Published by HarperCollins
Age Group: Adult
Format: Fiction
Genres and Categories: Action, Adventure, Dark Fantasy, Gothic Fantasy, Romantasy, Bisexual Characters, Lesbian Characters, Queer Characters, Sapphic Characters, Elemental Magic, Healing Magic, Illusion Magic, Various Magic, Fae/Fey, Witches, Family Drama, Magic Users
Series: The Threadmender Chronicles #1
My Rating:
Published on: 8th April 2025
Pages: 384
Disability Representation: Fictional plague, chronic pain, and brain fog.
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Edira Brillwyn is a threadmender. She holds a rare, lifesaving power that can cure disease and heal injuries in the blink of an eye. But magic always comes with a cost, and saving anyone sacrifices a sliver of her own life. She’s always kept her abilities hidden…until the powerful Fernglove family discovers her secret.
The Ferngloves are charming and beautiful, possess powerful magic, and don’t take no for an answer—especially Orin, the head of these ruling elites. When Edira’s brothers unexpectedly contract blight—an incurable virus killing people throughout the town, and an illness too strong for her to heal them both—Orin offers to help. Together at his estate they’ll research a cure while Orin slows their sickness and Edira hones her magic. His kindness and honesty surprises Edira, as does her undeniable attraction to him.
But the other Ferngloves are suspicious of her power and may be more dangerous than the ever-present disease. The longer Edira stays within the confines of the Manor, the more the family’s pristine exterior begins to crack—until Edira discovers a terrifying secret and must choose who she can save and at what cost…
This book was provided for free by NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book!
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House of Blight Review
I’m always interested in books that deal with the subject of illness and involve healing magic, and I was intrigued after reading the synopsis for House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau. I was hooked by the prologue, which introduces the curious story of a woman standing up to death. I had to know what the implications of those events were, and this book just went from strength to strength.
In this gothic fantasy, Martineau introduces a world where magic exists and immortal fae-like creatures called Evers rule over humans. The Evers have a particular interest in humans called threadmenders who have the ability to cure any disease and heal any injuries. This magic comes with a cost, however; a sliver of the threadmender’s own life. Edira is one such threadmender, taught to hide her abilities and her silvery hair that immediately outs her as one.
Living with her two younger brothers, Edira is all too aware of the limits of her powers after failing to save her parents from the deathly Blight. A deadly illness that is transferred by contact, it comes on fast and results in a horrific death. Edira can heal anything else, but the Blight is a virus that she is powerless to stop.
When she was a child her aunt disappeared, believed to have been taken by the local Evers family the Fernglove. Edira has managed to avoid them until one market day she comes face to face with the head of the family, Orin. He claims to want her help to fight the Blight, to find a cure, something he claims that her aunt tries to do.
Edira initially refuses his offer, but when her brothers become ill with the Blight Orin offers her the chance to save their lives. His magic lets him slow the virus, keeping them alive long enough for Edira to work with him to find a cure. It’s the only option, and Edira soon finds herself surrounded by the Ever family who come with their own dangers.
Danger isn’t the only thing she finds at Fernglove House, and as she learns more, Edira won’t just have to fight the Blight to ensure she and her brothers survive.
House of Blight has just the right mix of elements for me. It’s got a fantasy mystery, great world-building, steamy romance, and brilliant plot twists. I will admit that I saw one of them coming, but that did not limit my enjoyment. In fact,I think it added to it because I kept waiting for it to happen and I enjoyed the way Martineau strung it along. It felt almost playful in the way she dropped hints and tidbits to see if the reader could put things together. Figuring things out is not a requirement nor do I think the book will be less fun for readers who choose to just enjoy the ride.
Other than that one twist, that is what I did; enjoyed the ride and what a ride it is! Edira is a strong character who realises the danger she is in, and the difficult decisions she needs to make to keep herself and her brothers alive. It was nice to have a heroine who was grounded in reality and not a damsel in distress. She does make mistakes though, and it was interesting watching her learn from them. Life with the Fernglove is very different to the life Edira has lived, sometimes with unexpected positive results. There’s a scene with one of the villagers that was particularly satisfying.
Edira is not the only character that is well written, with depth, thought-provoking histories and noticeable character growth on the page. Martineau’s world appears to be queer normative with Edira referring to two married men, and her romantic experiences with a woman, suggesting that she is bisexual or pansexual. There is a sapphic relationship that I can’t discuss further due to spoilers, however, the only on-page romance is between a male and female character. While this was interesting enough, it would have been nice to see queer romance on the page rather than just background characters.
That is my only complaint about House of Blight, and the ending opens up interesting storylines for the second book in The Threadmender Chronicles duology. I can’t wait to see how this duology finishes!
About Maxym M. Martineau
Maxym M. Martineau is an associate creative director by day, and a fantasy author by night. When she’s not getting heated over broken hearts, she enjoys playing video games, binge-watching television shows, competing in just about any sport, and of course, reading.
Following her passion, Maxym earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Arizona State University. She is represented by Kimberly Whalen of The Whalen Agency. Check her Books page to learn more about her series and upcoming work
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