A review by howl
House of Hunger, by Alexis Henderson
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Absolutely adored the atmosphere that Henderson creates within the titular House—lush and Gothic with decay lurking under a glittering surface. I was often reminded of a line I like from Crimson Peak: “Nothing gentle ever grows in this land. You need a measure of bitterness not to be eaten.” What would have elevated this book for me is sharper editing (some passages are oddly repetitive) and some added depth of character for Lizavet, the historically-inspired countess of the House of Hunger; I was not quite convinced of the hold she had on our protagonist Marion ). Regardless, my opinion remains largely positive given how impressed I was by the setting and I would love to read another novel set in this world.