4 stars!

This is my kind of gothic fantasy! I'm not surprised that the author is an artist because this is such an atmospheric book, I had a great time with it.

When young Alma's mother falls ill, she seeks out her absent father for help, leading her into a deal with a mysterious and seductive elder god. Years later, after many years of abuse, Alma wants vengeance by taking her father's spot as the first hand, and with an elder god at her back who could stop her? This was a good time and a pretty easy read. I read most of it in bits and pieces because I'm a college student and it's that time of the semester where everything is insane. Alma and Aster's dynamic will feel familiar to a lot of fantasy/romantasy readers but I think it's done particularly well here. The world-building isn't perfectly clear but I think the political intrigue was pretty well thought out and that made up for it. I will say that there were slow moments, but the end of the book truly makes up for anything you had to slog through up until that point. I got all teary for sure in the last chapters.

This is amazing for a debut, and I look forward to seeing what the author writes next especially because I think the ending was left open to possible sequels. Love the illustrations as well!

Thank you to Michelle Wong and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!

Happy reading!

House of the Beast is one of the most visually and atmospherically striking fantasies I’ve read in a while. The worldbuilding is incredibly immersive—full of ancient gods, divine pacts, decaying noble houses, and the haunting rituals that bind them all together. Every element of the setting feels layered and deliberate, like it’s been lived in for centuries. Between the illustrations and the writing itself, the whole book reads like a gothic fairy tale soaked in myth and rot.

The beginning moves slowly, especially as it focuses on Alma’s early years and the circumstances that led her to the Avera estate. But once she enters the House and the deal is made, the story gains real momentum. I’m glad I stuck with it, because the emotional payoff is absolutely worth it.

Alma is a fascinating character—quiet, angry, deeply wounded, and trying to carve out a sense of purpose in a world that has treated her like nothing. Her connection with the Beast is strange, unsettling, and intimate in a way that constantly shifts between comforting and ominous. I loved the ambiguity of it, and how their relationship never felt like something easily defined. The romance element is dark and slow-burning, which fit the tone of the book perfectly.

There’s a lot here: vengeance, grief, power, and the cost of change. It’s twisted, magical, and full of feeling, and I’m already hoping there’s more to come in this world.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for giving me early access!

I love love LOVED this story and its characters. It's also a major plus that the author added lovely illustrations throughout the book. This book gives me Fullmetal Alchemist vibes with the whole sacrificing a limb thing, and just like FMA, it's also a dark world with horrors in the House of the Beast.
I'm at that point in my reading tastes now that every once in a while I like my characters to have a little darkness in them, Aster and Alma can do no wrong in my mind, especially Aster. I love Aster, I don't care that he's a toxic elder death god, he's flirty, handsome, and has genuine care for Alma! This is not a cutesy romance, it's a unhealthy codependent relationship with little bits of romance sprinkled in, so don't go into this story thinking about it being a cute romance.

Sigh the ending gave me big feels and I'm not okay. On that note, more books with illustrations please!

First thing!! THE ARTWORK!! Stunning. Incredible. Speechless. I was extremely impressed!! I feel so much more motivated to read when I see pretty illustrations and such littered through the pages; chapter headers, blank pages, etc!

This story was such a rollercoaster! What starts in a poor, poverty driven setting quickly turns to revenge-filled adventure. After Alma’s father betrays her and her mother for his own family and their beliefs, it’s up to Alma (and her imaginary friend) to climb the ranks and outrank her father’s power, the new First Hand of Beast.

Extremely powerful storyline! Writing was really well structured and entertaining! The perfect standalone if you love obsession, betrayal, villain romance, parallel universes and more!

This gothic fictional novel captured my attention from the very beginning! This is a must read for all fantasy readers! It has beautiful illustrations on the inside, a gorgeous cover and a wonderful story! It is a medium paced read with strong complex characters! This book is dark, mysterious, emotional and full of adventure! I loved how I was unable to predict what was going to happen next, while reading it! Some of the themes in this book include a forbidden romance, morality, discrimination, combat and divine rituals! It consists of morally grey characters, an age gap romance, gods and vengeance! The book to me on an unforgettable wild ride! Overall, I rate this 4 out of 5 stars!

Content warnings include violence, murder, death and grief.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Michelle Wong and Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This book is expected to be published on August 5, 2025!

This was a different read for me and I enjoyed it. I honestly didn’t understand much of the magic system and the rules with the gods at the beginning so this took me a bit to get into. But I locked in.

The plot is what kept me going because the writing felt detached at times. There really isn’t a moment where I’m invested in the potential romances. But maybe that’s by design. And there was a Stranger Things the upside down vibe. There’s a twist that did make me go: wtf. And I don’t know how I feel about the ending yet but I get why it was inevitable.

This book was unlike any book I've read in a long time. In a world that worships 4 gods and each requires a sacrifice if you want to have access to said god's powers. When the FMC Alma realizes her mother is sick but they are out of resources and money. She finds a letter from her father and she reaches out for help. Not knowing she would be pulled away from her mother and forced to sacrifice a limb to god her Father worships. And it's all for nothing when her mother can't be saved. This leads to Alma making friends with her imaginary like friend and vowing to get revenge on her father.

House of the Beast will leaving you second guessing on who to trust and how the book is going to conclude. It's heartbreaking but beautifully written. And has an ending most will be happy about.

Five stars subjectively, four stars objectively.

It gets four stars objectively because I had some issues with the plot, especially in the latter half of the novel. I think there were bits that would have done better if it was introduced earlier, but I also understand Alma knows a limited amount. I highly enjoyed the illustrations! Very delighted to know the author illustrated them as well.

Alma doesn’t falter when given the chance to. Her resolve between Aster and all of her problems doesn’t give way and even as much as I’d have liked for her to, I respect that she didn’t.

We don’t really get into the crux of the fighting until much later, which I would have liked to see without some of the fluff preceding it. The whole ordeal has quite a bit of build-up that may or may not have been necessary.

I do sorely wish there was a side story where we got more Alma and Aster, and Kaim and Fion. Utterly pleased Wong is a fan of toxic yaoi 😂

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the eARC!

I absolutely devoured House of the Beast! From the very first page, Michelle Wong’s vivid, mesmerizing world completely swept me away. The writing is lush, the atmosphere haunting, and the characters — especially Alma and Aster — are so compelling that I found myself thinking about them long after I finished.

The story is dark, twisted, and full of heart. Alma’s journey from loneliness and sacrifice to fierce resilience and revenge was powerful to watch unfold. The world-building was spectacular — vibrant, eerie, and dripping with gothic beauty. I especially loved the intricate rituals and the complex relationships between the gods, monsters, and humans.

Even though I finished this book a while back, a family emergency delayed my review. But House of the Beast never left my mind. I still can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy — if it was this stunning on my Kindle, I can only imagine how breathtaking the deluxe edition will be in person!

This is an incredible debut, and Michelle Wong is an author I’ll be following closely from now on. I highly, highly recommend House of the Beast to anyone who loves dark fantasy, tales of revenge, morally gray characters, eerie magic systems, and gorgeously written stories that linger in your heart long after the last page.

Thank you to Michelle Wong, NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the gifted ARC. I am beyond grateful for the chance to experience this story early!

Rating: 5/5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💖

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

Morally grey characters? Revenge? Violent rituals and intiations? Charming imaginary friend that is more than he seems? Check! House of the Beast is a phenomenal fantasy read. This story was dark and unapologetic, and I could not put this down once I got going. The magical elements in this book are done really well - from each House, down to the umbral plane, and the rituals. I LOVED the illustrations throughout the book - it was such a fun element to have on the page. Wong built up an arsenal of morally grey characters that toe the line, and i love it. Even the side characters are fleshed out really well.

When her mother becomes ill, Alma tries to find a way to help heal her. She finds a letter from her estranged father and contacts him to see if he will come to their aid. Her father is from House Avera, one of the four noble families that serve the gods and have their powers. House Avera is linked to the Dread Beast, the harbinger of death. Alma goes with her father, agreeing to sacrifice herself to the Dread Beast to heal her mother. Alma's mother ultimately passes, she is left alone, ignored by her relatives, and is only viewed as a pawn in her father's games.

Alma is ready to avenge her mother and ready to destroy her father and House Avera. Her only accomplice? An imaginary friend she had as a child - a monster who takes the form of a beautiful prince that only she can see. He tells Alma that she has been chosen to be the First Hand of the Beast, and he's going to help her. Alma begins to plan her quest for vengeance, and it is one rife with rituals, violence, and wild twists.

Alma's relationship with Aster, the imaginary god/monster, is very twisted and manipulative. Aster is all for killing and destroying without remorse, while Alma just wants revenge on the House. The give and take between them continues throughout the book, and as time goes on, the charming prince she thought Aster was slowly reveals himself as the monster he truly is.

This was a fantastic debut. I would absolutely read more books set in this world!

This fantasy novel was a captivating journey from start to finish. With richly imagined world-building and a cast of compelling characters, it strikes a great balance between action, emotion, and lore. The magic system was creative without being overwhelming, and the plot kept a steady pace with just enough twists to stay unpredictable.

Let me start off by saying this edition of the book is beautiful and the artwork both inside and out is amazing and I love it. As far as the story goes, there is good, and there is not so good.

The beginning of this book is wonderful and I loved the introduction of the main character Alma. We soon get to "meet" her imaginary friend who is also very intriguing. Next, we get to meet dear ol' dad and we immediately hate him because well, there is a lot to hate if I'm honest and that doesn't really change throughout the book. I loved the idea of the ritual and giving something up for the beast (in this case an arm) and I was interested to see how that would play out. Shortly after this whole scene the book became a bit of a bore to read until the last few chapters.

I did enjoy the ending of the book and I think there is definitely a story to build upon but I do wish this book had a bit more world building and character building. There is so much the author can expand upon and I hope we get to see some of that in the next book.

This book felt like a YA or maybe NA fantasy and while there is nothing wrong with that, I think I was expecting something a bit more mature.


Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I devoured every second of this book! From the characters to the setting, and the storyline – everything came together so well. Plus, the stunning illustrations crafted by the author herself were great additions and really helped bring the story to life.

With revenge, betrayal, gruesome battle scenes, tragedy, magic, grief, sacrifice, monsters, gods, other realms, this story has it all.

The main character, Alma, is the bastard child of House Avera, one of four powerful houses that serve the gods. When her mother falls ill, Alma turns to her estranged father for help, only to have to sacrifice her arm in a dark bargain. Trapped in her father's house, where she's despised by everyone, Alma's world is turned upside down. Here comes her resilience and determination to seek revenge. That’s all I’m willing to say as far as the plot goes because I don’t want to give anything away.

The world-building is fascinating, with every character serves a purpose in bringing the story to life. The power-hungry father, the manipulative monster sidekick, and every other character driven by their own desire for something – each one added so much depth to the overall story. The plot is expertly crafted and had me unsure who to trust, guessing until the very end. Honestly, some of the best character development I’ve seen. The two main characters, Alma and her monster Aster, have the most compelling dynamic. They are both very flawed, messed up individuals.

This book is a dark fantasy with drama, brutal battle scenes, and gut-wrenching emotion. It's a wild ride that will keep you hooked.

What's even more impressive is that this is the author's debut. Now an auto buy author for me. If you're looking for a dark, twisted, and engaging story, with top notch characters, look no further. This story is truly one of my favorites, and I'll be recommending it to everyone. 5/5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/7

Michelle Wong created a vivid world filled with powerful gods, grotesque monsters, and a unique magic system with her words alone. What makes this book really stand out is the illustrations included throughout, done by the author herself. As her debut novel, House of the Beast was very enjoyable, well-written, and evocative.

Alma lived with her loving single mother and was always a bit of an outcast. For most people, worshipping one of the four gods was their seemingly sole purpose in life; however, Alma and her mother were decidedly alone in avoiding the gods. Alma was often made fun of and did not have any friends except for Aster, her imaginary friend. When Alma’s mother becomes ill, the healers aren’t willing to help as she does not follow any of the gods. When Alma finds a hidden letter from her father, whom she’s never met, she writes to him in a lest-hope attempt to get her mother help.

Her father agrees on the condition that Alma returns with him to the house of the Dread Beast, the god her family is sworn to. Despite her mother’s objections, Alma leaves and is quickly made to offer herself up to the beast, at the cost of her arm. Alma quickly learns that her father’s family has no love for his bastard, and much like before, she is shunned, except now she is separated from her mother. Despite her father’s promises, Alma learns her mother has died and she is now stuck alone and unwanted at House Avera. Except, her “imaginary” friend, or as she endears him, her monster, Aster has returned and Alma learns that all along he was her connection to the Beast, even before she knew of her father’s lineage. Over the following eight years Alma and Aster train and plot to get their revenge.

It took me a little bit to get into the book, but once I did I was hooked. Michelle writes as beautifully as she illustrates and did a fantastic job of making the story come to life. I had suspicions throughout, and wasn’t far off on some of the plot twists, but she kept me guessing (which doesn’t happen often).

Overall, I think the world was well built, the pace was steady, and the characters well-developed. This is a dark story, with gore and violence - be forewarned that there are brief discussions of harming animals. Towards the end, the book really picked up speed and I found some of the world building and twists a little confusing. And I will say that I would consider this a fantasy book, not romance. It wasn’t until the last 30% or so that there were some hints of romance. While some of the violence may have tipped it into being an adult book, I think it overall fits a YA category. This didn’t detract from the book though. While I typically pick up adult fantasies with a bit more romance, I really enjoyed this book. I was invested in the plot, drawn in to Alma’s external and internal struggles, and even shed some tears. While the book really focuses on Alma and her monster, we get some great supporting characters who really help Alma’s growth. I wanted some more insight into Aster, to help bolster their relationship some, but Alma is really well developed and I felt everything she endured and grappled with right along with her. It’s been a bit since I finished it and I’m still thinking about what happened and trying to shake off that ending!

If you enjoy dark fantasies with estranged families, plots for revenge, and some intense fighting scenes I’d highly recommend House of the Beast and I look forward to seeing what Michelle Wong writes next! Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the gifted ARC!

I’m using the CAWPILE method for reviewing. If you’re interested, the breakdown for House of the Beast is below.

Characters: 6
Atmosphere: 8
Writing: 8
Plot: 7
Intrigue: 8
Logic/relationships: 6
Enjoyment: 6

Average: 7/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5/5 stars

This was amazing and beautifully done. The world building and characters were great. Wish there had been more explanation between Kaim and Fion power situation or maybe I didn’t understand it well.

Overall brilliant! Hope there’s more to come!

Calling it now — this might very well end up being my favorite read of 2025 (and I only read it in March!). Michelle Wong's debut is a fun and feeling romp through a deeply original fantasy world, featuring my favorite trope of all time: Girl Has Codependent Romance-Adjacent Bond With A Charming Eldritch Being. Seriously, if you know of more books that have this relationship dynamic, PLEASE send them my way.

Beyond the central relationship, Wong does a great job of fleshing out the other characters and the world. The setting of this book draws elements from across the fantasy sphere, with the result being somewhat steampunk-feeling to me? Loved it. Loved the mythology, loved the world.

No book is perfect, of course, and especially not debuts. There were moments in this where I felt the pacing could use some work, as there were times where it felt like worldbuilding was being delivered via infodump (this hit me most near the end). But that wasn't enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of this book, and if anything it only made me excited to see how Wong grows and matures as a novelist over time.

4.5 gleaming, emotional stars! Loveddddd this one. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC; I am definitely going to be buying a physical copy of this one once it hits shelves (the illustrations alone are worth it imo).

Thank you to netgalley for granting me access to this arc!
I cannot stop thinking about Michelle Wong’s “House of the Beast”! I have so much stuff I need to get done and I can't because this book is all I can think about! This is an absolute masterpiece and I can’t wait to see what Michelle Wong writes next. Michelle is a graphic novelist so her debut book has amazing illustrations throughout!

This book follows the story of Alma, the bastard child of a member of one of the noble families of this world that Wong has created. She befriends a god, who she refers to as “her god”, seeing as she is the only one who can see him. We see Alma’s journey from her early childhood with her mother, to her going to live with her father and his unwelcoming family at his estate. Her father and his family all worship a god called the dreadbeast.Which she is then forced to dedicate her self to upon her arival to his home. Throughout her ordeal and as she grows up at the estate as her father bastard she is not warmly recieved by his wife and the rest of his family. She is isolated from them and her only companion is her invisible friend she named Aster. As you read this book you get sucked into the magical world that Wong has so wonderfully created

No spice, graphic violence is described. Overall, devoured and loved this book. If could rate it more than 5 stars a would.

Some really cool world building, but it did take a while for the plot to really grab me. Michelle Wong tells an interesting story, and I liked the many morally gray characters. Aster in particular was a very complex and intriguing character. I was constantly unsure which characters I could trust (including Alma), and I think that is a result of Wong’s thoughtful storytelling. I was guessing right up until the end.

I loved Wong’s illustrations throughout, but her eye for artistic details shown through in her writing as well, particularly once the characters entered the umbral plane (a sort of in-between place connecting the mortal realm and the realm of the Gods). The monsters and general look of the space were simultaneously so creative and beautiful while also being incredibly dark and terrifying. She definitely captured the idea of a space that is terrible beyond human comprehension. I’m excited to see what Wong does next (especially knowing it will be a graphic novel that will more heavily feature her beautiful artwork!)

So, so good. Alma is a fantastic book lead and while I detested how much she had to struggle, her character development is on point. There where points I wish she wasn't such a good person, but it is what it is. Ten out of ten, would rec.

To start with something positive, I highly enjoyed the use of graphic illustrations throughout the novel. I understand this author is an illustrator herself so this was a forte for her. I wish more authors would partner with illustrators to include more illustrations throughout their books!

Unfortunately the relationships, including the lead romantic relationship, was far too toxic and codependent for me. And I felt like the beginning half of this book was quite slow.