Description: "Born out of wedlock and shunned by society, Alma learned to make her peace with solitude, so long as she had her mother by her side. When her mother becomes gravely ill, Alma discovers a clue about her estranged father and writes a message begging for help. Little does she know that she is a bastard of House Avera, one of the four noble families that serve the gods and are imbued with their powers--and her father is a vessel of the Dread Beast, the most frightening god of all, a harbinger of death. In a desperate exchange for her mother's medicine, Alma agrees to sacrifice her left arm to the Beast in a ceremony that will bind her forever to the House and its deity. Regardless, her mother soon passes, leaving Alma trapped inside the Avera's grand estate, despised by her relatives and nothing but a pawn in her father's schemes"--
Brief description:
Michelle Wong is a writer and artist from Hong Kong. She illustrated The Legend of Korra and Goosebumps graphic novels, and is the creator of the upcoming graphic novel, Terminal Hope. This is her debut novel.
Review Quotes:
"Intricately plotted with luxuriant worldbuilding, the dark fantasy debut from illustrator Wong announces her as an exciting new voice. . . Wong masterfully constructs a gothic coming-of-age tale replete with love, politics, and betrayal, helmed by a wonderfully earnest heroine. Elegant illustrations peppered throughout enhance the experience. Fans of manga and heroic fantasy will be thrilled." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"As darkly whimsical as the most beloved fairy tales and soaked in gothic atmosphere. The gorgeous and evocative illustrations bring to life an unforgettably lush and hypnotically romantic story, framed in shadows and sharp edges." - Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning
"A beguiling tale of strange gods, cosmic horrors, and ruinous revenge, House of the Beast dazzled me. With compelling characters and masterful world building, Wong's debut is sure to become a celebrated classic." - Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child
"Beautifully atmospheric, dark, and intoxicating. House of the Beast gripped me from beginning to end, and I was swept away by the lore of the Dread Beast. A wondrous tale of self-discovery, this is one novel that will have you cheering, gasping, and weeping all in the same breath." - Maxym M. Martineau, author of House of Blight
"Equal parts high fantasy and romance, Michelle Wong's skilled storytelling will completely sweep you away." - Reactor
"Wong debuts with a dark and unpredictable story, valiant worldbuilding, and a troubled protagonist who fights like hell... the prose strikes hardest when Wong writes visceral body horror. This page-turning epic continually exposes the monster within each character, pushing them to confront it head-on and fight relentlessly for the good they possess deep within. An impassioned story about rage, revenge, and how love can lay it to rest." - Kirkus Reviews
"Alma Ven is a monster. At 11 years old, she makes a deal with her estranged father, Lord Zander of the High House Avera. Alma will sacrifice her left arm to become a vessel of the Dread Beast, the god of death, in exchange for medicine for her sick mother. However, Alma's mother passes away shortly after Alma moves to her father's estate, leaving Alma unmoored and distraught with grief. The only thing that gets her out of bed is the arrival of the Beast, who appears in the form of Alma's childhood imaginary friend and promises to help her avenge her mother's death by thwarting her father's ambitions to become the heir of House Avera. In eight years, the umbral plane, the threshold between realities, will open, and the elder gods' vessels will journey through the gate to collect the power of fallen stars for their gods. Alma begins the harrowing journey to be the first to reach the fallen star in order to sabotage her father's grab for power. Wong's gothic fantasy debut revolves around themes of humanity in the face of obscene power; for readers who enjoy stories about capricious gods." - Library Journal