking care of it. Nobody bothers to give Phil any sort of way of communicating even though he can interact with normal objects just fine. A lot of this stuff could be fixed just with a tiny bit of communication but that's unfortunately too difficult.

That brings me to the next point - the setting. It's hard to pinpoint what kind of time or place is the book set in. While there is technology like photos and trains etc. some things feel very medieval-fantasy-like. The way the characters speak switches between modern and a little archaic and overall it's very hard to define the world around. And while I get some books to thrive on the fairytale ambiance, there is too much detail put into the worldbuilding here to leave it unexplained. This is not that much of an issue for me but I know it could get confusing.

All in all, while this book unfortunately wasn't for me, it does have plenty of raving reviews so it may just be for you. If the premise interests you absolutely go check it out because there are plenty of people who loved it.

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Ezeekat Press for providing me with an eARC for an honest review!

This book, despite any flaws it may have, has become one of my favorite books. I'm always a sucker for an exploration of grief, and The House of Frank does it beautifully. Off the bat, I think my main criticism is that the world does feel like it could use a bit of an expansion, as it feels like this book is set in no particular place or time. At the same time, however, this is a strength of the book, as it allows for the themes and the story to have an ethereal and timeless quality, like many of the myths and legends that involve the creatures and people of the story. It also allows for the characters to take center stage, which is by far the greatest strength of this book. Exploring particular forms of grief, loss, and identity through each character allows for the themes to take on personality and provides a space to connect with them. On top of all of that, this is a beautiful story about the power of found family, and how grief can bring people together. I highly recommend this book!

I really liked the premise of this book. And once reading it and meeting all the characters it was so nice. Everyonr being so understanding, giving space and time in difficult situations but also still being near and close by to help or be there for the other when they need it is so good. It was a really nice book to read. Not my favorite, but I'm still happy I got the chance to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This was a truly lovely and cozy fantasy novel that deals heavily with themes of grief and loss, but manages to instill real hope and joy alongside it. I was reminded of books like Legends and Lattes and The House on the Cerulean Sea, for the themes of found family, the cast of different fantasy creatures, and the unquestioned queerness. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys fantasy with a bit of romance and can handle the challenging nature of grief themes. I’ll definitely be looking forward to reading more by Kay Sinclaire in the future!

There's really not a way for me to describe this book. It's a weird and fun story that just throws it all at the reader: fantastical creatures, witches, ghosts, love, life after death, storms, magic, promises, grief, falling stars, and dealing with loss. Every character here deals with loss, memory, and love in a different way, and they all felt real (whether it be a small cherub or a purple witch covered in tattoos, or a huge beast-man of indeterminate origin).

The one thing I disliked, and the reason I took a star off, was the main character narrating in first person to her sister. It was distracting, and having to read "Fi" however many times took me out of the narrative. But otherwise, great writing, great story, great representation, wonderful feeling when I was done reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book.

3.75/5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 4 on NetGalley)
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Just like many debuts, this book was lacking in a few areas, but was good enough that I can overlook those issues and recommend this book. My biggest gripe was with the pacing being a little off, certain scenes should’ve been cut shorter so others could have been longer and more prevalent. The ending felt a little rushed and I think the book could’ve had a stronger ending if we got another chapter or two, instead of a quick end chapter and epilogue. Also, the spell work from Saika felt a little juvenile, though I’m not sure if that was intentional or not (I do not want to speculate in a review and spoil anything).

However, all issues with standing this book made my grief filled heart full and made me feel less lonely in my grief. I’m incredibly thankful for the space the author created and cannot help but wish the House of Frank was a real place that I could visit and plant my loved ones. As well, the author nailed the found family trope. I absolutely loved the characters in this novel and felt as if I was part of their found family. If you want a book that either feels like coming home or recieving a hug this one is for you!

This book has a very intriguing premise and the theme of grief and love kept me intrigued the entire time. I feel so deeply for the loss of a loved one, in light of a recent loss, and this book has done much to help me come to terms in my own process of healing.

On the surface House of Frank is telling a story of loss, grief and found family with a side of teasing, tender love that develops slowly.

Looking closer, this book may be a warm hug for those who mourn and try to find their way back to life. Like Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune or the animated movie Up by Pixar, it deals with the topics of loss of loved ones, the going on adventures to fulfill promises, the feeling of loneliness and the search for a new anchor.

The cozy fantasy setting and the slow pace may not be everyone's cup of tea but to me it was exactly what worked in this setting. I think this book is precious for what it does and Kay Synclaire's writing is beautiful and makes you feel perfectly welcome in the House of Frank.

Thank you to Bindery Books, NetGalley and Kay Synclaire!

House of Frank was a book I did not expect to enjoy. Since it was a fantasy novel, I was hesitant to pick it up. However, as I read the book, I discovered it was actually a cozy fantasy which was something I grew to enjoy. The characters were flawed but lovable. They had their own charms that added to the interesting demeanor of the female lead, Saika. It was absolutely wonderful to get to know their stories and the reasons behind their stay at Ash Gardens. It was a lovely read with enough adventure, suspense, and heart to keep you going. The characters deserve a five star rating but, as for the plot, I would have to give it a four star rating overall. It was a wonderful medium paced read that could be improved. I hope this book does well upon its release. It was truly a one of a kind experience to finally dip my toes into fantasy through this book. Thank you for approving my request and I am looking forward to more books to read from this author and publisher.

**4.5 Stars**

Oh, I loved this so much more than I anticipated considering I requested it on Netgally on a bit of a whim. I love the concept of a cosy fantasy but the few I've read have always fallen flat for me. It seems quite difficult to write a cosy fantasy with enough plot and/or character development to make the story interesting while also not relying on most of the usual fantasy conventions (since within the cosy fantasy genre, the fantasy part is generally just the backdrop). So other cosy fantasies like 'Legends & Lattes' were such a disappointment to me because they wound up being quite boring.

But oh this book did it so bloody well, the story had such heart to it and the fantasy aspect was just a really nice means of delivering the story.

Above all 'The House of Frank' is a story about love and loss, what it means to deal with such deep grief that it changes who you are as a person and how to keep living in the aftermath of such a loss. Our main character Saika arrives at the Ash Gardens to finally honour her sister's burial wishes, however, the prospect of finally saying goodbye is too much for her and so Frank (the proprietor) invites her to stay at the house until she's ready. It is here we meet our full cast of characters, each magical in their own way and each dealing with their own grief.

But when violent storms start hitting the area and the house (and Frank's mind) starts to rapidly deteriorate it becomes clear that the Ash Gardens and the House of Frank are in serious danger of being destroyed and the inhabitants must all band together to figure out what's wrong and save the home they love so much.

Add in a few deals with death, some curses, a pet dragon and a well-done allegory for dementia and we have such a beautifully written story that I think nails the premise of cosy fantasy. I think this story does a fantastic job of exploring grief in a way that isn't desperately heavy but still gives space to the weight and seriousness of the topic.

There is also a romance plot that I really loved, it was fairly well-paced and I really thought the characters were well suited to one another, and it played in nicely with the themes of choosing to keep loving after loss.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books and Ezeekat Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

this book broke my heart in the best way. full of magic, tenderness, and the reality of grief. i love that this still had cozy elements while having real stakes and characters involved. i'll be thinking about this book for a long time!

This was a touching story about grief and the sacrifices we are willing to make after losing the people we love. There are so many lovable characters in this story. It was a good, comforting read that had me feeling reflective on grief and love. I’d recommend it to fans of TJ Klune and the like.

Grab your tissues while finding your life in this book. Kay has brought forth this heartwarming tear-jerker that is sure to keep your interest and grow your empathy. For Saika life has been no crystal stair, but she has decided to stop running from her obligations. At Ash Gardens she finds more than she bargains for in more ways than 1. I enjoyed this book, it pulled my heart out and squeezed it til there was nothing left. I laughed, I loved and I found my way within the lines of the House of Frank. Grief shows itself in many forms, how you come out on the other side or even navigate thru it is what matters most. Know that you don't have to be alone.

I am a sucker for witch stories and found family. This book has them both. I really enjoyed this story and am considering it for a future read aloud for my grade 3 class.

house of frank a fantasy driven book about a lonely witch consumed by grief which then journeys to to a place where she discovers a whimsical cast of characters.

first and foremost, i would like to give the author a round of applause because they have outdone themselves with this book! it kinds of remind me of “hotel transylvania” (the movie) as well as “the house in the cerulean sea”. but the major difference this book has for me is how well written it is!

it was sad, funny, courageous, and everything in between! i absolutely loved the characters and the main character all the most. the plot was well paced, it wasn’t rushing anybody and it just kind of lets the characters move on their own. ALSO!! *ahem there’s sapphic romance !! EVERYONE CHEERED !!!!*

definitely a great read if you are into found family and wholesomeness <3

despite every lovely detail, i gave this a 4.75 star rating because i was actually finding a bit more coziness to the story. although yes, it was cozy and wholesome but it was also really HEAVY at most times. so definitely watch out for that! overall a fun experience <3

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this wonderful ARC and for the author who kindly allowed me to review this book <3

Don't let the harmless cover fool you - this is an incredibly sad book, exploring grief, sorrow and trauma on every single page, and I don't think I've cried this much reading a book in a long time. I'll include some other Content Warnings at the end of the review as well, but please go into this book forewarned that it is a heart-wrenching depiction of bereavement, which may be challenging for some readers (particularly those with recent experience of loss themselves).

I loved so much about this book, from the brilliant queer representation, to the heartfelt moments describing how people survive the many different forms that raw grief can take. It explores how people cope with loss (losing loved ones and losing themselves) and how they find support & love with each other - it's truly lovely to read, just also rife with tragedy.

I felt some of the characters deserved more in-depth explorations of who they are now, not just ticking off "what was your loss" one-by-one and then never addressing it again, but I still really enjoyed them all. The main character Saika's development and growth was good - I found her lack of self-awareness and empathy difficult to connect with at first, but she won me over by the end. And honestly I am all for a flawed MC, particularly when so many of their flaws likely have genuine justification like processing trauma (as Saika’s do).

I would say this is a great debut novel that I would highly recommend - and many thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review, I'm so glad I got to read this fantastic book! - and I'm keen to see what else Kay Synclaire has in store for us.

Content Warnings for those who find them useful:

**SPOILERS BELOW**

- Bereavement and grief (throughout), including bereavement by suicide
- Sexual harassment & predatory behaviour by a man in a position of power (multiple instances - described briefly as a recollection, not depicted in detail)
- Suicide (mentioned, not depicted, and not described in any level of detail at all)
- Terminal illness

Horrifically awkward prose, even discounting the very poorly done switching between first- and second-person (or maybe it's all meant to be second-person and is even *more* poorly done to the point that it's not clear? Possible.) Clearly trying to tap cosy-TJ Klune energy (as opposed to Klune doing angst or comedy) and failing *abysmally*. And I don't even like cosy!Klune! But he does cosy infinitely better than this trainwreck.

The cover's beautiful, the blurb is lovely, but the book itself is embarrassingly simplistic, clunkily-written toxicity in every direction. Everyone is *awful* and this found-family is borderline - arguably outright - abusive. What even. Just, no. This isn't the book the author thinks it is and it *desperately* needs to be taken back to the drawing board and rewritten a couple more times before it's ready.

Bindery Books, the indie publisher 'membership platform' launching House of Frank, is not off to a promising start if their editor/s missed how extraordinarily badly this book missed its mark - to say nothing of how it's being mismarketed.