I loved this book, and you will too. Hear me out on this:

Alma has spent her life in isolation, shaped by her father’s ruthless ambition. Taken as a child to House Avera, she learns she belongs to one of the four noble houses, each serving a different god. House Avera is the most powerful because it is bound to the Beast, and its chosen vessels wield immense influence. Her father is determined to become the next leader, grooming Alma to help him achieve that goal. But his cruelty hardens her resolve. Instead of standing beside him, she plans to take his place by entering the trial herself.

If that didn’t sell you COMPLETELY, I haven’t even gotten to the most compelling part of the book: Aster. He’s completely loyal to Alma in a way that borders on obsessive, and I like my MMCs a little toxic so it really works. The twists and turns completely shook me. The ending completely blew me away.

I also loved watching Alma’s relationships with the other characters and how it informed her growth as she stepped into her own power. It was so satisfyingly paced, and felt realistic even in. The trappings of this fantasy world. The final chapters wrecked me and I need new installments asap.

Perfectly executed story of a girl seeking revenge and an eldritch being manipulating her while falling in love with her--what more do you need? House of the Beast reads like the best animes, its vivid worldbuilding stands out and the characters drive the story forward relentlessly.

Michelle Wong does a fantastic job in writing this as a debut, it had that element that I was looking for. It had that Gothic element that I was wanting and had that fairy tale element that I was hoping for. The characters had that elmeent that I was hoping for and enjoyed getting to read their story. I'm excited to read more in this world and from Michelle Wong.

House of the Beast is a twisted and dark coming of age tale for a young girl named Alma. Alma lives with her mother in near poverty until she is swept up into her rich and stately father’s house, the House of the Beast. She quickly finds out that their worship of the Dread Beast, one of the four gods in existence, is based in blood, rage, and death. Alma finds comfort in a mysterious friend who shows up in her moment of need. Calling him Aster, they form a contract with each other that will ensure Alma’s safety, her need for revenge, and what other people see as her descent into madness.

I really enjoyed this book. Michelle Wong has proven herself to be a great storyteller and world builder. When reading this, however, do understand that you only get a peek at what the entirety of the world is like. This story focuses on Alma and the small part of the world she inhabits. There are some clues as to what the rest of the world might be like, which made me very curious, but we never truly get to see it. I also love the religious factor to this book. The 4 God pantheon of the people adds a unique element to this story. I wish there had been more lore for the gods, but that’s just my personal preference because I enjoy that subject. The main characters in the story are well fleshed out. Alma and Aster bounce off of each other in this strange dance of attraction and restraint, love and ire, making their relationship a very complicated one. I loved it. I thought it was almost realistic in terms of what an actual relationship with god or god-like character would be. It also lead to a great sense of emotion toward the end of the story when the twist hits. My absolute favorite part of this was the travel through the Umbral Plain. It was genuinely scary and disturbing, and I love horror, so this was an unexpected treat in this fantasy tale!

Overall, this book and story are refreshing and original. I fell in love with Alma and Aster’s intimacy with one another. I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5 only because my selfish heart wants more religious lore and more Umbral Plain. I am going to buy this book for my niece when it officially comes out. It’s stories like these that opened my imagination when I was young and helped nurture my love of reading and writing. Well done, Ms. Wong. Well done.

This book was so unique. lt was filled with complex characters who are neither good nor bad (except for Six who’s perfect). I thoroughly enjoyed this story and could not put it down. Also the illustrations added such a cool element to this book..

4.25 /5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First let me start by saying thank you to NetGalley, author Michelle Wong and Avon and Harper Voyager publishing for this E-ARC of The House of the Beast.

For a debut fantasy novel Michelle really did such a fantastic job and I loved this world she created.
The House of the Beast is a fantasy, leaning on the darker side that follows our female main character Alma. In a world of gods and monsters, both mythical and human, Alma experiences the loss of her mother and is set on a path of revenge. Her father serves the House of the Beast and with her mother’s death Alma is forced to be a pawn in her cruel father’s games in this house as well. What no one else knows is that Alma has a unique and powerful connection to the God in this house and is told she is meant for so much more.

There are plenty of twists and turns throughout this story as Alma is finding herself and her way through the world. I really did love this story and couldn’t wait to see where Alma’s journey took her. There’s action, death and relationships (new and old) that tore at my heart.
In any fantasy world there is going to be a learning curve, however I did feel like I struggled a little more than usual trying to keep names and places in order until basically the end of the book. I think especially trying to do a standalone fantasy is just so hard and it felt like there was too much crammed into the ending to complete the world/story.
All of this led to a 4.25/5 star review for me, I originally gave it a 4 but the more I sat and thought, the more I realized I couldn’t just give it 4 stars. And giving us artwork throughout the book is such an incredible bonus that helped amplify this story💜

Go save on good reads and pre-order this book if you’re looking for a new fantasy adventure!

The description of this hooked me instantly and I couldn't wait to see what this was about. I loved the illustrations and mood to this. Overall this was incredibly unique and this stands out amongst very heavy romantasy/romance/fantasy genres.

House of the Beast is a remarkable debut. This is a book that will stay with me for years to come. Even after two days since finishing it, I am still struggling to find the words that convey how uniquely beautiful this story is.

What had immediately captured my attention was the writing. It is stunningly detailed and has a perfect balance of a dark and whimsical tone while still having an underlying feeling of dread or unease. I was wholly invested in this book because of how much I loved the writing style and world-building. Wong does an amazing job with explaining the intricacies of the world without being overly confusing or overwhelming for the reader.

The relationship between Alma and Aster is very much the focal point of the story. This story depicts an unhealthy codependent relationship so realistically. From the beginning of the book, you get the underlying sense of sorrow and doom that leaves you both compelled to continue and dreading the end. The ending was bittersweet and left me staring blankly at a wall to process, but I couldn’t have loved this book more.

Overall, this was a well developed and perfectly executed story. Thank you NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for the arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

(4.5) I enjoyed this a lot. It was a very unique fantasy plot that I haven’t really read anything similar to. I also really liked all of the cute little illustrations throughout the book!

The story this book conveyed was beyond incredible. From start to finish I was unbelievably hooked as I started to become fully immersed into the world.
Alma is a lower class girl raised by her loving mother in a city that heavily worships one of the four elder gods of this world. Those around them do not take kindly to their little family, with Alma being born out of wedlock and their failure to worship and participate in activities that have to do with their god. Alma is a lonely child with only her mother by her side, until one day her mother falls ill and the reality of losing her one and only parent looms over her. While looking through things in a panic to figure out how to help her mother, Alma stumbles across a clue about her supposed father. With the ability to now reach her father she writes to him begging for his assistance in finding a way to save her mother, she will do anything he requires if he will in turn help her dying mother, a promise she will in turn learn to regret.
I will not spoil the rest as I believe you need to experience and feel the emotion behind what happens next, my words would not do it justice.
I can already see this becoming a favorite for everyone. It made me feel like I was back in middle school, there are those books that just stick with you your whole life and bring you comfort and nostalgia and this is one of them, I fully believe that this book is going to mold a whole new generation of readers. Go add to your tbr now everybody, and go preorder asap. *This will be released on August 5, 2025.*
P.S the art all through the book was amazing and made the story that much more magical. I will 100% be getting a physical copy and I recommend you do the same. You will not regret it, I can promise you that.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

This was a really exciting book and I read it from start to finish in less than two days.

Recommend!

5/5. Thanks to Ms. Wong, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC.

What a stunning debut. This is the sort of fantasy novel I was craving without knowing about it. I may have gotten this as an ARC, but I'll be buying it as soon as it comes out to read again one day.

Alma Ven is a girl born out of wedlock, living in the slums of Mersey, in the land of Kugara. She has no friends and no family beside her mother, who unfortunately becomes gravely ill. To make friends, she dreams up her own - a prince from the stars she's named Aster. By chance, she finds a note from her father that contains an address which she writes to -- and starts her down the path to becoming a vessel of the Dread Beast.

The story spans from when Alma is a very young girl until she is a late teen, growing up in the House of Avera, whose every member hates her the moment she's brought back by her father. The Avera who are vessels can commune with the Beast, marked by the sacrifice of their flesh arm (replaced with a metal arm). Alma has her own monster she communes with: Aster. Their connection is intertwined, fated to bring revenge onto those who have wronged Alma in the past and bring change Kugara.

The worldbuilding is one of the strongest parts of this novel. The land is separated into houses, tied to the four gods that they're devoted to. Their roles are well defined and tied into the lore that Ms. Wong created for her land. The plot is seamlessly tied into this world, each piece feeding into the other to make the novel that much stronger.

The characters of Alma and Aster are another strong point. Though many of the characters in the novel are fierce and violent, there's a growth in Alma's character that brings a lot of her past back to her present. The development of some side characters also goes from dislike to devotion quite quickly. And there's a natural development to this.

Overall, I absolutely loved this one. I can't wait to see what else Ms. Wong writes over the course of her career.

House of the Beast may have been the most unique book I read all year. With the description it has, I went into it expecting a romantasy not very different than dozens other I read every year. However, Wong continually subverts expectations. I loved the characterization of every single character. The illustrations are gorgeous too. All in all, this book was very different in a good way, and I loved the fairytale quality of it.

Okay, House of the Beast is one of those books that will completely consume you in the best way possible. From the first page, it pulls you into a world that’s equal parts haunting and beautiful, with a darkness that feels like it’s alive and breathing in every moment.

This is a book of revenge, yes, but it’s also about resilience, and Alma’s journey is one of personal discovery, power, and a thirst for justice against the family that cast her aside. Her motivations are clear: she’s been wronged, and nothing will stop her from taking back what was stolen from her, even if it means embracing the dark power of the Beast itself. The estate, the rituals, the gods, the divine powers—everything is so richly imagined, it feels almost like you're inside a fever dream of dark romance and twisted fate. The story moves with an intensity that’s both thrilling and heartbreaking, and the pacing keeps you hooked as Alma plots her revenge against the family that trapped her in their world.

Twenty-four hours after finishing this book, and I am still gobsmacked by it.  I usually write reviews of books I read pretty quickly after finishing the book, but I was so floored by this novel, and it's ending, that I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do it justice in review if I wrote it right away.  I let this book percolate around my brain for a solid day, and I still don't feel like I could articulate in words how it made me feel even now, or ever.  

House of the Beast is a fantasy/sci-fi novel by Michelle Wong, who is also known as a graphic artist.  She lends not only her words to this novel, but amazing, detailed drawings as well.  These drawings really help bring the creatures and creations of the world of Kugara to life.  I really wish every fantasy novel I read now included illustrations in the pages.  This novel would be great for those who struggle to picture books in their heads as they read them, as the illustrations bring another rich layer to the world that Michelle Wong has built in this story.

Our main female character, Alma Alvrez, is a likeable if somewhat naive character.  After her mother falls ill, previously fatherless Alma discovers the truth of her parentage among her mother's effects.  In a desperate attempt to help her mother find treatment, Alma writes to her father beseeching him for help.  What happens instead is that her father, the powerful and influential Second Hand of the Beast - one of the four gods worshipped in Kugara - lures Alma away to his estate to become his rightful heir, and in exchange he will send healers to her mother.  Alma quickly agrees to this deal for her mother's sake, only to quickly learn that life at her father's estate is lonely and cold.  After she learns of her mother's death, Alma reconjures an imaginary friend from childhood who she had previously forgotten about, the charming and warm Aster.  Aster quickly becomes her best friend, confident, and teacher as he helps train her for a future pilgrimage alongside her father.

House of the Beast is a novel full of heartache, betrayal, action, detailed world-building, and suspense.  While the first part of the novel was a little slow for me, the action quickly ramped up and soon it became so immersive that I didn't want to put it down.  Michelle Wong weaves a coming-of-age story with found family, hard truths, harder lessons learned and perhaps even redemption.  The illustrations were fantastic and helped add to the story.  While it includes elements of love, and how that love is shown differently between the characters is beautifully done, House of the Beast is not what I would call al love story and has no spicy scenes, so those who are looking for less of a fantasy novel and more of a romantasy story may be disappointed in its lack of traditional romance elements, but the story is not without its emotions.  I had warm and fuzzy moments, moments of disbelief, and I cried like a baby at more than one point.  House of the Beast is a spectacular addition to the fantasy genre.

Dark, twisted, and utterly ravaging. I devoured this--or perhaps it devoured me. Fantastic prose, stunning visuals, and a story I'll never forget! I can't wait to see what else Michelle writes!

While there were many parts of this book that I really enjoyed, I felt as though the world-building was somewhat confusing. The characters were great and I thought the storyline was good, but trying to understand the world and some of the different elements was difficult at times. However, what really brought this book down a whole star for me was the weird and completely random discussion about television and radio. I had to reread the section a few times because I thought I read it wrong. It feels completely out of place in the story line, and then it is also never discussed again. That really took me out of the whole story.

I am sadly DNFing at around 60%. This one is heartbreaking for me. I'm not sure what happened. Why my reading experience differs so much from the majority. But I am just not immersed or invested in anything about the story.

I was just so bored and constantly was losing focus. My eyes were literally crossing on several occasions because my attention kept drifting even as i was reading. It took 250 pages for anything to happen. And ecen once the plot picked up - halfway through - I still couldn't get immersed in the story. I also didn't feel a thing for any of the characters. There were no relationship dynamics that I felt were good/interesting, EXCEPT for the friendship betwee. Alma and the other girl (can't recall how to spell her name right now), and that relationship didn't even start until halfway through the book as well.

I'm still giving it three stars because the writing style was legitimately good - nice prose - if pretty long-winded, and I didn't actively dislike anything in the book. I just didn't find anything to get attached to.

I might try this again at a later date to give it another go, but I'm not 100% sure.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review!

The story follows Alma & her eldritch god companion Aster on a bloody path for revenge and retribution...will Alma lose herself in the process or will she remain?

I was not expecting this book to pack as much punch as it did. I was pleasantly surprised. I thought the setting and overall world-building was very strong. I didn't feel bombarded with information or confused at any point to how the world worked. I really appreciated the "peeks" into the bigger world outside of the area controlled by the Elder Gods. It felt fully fleshed out. You are given breadcrumb hints throughout the story that unlocked the bigger plot points/twists as you continue. The plot twists aren't necessarily "a ha!" moments but rather you, as the reader, sit with the dread of having been correct.

The character dynamics in this book were raw and complex. I often find many MC's (especially in some fantasy) motivations to be rather shallow or unrealistic to their character as developed from the start of the story. That was not the case with Alma. Her journey starts at childhood and we are able to see it develop through the beginning part of the story. She is a flawed character that is motivated by grief, anger, sadness and revenge. You can completely understand how she reaches each moment in the story with Aster at her side. Without revealing any major plot points, I appreciated how Aster was the dark reflection of Alma. His motivations were essentially one and the same, despite being horrifically more bloodthirsty.
The subtle romance subplot was very well woven into the rest of the plot. You can see how Alma would fall in love with Aster, her companion from childhood, while also having her remain skeptical of his affections because he is a God. It was very well executed. And the ending was so much more impactful because of this.

Additionally the illustrations were especially beautiful and added to a fantastical cinematic aspect to the novel!

I loved this book so much. The characters, the religion, the world building- I don’t think I’ll be able to stop talking about it!