This book is basically The Apothecary Diaries but set in a fantasy world with immortals and magical powers.
The FMC, Edira, reminds me a lot of MaoMao. They are both apothecaries who try to solve the problems that royals have because of a contract that forces them to. The difference is that Edira is only trying to solve one problem which is the Blight (an incurable sickness) that has affected the world.
This is a slow paced book. It is a clue gathering story but even I couldn’t figure out what was going on. Every time I tried to fit the pieces together it wouldn’t work because new information would arise and change it or there wasn’t enough information. I will say that everything does have a reason and it will be brought up again!
The only thing I really had an issue with was that I didn’t really feel connected to any of the characters expect Edira. The Ferngloves (the royal family) were suspicious the whole time so I never really connected with them expect Orin’s (the MMC) brother intrigued me.

HOUSE OF BLIGHT is a witchy-adjacent gothic romantasy, filled with magical healing (with a cost), magical vows, tensions and a bit of a love triangle (between brothers 😏) The romance is swoony. The world is cottagecore. The characters are magical. It’s a lovely start of a duet that will leave you counting the days to book two. Perfect for readers of Rachel Gillig.

Thanks to Harper Voyager for the gifted copy!

Edira Brillwyn is a threadmender -- she has lifesaving power, but it comes at the high price, taking slivers of her life as she uses it. When her brothers get sick with Blight, she endes up at Fernglove Manor, working with the powerful head of the household, Orin, to find a cure.

I LOVE a fantasy duology, but am not sure that gothic fantasy is always for me... it's just a little too slow-moving. I did love the side characters, especially the little mothy pet creature, Ywena, the magical vows, and the slow burn romance. This was definitely a unique take on a fantasy with the "insect daddy" and cottagecore aesthetic, and I think a lot of readers will appreciate these vibes. I did find some of the plotlines a bit predictable and wanted more of a certain brother, but we'll leave that for the next book ;)

If you are a lover of the darker, more gothic side of fantasy, this is your next favorite read! I devoured House of Blight in a few days and I was captivated throughout. This story follows Edira, who is a rare mortal healer called a threadmender, as she navigates the dazzling and dangerous world of the Evers. A devastating blight has spread across the land and has begun to even affect the seemingly immortal Evers. As Edira begins to work on finding a cure, she must balance her gift against the cost of shortening her own life, all the while navigating complex feelings surrounding two Ever brothers, Orin and Rorik. Martineau expertly gives life to this story, painting rich scenes and complex characters into the perfect gothic and spooky backdrop. The intricate magic system was very believable and made the book that much more immersive. I’m so excited for book two, I need it yesterday!! Everything that glitters is not always gold, and perfectly crafted exteriors could hide rot within.

As always, thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for access to this eARC for review; all thoughts are my own.

3.5 ⭐️

House of Blight has all the pieces to make a great Romantasy read! Hidden magic, mysterious fae, a problem to solve, tension between not one but two hot fae men (and brothers at that!), and a sense of urgency. I completely flew through the first third of this book, but then the pacing slowed considerably and I honestly put it down for months. That is completely a personal issue though, others may not find the writing to be too slow or detailed. The ending was satisfying yet also set up the second book nicely. As I saw a lot of twists coming, and was so slumped when reading this, I unfortunately won’t be sticking around for book two.

“What was made for the deceased but comforted the living? A silk-lined box.”

✨ Overall Rating 5/5
📈 Plot 5/5
🖊️ Writing 5/5
👤 Characters 5/5
⚖️ Interpersonal Relationships 5/5
🗺️ World Building 5/5
🔥 Spice 0.5/5
😭 Emotional Damage 2/5
🤩 Entertainment 5/5

Themes:
🖤 Dark Romantasy
🖤 Slow Burn
🖤 Which Brother to Choose?
🖤 FMC with Special Powers
🖤 Cursed MMC & Family
🖤 FMC as a Saviour
🖤 Sassy FMC

I can’t say there is a single thing I disliked in this book. What an amazing piece of work! I’m wholly impressed and pleased.

The pace of the book was perfect, the story line is great!

Orin was great but I love the chemistry between Edira and Rorik!! I think the villain in the story was written well and was so hard to notice at the start but once the facade started to crack, we could see the underlying blight within him in more ways than one.

I will absolutely be recommending this and can’t wait for the next instalment!

“One of these days, Rorik, I’ll pin you to the ground beneath my boots, and you’ll pray I’m wearing a skirt so you at least see something nice before I spit in your face.”

Thank you for sending me this incredible arc!

House of Blight is a gothic Romantasy following a gifted healer named Edira navigating a world ravaged by a disease known as “The Blight”. Edira has spent most of her life hiding her healing gifts from The Evers - immortal beings with immense magic, who lord over the country. When tragedy strikes within her home, the Ferngloves (who lord over her city) promise to assist her in exchange for Edira’s help in researching a cure for the blight. Will working with the very people she has spent her life hiding from be worth the sacrifice, or will she lose everything?

This was one of my favorite reads in so far this year. The gothic atmosphere, fantastic world building, and excellent pacing of the story kept me engaged and invested in Edira’s journey. There are some major plot twists that had me audibly gasping.

As for the romance, this is a slow burn, enemies to lovers, with spice and delicious banter. It is top tier, perfection. I highly recommend picking this one up on release day, and I’m really hoping for a special edition of this one.

Edira is a human with a unique magical ability to heal. She hides this ability from everybody except her brothers, after her aunt warns her to never show it to anybody shortly before she disappears.
One day, shortly after the town’s market day which is visited by the highly powerful Fae-like creatures, her brothers both come down with a deadly illness that has been spreading throughout her town and in a desperate moment, she attempts to heal them both only to be discovered by one of the Fae creatures who enters into a magical deal with her that he will slow the disease of her brothers if she agrees to come to their land and help heal his grandmother

The good: I really enjoyed the Threadmaker magic and how it is described in the book. I really enjoyed the detail that was put into the world and the characters. The moth is my favorite character in the whole book.

The bad: I knew from the second she entered the Fae world where this was going and what was going to happen. It was very trope based and very obvious. The moth is my favorite character, because the characters are all pretty unlikable. It didn’t feel as advanced as some of the comparison authors like Sarah J. Mass and Rachel Gillig

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC.

OK, this new series has me very intrigued. House of Blight is a new fantasy series that is being called the Threadmender series and theeadmenders are humans that have the power to heal. They can heal just about anything and they live in secret. They are told to hide because if they found out the Evers will take them away to basically put them in their service. The Blight is here and basically that is how our female main character gets caught. She’s been very good not using her powers to heal anyone. But one day when her brothers come home from the mines and they are infected she is caught.
I was thoroughly intrigued from the beginning and this red super fast when I got very close to the ending I’m like I really don’t see how this could continue on being a series. I do have a few questions that could be answered in the last. Bit but I’m happy it got left open and that the series is gonna continue on because I really wanna know more about the world and I can’t wait to find out more!
Thank you Harper Voyager for providing me with a review copy for an honest and unbiased review!

House of Blight is a hauntingly beautiful gothic fantasy that weaves magic, mystery, and romance into an intricate tapestry of intrigue and sacrifice. From the moment I stepped into Edira Brillwyn’s world, I was captivated by the dark atmosphere and the unique magic system that Martineau has crafted.

Edira is a compelling protagonist—her ability to heal at the cost of her own life force makes for a fascinating dynamic, constantly pushing her to weigh her own survival against the needs of those she loves. When the powerful Fernglove family offers her a dangerous deal to save her brothers from the blight, she’s thrust into a world of secrets, power plays, and a slow-burning romance that kept me on edge.

Orin Fernglove is enigmatic and alluring, the perfect mix of charm and danger. His relationship with Edira is layered with tension and uncertainty, making every interaction between them feel meaningful. As the story unfolds, the gothic mansion setting, filled with hidden agendas and eerie undertones, becomes almost a character in itself—adding to the creeping sense that something sinister is lurking beneath the surface.

Martineau’s writing is lush and immersive, painting vivid pictures of both beauty and decay. The world-building is detailed without being overwhelming, and the stakes feel real, with Edira constantly faced with impossible choices. The plot twists are well-executed, keeping me guessing about the true nature of the Fernglove family and the origins of the blight.

If I had one critique, it would be that some parts of the story felt a little predictable, especially if you’re familiar with gothic fantasy tropes. However, the strength of the characters and the emotional weight of their struggles more than made up for it.

Let’s start with the obvious—this cover is absolutely stunning! It immediately caught my eye, and thankfully, the story inside is just as intriguing.

Edira’s threadmender magic is such a unique concept—she can heal, but at the cost of her own lifespan. When her brother falls ill with the Blight, she’s forced into an uneasy alliance with Orin, the mysterious MMC, to uncover a cure. The book starts with a bang, immediately pulling me in, and I was so excited to see where it would go. While the middle hit a bit of a lull, I still thoroughly enjoyed the overall story.

Final Verdict: Good, not great—but still an enjoyable read with a fascinating magic system, high stakes, and strong narration. 3.5 stars--I would absolutely recommend--can't wait for book two.

✨ Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy the ARC and ALC copies of this read. My immersive read was lovely!

From the start, Edira's storyline as a healer, sister, and daughter are drawn out from the initial chapters. Her character's motivation results from an unfortunate (and believable) set of circumstances.

Hints are cleverly interspersed throughout the story (see: unusual insects, other threadmenders' journals). The reader who pays attention is rewarded as the story progresses.

That said, the action will build slowly. Would have liked more interaction between Rorik and Edira (their training scene were ripe for witty banter) and Mavis with Edira (even if was an observer given the former didn't speak). . More scenes involving Mavis and Rorik would have helped the pacing of the book. There was almost a lull in the middle. The action towards the last 1/3 of the book is fast-paced and action packed. . When the reader reaches the final page, they are cleverly set up for the next in the series.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

#HouseofBlight #NetGalley

Ahhhhh. I liked this. And I need part two now.

The world was moody, dark, dramatic in a delicious way. And ohhh so this is a love triangle? Yum. Anyway. It took me a while to know how I felt about this. Because I felt the romantic build ups weren’t quite right. But by the end I was in it.

My mouth dropped open at this line: “The only pain I’d ever intentionally inflict on you is the agony of making you wait to feel the pleasure of release.” Holy cow.

I think I was missing a little depth at the beginning but this won me over.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC. I definitely agree with the marketing that this book is for fans of Rachel Gillig and SJM - same vibes for sure.. The plot was intriguing but became disjointed between 30-70% which made me lose interest. I also just couldn't connect to the female protagonist - she made the stupidest decisions and did stuff without thinking which made what happened and the plot "twists" predictable. The "romance" in this book also was weird and made me uncomfortable with how stilted it was. Overall interesting premise but could have been executed better.

“I don’t care what kind of power they possess. I don’t care about their family or how many they have under their control. I will kill them all. No one touches her.”

This book is an eerie, atmospheric dark fantasy that grips you from the very first page. Edira forced to hide her magic but also care for her brothers, but in a world filled with deceit and hidden horrors, trust is a dangerous game.

Martineau’s writing is rich and immersive, making every detail—from the eerie lore to the strange mold infused disease, I loved experiencing the dark twisty was of this world. If you love dark fantasy with gothic vibes, an intricate magic system, and a storyline that keeps you on edge, House of Blight is a must-read.

And that twist? Absolutely jaw-dropping. Just when you think you have a grasp on the story, it throws you into chaos. The tension builds masterfully, leaving you desperate for book two.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★.5/5
Spice: ♥︎/5

3.4 ⭐️
This was an interesting read!
The prologue is eerily mysterious and I kept waiting for the connection to the main story but it never came. It felt like a fairytale where the world is tainted by a mysterious sickness and it’s dripping with court intrigue and secrets. I love the promise of the plot and love the characters- but it all coming together fell a little flat for me. Edira’s relationships felt very surface level and were lacking real connection to pull me into their depths.
That being said, there were a lot of moments I truly enjoyed, and I did like the book overall. It will be interesting to see how everything plays out!

The characters and worldbuilding were really cool. The romantic elements were great and I really loved the gothic fantasy vibes. Once I got into it I had trouble putting down because it was so enjoyable to read. Can't wait for the release and for the sequel!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - arc & monthly book box pick reviewer

House of Blight is a fine romantasy with some spice and an interesting worldbuilding that is quick to read.

We follow Edira's point of view, a young woman who is a Threadmender, someone who can see and heal others' threads within their bodies. Threadmenders keep their identities and their powers a secret because they have been disappearing for many years. She has been taking care of her brothers since her parents died and aunt (who as also a Threadmender) vanished. And sadly, it was Edira who was the weakest point of the story, in my opinion. All I got from her is that she would like to use her power but can't because by healing others, she decreases her own threads, and yet she tries to heal her brothers' friend even though she knows she'll fail and tries to heal a creature in Orin's estate as a stepping stone. She distrusted and was disgusted by all Evers (immortals), and yet, it hardly took any effort from Orin to lower her defenses and make her trust him implicitly and consequently try to heal him and creatures here and there. It was Edira's judgment I wouldn't rely on, and I am not enthused of such traits in main characters.

Orin is the "obvious" love interest, and oh how he seems like the perfectly kind and benevolent all powerful Ever. But even for an all powerful head of the family, lots of people in their household disrespect him and bends his rules, and it didn't make me respect him much (another trait I am not enthused of in characters).

Rorik is also another love interest, who is the most genuine of them all. Even though he has secrets of his own, there is something real and genuine about him, a realism, something that makes him tangible and likeable.

The worldbuilding was interesting, especially how blight can infest all creatures, beings, and lifeforms, and yet it is not fatal to all. The Evers remind me a lot of fae, human-like beings with some animalistic attributes and powers, and I would have liked it if they stood out in some way.

The plot was okay, but it was too predictable. Given how Edira reacted, I wasn't invested in the romance, either, and overall, it felt like Orin was orchestrating everything and everyone just went along with no critical thinking.

"Edira Brillwyn is a threadmender. She holds a rare, lifesaving power that can cure disease and heal injuries in the blink of an eye. But magic always comes with a cost, and saving anyone sacrifices a sliver of her own life." How could you not be drawn in by this blurb!

Edira's magic is so interesting and nothing like what I've read before. The uniqueness of her healing abilities kept drawing me in, the way the author describes it is so good! Edira lives in a world where she hides her threadmending abilities, lest someone take advantage of them. When she is discovered as a healer by the family of Evers that lives nearby, she is forced to go and work with them to discover how to heal the blight, for the sake of her brothers, who've been afflicted.
The gothic vibes mixed with the 'girl goes to live in a mansion' trope is delivered flawlessly here. I know when I read about the girl whisked away by a magical being, I squeal and kick my feet, so this was perfect. Orin, the head of the Ever family, the Ferngloves, is sweet, thoughtful and protects Edira while helping her to find a cure for her brothers while the rest of the family are hostile and obstructive, and Edira wonders how she'll ever find a cure. Things aren't as they seem and Edira has to learn more about the blight and her abilities while keeping herself safe, as her threadmending powers are slowly eating away at her own life.
I thought the plot was well thought out, the writing was excellent and I enjoyed the imagery of the setting (it reminded me a bit of Belladonna).

I devoured this book, I absolutely loved it and cannot WAIT to get the second instalment!

House of blight by Maxim Martineau

The premise of this book was interesting. A disease that takes over a body and kills it almost instantly. A girl that can mend a wound/sickness by using magic. A fae family who bargains with her to help try to cure the blight.
The family was interesting and Orin was a great character so was Rorik. The love triangle wasn’t terrible although I do wish for more Rorik scenes. There seemed to be a lot of unnecessary family members/nes that didn’t really seem to be needed. Maybe in the next book they’ll show why they were?

The evil villain, so I wish he had been more evil. I feel like he did everything for the greater good? But maybe I lost some context. His misdeeds were well explained and I felt bad for him in the end a little?

I feel like this was a 3.5 star, I rounded up because I enjoyed it without having to think too hard. The world building is decent but misses some things. Time period/area are missing.

If you want a good love triangle/slow burn mystery this book is for you.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc.

I received an arc and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.