This story follows Edira. Edira has been in hiding since she was small. She dyes her hair, barely speaks to people, doesn't go out much except for work all to hide the secret that she's a threadmender. Threadmenders are rare. Everyone has life threads and she can cure almost anything. Only catch is everytime she uses her power she loses some of her life threads and can experience the pain of the injury. The only thing she can't cure is blight which is basically like a plague. Her brothers end up catching blight and Edira is desperate to save them. Orin, an Ever (basically an immortal with magic) makes a deal with her. Learn to cure blight and save his grandmother in exchange for keeping the blight from spreading in her brothers.

This book was so interesting and captivating. It aggravated me to no end that I had a life where I had to stop reading and go to work. Edira had cunning moments. I liked her character a lot but she was so naive too. There was so much sketchy things going on around her and she was so oblivious to it all. I wanted to shake her so bad and just tell her to open her eyes! It took her a while to get there but eventually she got it. She was pretty bad ass at the end.

Rorik, I fucking loved him. He was dark and mysterious and super dangerous and kind of a sarcastic smart ass but holy fuck he was perfection. I wanted Edira to be with him so bad it physically hurt. The rest of the family had things that annoyed me but they also had charm once you get farther into the story so it was hard to hate or even dislike them.

I never liked Orin. I don't know if it was how he was written but dude never fooled me. There was something off about him. I felt it and it bothered me so much that Edira fell for it and fell for it hard.

That ending though, I cannot wait for the second book. I need to know how this duology ends!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! I recommend giving this book a read.

The House of Blight offers a blend of gothic horror and fantasy. While the beginning of the novel is a bit slow-paced, the story quickly picks up momentum, becoming a page-turner.

The main character is likable, the gothic atmosphere adds a nice layer to the novel, and the plot is well-crafted.
While the romantic relationships feel a bit forced in places, and the foreshadowing could have been more subtle, these flaws do not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the book. The House of Blight is a solid read that will appeal to fans of gothic fiction and fantasy alike.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

DNF

Ever read a book with an amazing prologue and the book fall short? This was it for me.

I was quite excited to read this book considering how it was compared to Rachel Gillig's One Dark Window duology. And it's a shame I just couldn't find myself to finish the book.

I read 89 pages and if something or someone was introduced, it was in full length paragraphs. The Fernglove manor, gardens, characters, and the town was just explained in paragraph after paragraph. I started skimming at that point because I didn't want to read about how the walls were decorated or how polished the floors were.

And the characters were so flat and had no depth to me. I knew the romance was a love triangle from reading other reviews and the fact it was introduced after 60ish pages just was the last straw for me.

I guess I can't really give the book a solid review because I dnf it and didn't see it to the end but the fact that it's compared to Rachel Gillig's books is crazy.

The gothic world was fun and I enjoyed seeing another book with those vibes. But everything felt too rushed and instant. There was so much potential for this book and it makes me sad to review books so low when authors spend so much time pouring everything into them.

*𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘤*

This one hurts me to rate as a 3! I enjoyed so much of it: the plot, the atmosphere, the magic. I love romances centered around the "oh no we're trapped together in this creepy house" trope. The Gothic vibes here were perfect, as were the sinister fae-like Evers. Beautiful, elegant, but also disgusting. There's a thrilling climax and some very descriptive and disturbing imagery. Fungal horror here we go!

But the sexual banter and some of the profanity that are so common in the romantasy genre felt dissonant here. I wish it had been a slower burn with more relationship development and more "who can I trust" angst. There's a love triangle with two Ever brothers (sibling romantic competition... ☹️) and the relationships are HEAVY on initial sexual attraction and not much else. There is a valid reason why one of the brothers is trying so hard to seduce our FMC Edira, but I'd rather she played a little harder to get. Because she didn't. At all. She also didn't seem weirded out by the sibling aspect, and I feel like most people would be? Edira flipped from making out with one brother to perving on the other lightning fast, like in the SAME DAY. No inner moral turmoil about that at all.

The setting and conflict are interesting and unique. I would've really enjoyed this if it leaned more into that and less into the brother love triangle. That's done with by the end of the book, luckily, so I think I'll be safe to fully enjoy the sequel.

(I'd run away with the brothers' lesbian sister Seville myself. Unfortunately Edira is straight and has worse taste than I.)

I truly loved this fantasy novel, the characters, especially the main female, are compelling and well-developed. She stands out as a strong character, avoiding the typical "pick me" or helpless tropes. The unique magic system adds depth, making the healing and magical elements truly intriguing. It was breath of fresh air to have a truly different magic system. The expertly executed plot twist leaved me eagerly anticipating more, and the author sets the stage for a potential sequel or series. This story has me thinking about it throughout the day, I can’t wait to read the next book. I’m hoping that we get more in this universe. So many engaging characters that I want to know more about.

Thank you to the author and publisher for my arc!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

Really cool and interesting new fantasy world that I ate right up! Cannot wait to dive into book 2.

The romance in this book felt a bit contrived, but also hindsight is 20/20. Most authors cannot pull an SJM here.

But the magic/world building and the characters and development are divine!

Rating: 4 stars!/Review Contains Spoilers
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (would have been higher, but as I've learned in Romantasy, rarely can we trust the first love interest)
***Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so mad because this was so good and I'm going to have to wait forever for Book 2 (I've played myself). The story line was easy to get into and I like that the FMC is just...Edira (no whining/pick me attitude that is very prevalent in saturated fantasy market right now). She's a secret Threadmender, who has to hide her powers from the town. (Her powers allow her to see other's "threads" and can heal them, but doing so gradually shortens her life). Meanwhile, she's selling tinctures/potions to help survive along with her brothers who work in the mine. Her parents have passed, and her aunt was taken by a family of Evers, the Ferngloves. While at the market, Orin Fernglove appears while she's selling things, and she gets herself out of there as quickly as possible. That same evening her two brothers are exposed to blight and quickly succumb to the illness, but Orin shows up at her home to talk to her (literally, the *sus* started here, why does he just show up at her home? the moment her brothers get blight? How convenient.)

She goes with Orin to the Evers home, on the condition that she can heal her brothers. Orin uses his powers to slow down the illness and keeps them preserved while they're sleeping. As she goes there, it's clear that none of the family members can truly be trusted.

I thought the writing style/set up was so well done. There are a lot of moments leading up to the climax where you just get this vibe that Orin cannot be trusted (FACTS). I felt like the spice was fine--my only complaint that is the romance/"I love yous" felt a bit forced for the storyline, because obviously Martineau is trying to set up Orin as the villain but give us romance at the same time. I think my reaction was more like, "Edira, girl! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
Also the ending is so quickly tied up with the confrontation/Orin's death/her becoming Heartbound to Rorick (excellent c'mon Book 2) and her returning home with her brothers." I do like the ending from Rorick's POV and the knowledge that will be another book without a significant cliff ending or anything. Just that Rorick's father is likely the villain in the 2nd book and there's going to be something that's gotta occur to start the next one.

Great read, knocked down a star for the rushed ending and forced romance connection (just no real natural chemistry/banter). Excited for the next book!

*Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely loved this book! I thought the premise was unique and the plot kept me engaged throughout. The characters were all really well-developed and I thought Edira was a strong MC, but also not over the top and unbeatable or a damsel in distress like other similar books. I had kind of predicted the climax of the book, but not in the way that it happened and I was pleasantly surprised.

The first 80% of this book, I couldn't put it down. I loved it. The last 20% for me kind of dragged because I predicted what would happen, so I was just waiting for it to happen.

I think the writing is well done and immersive. The plot is interesting but I do think in some places the blight could be explored more in depth. The pacing for the most part is page-turning.

I found myself connecting to the FMC and her plight to save everyone including her brothers. The villain, to me, is obvious, and he is a jerk. The love interest is perfection. I'd like more of him in the next book. He is just the right amount of broody with banter. I enjoyed the character interactions.

I think this series has a lot of potential and I will definitely check out the next book!


Thank you to Avon books and NetGalley for the eARC.

First and foremost, thank you netgalley for the eARC! I will cherish this book as it was my first ever approved netgalley 🧡

Secondly, this cover is EVERYTHING! It was one of the first books that caught my eye and I applied for the arc so fast, and was ecstatic when I was approved!

Thirdly, I ADORE this book - it’s the perfect cozy fast paced gothic-read of the season! The beginning was so intriguing with the intricacies of the world building and magic system. A world of beasts and blight, a decaying realm of darkness brought to light by Edira Brillwyn and her unique and sacred thread bending magic. She finds herself in a Tamlin situation, brought to a new home of glamoured prestige and unlocks the secrets of the beasts that dwell there.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (rounded to 5) 🌶️🌶️

I could not put this book down, it was a page turner for sure with top tier banter and mystical intrigue and ethereal beauty. & don’t even get me started with that ending UGH! This for sure will be an amazing fantasy/romantasy pick of 2025!!! Highly recommend for readers who enjoy an eerily darkly vibe like One Dark Window! I am beyond excited for book 2!!

TROPES:
✨Ethereal beasts
💀Death & Decay
✨Healing Magic
💀Hidden Vows & Secrets
✨Sexual Tension
💀Female Rage
✨Maple Moth Familiar

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. The story introduces us to Edira, a threadmender/magical healer hiding from the Evers. We also meet her twin brothers, who she loves dearly. The Evers are a group of immortal fae-like creature who rule society. Most people seem to worship them but Edira hates them. The last threadmender, Edira’s aunt, was taken by the Evers and warned Edira before she disappeared that she should never use her powers to heal. The story dives right into the action and we’re introduced almost immediately to the blight, a mysterious disease ravaging the world. It literally turns people to ash in a matter of minutes and no one seems to know where it comes from or how to cure it.
Despite trying to avoid them, Edira gains the attention of the head of the nearest Evers clan and ends up an “employee” there. The plot is twisty and turny and all the Evers remind me of viscous fae, the kind who trick you into bargains and make you dance until your feet bleed for drinking the wine. They are tricky and mean and Edira has to navigate a world she doesn’t understand while trying to keep herself and her brothers alive. It’s a great book and I highly recommend it.

The first half of this book took so long to get through this. The ending didn't feel as satisfying as I was hoping it was going to be. It still was heartfelt and had a surprise love triangle that didn't even end up where I wanted it to. I just kind of felt robbed of the happy ending that I was expecting. So if you go into this one hoping it all gets solved in the end just know that some endings aren't always happy.

This book was excellent! Great pacing, characters that are written with depth, and a very creative magic system. I enjoyed the writing style as well.
Looking forward to further books in this series for sure! Gotta see where they all go from where it leaves them…
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

I will start by saying that I LOVED this book and it was a struggle to put it down once I started reading it.

Edira, our FMC, has a magic ability to repair a persons life threads at the expense of her own lifespan called thread mending. In order to heal her brothers she begins working for the Fernglove family, an magical family of Evers, to solve the mystery of the Blight. While at the Fernglove's manor she interacts with the entire family, but most notably the two brothers, Orin and Rorick.

The premise of this magic system and world was captivating, it seems so unique but natural at the same time. It was an easy world to fall into and understand the basics of from the beginning. Edira's power is inherently tragic, as she gives up her own life to heal others, giving it such a weight and consequence. She really has to think about when she would magically heal someone, but she doesn't let her own mortality hold her back from helping those she cares about and people in need.

The characters were charming, witty, frustrating, .....did I mention charming? Edira is a perfect narrator for me. She has intelligence and confidence in herself ( most of the time) that is very refreshing. She is put in a situation where she does not fully understand what is happening and I think it would be very easy to make your FMC in that situation clueless and dependent on the Male Leads. An although Edira does rely on Orin and Rorick for things she truly doesn't understand, she doesn't lose herself when asking for help. ( I'm not sure if that makes sense). The tension, romantic and otherwise, between Edira, Orin, and Rorick was delicious. Every character interaction had purpose and more often than not there were hints or double meanings in a lot of the scenes.

This book has mysteries and plot reveals, two of my favorite things. The pacing felt good and even with some of the more "predictable" reveals, there was always details that I didn't realize played into it. The reveals always felt surprising, which is great. The author also makes point to include those "hints" that appeared earlier in the book to show the connection to the reveal when it is happening, which I LOVE. It showed a lot of planning and thought behind the decisions characters were making.

For the romance, there is spice. I am incredibly biased, as soon as Rorick entered the page I knew I was sold. He is my classic MMC haha. There is are moments for the Orin girlies and the Rorick girlies, so no worries there. The romances felt intentionally rushed in certain aspects, so even though this is marketed as a slow burn there was still scenes to build off of.

Overall, this book was very enjoyable and I cannot wait for it to be released. I will definitely be continuing this series, I need to know where it goes!

I was surprised by how quickly this story hooked me. I loved the way tiny details came back into play later, and how the threads of the ending were masterfully woven in all the way back from the beginning. The magic system is really lovely, and the description of threadmending as both a process and an experience is captivating. The description of the blight was absolutely disgusting, and totally served the story well. The mystery aspect had me on the edge of my seat, and the conclusion both satisfied and left me needing more. Definitely recommend!

House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC!

In the town of Willowfell lives Edira Brillwyn, a 25-year-old Threadmender hiding from the notorious yet magical Evers. With only her brothers for company Edira will do anything to keep them safe. Even help the Fernglove Ever family. When Edira’s brothers, Noam and Nohr, fall ill to the Blight plague she accepts Orin Fernglove’s offer in exchange for slowing their sickness even if it means loosing her life.

This book jumped between a slow to fast pace read for me! There were times when the author gave us beautiful descriptions but also jumps scenes. What bothered me the most was the dialogue. While the characters get developed gorgeously is this fantastical setting, the choice in diction is fairly modern which interrupted the transportive feeling for me.

I enjoyed reading about the whimsical aspect of the different Ever families! It was fairly unclear what creatures exactly the Evers were in the book but it reminded of Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince creatures meets Alex Aster’s Lightlark courts.

I would definitely give this 🌶️/5 but maybe a 2 for sensitive readers. Martineau focuses on slowly developing the tension between Edira and the Fernglove brothers with a small resolve that left me wanting more from the interaction as it was a bit hard for me to support either of the MMCs.

🔮Snarky FMC
🔮Hidden Healing Powers
🔮Love Triangle
🔮Fantastical Creatures

Ultimately, it was a bit predictable for me but I think Martineau gives us an enjoyable romantasy and set up an interesting plot line for book 2!

3.75 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc!
First, I want to say that this book is SO readable, the plot and dialogue moved so fast that I finished it in two days. I simply couldn’t put it down.
This definitely leans into the romantasy genre in ways that make it a fun book, but not necessarily a perfect book. I struggle with romantasy where the fantasy setting is at odds with the dialogue/cursing/and spice levels of the book.
Using modern language and characters wearing “bralettes” while they are in somewhat of a Victorian or pre Victorian setting always rubs me the wrong way.

I enjoyed the characters and the dynamic of the Evers. The goal of cheating death that was laid out in the beautifully written prologue really grabbed me. The writing in the prologue is honestly the most engaging part of this book.
I do think the characters fall prey to the insta-love or Stockholm syndrome-y plot devices, that make the romance a bit hard for me to get behind. But I understand why it’s used to move the plot along for the second book.

Overall I loved the book and Edira’s constant goal of saving her family. She is a very lovable main character that you are rooting for - even if you don’t agree with her romantic choices 😇
I will definitely be looking forward to the second book.

Dive into a world where secrets are as dangerous as diseases!

Edira Brillwyn has a power—she can heal people, but it drains her life bit by bit. She’s been keeping this secret under wraps until the Fernglove family, who are all kinds of powerful, find out.

When her brothers get hit with a deadly illness, Orin Fernglove steps in to help. But the more time she spends with Orin and his family, the more she realizes they’ve got some skeletons in their closet. Things get wild, and Edira has to figure out who to save... and what it’s going to cost her.

This book sucked me in from the start! The world-building was on point, and the characters were so well done.

Orin is your classic broody hero with communication issues, and the Ferngloves? Total mystery!

The ending had me on edge, and the twists? Wow, I didn’t see half of them coming.

If you’re into broody guys, family secrets, and a story that’ll keep you guessing, you’ll love this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

Super Special Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

Where do I even start with this book. Everything about it was so well done; from the characters, to the world building and even down to the minuscule details that play a bigger role further in the story.

To avoid any kind of spoilers, I'll keep my review centered around the broad aspects of the book.

Edira is a very special character. She not only has abilities that make her an essential part of the story, but she also is a character that's easy to relate to. She cares for her brothers more than anything and would risk it all to make sure that they are safe. From beginning to end of her story, we see that she develops and grows as a person and admits (mostly) when she is wrong. Her conflicting emotions about certain characters and situations make her feel very human, which is not something easily done considering that most protagonists have what I like to call "immortal plot armor." I enjoyed getting to know her and her past and read how it shapes her present and future.

The world building and the magic in this book are unique. There's a disease called the Blight that seems to be a huge part of our story and a huge part of our characters lives. As you read, you learn more about this mysterious disease and the role that Edira plays in potentially finding a cure alongside the Head of the Fernglove family, Orin.

Overall, I would give this book 20/5 stars if I could. I can't wait to read more about Edira, the Ferngloves, and all their future adventures in the next book!

There was something missing for me in this book - I think the world felt too flat and the plot felt too quick for me to feel any connection with the characters or the world. I also felt like there were a lot of audience questions about the setup and dynamics that were glossed over too much. I was unable to to finish this book because it felt too unconnected for me, but I feel like I might come back to this book later and finish it because it did have some good gems, just not enough for me to want to finish this right now.