4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the E-Arc in exchange for my honest review!

To be honest, I had low expectations of this but I got into this enjoying the writing style and following the pacing of the story. Kind of insta-lovey and although I did find the ending and "twists" predictable, I still can't wait to read the next book. It got me intrigued on what would happen next and if I'm able to predict the next ending and 'twists' lol

DNF-ed at 20%. This failed to hook my interest, because it felt way too similar to other romantasy books I’ve read. Those trying to recapture the vibes of ACOTAR may enjoy, but I was hoping for something more original

Edira is shouldered with an immunity to a blight taking over her community. She is brought to the elite class to try and see if her powers can be molded into healing the blight in others. It had a lot of plot points/scenarios that are not uncommon in romantasy, but definitely make for easy consumption. Hello, forced proximity and a love triangle. There were certain things that I called from the others, while others were surprises. Is anyone telling the truth? I am interested in seeing where this heads!

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

House of Blight is, for better or worse, quintessential romantasy.

I was intrigued by the prologue of the book; Martineaux captured a folktale-esque tone and set a promise of a story that would center a clever mortal woman in the fantastical, tricksy, dangerous world of the fey.

Did it deliver on that promise? For me, no. The moody, magical writing style of the prologue was quickly abandoned for 1st person narration designed to be skimmable instead of thought-provoking, with sentences. Punctuated. By. Periods. For. Emphasis. in the style of bad fanfiction; and anachronistic vocabulary and phrasings (why, in Medieval Fantasyland, are people talking about their adrenal glands and “default settings”?); and repeated phrases/crutch words used constantly (everyone chuckles darkly, everyone feels a strange heat/something heated because they don’t recognize attraction, etc.). The plot’s pacing dragged and flew by in turns, but never quite let me sit in any scene with satisfaction. And the characters… hoo boy. If you’ve seen one romantasy heroine, you really have seen them all.

But for fans of the genre? The promise is knocked out of the park. There are so many tropes and story beats that are perfect for readers who are looking for the familiar in their reading:

We follow Edira, an orphaned and parented FMC with a Unique Physical Characteristic (moon-white hair that glows when she uses her powers) marking her as special. She has some Not Like Other Girls tendencies/thoughts upon introduction, of course, but that’s only because she’s So Smart and Good At Medicine (we do not se evidence of this on page except as informed characterization. Edira is a smart apothecary in the same way that Caelena Sardothien is a ruthless assassin: only theoretically). The magical beings Edira is summoned toward, called the Evers, are basically fey; don’t worry, they’re all of the Gentry variety (so hot! Supermodel humans with pointy ears and magic! No uggo, weird lil guys here!) at least on the surface, and their more bestial qualities don’t move them so far out of the realm of humanoid that it’ll make them undesirable. The Ever women immediately inspire girl-hate, with Edira clearly being the moral victor of the interactions, but through her great compassion the animosity is handwaved away by the end.

And naturally, the two Ever men Edira interacts with are immediately attracted to her (feeling is mutual) and regularly flirt and proposition her instead of, like, actually talking and getting to know each other in any capacity (in Martineux’s defense, they DO do a little feelings-talking here and there, but there’s far less of that than the “banter”). We have stoic, gruff softy Rorik, who’s So Mean! to Edira while he trains her how not to die when she uses her magic but is also so protective and has little insect familiars he dotes on. And noble, charming, tragic Orin, who despite having almost the same name as his brother couldn’t be more different in that he’s overly kind and attentive to Edira (he’s also very clearly Evil. We all got that, right? We all knew he was evil?). They’re both, like, maximally powerful, too. Of course.

Anyway, with both parts of this love triangle, you get the annoying-to-me, presumably really-hot-to-romantasy-fans classic of refusing to admit attraction. It appears too fast, but it’s like there’s this odd desire for purity alongside it, like admitting to having attraction would taint Edira. It feels very puritan-coded and squicks me out, but it’s so common that I have to imagine fans of similar books would love it here, too. were also more informed of bonding rather than shown on-page relationship development (see: Endira sassing Rorik at end of chapter 10 as though they were close and he was safe to sass). And because Martineux wanted both spice and slowburn, the Rejected Love Interest got to have sex with Edira, whereas the Real Love Interest mostly got to pine tragically. Honestly, kudos to the author for that. A true having your cake and eating it, too moment. I think the romantasy girlies will go wild for it.

I’m not a total curmudgeon, and there were some elements to the story that I appreciated. I do read in the hopes that I’ll like things, and House of Blight has some! Edira’s determination to fix her brothers’ illness doesn’t just disappear when she arrives in fairyland, and remains her central driving factor even after she decides she in love with one of the Evers. The insect familiars are such an unusual choice for animal companions, but the varied nature of bugs leaves so much room for personalization and distinction, and I find them fitting for the fey. It’s a shame that it’s just the one of the Evers who has them, because the weird bug thing makes them less the supermodel with nothing going on/ACOTAR types (a comparison that will be made for any romantasy with fae, for better or worse) and more weird and cool. And honestly, I like the eponymous Blight! I think it is a cool system for driving horror and plot progression! I like the idea of rot creeping in on an eternal source of life, and it was delightfully visceral every time it was depicted on page. The rules of it don’t quite make sense to me (why are insects immune and how are their carriers? From what does it stem? What is the symptom progression?) but it’s great for the vibes. And I did like that the concept of heartbonds isn’t just yet another fated mate thing. I liked that you could have multiple heartbonds (though presumably only one at a time), and that you had to mutually choose each other. And I especially loved!! That the immediate logical question that arises when you learn that magic shared via the bond is kept forever by the one who outlives the other is answered!! We don’t just have a gaping plot hole in one of the magic systems!! I can’t overstate how rare that is in romantasy, and it’s single handedly added a half-star to my rating.

I recommend House of Blight to fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros, who are looking for a very easy to read new author telling a familiar type of story to tide them over until the next release of their favorite series. I will not be continuing with this series, but I’m excited that House of Blight’s story isn’t over for the readers who will love it.

I am a sucker for enemy to lover, and it worked so well in this. Loved the unique magic, the high stakes, and eerie gothic atmosphere.
The characters were complex and layered, adding to the mystery, and the tension was intense.
I enjoyed all the dynamics between family and rivals, and the creepy horror aspects. It's intriguing and emotional, and I'm invested for more.

What a fun book this was. The whole entire time I was reading this, I wished I had a camera recording because I was literally giggling, wanting to chunk my kindle because I was yelling at the main character, and I need absolutely more of this book!

The characters, the world, the atmosphere was everything, and I needed the second book yesterday.

It has a haunted house, forced proximity, a little Moth companion I adore, and magical vows. It was so fun, and I absolutely need more of this world.

"Be careful who you trust".......

This book devoured me. Twisted, tragic, and beautifully written—House of Blight is a dark gothic fantasy that seeps under your skin and refuses to let go. Every chapter pulls you deeper into the decay, the danger, and the heartbreak.

The world-building is very eerie and immersive. Blight isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a creeping, living curse, and you feel its rot in every breath the characters take. The magic is unique and the lore is rich.

And the characters… raw, complex, and beautifully broken. The heroine is a force—resilient, clever, and burdened by grief. The hero? Dark, dangerous, and full of secrets.

Maxym M. Martineau doesn’t hold back. This book is emotional, suspenseful, and tender all at once. It explores pain, hope, and what it means to fight for a future in a world already decaying around you.

If you love:
🖤 Betrayal
🖤 Gothic magic
🖤 Enemies-to-lovers tension
🖤 Deadly secrets
🖤 Morally gray characters
🖤 Emotional slow-burn romance

…then run. Don’t walk. Straight into the Blight.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in return for my honest review.

Overall, House of Blight is a gorgeously atmospheric debut. It balances a smart, consequential magic system with gothic tension and emotionally grounded storytelling. A few mid‑book slowdowns are worth enduring for the eventual payoff—this tightly-woven story delivers dark romance, haunting imagery, and a heroine you’ll stand behind. With a near-complete arc and just enough promise for Book 2, this is a must-read for romantasy and gothic fantasy fans.

House of Blight is such a refreshing change of pace; if it hadn't been for life getting in the way, I would've knocked this out in a couple of days, max.

The Gothic romance and world building were chefs kiss, and the love triangle? Quite well done, even if we know exactly which brother it's going to wind up being, the buildup is pretty well worth it.

For my ACOTAR fans that are wanting something a little different, this scratches that Romantasy itch well. I'm quite excited for book 2!

Thanks a ton to netgalley for early access to House of Blight!

In House Of Blight we follow our FMC Edira, a threadmender, this worlds version of a magical healer, who has to sacrifice her own life threads in order to “mend” others. She has managed to keep her powers hidden for her whole life by dying the distinctive white hair that threadmenders have, so that others are not tempted to abuse her powers. But, when her brothers succumb to the deadly blight that is ravaging the world, Edira is left with no choice but to step into the dangerous and mysterious world of the Evers, a number of enigmatic Fae families, in an attempt to work with them to find a cure for the blight. Taken off to Fernglove Manor, home to the most prominent of the Ever families the Ferngloves, she is manipulated and coerced by the entire family in her race to not only cure their matriarch and her brothers, but to do so without sacrificing her own life. She soon discovers that all that glitters is not gold however, when cracks start to form in the meticulously crafted and maintained glamour the Ferngloves have cast over their lands.

Despite Edira being quite admirable for her loyalty to her brothers and her determination to find the cure no matter what, I did find her incredibly annoying at points as she makes some pretty poor decisions even though she is constantly warned not to trust anyone or anything within the manor. She appears to be so taken with the magic and shiny surface that appears to her within the manor that she’s blinkered to what is actually going on under the surface. The romance is so contrived and its clear that she’s being manipulated into it, but she seems to be so blinded by the pretty exterior that it almost comes across as her being purposely obtuse.

The manor and its grounds play a pretty key role within the plot, almost coming across as a character of its own. It has this creepy, gothic feel to it which adds to the tension in the plot, and with the addition of the horrific sounding Ancestor Tree (no spoilers!), what Edira believes to be a spirit roaming the halls and the brutal blight which we discover is not only affecting its inhabitants, but the manor itself, the book actually borders on fantasy horror.

The story is a pretty familiar format – the down on their luck, struggling to survive FMC is seduced by the mysterious and handsome immortal who convinces her that she is the only one who can save the day, and falls in love with him in the meantime, but it is so incredibly well written with enough variation in the stereotypes to make it feel completely new and addictive. The pacing was a bit slow in parts, but the pay off is worth it as the intense sense of unease increases and some pretty bombshell revelations and twists are thrown at you in the second half of the book.

While the plot is pretty neatly wrapped up at the end, there is JUST enough left untethered to set up beautifully for the second book which I absolutely cannot wait for. I actually rated it 4.5 but theres not an option for half stars!

I shift between 3 and 4 stars with this one, but lean more to 4. House of Blight is the definition of gothic romance.

Edira, the fmc, has a unique gift as a healer, but each time she uses her ability there is a price to pay. When Ediras brothers contract a virus’s called the blight, the one thing her magic cannot cure, Edira will stop at nothing to find a way to save her family. Edira begins to team up with the mysterious Evers family in hopes of discovering a cure and there she finds herself mixed up and in between the two ever brothers.

This book reminds me a lot of Crimson Peak with a hints of the Fall of the House of Usher in atmosphere. I loved the dark gothic vibes and the atmosphere to match. The idea behind the magic/ healing system was interesting and unique.

Edira is a strong and determined character. She is driven by her need to save her family. The fact that she gives a bit of herself each time she heals a stranger and yet cannot help her brothers adds a bit more complexity to her inner turmoil.

While I liked the characters, including the the brothers, Orin and Rorik, the idea of a love triangle didn’t sit too well with me. Love triangle’s are not my favorite trope though. That being said, there’s no denying the chemistry between the characters.

The chapters are long which was a deterrent to me at the beginning and felt like the story lagged because of it, although once the progresses, the pacing settled in.

Overall, this was a good start to the series and I do want to know more of what’s to come. This would be a good addition to anyone’s spooky season book lists

In House of Blight, Edira, a gifted threadmender, is desperate to save her brothers from a deadly magical illness. So desperate that she agrees to work for the reclusive Ferngloves, a powerful family with dark secrets where her healing gift may become more of a curse for her rather than a chance to save her brothers and many others affected by the blight

I really enjoyed the concept of this one and I think it lived up to the promises it made. It was gothic, dark and genuinely creepy at times with vivid often unsettling descriptions that might make you feel a bit sqeamish. Even though the plot was a bit predictable the way it played out kept me hooked and once I got invested I didn’t want to put it down. The romance and overall storyline gave me definite ACOTAR vibes but in the setting of something like The Shepard King. Overall it was an enjoyable read with the right balance of magic and mystery. There is definitely setup for a sequel and I think I would continue with the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this e-ARC that I chose to read and review

This is a beautifully written story with lyrical prose. The world and its characters are vivid, bringing the narrative to life. The book possesses an eerie, darkly creative quality. Who can resist a romantic gothic fantasy? You'll be hooked right from the prologue! 🌖 This is the perfect blend of magic, romance, and darkness—the ideal "romantasy" every reader should have on their shelves.

Thank you so much, Avon and Harper Voyager, for an ARC of this book. I can't wait to read it.

Pub Date: Apr 08, 2025

**hoping to reread in future, but for now I will leave this at 4 stars.

This book was excellent!!! I was completely absorbed in the world and characters. I love anything remotely gothic leaning and this hit everything I was hoping it would. The magic system is like nothing I have read before and the overall tone was eery yet cozy. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone who love gothic romantasy!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest reviews.

ARC Review - 4.5 ⭐

First off, a huge thank you to the Nerd Fam and the author for providing me with this ARC! I have to say, House of Blight is hands down one of the best ARCs I've read so far, and I am eagerly awaiting the second book!

This story is filled with twists and turns that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The author has done a fantastic job of striking the perfect balance between detail and imagination. You get just enough description to fully picture the world without being overwhelmed by unnecessary information. The pacing is on the medium side, but I was captivated from start to finish.

What really stood out to me is how unique the world and plot are. This isn’t your typical fantasy story. The author has created an imaginative world with its own rules and a captivating narrative that keeps you guessing.

If you're a fan of thrilling, Dark fantasy, romance, with gothic vibes, this is definitely a book you’ll want to check out!

A fun read full of atmospheric world that was super interesting.
The magic system was very unique in this world . The characters were so well done , especially since this is a Romantasy it was * chefs kiss * ! The mystery that develops throughout was done at such a well pace , I was shocked near the end !
I can’t wait for the second book !

The main character here should actually be the magical universe that was meticulously built to feature uniquely gifted characters. There is definitely a ton of potential for the next one and I’m already excited to read the next one!

I loved the gothic vibes of this book and the magic system was super interesting. I really loved the idea of magic taking something from the user every time they use it. There were lots of twists that kept me intrigued throughout. I really enjoyed all of the character interactions and it really added to the story.

BOOK I | THE THREADMENDER CHRONICLES
With its deeply unique premise and mesmerizing prose, House of Blight reveals a striking tale of romance where darkness blooms within its many dangerous creases.

A story that grows increasingly eerie and delectably dark, Martineau spins an entrancing drama where the lore of Fae, healing magic & beyond are realized in a wildly creative manner while underscoring each stage with a striking grim tone that hints at certain character suspicions and motives. A meticulously crafted cast of characters, who each leap off the page with their clever quips, insults and exchanges,
vividly color the dialogue in this tale which is equally as radiant as the lush atmosphere that snakes around it all.

CLOSING NOTES // With threats abound, magic and emotions carefully manipulated, romantic feelings flourishing and insects fluttering (and meddling!) about, House of Blight offers an incredibly entrancing reading experience from beginning to end — trust me, you won’t be able to think of anything else after. This is the kind of novel I need on my shelf to enjoy many times again. Utterly magnificent — a tale that needs to be read by all romantasy enthusiasts & admirers of lushly plotted tales of dark mystery.

Ps — I hope to see more of Ywena in Book II, she was such an unexpectedly adorable delight throughout!

My greatest thanks to author Maxym M. Martineau, Harper Voyager and Netgalley for this lovely ARC opportunity. 🪲♥️

Thank you to the Nerd Fam and Harper Collin’s for the e-arc that I received.


Sorry for the late review. House of Blight felt a bit different to me. Not sure if it was a good or bad feeling. I found the story original which is refreshing. However, it took a bit for it to really catch my attention. But, when it did, it becomes a page turner.