4.25 stars

This was an interesting start to a new series. The world building and magic was different and really well done.

I really loved the extended cast of characters, the many Evers were interesting and even the townspeople had a couple of interesting moments.

I thought the way the romance was approached was interesting, I had a feeling that was the way things were moving, but I was worried until the end that maybe things wouldn’t turn out alright! Rorik and Orin were both really interestingly done. I hope we dig more into motivations and drivers for the entire family now that some of the secrets have come out!

This book does feel like a set up for a larger story, there’s a lot that happens that introduces you to the world, but the ending feels so unfinished. This is ultimately what dropped my score a little bit, I felt like there was too much more left at the end that I couldn’t believe that was it! It felt a bit abrupt.

I really do see the potential second book to be even stronger than this one, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes.

"For those who constantly sacrifice in the name of others, it's okay to save yourself first."

"I'm training you to survive."
"Why?"
"Because you deserve to live."

Once I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down! I felt like Edira was really relatable in the sense that she's constantly doing things to help other people. I love the subtle crumbs throughout the book that had to do with color schemes, the banter between Edira and Rorik, and the way the plot developed. This book kept me on the edge of my seat as Edira was trying to put together all of the pieces about the Evers, and when everything finally clicked I wanted to scream. I'm excited to see how that plays out in the next book!

This was the fantasy book I have been looking for the last several months. Maxym M. Martineau has created a new magical world and crafted a story that was a delight to dive into. Edira is a human with powers that make her a threadmender. She can see the life strings in people and heal them but the magic comes at a cost as every time she uses this power she loses time off of her life. As a result, she holds back and hides this while she struggles to care for her two younger twin brothers. The worst part is that there is a disease called "blight" which is disgusting and kills humans quickly. I mean, mold spores and decay abound. (gag) This disease she cannot cure which is why she and her brothers are orphans.

She hides her powers, especially from "Evers," who are an immortal race of people with unique powers and beast attributes. Think of them as variations on Fae. The Evers eventually find her and so begins the story of her working for them to find a cure for blight. It seems like a noble act initially but there are so many twists and turns that I found myself not sure who to trust. I did predict a few things but there were always pieces missing and it may remain that way till there is a sequel.

I really enjoyed this book. I truly mean it. I can't wait for the next one in the series. The story ends with a resolution but there is a cliffhanger. I loved the world-building and hidden details throughout the story. Yes, Edira did make a mess of things with her decisions but it was all for the love of her brothers. The story has a bit of romance threaded through and some spice but it isn't nuts. There is tension, a lovely animal sidekick (which I love!), and constant bathing. Seriously, she is always bathing. There was one scene where I actually wondered if she bathed yet because it happened so much. Sorry, let me refocus.

Anyway, this was a delight and I highly recommend it.

I was provided this book as an ARC from NetGalley and Harper Collins. These are my real and honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed this book! It wasn't exactly a romantasy; it was more like a gothic mystery with magic and some spice. It was really unique and definitely a page-turner!

Our MMC, Edira, is a threadmender, which allows her to magically heal people, but at a high cost. Her own life is shortened each time she uses her magic. Her life is turned upside down when tragedy forces her to work with Evers (a powerful, magical race of human-like creatures) to cure the blight--a deadly disease that's been taking over the land. She goes to the Ever's giant manor, where it's clear there's more going on than meets the eye. Edira doesn't know who to trust or what to believe. Things get especially interesting when two Ever men take an interest in Edira. 😉

This is going to be a duology, and I will 1000% be reading the next one!

This felt like a really unique fantasy with very unique forms of magic that I don't think I've really ever come across before (and I read a lot of fantasy and fantasy adjacent books, so me saying something is unique is REALLY saying something).

I love the cozy apothecary-type vibes of Edira (our main character) when she's selling her potions and things.

I also thought it was unique that the "politics" within this book was more so between different families in this little town. That makes this book feel like a high-stakes cozy fantasy (even though people often associate cozy fantasy with low stakes).

And due to the overhanging spookiness of this town and environment, it feels like it can be categorized as a fall read. This just has that sort of vibe. You'll want grey skies and orange leaves for this one.

This has immortal beings, rare and hidden magic, a price for using magic (I LOVE WHEN THAT HAPPENS), a wealthy and overbearing neighboring family, spooky house secrets, eerie atmosphere, a FMC that knows what she wants and doesn't want, a grumpy love interest, and glamours galore! And so much more.

This is another one of those books where I feel like I have to be quite vague because I think this works best when you go in not knowing that much about it. This is the first book in a new duology and I will definitely be reading the sequel!

Thanks to NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My review is up on Goodreads and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly wrap-up.

I really loved this book and I had so much fun reading it. I thought the concept was really new and intriguing and this book did not disappoint. I loved the grotesque and detailed explanations of blight and the way it works. I thought the characters were super fleshed out although I wish more had been done with the two younger girls I still thought the characters made the story more immersive. I did guess one of the plot twists in the book pretty early on, and I did spot a typo towards the end of the book, but those aspects of it didn't take away from my personal reading experience. I would still highly recommend it. I wish more happened in the middle of the book because most of the plot happened towards the end of the book but besides that, I didn't have any qualms with the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager/Avon for access to this E-arc

I loved this world and the magic system. It was different from others. The prologue of this book really caught my attention and had me wanting more. The only reason I rate 4 and not 5 stars is because it was pretty predictable. I knew what was coming throughout the book. Which is not a bad thing, but the story and the plot were so good, I wanted more of a twist or something to happen. But this is definitely a great and quick fantasy read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this eARC.

I have a lot of feelings on this one! Did I overall enjoy it? Absolutely. It was very well written. It had an interesting premise. It had a very unique magic system. It had most of the things I love.

I will say, the pacing in the middle part of the book was slower than I would like and it made it hard to want to pick it up for a few days. It made up for that in the end because the last 30% was great.

One thing the author did very well is her imagery. The descriptions made it very easy to visualize the world (almost too much, because the descriptions of blight had me grossed out to the max)…

One thing I don’t personally like is when a FMC is portrayed as gullible. I feel like there were obvious traps or foul character actions that she didn’t even question…but before leaving her hometown she questioned everything. The main love story line also felt really instalovey especially for someone who’s essentially been forced into a new life they didn’t want.

However, I liked the way this wrapped up and if there will be a sequel, I’d definitely give it a chance!

This is going to be the next big fantasy romance book, and I feel completely honored to have been able to read an early copy. I can't wait to read more. Now I'm off to read Martineau's backlist.

This book reminded me of another ARC I read a little over a year ago called House of Marionne because it's kinda just an adult version of that in my opinion, with some slight changes.

I feel horrible giving this book just three stars, and it isn’t because the writing was bad or anything so concerning, but just because it didn’t really suit my preferences. Still an incredible book, with characters that I applaud, as it felt like they naturally fit in their own skin.
I definitely got springy gothic vibes, which wasn’t really what I was looking for at the time that I started it, but I’m glad I stumbled across nevertheless, as it left me feeling refreshed and a little haunted.
If you like Sarah J. Mass’s A Court of Thorns and Roses or the Folk of the Air series by Holly Black, I would recommend this to you in a heartbeat; it shares similar heart-rending twists, romantic tension, and seductive characters.
This read was razor-sharp. Brace yourself for lots of emotions if you give it a go.

3.5/5: thank you netgalley for the advance copy. I loved the idea and the plot of this. It was a fast read for me and very entertaining and I loved the end. Some of it predictable but still good. This would’ve been a 5 star read for me if the banter wasn’t SO cringe!! It was bad enough to drop it by a star and a half. Still, would read another by this author

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC! This book was hard to put down the moment I started it. We follow along with the story of Edira Brillwyn of Willowfell who sells tinctures and remedies to scrape enough money to get by, alongside her brothers Noam and Nohr, who works in the town’s mines, hoping to strike lucky with the prospect of an everjewel. There’s an ancient, magical family of Evers who own the town’s mines, called the Ferngloves. Orin Fernglove, in all his remarkable beauty, is back in town to peruse through the town’s vendors, upon seeing Edira. Edira worries he might notice she’s recently dyed her hair a kohl black because underneath this , she has moonlight white hair, the hair of a threadmender. She inherits a magical power that allows her to see people’s life threads, and if she chooses, to heal people at the cost of taking on a subdued form of their ailments. When her brothers become ill, she strikes a deal with this Ever being she despises, as she suspects the Ferngloves took away her aunt all those years ago. This book was beautifully written and is the first in the series. I was vying for more romance, but I’m sure that will come in due time. I cannot wait to read the next book when it comes out!

Plot
Edira is a threadmender - she can heal with her magic but it comes at a steep price. Every time she uses her magic, it takes part of her own life. There is, however, one illness she cannot cure and when it comes close to home, she is willing to do anything to save those she loves - including working with an Ever family. The powerful, immortal overlords are dangerous and cunning but she must risk an alliance.

Thoughts
From the get-go, I was drawn into Edira’s world. It was boldly drawn with sensory notes everywhere so I could touch, see, smell this magical land for myself. The description of what happens when she uses her magic (no spoilers) is chilling and detailed. I appreciate a well thought out magic system. I loved the transition from her village to the Fernglove compound.
I loved the twists and turns of the characters as we follow her journey to discover whom she can trust and the hidden agendas that whirl around her. The climax is wrought and heart wrenching, the ending a perfect set up for the second book. The betrayal is so well executed. I gasped when it all starts to come together. I know I can’t wait to read it.

The reasoning for 4 vs 5 stars: Pacing was my primary concern. I enjoyed the begin, the middle began to drag, then the end sped right back up. It was noticeable enough that I had to take a break from reading but I’m glad I pushed through and finished because it was worth it!

Thank you NetGalley and Maxym Martineau for an early copy of House of Blight. Overall the book was very interesting fantasy novel. I look forward to the second book and the continued series.

The downside of reading ARC's is that now I have to wait a REALLY long time for the next one. *cries*

I really, really enjoyed House of Blight and would give it 4.5 stars. It drew me in from the prologue on and kept me engaged throughout the whole story. I found the end "twist" to be a little predictable but I was rooting for that from the start so was not disappointed. This is one of those books that I just want to talk about with my book friends and I can't wait for the actual release so I can share it with my friends!

The threadmending element is unique and the whole Blight upon the land was fascinating and definitely made for an intriguing magic world. The main character was strong, although I found myself irritated at how easily she was persuaded to lose her unease of the Evers. She did illustrate adequate growth by the end to make up for it though.

The romance wasn't crazy, there was good sexual tension throughout but nothing really spicy until more than 3/4 through the book. Overall it felt tastefully done and the story didn't rely on that to keep things interesting.

I would recommend if you're a fan of Sarah J. Maas, "The Fourth Wing", or "The Serpent and The Wings of Night".

House of Blight is here to ensare fantasy lovers with its intriguing magic system, mysterious immortal beings, shocking reveals, and a heroine who's choices will tip the scales between life and death.

Edira is a mortal woman with rare healing powers that come with a steep price. She's spent most of her life trying to keep these gifts a secret, but when tragedy strikes her world tilts. Forced to make a deal with the mysterious Evers, Edira is racing against the clock to beat the blight plaguing the land. Everything is not as it seems though and danger lurks around every corner.

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4.25 stars
Overall well done and engrossing! I was eager for a but more back story and information about the town and the Evers family groups. Hopefully all will be revealed in book 2.

No rating- dnf at 26%.

This book had a slow, dragging beginning and I am just entirely uninterested in continuing at this time. The description of the healing was interesting, but the other descriptions were confusing and not done well. Very predictable so far. Maybe I’ll pick it up in the future if I see more reviews, but Icould feel it putting me in a slump.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The first of a new Fantasy duology, House of Blight follows Edira, a healer who loses time off her own life every time she uses her abilites. Because of this, she has spent most of her life hiding her gift from the world but when a terrible blight wreaks havoc in her household, she must accept an offer from the Evers, magical & immortal beings, who lord over her village. But everything is not as it seems, and a darker, more sinister secret is hiding within the walls of the manor. Can Edira put all the pieces together in time to save her family and herself?

I really really enjoyed this book. Martineau did a great job world building and setting the ambiance. A cozy, gothic manor house with macabre woods and an underlying sense of wrongness. Edira is a gutsy, quick tongued, take no sh*t woman, even in a room full of powerful immortal beings who could very easily end her life. The MMCs couldn't be more opposite, one a grumpy, brustish male with a short temper and a soft spot for Edira, and the other the doting and comforting voice of reason and reassurance. There's even a cute little maple moth as a familiar.

There is TONS of tension but not much spice.

Parts of the twist did feel a little predictable, others had my jaw on the floor. The climax was well done and the ending left me begging for more. I am so sad I have to wait for the next book!

Fans of ACOTAR and The Witch Walker series will notice some similarities but in a good way and will definitely enjoy House of Blight

Thank you to Harper for the opportunity to read this ARC!

To start, I am a big fan of Maxym and everything she's written, her Beast Charmer series is one of my favorites.

I was nervous about House of Blight solely because I don't love scary or creepy things and I wasn't sure how deep this one would go into that rabbit hole. Thankfully, it was unsettling and creepy but not like 'this will give you nightmares'. I knew as soon as I met two specific characters, I was being tricked. It was so well done I even started second guessing my suspicions BUT ALAS I WAS RIGHT. No further comment on THAT.

One of my favorite things about any book Maxym writes is how unique the world is. The races, world, names, magic are all entirely new and magical and beautifully done that it isn't some slog to read and learn. It's easy to follow but not so basic as to not feel like enough.

Our FMC is sassy and strong and loyal - our love interest(s) are ....well, you should read to find out but gave me anxiety in the best way LOL

I'm sad this isn't out until April, I want everyone to read it and also didn't realize how long of a wait I was giving myself for book 2 (insert a picture of me crying here).

Again thank you for this ARC, I cannot wait for the world to meet Edira, and all of this cast.