House of the Beast
Harper Voyager, 2025
Agent: Thao Le
Step into the dark coming-of-age fantasy debut from The Legend of Korra illustrator Michelle Wong, where a young woman bound to a mysterious god seeks revenge on her aristocratic family in a story of divine rituals, brutal magic, and twisted love—featuring illustrations throughout by the author.
Born out of wedlock and shunned by society, Alma found solace in solitude—so long as her mother was by her side. But when illness strikes, Alma reaches out to the father she’s never known and uncovers a dark truth: she’s a bastard of House Avera, one of the four noble families that serve the gods, and her father is a vessel of the Dread Beast, a harbinger of death.
To save her mother, Alma agrees to sacrifice her arm in a blood-soaked ceremony that binds her to the Beast. But the cure never comes, leaving her trapped in a hostile, gothic estate—despised by her relatives and used as a pawn in her father’s schemes.
Now vengeance drives her, guided by the god who shadows her every step. He appears only to her—a beautiful, monstrous prince—whispering that she’s destined to reshape the world. With his dark magic fueling her, Alma sets out to destroy the House that took everything from her. But as their bond deepens and their plans grow more perilous, she must decide if her god’s honeyed words—and her forbidden feelings for him—are leading her to victory, or dragging the mortal world to ruin.
“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
If you enter the House of the Beast, prepare to find:
- Morally grey characters with toxic, codependent relationships (M/F, M/M)
- Vengeful heroine and her chaotic-evil trickster god
- Slow-burn yearning and forbidden attraction
- Family rivalries and court intrigue
- Deadly trials and divine bargains
- Nightmare realm full of monsters and secrets
- Magic, violence, and madness
- Stunning black-and-white art by the author woven through the text
- For fans of One Dark Window, Blood Over Bright Haven, and A Study in Drowning
Reviews:
“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