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A review by writingcaia
House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The best gothic horror since Mexican Gothic.
It’s depraved, political, luscious, sensual, and animalistic. There’s blood aplenty since it all revolves around it, the descriptions and pacing are wonderful and the dark, cold, luxurious setting really complements the story.
The north needs bloodmaids to sustain the ancient habit of the noble houses drinking it for health and other purposes. But, then there’s the House of Hunger, the first of them all and where our gothic heroine, Marion, is hired to work in.
It’s easy to understand why she, being from the south, poor and abused, but also unafraid, would choose what seems to be a short employment term with huge benefits in the end, where she could retire as a rich matron, without depending on anyone. This is what is promised to the bloodmaids, some even marry into the noble houses.
However, what Marion wasn’t expecting was her own hunger to climb higher in the bloodmaid’s hierarchy as she immediately starts to crave the first maid position and the love of the house’s leader Lisavet, even though that means going toe to toe with the crazy Cecilia, the current one. But, her blood is special and soon Lisavet will want only her.
This desolate gothic mansion on a private island is not only home to Lisavet and the blood maids, and servants, but also a party place for the most degenerate of the north who want to play for their blood and vices, and who pray on the maids too, while they scheme about the houses and their politics.
Love and hunger will clash when the truth of the house of Hunger is discovered by our heroine.
The violence escalates towards the end, when it is at its goriest and most depraved. Still, it has glorious finale that gives us all that is expected in a mixture of blood, gore and emotions.
It’s depraved, political, luscious, sensual, and animalistic. There’s blood aplenty since it all revolves around it, the descriptions and pacing are wonderful and the dark, cold, luxurious setting really complements the story.
The north needs bloodmaids to sustain the ancient habit of the noble houses drinking it for health and other purposes. But, then there’s the House of Hunger, the first of them all and where our gothic heroine, Marion, is hired to work in.
It’s easy to understand why she, being from the south, poor and abused, but also unafraid, would choose what seems to be a short employment term with huge benefits in the end, where she could retire as a rich matron, without depending on anyone. This is what is promised to the bloodmaids, some even marry into the noble houses.
However, what Marion wasn’t expecting was her own hunger to climb higher in the bloodmaid’s hierarchy as she immediately starts to crave the first maid position and the love of the house’s leader Lisavet, even though that means going toe to toe with the crazy Cecilia, the current one. But, her blood is special and soon Lisavet will want only her.
This desolate gothic mansion on a private island is not only home to Lisavet and the blood maids, and servants, but also a party place for the most degenerate of the north who want to play for their blood and vices, and who pray on the maids too, while they scheme about the houses and their politics.
Love and hunger will clash when the truth of the house of Hunger is discovered by our heroine.
The violence escalates towards the end, when it is at its goriest and most depraved. Still, it has glorious finale that gives us all that is expected in a mixture of blood, gore and emotions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Blood