I absolutely devoured this book, I love a bloodthirsty gothic read and this really hit the spot. Fantastic and fast paced.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

I really wanted to like this book, but I just found myself bored rather than enraptured by the plot and I just felt nothing for the main character. I will say the world building and writing style was lovely, but I just couldn't find it in myself to carry on.

Desperate to escape the slums of Prane for a life of luxury and security, Marion Shaw leaps at the chance to become a "bloodmaid", a position in which wealthy nobles of the North live for the pleasure of consuming the blood of young and attractive women. After a taster declares Marion's blood to be of an exceptional taste, she is quickly taken on as the latest of bloodmaid of Countess Lisavet of the House of Hunger, but will this position be all that Marion hopes it to be?

A rich gothic horror, Henderson's prose is sensual and alluring with lyrical elements that I found incredibly successful in evoking the deep emotion running through the novel.

The build up of tension and disturbance is masterfully written and I was engrossed by the suspense.

A beautifully written novel, House of Hunger is an original and unforgettable tale with Sapphic elements sure to please those who enjoy a well written horror.

While I do believe that Henderson can write well, I unfortunately never connected to the characters especially our MC, even though her situation was dire it felt like things where happening around her rather than them effecting her.

I also felt that the world building was never really explained, just a wave of "oh that? Blood magic, don't worry about it" and that was it.

I loved “the year of the witching” by this author and so I was very keen to read this one! And it did not disappoint.

This was dark, decadent and luscious. It was hypnotic and alluring despite the Horrors.

At one point I didn’t quite understand why the MC made one decision but it didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the book.

Can’t wait to see what else this author brings out

3.5 upped to 4
This is one of those books you don't know how to rate because they're intriguing, there's a fascinating world building and it a reflection on how power plays
It's a gothic vampire novel, a thriller with paranormal side and there's plenty to love to but both Marion and Lisavet, a sort of countess Bathory, left me cold and I wasn't a fan.
That said the author is a talented storyteller and the story flows and kept me hooked.

Marion has spent her life so far in the poorest part of her city where she lives a miserable existence. When she applies for a position as a "bloodmaid" in the wealthy North she is instantly accepted into the House of Hunger. Her new life is one of luxury and revolves around Countress Lisavet who calls on her bloodmaids as she desires. However Marion soon discovers that all is not as it seems and that danger lies at the heart of everything she has come to know.

This is such a fantastic book for spooky season.

It is definitely not for the faint-hearted, it was thoroughly spine-chilling! The introduction to the House of Hunger was so captivating that I was immediately drawn into the gothic setting. I loved the main character, Marion, and found myself really rooting for her. Alexis Henderson's writing is flawless, every scene was painted clearly in my mind.

I would recommend this if you are looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book had me hooked at the beginning, but then it started to dwindle as it progressed. I loved the concept of this book as well.

Working for monsters and being in their thrall is a rich theme for horror to explore. The horror of capitalism exploiting us for their master’s gain is something we can see in interpretations of the vampire myth. In House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson we get a unique secondary world where the act of allowing someone to drink your blood is considered a prize but of course there is a price to be paid. However, for me despite an inventive start it didn’t really give me a sense of a topic well explored.

Marion works as a servant in the tough and poverty=stricken city of Prane. A typical life in the South where life is often short, can end with TB and everyone tries to live a day at a time. Currently working as a maid for one of the overbearing upper class she sees an opportunity to escape and become a bloodmaid in the North. Effectively allowing a rich family to take blood that can be used as an energy source or way to restore health. Marion passes a test and is whisked to the House of Hunger to serve the enigmatic Lisavet. Maron finds this life is decadent, hard and seductive. Lisavet attracts Marion but Marion has a sense that there are secrets that may suggest this new life may be a very dangerous and short one.

I’m a little disappointed with this story as the opening scenes are really powerful. Marion jumps off the page being a former thief, struggling with a terrible drug addicted brother and a desire to be more. Henderson really creates a character you feel hovers over being good or bad in the cause of never having to be this desperate again. But as soon as we enter the House, we seem to lose all that depth and Marion becomes a more standard heroine unpeeling secrets and getting people to fight back. The dark side of temptation feels unexplored and really you’d expect Marion based on what she experiences in just a few days to already know this is all not what she was promised.

It is not a gothic novel as there is little atmosphere and instead, we get a few decent scenes of decadence and cruelty but it all feels overly familiar. I liked the idea that here the upper class are not actual vampires but just use blood for their own ends and are so image focused they’re had their teeth altered for fashionable means. But I don’t feel any of the characters we face in these sections have much complexity to unpeel which makes the rest of the story feel far too predictable. This is a story that needed a lot more pages to explore these elements and its just feels a little too abrupt which doesn’t help the horror element either make us care about what happens

House of Hunger treads a well-worn path of how the upper classes still treat people as slaves but with better job benefits that will never actually materialise, but nothing ever gets explored in detail. How has no one realised this before as things are very obvious and that lack of exploring this world and instead a fast-paced mystery unwrapping for me meant the potential of the first quarter of the tale gets lost. Sadly not one I can recommend.

Marion grew up on the rougher side of life, scrubbing floors for pittance simply so she could buy cigarettes to share with her only friend Agnes. Then, she sees an advertisement for a Bloodmaid.

The role of a Bloodmaid is simple. To bleed.

Their blood is consumed by their Count or Countess, in Marion’s case, she serves Lisavet. A beautiful woman with a sickening heart who needs the blood to ensure her survival. Lisavet’s history is complicated, yet extremely well written. She is a complex character who may not entirely appear as she seems. From the outset you are consumed by her power which radiates throughout everywhere the book dares to venture.
Throughout the novel we are introduced to new and complex characters, characters who are all hiding something whether it be good or bad. Alexis Henderson has a tremendous ability to create a world that is both elegant and terrifying, and her characters mirror this.

Alexis Henderson’s world building abilities is crucial for the plot of this story, without which the whole story would read as a simple vampire novel. However, you must not mistake this for vampires or anything mythical, these are people who consume blood, that is it. Nothing magical about it. I thoroughly enjoyed how Alexis Henderson took us away from the simple vampire and victim role and created ‘normal’ characters.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a start to mystery based horror. Alexis also takes sapphic content and doesn’t make a big deal out of it. There is no denying Alexis’s writing abilities, and I hope to read more of her books in the future.

I gave this book a lower rating simply because there were a number of scenes in the book which I felt were unnecessary to the plot of the story, quite possibly I may need a second read through to catch themes and clues I missed the first time. And secondly, because I found it very predictable, and there could have been a little bit more violence towards the very end of the tale. If you’ve read this already you may agree everything was just a little too easy.

House of hunger is an lustful suspenseful sapphic gothic masterpiece.
It was incredible, a showstopper just amazing!
I loved the friendship elements, that the girl-hate that is so common, was avoided and found family was important to the characters.
I would have liked more development on the relationships, especially Lisavet and Marion romance(?).
But overall the atmosphere was fantastically tense and the vibes were immaculately dark and seductive.
I cannot wait to read Alexis Henderson’s first book, just amazing!!!

This was a really atmospheric entry into the gothic horror genre. The concept wasn't anything new, but it was rendered so well that it didn't matter. The pace was slow but steady, and although I will admit to finding the ending a little rushed, I still found it satisfying. I'm glad we're getting more sapphic, queer literature not being exclusively marketed that way. This is definitely a book I'll be recommending.

3.5 Stars

Synopsis: The Countess needs a new Bloodmaid, but girls of weak-will need not apply. Marion is far from weak-willed and this could be her escape.

CW/TW (May contain spoilers): Blood/Blood Drinking/Manipulation/Emotional Manipulation/Death/Murder/Imprisonment/Abuse/Violence/Some brief references to slavery/Others may be present.

Rep: Lesbian MC | Sapphic Characters | Queer side characters.

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson is an atmospheric, gothic read that is rich and intense. The writing is immersive, descriptive and beautiful – it is quite captivating and compelling, really drawing you into the story. The book is told from a single POV, that of the main character Marion – which works really well for the story being told. Marion’s POV plays into her naivety without making her useless – she has a lot of strength and drive that aides the momentum of the story. I really loved the prose and found the POV to be compelling.

The plot is intriguing, playing into gothic motifs and vampiric inspirations. Marion becomes a Bloodmaid for a Countess, as a way to escape her life in Prane, but she learns there may be more to being a Bloodmaid than meets the eye. Henderson expertly builds tension, creates a creepy yet alluring atmosphere, and weaves a thrilling story with horrifying elements. I really loved the premise and concept behind this book. However, I felt there could have been a bit more about the world, the Houses and Bloodmaids in general – we get a very limited scope that is perfect for the story being told but leaves you craving more in order to understand the world operating behind all of this.

The characters were intriguing, particularly Marion and Lisavet. I really loved the dynamic between them and both characters had compelling strengths and weaknesses that gave them depth. Marion was a good MC, with strong motivations and will – I liked her character. I did feel the relationship between Marion and Lisavet coud have had a bot more development – but I also did understand that there is suppose to be an alluring element to it and this did work for the story.

Moreover, I liked the side characters – all of them were interesting but I wanted more – they felt a little less developed than Marion and Lisavet, I wanted a bit more time with them. However, I did love all the side characters and the relationships between them and Marion, particularly how this comes into play towards the end of the book.

Overall, House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson is a compelling and atmospheric read that is rich, delightful and thrilling.

*I received an eARC via Netgalley from Random House UK/Transworld Publishers in exchange for an honest review – thank you!*

3.5*

There is so much to enjoy about House of Hunger, from its gritty world, to the dark, decadent atmosphere and a plot that keeps you hoping for more for the characters.

One of my favourite parts of the book was this sense of sisterhood between the bloodmaids, especially the friendship between Marion and Irene, despite the manipulation to pit the women against each other for Lisavet’s favour. However, I do wish they spent more time together, and had their relationships developed further, so that the secondary characters were fleshed out more. Marion is a fascinating character, willing to do what it takes to improve her standing and escape her current circumstances, and her choices and motivation drew me in and made me invested in her journey from the beginning.

Although I liked the story overall, the pacing felt skewed. The beginning was thrilling and I enjoyed getting to learn about Prane and the North, Marion’s relationship with her brother and meeting Thiago, a blood taster who recruits bloodmaids for the noble houses in the North, and I absolutely adored the journey on the train. However, the middle meandered, followed by an ending that, although exciting and tense with genuinely unsettling moments, felt rushed.

There is an expansive world created in House of Hunger. On the macro-level, we're introduced to Prane, the South and the North (where the majority of the story takes place). But a lot of this worldbuilding we're told rather than shown it, and it would have been intriguing to learn more about these different Houses, especially to expand on the politics between the noble houses of the North. Blood seemed to have many uses in this world, but we only really got to find out how it worked for the blood train (which was cool) and as a bloodmaid, but it seemed there was more that could could have been delved into to get a deeper understanding of the world.

House of Hunger is a dark, atmospheric read perfect for the spooky season.

Thank you to Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

*Girls of week will need not apply*

THE gothic horror novel of my dreams! House of Hunger has a chilling atmosphere written in glittering, vivd prose. In some ways traditionally gothic, in other ways refreshingly modern! The plot is thrilling and moves at a fast speed without ever losing the haunting vibes.

I loved the dynamics/politics between the different bloodmaids and the slow unraveling of the Countess’ secrets.

I won’t mention what this is loosely based on because it was a fun surprise for me as a folklore fan, but suffice to say that the “reveal” of who Lisavet is made me gasp audibly.

House of Hunger is a stunning horror novel because it manages to entice as much as it horrifies. Especially the glamorous character of Lisavet is very fascinating to read.

(Thank you to NetGalley, Alexis Henderson and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for providing me with an eARC for this book in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions in this review are my own.)

Oh how much that description of Alexis Henderson's "House of Hunger" lured me right in! A horror tale with vampires and bloodmaids and wlw content? Who wouldn't be intrigued?

The atmosphere of Henderson's newest work is chilling and dark. I especially enjoyed the first half of the book with its vivid descriptions, allowing me to really see the world as our protagonist Marion sees it. and I quite liked Marion herself too, as well as the underlying theme of an unjust society softly forcing its poor classes to literally give up their own blood in order to make life at least bearable and not die in the gutters. It was fascinating and I could really feel the desperation leading Marion to make the choice and become some rich noblewoman's bloodmaid.

Now, I wasn't as impressed by the horror elements of the book, mostly because I saw it coming and wasn't surprised by the big reveals. Predictability isn't necessarily a flaw, I actually like predictable elements in my books but here, it kind of took away from the atmosphere. The relationship between Lisavet and Marion is definitely creepy, but the real horror of it is not all the vampire stuff but the power dynamic between them, the way Marion's submission becomes more and more all-encompassing. I was thoroughly uncomfortable a lot of times, and Henderson wrote this really brilliantly. In the end, this is a story about powerful people abusing those less fortunate, and it's a tale as old as time but also still gets me.

All in all, this is a good book, very well-written and atmospheric. I just didn't care enough about the characters nor the horror and plot elements to really love it.

An intriguing, compelling gothic story about a desperate woman.

I'm going to start by saying how much I enjoyed this book. House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson is a chilling, wicked, dangerous and atmospheric story about a young woman Marion Shaw who is really desperate to run away from her miserable life and her abusive, addict brother. She decides to follow up with an ad in a newspaper. Naive and trusting Marion decides to become a new bloodmaid for House of Hunger ruled by Countess Lisavet Bathory. The countess has a rare disease, which requires drinking young girls blood to keep the disease at bay.

Right from the beginning the book becomes compelling and I kept wanting to turn the page to progress in the story. Marion has no idea in what she involved herself into, but soon she starts seeing creepy hints, people disappearing, deceptions and lots of lies. She can't trust anyone, at some point not even herself!

Lisavet is such a strong, mysterious character, that right until the end of the book, I was not sure exactly what kind of role she would play right at the end. I like how feasts, nobles, the blood drinking parts were described. It gave me chills and at some point I even felt repulsed (in a good way). I loved how all bloodmaids at the ends overcame all the obstacles and sticked together.

There are simple not enough adjectives to describe House of Hunger. This book is perfect for autumn, as Halloween approaches and we all like a bit of spookiness at this time of year. I highly recommend it. I was a bit torn between giving this book 4 or 5 stars, because I did expected a little bit more from the ending. But I enjoyed the whole entirety of this story so much and so I'm definitely giving it 5 stars!

i guess this could be a great halloween read for ya readers. i just found it a bit too generic and i can think a lot of gothic reads that have done what this book tries to do more effectively. nevertheless it is by no means a bad read.

After loving Henderson's debut novel The Year Of The Witching, so much so it made my top ten of 2020 list, I was eager to see what would come next. The title and cover for The House Of Hunger looked perfect and I was beyond excited to finally get a Netgalley approval to review an ARC.

Whilst the writing and setting are beautifully done, I have to admit I was massively disappointed with this novel. Nothing happened! Where is the plot?

At the very beginning Marion finds an old tooth and the word WRETCHED scratched into the bed in her new home. Excellent set up, I thought, where will this lead? Although it will eventually become clear much later, it's fleetingly referred to once or twice and is mostly overtaken by the suffocating adoration all characters have of Lisavet, Lady of The House of Hunger. I also found some other interesting threads trailed away as the story progressed, forgotten subplots that could've greatly improved the reading experience.

The final few chapters of the novel suddenly pick up pace and are definitely worth reading but it was a long slow slog to get there. Not entirely unenjoyable as the character development is well done and Marion is mostly likeable as a main character but certainly not what I had expected after Henderson's previous novel.

I should admit here that I'm not a big fan of romance and The House Of Hunger is very much sapphic gothic romance (if you can call the unhealthy obsession of bloodmaids such), more so than horror, which I fear is where my disinterest began. I believe this novel will appeal to a LOT of other readers but sadly I am not one of them.

I still very much look forward to the next Henderson release but will pay closer attention to the synopsis and perhaps read a few reviews and purchase after publication instead. I urge you to pick up The Year Of The Witching if like me you want more spooks than sex.

Marion Shaw is living in poverty and is desperate to change her circumstances. When she sees an advertisement for the position of bloodmaid for a rich noble she immediately applies. As the name suggests bloodmaids share their blood with these wealthy people. Marion's blood is deemed particularly special and she is soon on her way to a new life.

The House of Hunger is a true gothic horror. The dark and very bloody atmosphere is laced with tension, violence and depravity. Marion is a great character, she is resilient and brave but even she quails as the secrets of the house are revealed.

This is an intense read, certainly not for the fainthearted! It really has a way of drawing the reader into its wicked heart.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.