~ARC Reader~

Thanks so much to The Nerd Fam, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for this gifted ARC!

3.5 🌶
I really enjoyed this book! We have an FMC who views her magic as a curse which is a twist that I adored (after all "all magic comes with a price, dearie" - any Once Upon A Time fans?), and values her family above all else. She also has a view on pleasure that is a great departure from some of these romantasy-type books as of late; Edira views pleasure as something much more down-to-earth rather than putting it on a pedestal and I really loved that take. Also her seething rage at the species called the Evers that she ends up in forced proximity with really amps up the emotion she's dealing with throughout the entire story - she keeps coming back to an inner turmoil that she's trying to untangle. Edira is a dynamic and strong FMC who carries this story well, and makes me excited for the conclusion to the duology.
Alongside Edira, we have the cohort of the Fernglove Evers - a fae-like, magic infused species that bring Edira into their employ to attempt to cure the devastating disease blight. While they share a family name, they all feel pretty distinct, with rather unique abilities and characteristics. I hope to see more from Maxym in the sequel about the way the Evers powers work, especially how they were inhereited from the original Ever.
Overall, this was a great story with some unique magic and a beautifully described world that I highly recommend you dive into!

I found this cozy gothic fantasy utterly captivating. I flew through it in a day and a half. Something about it was so all-consuming that I couldn't put it down. It flowed really well, with lots of twists and turns that were really well paced and left me excited for more.

Edira lives with a secret; she is a threadmenader. She is able to heal, but for every person she mends, she sacrifices a fraction of her own life. The one thing she isn't able to heal is the blight, a vicious disease that is taking over her town, and her brothers have just contracted. Being a threadmender makes her valuable, especially to the Evers. Her secret is discovered by the powerful Fearnglove family. They offer to help preserve her brothers while they work together for a cure for blight. Now living in their world at Fernglove Manor, Edira is starting to see them for who and what they really are. Which has her questioning who she can trust and what they are all really trying to hide.

Edira captured my attention right away with her selflessness and heart, but it was her determination and fight that ultimately won me over. As for the enigmatic Fernglove princes, Orin and Rorik...well...there is one clear choice in my morally grey loving heart.

I thoroughly enjoyed this spellbinding world. I found it a more classic fae depiction, and who doesn't love an MMC with a tail?

House of Blight is the first book in The Threadmender Chronicles by author Maxym M. Martineau and will be published on April 8, 2025. I received an advance copy courtesy of NetGalley. I previously read part of this author’s earlier series – Kingdom of Exiles – and you can find my review of that book on my blog.

I found many aspects of this book to be promising, but overall it didn’t come together for me. I loved how the author portrayed Edira’s threadmending magic, and how she had to hide herself from everyone except for her family at the opening of the story. I found the Blight to be a terrifying affliction at the outset, but as I learned more about this world, the Blight made less sense to me. It was presumably a very contagious magical infection, but it didn’t seem to behave consistently. I did love the cover design and felt like it fit the story and atmosphere of the book well.

The Evers struck me as an elf-fae hybrid, common to much of the current romantasy genre. The author gives them a unique creation mythology and I liked how each family had their own form of magic. However, as Edira adjusted to her new role among them and acknowledged that Orin seemed attracted to her, I found this reaction from the Ever to be unconvincing. Other than giving the Evers some attitude, I wasn’t sure why she was “different” to him. I don’t want to say more on this aspect to avoid spoilers.

I didn’t feel like the other characters were very well developed either. The two younger Evers act out like spoiled teenagers and bully Edira when she first arrives. But after their punishment is over, Edira seems to earn their friendship too easily. The Evers have human servants, but the one who helps Edira tries to communicate danger by giving her mysterious looks and gestures, leaving Edira in a frustrating situation which could have been easily solved with a few words.

The pacing of this novel was also uneven. I felt like Edira pondered her situation and didn’t do much for most of the book. In the last 20%, things finally started to move along.

I though this was a stand-alone, but it looks like the first book in a series. It does wrap up enough of the story in this first book that you could be satisfied with the ending without reading more. However, I don’t think I’ll be continuing with this series. I do still plan to finish reading the author’s other series.

This book started off incredibly strong, and I was immediately drawn into its captivating magic system, which I believe is one of its standout features. The concept of the main character being able to heal and "threadmend" at a great personal cost, tying off her own life in the process, is absolutely fascinating and kept me hooked. And I can't forget the prologue—by far one of the most gripping ones I’ve read in a long time. It pulled me in right away and had me eager to know more. The central goal of healing the Blight, a disease devastating the land, was established early, setting a strong, compelling direction for the story.

However, around the 40% mark, I began to feel a bit less engaged as the story took a turn towards the "insta-love" trope, which isn’t my favourite. This shift, combined with the main character's struggle for much of the book, left me feeling somewhat disconnected. It wasn’t until near the end that everything came together, and she suddenly grew into a strong, knowledgeable figure - while I was happy for the change, I was left feeling frustrated about the pacing and speed of the development.

I really enjoyed the family dynamics within the Evers, and I can’t help but wish there had been more world-building to explore the richness of this unique world. There’s so much potential here, and I think a bit more depth would have made this story even more immersive.

I was a little hesitant at the beginning of this book as it started kind of slow but once I got into it I was immediately hooked. I loved loved loved it! Despite being a tad predictable I loved to story.

I love dark, gothic fantasy and this didn’t disappoint. It was such a unique storyline and I was hooked from the first chapter. Edira’s threadmending power was fascinating and I was obsessed with Rorik as soon as we met him. I had a feeling he was hanging around a bit earlier, wink wink. I’m excited to see where book 2 takes us.

This book was so good. It was my first Dark Gothic fantasy. It follows Edira who is a Threadmender. She has been hiding her powers but when her brothers contract the blight she is discovered by the over seers of the town and makes an agreement with them in order to save her brothers . This is full of twists and turns and she doesn’t know who she can trust.

This was my first book I've read from Maxym M. Martineau and I really enjoyed it. Gothic Romantasy is starting to be a genre I love. I did have my suspicion with Orin the whole time. I really was rooting for Rorik. I just gravitate to the villain of the story lol.

It did take me a minute to figure out who was who with all the characters. I always have a hard time if there are multiple characters though.
Edira kind of annoyed me with a lot of her actions for falling for Orin so quickly. I know he was charming and did everything right for her to trust him, but it was way too fast. I feel like she was under an allure from him, but I know she wasn't. I feel like Edira should of been more cautious, since she knew that they took her aunt for being a thread-mender and she died there.

I loved the twists and turns at the end, but I did see it coming. I just kept saying from the start, its too good to be true.
I can't wait to read the second book when it comes out. I will have to read other books from this author now.

Thank you Netgalley, Publisher, and Author for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The book’s pacing is steady, allowing for the exploration of complex relationships and moral dilemmas that drive the plot forward.

One specific detail that stands out is the protagonist’s struggle with both personal demons and a larger external threat, which makes for a tense and emotional journey. Fans of gritty, emotional stories set in intricately developed worlds would likely enjoy House of Blight. If you appreciate complex moral questions, high-stakes drama, and deeply human characters amidst a magical setting, this novel is a strong recommendation.

I had a hard time getting into this book because it felt so familiar - I've read several books like this that honestly were much better (e.g., The Wildenstern Saga by Oisín McGann). The usual trope of a very obvious love triangle (cue brothers where one seems perfect and sweet while the other is surly and emo and you get the idea), coupled with an oblivious heroine made for a slog of a read.

Story: Edira is a threadmender - someone who can fix illnesses with magic, though it costs her some of her life. But it is a rare and dangerous talent: there are magical families who would want to use up her life healing their kin. Edira becomes embroiled in one of their families, only to discover a hideous secret about all the immortals.

First and foremost, the characters were all very unlikable. Our heroine spends much of the book being rude, obnoxious, and nasty; of course, this inexplicably causes everyone to fall all over themselves to woo or help her. I was kind of hoping she wouldn't end up with anyone because I felt sorry for the love interest who was stupid enough to go for her. The triangle love interests themselves were so cliche and underwritten that it was hard to distinguish them beyond a 1 sentence character plot outline: two brothers, one is moody and honest and one is chipper and gaslights. Guess which one she'll fall madly for at first? Oh noes!

But more than that, I wasn't invested in the worldbuilding (there are no Fae here, only people cheating death) and the magic was haphazard with any logic or smart usage. Our girl is a bit of a unique snowflake. And there is very little magic in the series. It's mostly Edira being rude and hating on one brother while falling all over the other (while also being rude and nasty to everyone else). It doesn't help that she's dumb as a doorknob and just rushes into every situation brainlessly.

I ended up reading through this very quickly but there wasn't a lot of substance and certainly I've read this plot far too many times. Even the very suffocating and narrow gothic setting lacked originality. Perhaps it will be more entertaining to someone who hasn't read a lot of books. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

This book has all the dark whimsical vibes. Our main character is put in an impossible situation. She’s sure is resilient. I love a tale of magical awakenings. The threadmending concept was really cool. This book has a slowly developing plot but a concept I definitely have not read before.

Gothic vibes
Magical awakenings
Tension
Cool threadmending

This felt really slow to me. I made it about 35% of the way in and feel like not much happened. I DNFd it, but may go back and try again later.

Thank you so much, Epic Tastemakers and NetGalley for this free book in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 3.75/4.00

Oh wow! This surprised me in the best way.

Book: This story follows a threadmender, Edira, who possesses powers to heal others at the cost of her own life. When her brothers suddenly contract blight, the devastating disease spreading across the lands, she strikes a deal with the head of the estate, an Ever named Orin, in an attempt to cure it.

What I liked:
I loved the disease plot line. I found it very interesting! I was able to guess part of the plot and character motivations early on but the way it was delivered was both shocking and amazing!

What I did not like:
The beginning felt like it dragged on quite a bit, but after a certain point, the story picked up until I couldn’t put my kindle down. I did not connect to the main character early on, but by the end I became more neutral and even half in awe of her. I look forward to seeing where her character goes.

Next book thoughts:
I hope to see certain characters again.

Thank you NetGalley & HarperCollins for the advanced copy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

First and foremost, this has so many elements that I love: ACOTAR feelings, the dark Evers like the fae of the Cruel Prince, and a gothic manor!
The story centers around Edira and her threadmending magic (so cool!). The timeline is possibly a vague resemblance to Edwardian era, in a town plagued by blight. Edira is a master apothecary, constantly mending residents and creating potions. Her threadmending is kept under wraps for fear of being whisked away to work for the Evers. However, she cannot escape the inevitable!
Bound to a bargain, Edira is whisked away by Orin Fernglove to a gothic manor. Edira must work to extract both the Evers and her brothers from blight before her time runs out…

Tropes & Plot Points:
• 2 MMCs
• Gothic Manor
• Slow Burn
• Dark Secrets
• Familiars
• Touch Her and Die
• Fae-esque Immortals
• Training Scenes
• Gmamours & Bargains
• Twists

This was ALMOST a 4 star read for me. Unfortunately, the romance/seduction/manipulation was not believable en light for me. Edira hates the Evers with her every fiber since they control the mining and much of the wealth. She folds so easily to Orin that my eyes were rolling in the back of my head. I had expected more of a head strong personality form her since she came out the gate with high convictions.
My other gripe is the overall depth was somehow lacking or perhaps I’m far too familiar with romantasy plot lines and tropes.

this is kinda like a classic romantasy, but has a generous dose of some darker trends in there. and i think it's written really well! it's predictable but you're always excited for the ride. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This book really hits that sweet spot of dark, atmospheric tension and emotional depth! The gothic tone, combined with a slow-burn romance, definitely makes for an engaging read.

This magic system with consequences feels so much more grounded—there’s real cost to the power, which makes the stakes so much higher. The FMC's decisions, especially when intertwined with the magic system, must create so many internal and external conflicts. It’s intriguing how the healer’s sacrifices mirror the emotional cost of their relationships, adding so much complexity to the narrative

That is a gothic and gripping story! The slow reveal and the way it builds romantic tension definitely adds to the drama surrounding the FMC and her decisions. The healer’s sacrifices add a layer of complexity.

I liked this book. I enjoyed the story and from about 40% on I was invested. It was well written. It was descriptive enough that I had the scenery and characters pictured easily but not overly descriptive where it takes away from the overall story. It was a bit predictable just based on current romantasy tropes. I am looking forward to the next installment though!

Now, I do have have just one big con for this book and that is the FMC. If you read on from this pojnt there will be minor spoilers...

She grew up hating and fearing the Evers. Then they manipulated her into leaving her home. Then, everywhere she turns she's hearing "trust no one", "be careful", etc. Does she listen? No. One Ever is slightly kind to her (very clearly a snake in the grass) and she instantly trusts him. Then she finds out hes been lying to her, is kidnapped and almost dies because of it, and he is instantly forgiven and she just jumps right into his lap. She is not even one of the very young FMCs where we can give her the benefit of the doubt and say she is only 18, she's making mistakes, she's learning and growing. This woman is 25. I just wanted to shake some damn sense into her. She bought every excuse given to her and questioned nothing. I couldn't wrap my head around her stupidity and it kept taking me out of the story. As the reader we can see she is very clearly choosing wrong and we've known from the first second we met the Ferngloves. There are red flags every which way and she completely ignores them and brushes them off. At some point you'd think they'd pile up enough for her to question something... Anything! But no, as the red flags get more abundant she wants to get even more serious with him?! At this point it's too much... I'm too frustrated. But alas, I read on. I must know what happens...so that's redeeming.

Wonderments/plot holes (?)... I pose these as a question since this is an unfinished series. These could very well be addressed in a later book.

I'm not entirely sure why tasia and amalyss were ever so awful to Edira. Why would they be so horrid if she was brought there to heal and help their entire family? It seemed an unnecessary and large part of the book.

It says in the book, very briefly, that children are special/rare to Evers...they're not commonly had. But all of the ever families have multiple children and many generations of family? There's even a secret love child? Having children doesn't seem at all rare.

All in all, there seem to be some plot holes and unnecessary filler BUT it's a good story and I am invested in what happens next.

I had an excellent time reading House of Blight!
The tense, eerie, alluring atmosphere bursts onto the scene and I relished every single moment in it. Heightening the tension is the magic system at play. This is one of intrigue, possessing a uniqueness all of its own. From its emergence my fascination of it continuously grew. I so easily immersed myself in this tale, the narrative keeping my attention captive to the very end. The magic fed into the world-building marvelously. It also jumpstarted the plot brilliantly. Then there's the romance-- a romance full of surprise, twists, and turns. 4.5

Simply stated: I'm all in for this spectacular tale unfolding.

Our heroine Edira is a wonderful lead to follow. I matched her every step in her journey, I rooted for her heartily all the time, and admittedly wanted to shake some sense into at other times. I cried every time she used her magic, knowing what she is sacrificing. The narrative does not shy away at all over what is at stake, and that includes Edira's very life hanging in the balance. As much as I loved Edira, I did become exasperated by her one too many times. For a character as intelligent and aware as she, it became overly frustrating to see her continuously harbor mistrust and hate towards the one character who was rather overtly trying to help her. While on one hand I do understand her stance, on the other hand it's a stance unevenly dealt, as she eases her tension towards other characters who arguably deserve the same level (if not more) of spite. Nevertheless, I will always appreciate a lead who is not without flaws. It's easy to root for Edira regardless of shortcomings, because she remains at her heart a character willing to learn, to try, and to make the right choices (even if some choices must be course corrected). She's a heroine I'm so very happy to follow to the very end.

The romance was one of my favorite facets of the narrative! If you read the synopsis, there is definitely a certain level of expectation heading into this tale. At least I certainly felt it. But from the onset something never quick connected the way as anticipated. In fact, I think the narrative sways the reader away from that initial expectation subtly yet cleverly. And it directs the eyes onto another, and once they land on him-- they won't be so easily turned. The less I say the better, because this is a narrative choice I wholly embraced and what I will be most eagerly anticipating as the journey continues!

Overall, House of Blight is setting up something very special. Already in this first book I have found much to delight in, from its tantalizing magic system, it's spine-chilling setting, it's slowly burning romance, and its clever plot. I'm seated for that sequel, consider me first in line for that release!

Thank you to The Nerd Fam, Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for this advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

Edira is a Threadweaver, a human with magic in which she is able to heal many ailments, but at the forfeit of the threads of her own life. She has never been able to heal the incurable disease, Blight, that has taken the lives of many around her. When her brothers contract Blight, she strikes a deal with an Ever named Orin, a fae like leader from the Fernglove family who controls her town. In this gothic Manor setting, there is secret after secret and Edira finds herself sucked into more trouble than she bargained for.
Overall this was an excellent read! Slow start but wow did it take off! So many secrets and revelations had me at the edge of my seat! With unique and cool features such as beast forms and special insects (Ywena the moth was my fave 🦋).

Amazingg cliffhanger, I am curious to see where the next book will take us!

If you like
🪲 slow burn romance
🪲dark secrets
🪲action packed cliffhanger
You’ll love this!!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, the Nerd Fam and Harper Voyager US for the eARC :)

4.75 💫 rounding up for GR

This is a VERY solid gothic fantasy romance.

🥀 Why this caught my eye on The Nerdfam website: “The first novel in an eerie, darkly creative, and romantic new gothic fantasy duology from Maxym M. Martineau, for readers of Sarah J. Maas and Rachel Gillig.” Like HELLO this book rec was THROWN at me.

“HOUSE OF BLIGHT is a slow burn gothic romantasy about a woman who can stitch the threads of life, a powerful immortal family with secrets, and a creeping blight that refuses to be stopped—perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rachel Gillig. Brimming with gardens, tension, and mystery, this book gives Spring Court vibes but darker, or what I’ve been calling ‘moody cotttagecore.’” - Lara Báez, HarperCollins

🐞 The writing in this is just so poetic, all my highlights are just beautiful writing (and some killer quotes too tbh). I absolutely subscribe to this being moody cottagecore. One second you’re cozy and the next you’re learning something truly terrible 💀 I love a gothic moment and this was just done exceptionally well. There doesn’t always have to be something insane going on for the story to grip you and this book excels at that. I also have to say, cliffhanger endings are no one’s favorite BUT this one is just so juicy 🙂‍↕️ I’ll be sitting back with my feet up and eating popcorn while booktok/booksta/book world experience what I just did 👀

🥀 Plot twists, head turns, kindle put down moments, feet-kicking, giggling, wall-staring, pretty much ALL the workings of an iconic read and ALL can be found in this book.

Things we see:
🐞 female rage
🥀 beast forms
🐞 training scenes
🥀 insane family dynamics
🐞 familiars
🥀 forced proximity
🐞 slow burn romance
🥀 unique magic system
🐞 perfect world building
🥀 touch her and you die
& insect daddy, yes you heard ME.

Ah, I just can’t wait for the book world to get its hands on this one 😌

Thanks so much to HarperCollins, The NerdFam & NetGalley for the eARC of HOUSE OF BLIGHT by Maxym M. Martineau (on sale April 8, 2025)! 🦋🥀🐞 my review is 100% honest.