If Mary Shelley and Jane Austen had a sapphic book baby, it would be this gothic beauty.

"We are all alike in the fact that our great life's work is deciding who and what we are willing to bleed for."

I have never read an Alexis Henderson novel before, but it fit my wildest, gothic dreams. House of Hunger is not marketed as a vampire book— simply because its not—but there is significant blood consumption and bloodletting. It is sensual, lustful, and absolutely ravenous. Cue the flicking tongues and never-ending hunger.

"Death, memory, grief, none of it belongs to any one person. It's all a collective. A kind of living legion."

Marion Shaw, our defiant lead, is a bloody joy to follow. She's definitely not heroic by any means, far more morally ambiguous, but her ambition for a better life is downright magnetic. She's a lead that you'll want to follow into the deep underbelly of the story. House of Hunger actually begins with Marion at a crossroads debating whether to stay in her city as a maid or answer a call to becoming a bloodmaid, young girls sent to the Houses in the north and used for their tantalizing blood. Obviously, Marion answers the call and leaves blood in her wake as her journey begins. Upon arrival, she meets Countess Lisavet of the House of Hunger and immediately leaves a notable... impression.

"Hunger makes monsters of the kindest souls. And to be honest... I've never been particularly kind."

Thus, we are thrown into grueling bloodmaid politics, sapphic pining, and cartons of blood worth of betrayal. Overall, I loved Alexis's lyrical writing. It was gorgeous to picture her metaphors and imagery. She's also somehow able to write a 304 page book masterfully. A lot of authors may write a short book, but the pacing and flow fo the story is typically choppy. Not the case with this one. The writing style actually enhanced the quick moving plot and overall short book length. I can't wait to dive into The Year of the Witching to see more of Alexis's work.

"Sometimes I fear that whatever natural virtue I once possessed has been drained down to the dregs."

One of my favorite parts to this book was the fact that side characters, sometimes even minor, are given the proper characterization. Lisavet, our leading second lady, felt at times like the main character because of her level of detail. I'm really excited to see reactions to her character, in particular, once the book releases because she is sophisticated and sexy. But even then, she's a tragic character—in more than one way. Moreover, other characters like Mae, Irene, or even Cecilia will memorably enhance the story. While the plot is important to the story, the characters drive it far beyond its reaches by the end because of their willingness to... simply live and be more than fictional.

"Lovers lie entwined until night dies into morning. They spend their days together. They make promises to each other that they know they can't keep."

All in all, I urge any sapphic, gothic, vampy fan to pick House of Hunger up this October because it will satiate all of your spooky tastes. Yes, it releases technically in September, but it will send chills down your spine if you read it during the scariest month of the year.

"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."

Thank you to Ace Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book early. All thoughts and opinions are my own.