House of the Beast

This review is based solely on the deluxe features of this book - I have not read it yet. I’ve had this book waiting in my cart since I first discovered it and am so excited to have it and finally dive in. I wanted to share the beautiful book features though so that others may see what’s inside.It has a stunning wraparound art dust cover in a deep blue with the title in bright pink, and featuring the main characters at the center in a gold foil circle.A reversible dust jacket that is a pattern of pink swirls with eyes on a black background.Pink sprayed edges with a kind of stained glass design.Fully illustrated endpapers of the two main characters (though the art is the same in the front and the back).There’s a full, detailed map of the setting.The book itself is a bright pink featuring wraparound art of a monstrous creature with blue eyes.There’s tiny black and white illustrations throughout the book drawn by the author herself!I’ve included pictures of everything. Please keep in mind, this is for the Deluxe Edition, not the regular one. Hope this helps for anyone wanting to get a better look at what’s inside!

House of the Beast is written by Michelle Wong, acclaimed graphic artist of the Legends of Korra graphic novels (which I know well, because my daughter is obsessed and made me buy them all for her). Michelle’s art is breathtaking but so is her debut novel and as excited as I was to receive this ALC, I was equally nervous that it would be a train wreck, and I have never been so happy to be completely wrong! This book is a work of art all its own. (Full Disclosure: After I finished listening to this I subscribed to Goldstone’s GSFF book sub just to get the gorgeous special edition because this book is a keeper!)The audiobook is published by HarperAudio and will be available on August 5, 2025. It is narrated by Jeanne Syquia, and while I am not familiar with her other work, I love what she did with this and will happily listen to more. She brought these characters to life and did their unique voices justice in a way I don’t think many others could have because these characters are so varied in their mannerisms, many are men, some are gods…and it’s absolutely perfect. She is not just narrating the story, it’s almost like she’s living the characters like an excellent actor would. You hear the compassion, the anger, the rage, the sorrow; every emotional sentence of this book is dripping with the authentic emotion you read on the page and its breathtaking.You all know by now that I am picky about narration and distinct voices, and now there is a new bar for narrators to meet – can they make the emotions and characters as authentic as real people the way Jeanne Syquia did? Can I feel what they feel while I’m listening? As much as I love other books and certain narrators, even that full cast narration stuff, this was so much better.In our story we follow Alma who lives in poverty with her mother. Because her parents are not married, Alma and her mother are generally shunned by society. This is typical mistreatment of people who are different and whose families are non-traditional. You see this going all the way back to ancient plays and historical writings right through today, because sadly it’s still an issue. It is done well here, because it portrays the harshness of it when Alma’s mother becomes deathly ill and no one can cure her. They suggest she goes to the some elite healers, but that doesn’t pan out. Then magically, her father shows up. She begs him, literally begs him, to save her mother. She’ll do whatever he wants if he will promise to do this. He wants her to come with him and become a part of his house, who worships “The Beast,” make a sacrifice and become part of his world. She agrees only because he promises to save her mother. This is a tragic dark fantasy, so how do you think that went?Alma’s father takes her to their temple and severs her arm as an offering to their god, the beast. He takes her into his home and sends her to classes, but again she is “the bastard daughter of Xander.” She is treated badly by family, staff, guards, and every time she seems to do well, she is cut off from whomever was helping her get there. Eventually she is basically left to her own devices for education and training. Her father “trains” her, but she feigns ineptitude to a certain degree so that he does not realize how powerful she has become. This is due to the fact that her imaginary friend, Astor, who she thought she made up for herself when she was a child, as appeared. No one else can see him or hear him but her, but now she can feel him. She can interact with him in ways that break all the invisible friend rules. Astor reveals that he is the beast and has been with her all her life. That he chooses her and is here to help her become the hand to the beast which is what her father is after, though, her father wants to be a god.I feel like I have already given away too much and I didn’t even get tot the cousin or his “girlfriend” or the stepmother yet. Eventually, Alma is betrayed in pretty much every way you possibly can be and she endures. This story is fast paced. Beautiful, tragic and the makings of a classic book I think people will be recommending for a very long time. This is not a romantacy, though there is romance here, the fantasy, the journey of the tragic hero, the fight against evil, these are all things that are far more important. The romance is a nice diversion now and then. It adds confusion, tension, longing, fear and so much more, but it is not the focus of our story. Really, its about a corrupt father and his daughter who is capable of so much more than he ever imagined. This is Alma’s story and I beg you to read it (after you check trigger warnings of course).This is a standalone, so there’s no need to worry about a cliffhanger and having to wait forever for the next book. I am anxiously waiting for Michelle Wong’s next book though because writers usually get better as time goes on, and starting at this level means we should be in for some amazing story telling in the future.I would like to...

TOO barbaric for me.Could not continue past the act of violence . Perfect example for the saying "don't judge a book by it's cover " . Was a no for me

I really enjoy a Gothic revenge tale and this fit that for sure. I do think it could've been a bit shorter but I really enjoyed this story overall. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration a lot, I thought the narrator did a great job and was really entertaining. Alma had such a journey in this book with herself, her family and her beast and I loved it.

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.

This was such a joy to read! I was attached to every character and consumed the plot as if I were starved. Every chapter kept me on the edge of my seat and I cannot believe my favorite movie is over. I would want to experience this first reading over and over again. 👏🏽♥️🥹

I could not put this book down. I even missed a concert to finish this book. It’s like if Jane Eyre was set in Elden Ring.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I purchased this book. I did see advertisement for it elsewhere and decided to purchase it because I had some credit saved. I really love the pacing of the story and I enjoyed getting to know the characters but what I wanted to see more of was a development of the relationship between Alma and Aster. I purchased this book because it was advertised as a romance and with a combination of the other description for this book I thought it would be a great read. But one of the major pull points for me being the romance, I was rather disappointed to find out there really isn't a lot going on romantically between the characters. It really gives off a vibe of youth in love, kind of immature and the main character feeling out the grounds of her relationship never went further than "oh but I'm not supposed to so I won't".I don't remember what this story was listed as but it doesn't feel like an adult read. I'm not saying that there should have been detailed sexual content but it would have been nice to see more relationship between them emerge especially after years together.There was a moment in the book where I was a little bit confused with who the fiance of the first hand was referring to being the future first hand which would imply that she had plans to marry someone else who wasn't her fiance. I also thought it was kind of odd Alma would not chase after the one thing that she's gone to hunt and instead prioritizes everyone else first when hunting that one thing gets her exactly what she wanted but in a different way, the original way she planned. She hesitates a lot more than I would expect a girl who's made a devout promise to follow a god and fully trust him and has not been let down by him up until certain points for 8 years in the making.Aside from these things I think it was a good story and I don't regret purchasing the book.

Book: House of the Beast by Michelle WongGenre: Fantasy (maybe a bit of romantasy, but more fantasy than anything)Rating: 4 stars!I didn’t quite know what to expect when diving into this book. As a lover of both traditional fantasy and romantasy, the vibes early on left me confused about the direction we were going with things. However, this did not hamper my enjoyment.This was a book that feels fresh and different. I read a lot of fantasy and romantasy, and this really stood out. Our main character, Alma, lives in a brutal world she did not grow up in. She learns quickly that she must do what she needs to in order to survive. Her monster, or rather the connection she carries with her god, is by her side through it all. He is there to support her, to push her out of her comfort zone, to be a friend, and to help her obtain her goals. Alma and her monster, however, do not always see eye to eye on how this should be done.This world was interesting. I wanted to learn more, but unfortunately there is a lot that was never fully discovered in Wong’s world. The plot of this felt like it could be an amazing video game - I could vividly picture so many of the scenes in my head.This book wasn’t perfect. While it is listed in the adult genre, sometimes it felt like it should be sandwiched more in new adult territory, or even YA. The voice of the characters, their relationships, and the overall writing style rode the line more in the NA/YA territory, in my opinion. Also, we spend 400+ pages with our main character and her monster, but I still did not find myself as invested in their relationship as I’d like. They were interesting individually, but their relationship as a couple didn’t have my buy-in in the way I think the author hoped for.I am shocked that this is a debut author. It was very well-written, and the story was unique and entertaining. The action scenes, which are not always easy to do, were engaging and so very brutal. I love imperfect characters and I feel as though Michelle Wong did a great job capturing this.While it was formatted oddly on Kindle, the physical book has many amazing illustrations. If you have the opportunity to buy a physical copy of this, I highly recommend it! The illustrations in the middle of the characters really added to the experience.

How can I possibly come up with the right words that adequately express how this book has washed over me, practically baptized me, in all of my favorite things. Moved me into complete blissed out happiness, yet there is a sliver of wariness because I am afraid I may not experience another novel quite as enchanting as House of the Beast. I will certainly try, because this book deserves every single raving review. It's a magical masterpiece that you do not want to put off for too long, in my honest opinion.The Art:All of the art, from the dust jacket (interior and exterior), hardcover, endpapers, page illustrations, and chapter header arts were elements that brought this story to life. Everything added that extra boost to the aesthetics to make this world that much more tangible.The Prologue:Wow. From the first line I was at attention...by the second page I was a total goner! I truly felt the passion from Michelle with the Prologue. It was such a fantastic starter to this world. A great introduction, full of brutal reality, unfair truths, anger, mischief, curiosity, and the belly deep knowing of a one of a kind adventure about to be experienced.All Parts:I really appreciated the time skip after the Prologue. I felt that Michelle was able to seamlessly blend Alma and Aster (along with the rest of the cast) from children/younger to Adulthood. I absolutely loved every single page of this story. Everything in House of the Beast felt so original and fresh. It was really nice reading something that kept me so hooked and that I wasn't able to predict anything. Every part felt like unwrapping a present; the more that was revealed, the happier I became.Characters:What an absolute stellar cast! I literally do not have one critique of any one character. All were so vital in their own way and served their own purpose to the story. Of course I am a little biased between Alma and Aster, because how could one not fall in love with each of them? Alma was thorny and lost, Aster was this alluring, devious trickster that stole my heart. While Six came out of nowhere and made me fall in love with him too! Then, there's the matter of characters Kaim, Fion, and Sevelie. For the sake of not spoiling anything, I will just say it was much appreciated to have realistic characters in a fictional story. There wasn't a non-sensical change in behaviors just to make something in the story more digestible, it felt like there was real attention to character creation.Final Thoughts:House of the Beast felt like it was made for me. Everything that I love in Anime/Manga and action films felt like it was the soil from which this story grew from. This story is so important to me and is honestly among my favorite reads of the past decade. I will continue to recommend this to friends and anyone looking to experience an adventure. I don't think it's fair to put this book into a "trendy trope box" in order to meet Social Media Marketing strategies...but, if someone were to ask me to describe this book only using five words, I would use: Heartache, Growth, Love, Friendship, and Destiny. I personally wouldn't advertise this as anything other than a beautiful adventure, filled with pain, loss, and love.

House of the Beast is a captivating story following a lonely young girl through early adulthood and her imaginary friend who turns out to be not so imagined! The characters really bring the plot alive as each are uniquely their own and multi-dimensional. I thought the world-building was unique and enjoyed the religious system that plays a large role in the book. There are four core gods that this land worships and an otherworld where the barrier between gods and humans thins.Alma carries so much resentment and anger towards her father and the family that shunned her. Those feelings fuel her desire to compete against her cousin and father for the high title of First Hand of the Beast. This competition brings bloodshed, strategy, and monsters. However, as she grows, Alma starts to really lean into empathy and forgiveness. She begins to understand that a larger plot is developing. There's deception and bribery at play and not everyone is who they seem. You'll also find themes of power, resilience, revenge, and love within these pages.House of the Beast definitely feels familiar, like a fantasy dystopian novel you may have read before (Fullmetal Alchemist meets the trials of The Hunger Games). Michelle Wong creates something unique through her characters and all the creatures that lurk in the darkness. It's so incredibly difficult to write this review spoiler free! There are a few different plot points, twists, and unraveling that I'd love to talk about.I think the only critique I have for this book is the pacing. It felt a bit slow for me personally, but I know this is totally subjective and all depends on the reader. As soon as I felt a bit disconnected, the next chapter would quickly take me back into the story. Just know, this book is much more about the journey than the destination!Overall, I enjoyed House of the Beast! I think this is a strong debut novel and I can't wait to see what else Michelle may write in the future!

House of the Beast was an emotional, intense, dark gothic fantasy with gods, monsters, divine rituals, intense combat, twisted romance, and a vicious heroine hell-bent on revenge. It was atmospheric, whimsical, and totally devastating. I absolutely adored it.Alma was born out of wedlock and is shunned by everyone except for her mother, and Aster, the boy who is really a monster that only she can see. When her mother dies, she becomes obsessed with vengeance against her estranged father and the noble class that took everything from her. Alma and Aster have the most codependent relationship ever. They’re both lonely and in dire need of a friend. They’re obsessed with each other and desperately want to be loved, but terrified of rejection. Aster is a chaotic, mischievous, flirty, and vicious god. He has dangerous secrets that threaten the fabric of the world, but he’d give it all up for Alma. Their story was heartbreaking and tragic and I’m still recovering. If you want to read the gripping tale of a stabby queen and toxic king who weaponize forbidden magic to dismantle an oppressive hierarchy from within, this is the book for you. The audiobook is narrated by Jeanne Syquia, and she does a phenomenal job embodying Alma and bringing this blood-soaked tragedy to life. I loved listening and highly recommend it.📔House of the Beast✏️ Michelle Wong📆 August 5, 2025⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨READ IF YOU LIKE:👁️ vengeful heroine👁️ chaotic evil trickster god👁️ morally grey characters👁️ toxic, codependent relationships👁️ family rivalries👁️ court intrigue👁️ deadly trials👁️ nightmare realm of monsters

House of the Beast was an absolutely refreshing read that takes elements of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror and weaves them together to create a story of longing for human connection that is relevant to all of our lives.I enjoyed the audiobook version of House of the Beast narrated by Jeanne Syquia. It allowed me to listen at a pace that helped the longer chapters not feel as long or drawn out. I do wish there would have been more nuance and variety between the voices for the different characters, but, overall, I appreciated Jeanne Syquia's narration.Alma is a sympathetic main character whose motivations are relatable and allows the reader to understand her choices and actions. I appreciated the single POV as it allowed Michelle to build the tension and suspense of the reader feeling that something dark is building but not necessarily being able to put a name to it. This tension kept me engaged and invested in the outcome of Alma's story.Michelle Wong has created a unique world in which religion and spirituality work together to bring to life a story of human connection, grief, and revenge that is engaging and thought-provoking.This is a review of the audiobook.

Thank you NetGalley & HarperCollins Adult for the ARC!Michelle Wong makes a striking debut with House of Beast, announcing loud and clear that she’s ready to shake up the fantasy genre.From the very first chapter, the characters felt alive. I was immediately drawn to the main character and her complicated relationship with her mother—it’s heartfelt, layered, and beautifully written.The world building hits hard, showing the sharp divide between those who are barely surviving and the wealthy who have everything (and waste it). Watching the protagonist rise from the very bottom to the top almost overnight (view spoiler) is as thrilling as it is devastating, and it changes her in ways that feel deeply human.This book isn’t afraid to go dark. There were moments when I had to pause just to process how heavy the choices felt, but that’s exactly what made it so powerful. At its core, House of Beast is about resilience, kindness in the face of cruelty, and the price of power. And yes—there’s even a romance (view spoiler) with a god made in the stars that adds an extra spark.If you love emotionally charged fantasy with complex characters, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.

This is my first time reading a book by Michelle Wong so wasn't sure what to expect for a debut novel. It was an ok read for me. It was nothing against the book I just like a little more romance with my reads.The world building was pretty good. I did not connect with Alma the way I was hoping to. I would recommend this book to someone who likes fantasy without allot of romance.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read and review House of the Beast! All thoughts and opinions are my own.a glimpse inside:revenge and ragehigher beingstoxic relationship(s)author illustrationscomplex storylines"Whatever hardships were to plague me now, I deserved them. And whatever ugly end awaited me, I would accept it. But I would not go down without a fight... I would show him that he should have been careful what he wished for."House of the Beast is an original and fresh story in the fantasy genre. Neither YA or Adult, it is its own. House of the Beast is an imaginative, gruesome, horrifying, and unforgiving story. There is no other book I could possibly compare it to as it feels so refreshing and different from most.House of the Beast is a dark and gothic story with brilliant world-building. Alma was eleven years old when she called upon her estranged father for help. Her mother had become ill and steadily gotten worse. Being an outcast in her town, no one would extend a hand. In an act of desperation to save her mother, Alma writes her father a letter which becomes her worst mistake and changes the course of her life. Her father takes her away from her mother to become his heir for House Avera. Alma made a deal with him if he gave her mother care Alma would leave with him. As his ba$tard daughter, she is treated terribly and looked down upon by the tenants of the House. Left alone and isolated, the imaginary friend she conjured years ago appears in the form of the Beast. Her father has intentions of becoming the First Hand of the Dread Beast. The Beast does not approve. For the next eight years Alma will train with her monster Aster to take down her father and those around her.This is not a romance. If you are going into this story with the thought of it being one, you may be disappointed. Personally, I was so engrossed in the plot and continuous character growth that I did not miss having a romance element. There are some flirty and close bonding scenes between Alma and her monster, but nothing more. The relationship between them is a toxic love that grows over the years. There is not a lot of light woven into the story but Aster is the closest thing to a light Alma has.Everyone in this book is against her in one way or another. The secondary characters are all vicious and cruel narcissists. I love the way Michelle Wong writes Alma's growth throughout this book with so many adversaries. Kaim (I apologize if I spelt his name wrong), her cousin, being one of them. I've said it once on one of her Instagram posts: Kaim is such a d but he is interesting. I'm just a girl in love with exceptional character growth and House of the Beast features plenty of it.As excited as I was for the character development, Wong weaves a beautiful and lonely story with a spark of possible hope for Alma. There are exceptional illustrations by the author throughout the story, and the first print-run will have beautiful sprayed edges.I do love this book, it's bloody pages, and Michelle Wong's story-telling. The writing and the set up for what is to come is perfectly paced. I believe House of the Beast could be a great mini-series on TV. It's very cinematic and hooks its gnashing teeth into your skin. I felt Alma's rage, her revenge, and her love for her Beast and the defiance against her father.I can't wait to see what Michelle Wong releases next. I hope there are many more illustrations to come. Her drawings are beautiful, especially the one with Aster looking over Alma's shoulder. It's my favorite.5 stars

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for gifting me an ARC of House of the Beast by Michelle Wong! This dark, fantastical book is full of rich mythology, complicated romance, blood, action, and explorations of self-worth. It also came with gorgeous illustrations that made the story feel even more alive.The beginning itself was a bit slow, but quickly picked up after we shifted from Alma’s childhood to when she’s older. The best part of the book is the dynamic between Alma and her “imaginary friend,” Aster. Anytime those two shared a page, I never knew what was going to happen in the best way. I enjoyed watching Alma grow into her own person, constantly struggling with her morals, duties, and evolving relationship with Aster. She was such an engaging lead.Now, I believe this novel is a standalone, which leaves me a bit let down about some of the loose ends it leaves behind. There were many characters I wish we could’ve connected more with. Honestly, a few side characters I could see having books of their own. It’s possible some things were left open-ended on purpose, so I’m curious to see what Michelle Wong writes next.Overall, it was a satisfying read with plenty of thrills, a captivating world, and heartwarming moments. If you enjoy your fantasy with a bit of an edge, House of the Beast is for you.

I knew it would be good because the author is the illustrator for Legend of Korra… but wow!I was so captivated from the first chapter.Alma grew up with her single mother in poverty, being two of the few people in the entire country to not worship one of the 4 eldritch gods of their world. Because of that she grew up lonely with no friends except the one she made up in her head.Her mother gets sick and the “healers” are all priests who worship one of the four, since they do not the healers won’t help. Alma wants to get in touch with a rare college of medicine that uses science over faith in healing. While going through her mothers things she finds a letter from a father she’s never met and writes to him asking for help.He shows up and promises to help her if she will come back to his city and be his bastard heir to assist him in some death trial pilgrimage. With no other options she has to agree. Since he’s an elitist prick, he lies and her mom dies.The dread beast accepts Alma’s sacrifice and her life is forever changed trained and honed to be a weapon, but instead of helping any of the elitist awful families she is a weapon for revenge.I loved every single part of this book, EXCEPT THE ENDING 😭