Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC!
I wanted so badly to like this book, but there wasn’t really anything in it that was more than mediocre. I will say that there was nothing that irritated me about the book - it wasn’t overly superficial, the prose was well done, and there weren’t really any obvious plot holes. The only thing that I truly liked was the relationships in the book, all of which avoided falling into stereotypes, even if none of them were explored to the depth I wanted them to be.
Overall, I think House of the Beast would be an excellent animated show or graphic novel, but struggles as a novel.

House of the Beast by Michelle Wong

Wow wow wow! Dark fantasy is my favorite. Alma is probably my favorite character. She is definitely misunderstood. I love how much she cares for her mom. When Alma’s mom becomes sick, she will do whatever she can to get her help. Even if that means, sacrificing her left arm. Poor Alma is a pawn in her Father’s schemes. Alma knows she must keep going and fight to survive. She plots to destroy the house that stole everything from her. The power of love allows us to see through the darkness.

The story is so well written and I absolutely loved the world building. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I was so invested in the story. I was shocked by the twist at the end. I can definitely see myself reading this again.

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

Publication Date: August 5th 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#NetGalley #HouseoftheBeastDeluxeLimitedEdition

I cannot believe this is a debut novel! Thanks NetGalley for this ARC, the story will live in my mind forever. Michelle Wong’s voice is really strong, her metaphors are stunning (and her literal illustrations are stunning). The world building of the gods systems, the vessels, the Umbral Plain is all original and captivating and thrilling. I can’t wait for this book to come out and I can’t wait to see what else Wong writes! Absolutely recommend

This book pulled me in instantly. It broke my heart and put it all back together. The world building was exquisite I was constantly intrigued by all the little details. All of the beautiful illustrations throughout really made me enjoy the book soooo much more. I'm genuinely hoping there's more to come. 🤞🏽 If not I'm quite content with ending. Although Apart of me wanted Alma and Aster to end up together but I guess it's for the best , albeit bitter sweet . This book will be living in my head rent free for a while. I can't wait to actually have the physical copy in my hands.

House of the Beast is an intriguing dark fantasy debut that I have mixed feelings on! I loved the setting, and characters; the setting felt completely unique, and the characters were complex with fully developed backstories and motivations. The story is also intriguing and well-written. And the illustrations! I adore illustrations in books, and this one is full of absolutely gorgeous artwork. However, I struggled to get into the book, and I never really hit that "fully immersed into the story" moment; I finished it because so many of the story elements were good, but it wasn't grabbing my reader-brain for some reason. However, even though it didn't 100% work for me, I know this is a book that many readers are going to absolutely fall in love with! I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy gothic-leaning fantasy, complex characters in toxic relationships, and plot twists. I would also recommend the hardcover to book collectors who love special editions; the print copy of this book is one of the prettiest books I've ever seen outside of a special edition book box, and will be a gorgeous addition to anyone's library.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Voyage for the arc! All thoughts & opinions in the review are my own.

I absolutely enjoyed this book. At first, yes it was a bit slow for me but once it kickstarted with the 8 year time jump, I was really into it. I think reading about Alma and her journey as a eleven year old was definitely necessary, even if for me it felt slow, because later in the book you understand why she seeks revenge. At the same time time, she tries really hard to stay true to herself and not lose her humanity by letting Aster decide who lives or who dies.

I was very intrigued by this strange relationship between Alma, a bastard daughter, and Aster, a god with a lot of power. You could tell he was definitely enamored with Alma. But Alma is smart enough to not cave to his affections since he is a god. I really liked this friendship even if it turns into a very dark truth in the end.

As for the setting of this story, to me it was one hundred percent unique. How four divine being give their divine powers to a specific family and from there choose the most worthy ones. The history based on the umbral gate, the treasonous queen and the religion this world is based on was very engaging and entertaining. I was very glad our time in the umbral gate wasn’t long, it was the perfect length so we can see everything else leading to that. Now that plot twist and that ending, I loved it. Equal parts surprised and sad as it’s definitely tragic. You definitely had me like Aster even if he is bad. Overall amazing ending

DNF. I got to 40% before I quit. Was just way too slow and had a ton of unnecessary details that didn’t matter or made no sense. I was just super bored. Nothing interesting was happening at all.

I literally just finished this book and I am speechless. I’m trying to compose my thoughts but I’m still in shock from the ending. Im genuinely blown away by both the writing and the plot twists that I didn’t see coming.

Every single character was so well written and were so nuanced. Their actions make you both love and hate them.

Alma and Aster’s relationship is so crazy (for lack of better words). They’re both screwed up and have their own issues and you can really see that reflected in their relationship and their actions.

House of the Beast by Michelle Wong was an incredible read. It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel, as no words were wasted and once the story got going, it dug its teeth in and didn't let go, even at the very end. Alma is a bastard child, forced into the House Avera, to become a warrior for the Dread Beast. What others don't realize, is the Beast is living inside of her, helping her achieve revenge against her "family". The twist at the end was unexpected but beautifully done. While this is definitely a dark and gory fantasy novel, it is also about friendship and finding where you belong along the way. I will be purchasing a copy when it is released in August 2025. 4.75 Stars.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is going to stay with me for a long time, mainly because of that ending. It’s the kind that leaves a mark. It’s one of those “we’re doomed from the start” stories, and let me just say, I absolutely love that trope. It always gets me.

First off, the premise sounded amazing, the cover is absolutely stunning, and I was completely sold. I was hooked before even opening the book. The opening chapters were gripping and kept me turning the pages. Plus, the illustrations? Gorgeous. I honestly wanted more of them. But as the story went on, things started to lose momentum. The world-building, in particular, felt underdeveloped and left me confused at times, which was disappointing. Still, the dark fairy tale vibe worked really well, even if the pacing dragged in parts.

Now, let’s talk about Alma. She’s a fierce protagonist who’s also surprisingly relatable. Her mix of rage and compassion kept her character dynamic and interesting. And then there’s Aster, her imaginary friend who’s always by her side. I have to say, his starlit hair is the kind of magical detail I love in books (It's perfection). I really wanted more from his characterization, though. He felt a bit flat at times, which was disappointing because he had so much potential. If his character had more depth, I think the emotional impact of the story would’ve hit even harder. That said, the dynamic between Alma and Aster kept me invested. It’s messy, flawed, and toxic, but also raw and fascinating. Despite their imperfections, I couldn’t help liking them both.

What truly stands out is the ending. I had a feeling the twist was coming, but I didn’t expect it to hurt that much. It was cruel, heartbreaking, and left me feeling completely hollow. I couldn’t stop crying afterward because it hit me right in the heart. I kept holding onto hope that something magical might happen, but it never did. It’s the kind of ending that sticks with you, no matter how much you want to forget.

“I always knew this story wouldn't have a happy ending. But still, I wanted to dream, for a while.”

“You are the worst thing that's ever happened to me. But also, the best. In another world, maybe you and I would have been happy, living quiet lives and keeping each other company.”

It reminds me so much of the bridge of Electric Touch by Taylor Swift.

“My sullen, cowardly, softhearted liar. You were the worst of the worst, Alma, and I loved you anyway.”

This confession is everything to me.

Overall, this is a solid debut. Despite its flaws, I enjoyed it, and if there’s ever a sequel, prequel, or another book from this author, I’m 100% reading it.

My first ARC read of the year and I couldn't feel more conflicted about it. I was genuinely enjoying House of the Beast for a good chunk of the time I was reading it and was sure it would at least be a four star read. There's so much to love here, and I can see a lot of people really enjoying this book, but there's a few things that held me back from the story.

Alma is a character who really doesn't differ from other fantasy main characters, but her voice still shined. We meet her as an eleven year old, a desperate, powerless child. Through her, we feel the loneliness of being an outcast, the weight of her struggles in her town, and the devastation her and her mother face. Alma is relatable and deeply human. Yes, she fits the mold of many other main characters, but unlike a lot of books published in recent years, you can tell the author actually put in the work to develop her. House of the Beast is essentially Alma's revenge story and descent into power after a lifetime of being powerless. And I feel like many books today try to do something similar to this, but Alma isn't this rage-induced type of character just for the sake of it.

As a child, Alma dreams up this sort of imaginary friend, Aster, who is at her side when no one is else and views her in a way that no one else does. Turns out, he isn't just her imaginary friend, but a god! Their relationship is very obsessive and all-consuming, and at times toxic. I know a lot of readers love this dynamic and will fall in love with these characters. I found their bond really precious and loved Aster in the beginning. Seeing how no one attempted to see Alma as who she was, it was refreshing to finally meet a character who did. But, by the middle of the book, I struggled with how Alma's agency seemed to disappear when she was around him. I think she blindly agreed with Aster any time without thinking, even if he was right in that situation. And I feel like, as seen countless and countless times again in other fantasy books, she was a bit naive and too trusting of him. She did a lot of risky things because of him, and while many things turned out well for her, it felt reckless. Undoubtedly, their bond is written as dependent on each other, but I felt like this type of mindset messed with Alma's personal growth as a character.

Scattered throughout the book are little illustrations done by the author herself. I thought these were so exciting and beautiful, and an overall really unique addition to the story. The deluxe edition is one of the best I've seen for a non book box book. The world Michelle Wong creates is like a dark fairy tale. The backstory of the gods, the setting, and the creatures were so cool. The clockwork creatures known as the Tinkerer's Things, for example, were amazing. I really wish we saw illustrations of them because I really liked them!

However, I thought the pacing of this book was a bit too slow, especially given the action. This is also just my personal preference as someone who cannot picture what I read, but there were a lot of fight scenes. I know many other readers enjoy that though, so it might be a plus for some.

Additionally, I was put off by the amount of swearing. I felt like it came out of nowhere and didn't match the tone of the book. I counted, and there were six curses just on two pages alone. I've never been a fan of cursing in fantasy books, though, so this is also just a personal preference. Specific plot points, too, I felt should have been explained better. And given this book is 466 pages and there's quite a bit of names and terms to know, I think a glossary would have been nice.

All in all, though, Michelle Wong proves herself to be just as talented at writing as she is drawing. I didn't entirely love this book, but it had its strong suits, and I know a lot of readers will love this world and its characters!

Lastly, anyone sensitive to animal death or animal injuries should be aware that the main character killed animals. I marked down page 117-119 (or 129-131 in the ARC) where this happens for the first time.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for the ARC

Whether or not you like this book rests solely on whether or not you like the titular Monster: Aster.

For my part, I only found him fine- but that his characterization didn’t quite go far enough into justifying him as our romantic lead. He is portrayed as a bit of a Trickster God, tripping and poking people unseen, and devoted to our lead girl. However, I never for a second “bought” he did not have ulterior motives with all his kindnesses and gentle touches; his manipulation was a bit laid on thick at times yet.

And poor Alma was so self hating for no apparent reason, always harping on how terrible she was and glad to have Aster accept her for all her faults only to….not really have any faults???? Many times I wanted to reach into the book and shake her: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT AND ALSO GIRL HE IS GASLIGHTING YOU?!?

Journeying with Alma from a recluse resented by her family to a confident young heroine with a found family is satisfying. The world building is unique; although all the religious talk is a bit repetitive and droning.

A lush fantasy with dark elements that will definitely work for anyone charmed by the two twisted lonely people at the center of the piece. For me, it won’t be an adventure I reach to revisit.

🏰✨ House of the Beast by Michelle Wong ✨🏰

💀 Dark fantasy, gothic allure, and vengeance-fueled twists await in this stunning debut from Michelle Wong! 💀

🎨 Exclusive Collector’s Edition Perks:
• Stenciled edges
• Illustrated endpapers
• Printed case
• Breathtaking illustrations throughout by the author herself

🌌 What’s the story?
Meet Alma—a young woman shunned by society, bound by tragedy, and drawn into a pact with the Dread Beast, a god of death cloaked in starlit beauty. Desperate to save her mother, Alma sacrifices her arm and is thrust into the twisted machinations of the Avera family—her estranged, aristocratic relatives.

As vengeance becomes her driving force, Alma must navigate deadly rituals, divine secrets, and her growing connection to the Beast. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to upend the very foundations of power.

🔥 Why You’ll Love It:
• A fierce heroine driven by resilience and revenge.
• A dark, enchantingly twisted romance with a god who is as beautiful as he is terrifying.
• Gorgeous, atmospheric world-building.
• For fans of Ava Reid, Naomi Novik, and Raven Kennedy.

🖤 Perfect For:
• Dark fantasy lovers craving gothic vibes.
• Readers enchanted by divine beings, forbidden magic, and complex relationships.
• Fans of deluxe editions with breathtaking art!

📚 Add this gem to your shelves now!

#HouseOfTheBeast #MichelleWongBooks #DarkFantasy #FantasyRomance #GothicFantasy #RevengeAndResilience #TwistedRomance #BookstagramMagic #FantasyReads #HarperVoyager

So, the story follows Alma, daughter of House Avera which is one of the four noble houses (each who also serves their own respective god) in the realm Wong has created for us. House Avera is presumed the strongest because they essentially serve "The Beast". Alma is presented in this sense, as a daughter whose sole role is to support her father in his desire to become the House Avera leader, even if that means isolating her from the world. But of course, Alma doesn't go down without a fight and competes against him in the trials instead of helping him. Supporting Alma is this mysterious, omnipresent companion named Aster who carries more to him to the point where Alma keeps him at arms length, despite being romantically attracted to him.

our mc's Alma & Aster - Look, look, you will be in for a wild fucking ride. Alma's an amazing narrator but lord, Aster was just as compelling. The dynamics and their character arcs will break your heart and make you lose your shit. It's toxic, it's dark, and hurt my soul.

Thank you bless you, Michelle Wong.

If you want cutesy light-hearted fantasy, this is not for you. Do you want dark, gritty, and a dash of whimsical? Then yes, pick this baby up. I'm getting a hard copy for my library.

Thank you netgalley & avon harper voyager for the e-arc for an honest review.

This book was enthralling from start to finish. This will probably end up being my favorite book of the year. The entire world was beautifully sculpted from start to finish. One off books often struggle with doing a fully fleshed out story with enough world building, however that was not the case with this book.

From beginning the end the rage and grief Alma has to come to terms with feels so believable and relatable. Seeing her growth as a character throughout the story felt perfectly paced. Even the few side characters throughout feel very developed. The illustrations added intermittently within also a wonderful touch.

I just absolutely loved this book and cannot stop praising it and recommending it enough.

I will say first and foremost this is not a book I would typically read. While I enjoy fantasy I tend to enjoy more firmly adult fantasy genre books. However, it was still an enjoyable read and I think there are many things a wide audience will enjoy.

Starting with the things I genuinely loved and enjoyed about this book; the illustrations are beautiful and a wonderful accompaniment to the narrative, I felt they were carefully and lovingly placed within the narrative. Sometimes the illustrations were small flares to give nice visuals to descriptions. And other times the visuals were added to emphasize tension and the nature of relationships between characters. I loved the characters designs and the vibrance they being to the overall narrative.

The character dynamics grow and evolve in a way that is enjoyable and keeps the reader hooked. There is more than meets the eye to every last character revealed within the book. While they start off filling basic fantasy niche tropes for New Adult Fantasy over the course of the narrative they grow and become stronger emotionally and expressive as a cast. Each character has their own goals and drives, as well as meaningful and believable values. More is revealed with each page and it is an adventure that pays off sticking through the end of the narrative.

There are many twists and turns that are well revealed and breadcrumbed within, if one reads between the lines and has a skeptical eye for certain flags, then the reveals are believable and one sort of face palms and goes. Ah. Of course. Yeah that makes sense. The mysteries and larger goals for certain characters becomes more detailed and engaging as more information is revealed. The twists are executed well and makes the otherwise straightforward plot more rich and complex.

The only reason this is getting 4.5 stars instead of 5, is simply because some elements of the writing just really didn't vibe well with me. There was a slight incestuous one sided love affair that made me uncomfortable. But at the very least it gets resolved and is in no way glorified or romanticized. It is meant to be uncomfortable. And it did in fact make me uncomfortable. Success for the author on that.

Other minor gripes I had however were explained and expanded on. And while they may not be my particular paintbrush to stroke. They worked great for the narrative and I know many will adore it. This was a fun adventure of a read and a great lighthearted journey for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Such a build up. Such a let down.

Read House of the Beast by Michelle Wong if you like…

🌹 touch her and die
🌹 fighting
🌹 political intrigue
🌹 monsters
🌹 chosen one


🩷HER🩷
A bastardized daughter of an influential lord. Alma is shunned by everyone in her new household, but she can’t escape until she defeats her father and takes control of his house.

💙HIM💙
A powerful, playful god determined to help Alma get revenge and become his chosen one. He’s always with her. Always tempting, touching. And she’s struggling to keep her feelings in check.

📖 THEIR STORY 📖
Alma’s father took away her reason for living. Now he must pay. Alma is on a mission to punish her father for letting her mother die. Everything she does is to destroy him, and her secret beast god friend wants to help.

Together they embark on a journey to seek revenge, to steal away her father’s reason for living, and change the world forever in the process.

Thank you to #NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of House of the Beast.

I have to say I was SO disappointed with the ending. The entire book was clearly leading up to something and I was so excited to finally get there, but that something never happened. I almost threw my phone, that’s how upset I was with the ending. You may enjoy it, but I’m giving you fair warning. The end is not at all what you expect.

If you like political intrigue, a touchy MMC, and a fighting FMC, read this book.

This book will stick with me for a while, and I don't say that of most books that I read. I love fantasy & quests/trials. I tend to favor romantasy, but I did not even miss a true "romance" because of what the MFC (Alma) & MMC (Aster) shared. I could not put this down. I enjoyed the illustrations. There were several unexpected twists, as well as multiple character growths that felt organic, not forced as a plot device. Some of the questions I had earlier in the book were answered by the end, which I always appreciate. Also by the end, I enjoyed all of the side character story arcs. This is rare for me as sometimes I feel they just distract from/add fluff to the primary story, but serve no major purpose. The end was very satisfying for multiple characters. Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the ARC opportunity. Side note for Doctor Who fans - one of your favorite creatures seems to make an appearance (hopefully as an homage).

House of the Beast was a complete treat to read an ARC for, so thank you NetGalley for this opportunity!

If you're looking for a book with dark, whimsical, fantasy vibes, this book will give you that and more. This should be considered an Adult Fantasy novel with hints of romance. The world we're immersed in takes place in an otherworldly, almost ancient Asian vibes, society that has 4 major Houses of power (and each House worships a different major God).

We follow Alma from childhood, growing up knowing she's a bastard child with no father. It isn't until her mother is gravely ill that she finds out who her father is and seeks his help in treating her mother. Unfortunately, her father agrees to help in exchange for Alma's arm to be sacrificed to the Dread Beast per family tradition. She makes this sacrifice to no avail, as her mother soon passes anyway. Consequently, Alma embraces a mysterious friend that only she seems to see from childhood and embarks on revenge to bring her whole family house down. This monster helps train her for upcoming trials while continually testing her morals, as her arm is accepted by the Dread Beast, and she becomes a vessel for her House.

We experience Alma's resiliency when facing adversity and major prejudice, while also navigating a mysterious and dark romance. Who can she trust, and can she maintain her self-respect while achieving her ultimate revenge? Her journey on self-discovery is pretty epic, but the romance is so entrancing on top of that.

The twists and turns this novel provides will catch you off guard. You'll never see them coming! It's truly amazing how well this story is crafted.

Michelle Wong weaves this fantastical story that captivated me from beginning to end. On top of that, the illustrations that are sprinkled throughout are amazing! I was sorry when it ended because I wanted to read it all over again for the first time. Alma's story and relationship with her monster made me question everything and feel all the feelings. I predict this will be a huge hit and have nothing but good things for this debut novel.

This book was a nice surprise as it was my first book by the author. The drawings throughout were nice to look at as well. I may have to check out her graphic novels because I have heard about them. I was reading this book along with another and this one kept my attention longer. The story started off with Alma giving up her left arm in exchange for help for her Mom. She grew up with no one, just her mom. It was hard for her to make friends and be accepted by anyone in her village. Braving all that and enduring more kept me glued til the end.