Name: s's review of House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
Item: House of Hunger
Author: s

Alexis Henderson

WANTED - Bloodmaid of exceptional taste. Must have a keen proclivity for life's finer pleasures. Girls of weak will need not apply. A young woman is drawn into the upper echelons of a society where blood is power, in this dark and enthralling gothic novel from the author of The Year of the Witching. Marion Shaw has been raised in the slums, where want and deprivation is all she knows. Despite longing to leave the city and its miseries, she has no real hope of escape until the day she spots a peculiar listing in the newspaper, seeking a bloodmaid. Though she knows little about the far north--where wealthy nobles live in luxury and drink the blood of those in their service--Marion applies to the position. In a matter of days, she finds herself the newest bloodmaid at the notorious House of Hunger. There, Marion is swept into a world of dark debauchery--and at the center of it all is her. Countess Lisavet, who presides over this hedonistic court, is loved and feared in equal measure. She takes a special interest in Marion. Lisavet is magnetic, and Marion is eager to please her new mistress. But when her fellow bloodmaids begin to go missing in the night, Marion is thrust into a vicious game of cat and mouse. She'll need to learn the rules of her new home--and fast--or its halls will soon become her grave.

House of Hunger

Sabrina D. 

"Sometimes I feel like I've been building you a House out of my own bones. And still, you look at me with so much contempt and mistrust. You complain because there are gaps in the roof of my ribs, and you ask me to give more of myself to fill them. You want my hips to be the bowl you drink from. My shoulders, your bed. My arms, your walls. My legs, the very ground you stand on. You want your fill of my blood whenever you crave it. What more do you want from me?”

౨ৎ | "sometimes i feel like i’ve been building you a house out of my own bones. and still, you look at me with so much contempt and mistrust."

this book was very slow, i just couldn't get into it. the last 100 pages had some punch, but otherwise i was just extremely bored? the characters lacked a lot and i didnt feel connected to them at all. 

but the story, in some parts, was good and i liked the writing style (hence the two stars, the half star was for the cat). 

౨ৎ | "sometimes i feel like i’ve been building you a house out of my own bones. and still, you look at me with so much contempt and mistrust."

— ★ 2.5/5 

this book was very slow, i just couldn't get into it. the last 100 pages had some punch, but otherwise i was just extremely bored? the characters lacked a lot and i didnt feel connected to them at all. 
'
but the story, in some parts, was good and i liked the writing style (hence the two stars, the half star was for the cat). 

the ending of this story is the best way and REALISTIC way you could have ended it. Especially with the major themes of this book being power dynamics and class. I don't have a favorite character tho won't lie.

The last 40% really ramped up the entire plot, and I was genuinely intrigued. However, the pacing of the first half was off, and often times felt sluggish. I wish the pacing was different because I could easily see this being a higher rating for me. This isn’t a traditional vampire book. In some ways, I enjoyed the twists to the lore, but other times, I found myself missing some of the aspects that make up classic vampires. The background characters were very one dimensional, and it would’ve been great to have fleshed them out a bit more. I also found myself wanting additional world building. However, that didn’t bother me as much because the story mainly takes place in this creepy castle. Expanding the world wouldn’t do much for the plot; I’m just curious in general. I think this novel will appeal more to people who enjoy atmospheric storytelling over plot development. Loved the gay shit, though.

Nik ✨

Emma Daniels

envee

Aine Meehan

I was not expecting that ending!! Perfect read for spooky season. 

Gisela Ayala 

Gorgeous gothic read for spooky season, but lacking plot and character development. The dark atmosphere,  gore, and creative take on vampires were enough to keep me entertained, but don’t expect deep dives into the touched-on themes of class, privilege, identity, and abuse. 

Emiley Jones

It seems that it is trendy to market books as "gothic" nowadays but very, very few achieve the atmosphere and form Alexis Henderson does in "House of Hunger". The book is straightforward but enthralling and engaging, truly difficult to put down. It does not shy away from gore and gruesomeness and cruelty without revelling in it (a balance that a lot of creative works seem to struggle with nowadays).

The only thing I could not take seriously was the scenes more verging towards the erotic. Having read some of Rice's "Sleeping Beauty" books, something about the setting reminded me of them and I find them extremely goofy.

It seems that it is trendy to market books as "gothic" nowadays but very, very few achieve the atmosphere and form Alexis Henderson does in "House of Hunger". The book is straightforward but enthralling and engaging, truly difficult to put down. It does not shy away from gore and gruesomeness and cruelty without revelling in it (a balance that a lot of creative works seem to struggle with nowadays).

The only thing I could not take seriously was the scenes more verging towards the erotic. Having read some of Rice's "Sleeping Beauty" books, something about the setting reminded me of them and I find them extremely goofy.

~Anna~

3.5 stars

It was enjoyable to read but nothing I’ll obsess over. Some themes & ideas that got left behind should have been thrust more to the forefront. It would have made for more interesting subtext to the story. At it stands now it felt a little samey, but still makes for good fiction.

I also think the pacing was right, but I feel the most meh about the last 10 percent.

Michaella 

2.5 rounded down
I just did not vibe with this y'all....
The descriptions were lush and beautifully written but it took up a great majority of the book. I can tell you the exact arrangement of Lisavet's room but I couldn't tell you her depth as a character. Also the 'romance' was not it for me because it moved way too fast and Marion switched up so quickly. Also, she was just a really selfish character and the whole 'chosen one' trope was not it for me. I just thought that something was missing (maybe some plot and character development) but I read till the end to see if it got better, but sadly, I was disappointed.

If you are looking for a smutty lesbian vampire-ish book (that also kind of tilts towards like adrenacrome in an unintentional way) but centers around a rich gorgeous woman from a powerful house keeping a stable of girls 18-25 indentured consensually into intimate service. Don’t expect much story tho.

Apiecalypse Jen

Sloan MacDonald

… that’s it ?

the stars are rewarded based solely on the aesthetic, we love gothic horror. plot gave absolutely nothing after the first 50 pages.

Beatriz Aguiar

this was such a compulsive read. 
the whole gothic dark vibe it has to it, the sensual darkness is so compelling. 
i loved this book and now desperately want to read the year of the witching and am looking forward to still more of Alexis Henderson's books. 

loved it, loved it, loved it

 Marion wants nothing more than get away from her current circumstances. She lives in a desolate part of town, taking care of her cruel brotherwho is a mere ghost of the loving sibling he used to be, and cleaning the home of an ungrateful and relentless woman. She takes her chances and leaves it all behind one night to answer the ad for a blood maid. She soon finds herself in the elite House of Hunger where Countess Lisavet presided over her court. Marion is quickly swept up in the house politics and the dark and devastating allure of Lisavet. But the more she gives of herself the more the dark and unsettling nature of her new situation gnaws at the back of her mind.  

This is the second book I’ve read by Alexis Henderson and I must say that I enjoyed this one much more than the first. While the pacing of this book felt a little off, I never found myself bored and I struggled to put it down. It’s packed with gore, depravity, and dark desire. The perspectives of the blood maids and the wealthy were beautifully balanced and I believe that it is a perfect sapphic gothic horror. The only complaint I have is that I would have liked for the story to have been a little more drawn out to allow for more character and world development. I felt like much of it was glazed over and you merely get the geist of it all. Also, keep in mind that these are not your typical vampires. They lack immorality and I felt that their hunger took on a slightly different nature.

amidpages

Book Synopsis

 Marion wants nothing more than get away from her current circumstances. She lives in a desolate part of town, taking care of her cruel brotherwho is a mere ghost of the loving sibling he used to be, and cleaning the home of an ungrateful and relentless woman. She takes her chances and leaves it all behind one night to answer the ad for a blood maid. She soon finds herself in the elite House of Hunger where Countess Lisavet presided over her court. Marion is quickly swept up in the house politics and the dark and devastating allure of Lisavet. But the more she gives of herself the more the dark and unsettling nature of her new situation gnaws at the back of her mind.  

Book Review

This is the second book I’ve read by Alexis Henderson and I must say that I enjoyed this one much more than the first. While the pacing of this book felt a little off, I never found myself bored and I struggled to put it down. It’s packed with gore, depravity, and dark desire. The perspectives of the blood maids and the wealthy were beautifully balanced and I believe that it is a perfect sapphic gothic horror. The only complaint I have is that I would have liked for the story to have been a little more drawn out to allow for more character and world development. I felt like much of it was glazed over and you merely get the geist of it all. Also, keep in mind that these are not your typical vampires. They lack immorality and I felt that their hunger took on a slightly different nature.

Fascinating premise & glamorous descriptions but the character development wasnt there for me 

Amelia Hruby

I didn’t enjoy Henderson’s previous novel, but I liked the premise of this so I wanted to give it a go. Sadly, it also didn’t work for me. I did like the atmosphere, but I couldn’t get invested in the plot or any of the characters. I found myself skim reading most of it because I just wanted to get it over with. I wanted to like this so badly, but there’s something about Henderson’s writing style that I just don’t click with.

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House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

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