I really wanted to like this one (I feel like I've been saying that a lot lately), but just could not find my way into the writing at all... I love the cover. I love the concept. But the writing just did not do it for me. I couldn't connect to the characters and the pacing felt oddly slow for the premise. This one wasn't a good fit for me and I couldn't finish...

My advice? Stop reading reviews. Go into this blindly. Make all of your own assumptions. It’s a one of a kind story.

First of all thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers for the e-arc of this book. I’ve seen it on instagram and loved everything about it… until I started reading it. Listen, I know this is a debut and the idea is amazing, that’s why I’m giving this 2 stars, but I had to dnf like 40% in? The writing is absolutely not for me, I just couldn’t. The characters felt flat and I couldn’t connect with them at all. I’m so sorry, I don’t want to leave bad reviews but this was disappointing.

4.5 rounded up! I actually finished this a few days ago and had to sit back and stew on my review a bit, because it had one of those endings that leaves you in that “OMG… ok?” space. Not entirely in a bad way, but it’s a lot to process.

I loved our two main characters with my whole heart, but especially Aster - the author does an amazing job getting you attached and invested in these two and their complex relationship. It truly took me on an emotional rollercoaster with how much I cared about them and I feel like that’s impressive in itself! At one point I even shed a tear which barely ever happens when I read. The illustrations throughout just add to the impact and are so gorgeous (and I’d like to formally thank the author for the one of Kaim and Fion).

I was generally pleased with the complexity of the characters and their growth, although their development/believability was a little rough around the edges in places.

I also really enjoyed the world, lore, and magic system in this book - they felt unique enough where it didn’t blend into other fantasy books I’ve read in the past. The way you find out about the world and lore is pretty well done, too. Also, I’m a big horror fan and was pleasantly surprised by how gnarly the eldritch horror elements were at times (although they were only featured in a portion of the book/story). This fantasy definitely has a dark edge to it which I love.

The pacing and chaotic plot points towards the end are the biggest downfall of this book, and I don’t feel that last bit was needed (the book could’ve ended more quickly after that high impact moment), but keeping in mind this is a debut author, this still felt like a solid 4.5. Any book that can make me care that deeply about its characters is a win imo!

I went into this book pretty blindly, and I think you should do the same and enjoy the ride.

While this book started slowly, the more time I spent in the world learning about the religions, politics, and traditions, the more intrigued and consumed I became.

If you are a fan of codependent relationships with the foundation of "it's us against the world (no matter what)", and a girl set on revenge no matter the cost after the loss of her mother, this will be for you.

Great read. I loved the writing style and the flow. The imagery was great. I cant wait to read more from this writer.

After one of the reviews compared this to Full Metal Alchemist, it became a must read and so I immediately requested for an ARC. A huge thank you to the publisher and Netgallery for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The illustrations throughout the book by the author herself was a nice touch. They had a very gothic vibe that matched perfectly with the story.

It does read a bit young to be considered an Adult fantasy but I found the premise interesting and loved the world building. Alma’s monster reminds me of the end of ‘Daughter of No Worlds’ but in ‘House of the Beast’, that monster wasn’t as fleshed out. Overall, I enjoy it but there were a lot of parts that were pretty long winded and took a lot of willpower to get through.

House of thr Beast (Deluxe Limited Edition) by Michelle Wong is such a good story. 5 star read from me. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can.

Thank you to Harper Voyager & Netgalley for the eARC!

3.75 ⭐️

First, I just want to say that the illustrations in this book are absolutely stunning!

I thought this story was so intriguing, the world building was amazing. The author did an amazing job at creating the perfect lush, gothic atmosphere. I thought the trials were so interesting & the author did an amazing job at creating a unique story!

I really enjoyed the characters, especially Alma! I loved her character development.

Definitely recommend if you're looking for a dark, gothic style fantasy book with political intrigue along with gorgeous illustrations!

I absolutely loved this. This wasn’t something I usually would have picked up for myself but I’m so glad I got the opportunity to read it.

Alma is an ostracised girl sent to live with her narcissistic, uncaring father. At the beginning of her story she has no friends, save for her ‘monster.’ Her monster describes her as ‘the worst of the worst.’ She doesn’t seem to care to make friends and her only focus is seeking revenge on her father.

As the story develops, she learns to trust and care for others, much to the ire of her monster. Her monster almost seems like a metaphor for her fighting her inner demons. Despite being described as the worst of the worst, Alma has always battled herself over her guilt and her unwillingness to hurt others even if it will achieve her goals of revenge against her cruel father. There was a line that really stuck with me when I read this; “if you spend all your energy fighting yourself, how shall you defend against the ones who actually mean to hurt you?”

I could not have predicted the ending of this at all and I really thought it was such a great twist. I felt like this was a very powerful story about Alma overcoming her inner struggles and learning to be her own person. It was well written and the illustrations throughout were really beautiful

This was a really interesting one.
What if you loved a monster, what if you couldn't recognize if someone was a monster, what if you yourself was a monster and you embraced all those part of yourself.

Alma is the bastard daughter of a great magical house to a powerful god, The Dread Beast.
With her mother dying, she writes to her father, and seeing an opportunity for himself decides to take her in. As a member of house Avera, she must give something of herself to her family's god. Her arm, which the beast accepts. And becomes a vessel of the god's power.

Her family is terrible, her father especially, who needs Alma as a tool, but doesn't really feel like fully acknowledging her as a full member of their house. She's shut away, training and learning in isolation for an event 8 years in the making, to kill a fallen star in the Umbral Plane before it can become a rouge god and possibly destroy the city. Her only friend is what she thought was imaginary as a child, turns out to be The Dread Beast. A beautiful boy with starlight hair she names Aster. Who seems to grow up along side her, aiding her, giving her power and helping her plot revenge against her family, father and power structure.

But Aster isn't exactly what he seems and he too, like her father is playing another kind of game.
Despite what he is, he truly does grow to love Alma, and she in turn, they are all each other truly knows. But Aster isn't human, and while Alma embraces the monstrous parts of herself, she doesn't truly want to become one, but she does want power. And Aster can raise her up along side him.

The illustrations in this are going to be so much better in person.
I'm not going to call this an enemies to lovers, because there's nothing past a kiss, but it's monsters united in love that's soul bonding and making the ultimate sacrifice to stop it.

A dark but engaging ride! I had a rough time with tbe ebook ARc - but technical issues aside, I loved this book. I devoured it within a day. I had to see the story through, and Im so glad I did! Definitely heavier than I expected at times, but overall I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Harper Voyager, for providing me with an ARC! I was so excited to be approved for this one!!

When I first read the premise of this book, I knew it was going to be different. It was dark and unique, and honestly there was a lot packed into this book.

Fans of The Serpent and the Wings of Night will appreciate the high-stakes trials and complex father-daughter dynamic, while the eerie, monster-within element evokes the same gothic allure as One Dark Window.

At its core, this is a story about devotion, love, and the fierce struggle for self-determination. The protagonist doesn’t just face trials; she claws her way through them, fighting to carve her own path in a world that seeks to define and shame her.

If you’re craving a dark fantasy that’s original and bold, pick this one up!

Wow, just…wow. I finished this book in 24 hours because I could not put it down. Between the captivating story and the hand drawn images I was IN IT. I especially loved the illustrations since I’m one of the many readers that has difficulty forming a full picture in my mind while I read, they were as well done as they were helpful.
This is a story about revenge, yes, but also listening to yourself, growing past resentment, and self acceptance. Alma character was so well done and her story was so well done. A character arc like hers doesn’t happen often and it’s powerful.
Ultimately this story about a young girl separated from her dying mother just to help her greedy father is so well put together. We must not over look her friendship with Aster, this was such a formative relationship and, eventually, helps her become who she was meant to be.
I won’t go to much further on but the amount of gasping, crying, and pacing I was doing reading the last like 20% was so worth it. The pay off here is immense. Worth noting that while there are elements of a romance this is not what I would describe a romance story, just to set expectations.

4.7 stars
I enjoyed this a lot, particularly that it is a some-what dark fantasy with a female protagonist that isn't a true-love story., but more a revenge plot with really good reveals at the end. The world, and the feel of the world, was refreshingly different from all the other fantasy I've been reading the last few years: gods that not only interact with their followers, but aren't necessarily 'good'; a society built around the gods and keeping other gods from emerging; a society that is pretty much cut-off from the rest of the world because of said gods. Would definitely buy a copy when it is released!

On a side note: the NetGalley arc copy I read was a terrible experience. I couldn't change the font size, highlight, or make notes. I had to zoom in on every page - Every. Page. - in order to somewhat comfortably read it. This drug out my reading experience by at least a week.

i ended up dnf this book i just dont think it was a good fit for me right now maybe in the future i will pick it back up but for now its a no for me.

A heartbreaking tale of trauma bonds, desired revenge, and star crossed lovers.

It’s impossible to not sympathize with Alma. She’s been an outsider her entire childhood with her mother and even once she’s taken to be a member of her father’s family she is still ostracized. Her only solace is Aster, an imaginary friend she created and then later helps enact her revenge on her father.

But not all is as it seems and Alma must make decisions with corrupted knowledge and beliefs in order to protect the world from the ambitions of her father.

"Step into the House of the Beast in this dark fantasy debut from The Legend of Korra graphic novel illustrator Michelle Wong, about a young woman who strikes a deal with a mysterious and alluring god to seek revenge on her aristocratic family - featuring illustrations throughout by the author.

Born out of wedlock and shunned by society, Alma learned to make her peace with solitude, so long as she had her mother by her side. When her mother becomes gravely ill, Alma discovers a clue about her estranged father and writes a message begging for help. Little does she know that she is a bastard of House Avera, one of the four noble families that serve the gods and are imbued with their powers - and her father is a vessel of the Dread Beast, the most frightening god of all, a harbinger of death.

In a desperate exchange for her mother's medicine, Alma agrees to sacrifice her left arm to the Beast in a ceremony that will bind her forever to the House and its deity. Regardless, her mother soon passes, leaving Alma trapped inside the Avera's grand estate, despised by her relatives and nothing but a pawn in her father’s schemes.

Now vengeance is the only thing that keeps Alma going. That, and the strange connection she has with her god - a monster who is constantly by her side, an eldritch being taking the form of a beautiful prince with starlit hair that only she can see. He tells Alma that she has been chosen to bring change upon their world, and with his help, Alma plots a perilous journey to destroy the House that stole everything from her.

A gripping coming-of-age fantasy novel marked by divine rituals, intense combat, and twisted romance, House of the Beast is a tale of revenge, resilience, and the power of love to see us through the darkness."

I'd possibly give up a leg but NEVER an arm.

I was entranced following Alma. It was emotional, and i did not want to put it down. The journey was heartbreaking and bloody but also exhilarating. It had a whisper of romance, but this story wasn't meant for romance. It was about revenge. I loved following her story, and where it led, everything came together at the end. Some endings are beautifully painful, and this was one of them.

"I belong to you only. I always have. "

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I chose to DNF House of the Beast a little earlier on than I normally would, with the biggest reason being that the ebook format was extremely difficult to read and gave me an immense headache when I attempted to. The second reason was that it became clear to me pretty quickly that I was not vibing with the story. I think it has an interesting concept, and I’m sure there is an audience out there for it, but it unfortunately wasn’t for me. The artwork, however, is beautiful, and I hope we start to see a trend in illustrated novels because it makes the art nerd in me very happy.