Oh my god. This book will be the next big fantasy of 2025. From the world building to the entire magic system this book is fantastic. I was completely hooked. The character development is so well done I felt super connected to the characters. I was holding my breath the whole last few chapters. This book is incredible and I cannot recommend it enough.

SPOILERS
I was over here rooting for Orin and then boom plot twist. Suddenly I hate his guts. I fell so in love with Edina, I totally connected with the fact that she will do whatever it takes to save her brothers. It just made her that much more lovable. I also was totally invested in everything she was trying to figure out about the house the whole time.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for giving me this ARC!

I absolutely loved this story, and now, of course, I can't wait for the second book in the duology to release. This story follows Edira, a woman with a gift for healing, and her brothers on a journey into a land near her town inhabited by the immortal Evers that rule her own town. Though Edira has been raised to hide her magical healing abilities from the townsfolk, everyone knows her as the local apothecary. One night, the blight that affects the land and people, causing a quick and hideous death to any who succumb to it, comes knocking on Edira's door. Forced to make a difficult decision, Edira finds herself in a bargain with the Evers she's been avoiding her whole life. This fast-paced story is filled with magic, deceit, slow burn romance, and a bit of mystery. You won't want to put it down.

House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau was a fun yet frustrating read. I was intrigued by the interesting world and the powers the MC has and while there's nothing new or groundbreaking here, it's an enjoyable standard read in the genre. I liked the writing and setting up of the scenes, and would love to explore some of the side characters more in future books, as they had some interesting stories and personalities.

The twist ending was predictable, but my real problem lied in the MC's relationships and interactions. She was just incredibly frustrating at times. She lived 20 years of her life in fear and hiding from these very people that she's going to work for/with and yet she trusts so easily. It bites her early and often and still, no lessons learned, even though she constantly claims she 'knows she can't trust anyone here'. But then at the end she's suddenly so angry and can't forgive anything from the side characters who weren't the main villains? It makes no sense! I wanted to see some growth from her, but it feels like it went the opposite way. I don't know if I'll continue the series unless there's some dual POVs.

This will be 2025s newest Talked about Fantasy series!!
Its unique world, struggling power, emotional peril will captivate you!

The FMC lives with the weight of precarious secret she's successfully kept hidden for year. Until the moment she must us it to try to save her brothers.
Her world is turned upside down trying to unearth and understand each new truth she finds. Thrown into a new world, she tries to learn who is friend and who is foe.

This book will take you on a journey of choices, schemes and ultimately life. Enjoy the ride!!

This was absolutely incredible, five stars without a doubt, The prologue was so well written setting the theme for the rest of the novel. I appreciated how the author took her time to set up the world, the characters, and ease us into the story while learning about the history of this world. The main character Edira carried the story gracefully; there were a lot of moments that made me laugh and many where I felt the same fear she was. I also enjoyed the pacing of the novel, there weren't any parts that felt rushed and the end itself left me wanting more because of how enraptured I was. I can't wait to see what comes next!

Full review will be posted after publication

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me this ARC.

I am so glad I found a new great author. This book was a fresh and fast paced Romantasy with a little spice. It had a great balance of romance and plot, but the story was a little predictable. I binged this book in a weekend and wish there were more books in this series already. I am so happy this author has more books for me to read next.

I received this book as an ARC.

I found the premise of the story to be interesting. It follows a young woman doing her best to survive along side her twin brothers. She is quickly forced to help a family as blight strikes both her family and theirs.

I enjoyed the story and twists and turns along the way. I felt like the main shock was quite predictable. I was waiting for it to happen for the majority of the book so the shock value was nonexistent. However, it was still a fun read.

First of all, I'm so happy there's more to the story to come because I fell in love with Rorik. Secondly, I loved the type of magic/healing used for the book. It felt magical and I can't wait to read more from this author.

I devoured this book in one night. This is my first experience with this author, but I was so impressed by the detail from the world building and the characters. I love an immersive book where I can picture scenes clearly with detail from the author. Well written with twists and turns, never knowing who to trust and who isn’t telling the whole tale.


*Our journey follows a healer Edira, who is caught up in a tangled web of half truth and lies, trying to figure out how to cure the blight. Edira attempts to help the all powerful Evers with the cure, but it’s hard to trust anyone at Fernglove manor. Plus there’s Rorik so that’s all that really matters 😅.

I would love to see more of Roriks pov in the next book, but overall this was an amazing read. Thank you so much for the arc NetGalley and our wonderful author Maxym M. Martineau.




House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau was refreshingly original with lush world building and imaginative characters. Highly recommend this page turning fantasy.