The House Saphir
by Marissa Meyer
Summary
Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think. She and her sister have maintained the family business, eking out a paltry living by selling bogus spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the infamous mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.
Mallory is a self-proclaimed expert on Count Bastien Saphir—otherwise known as Monsieur Le Bleu—who brutally killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet Bastien’s great-great grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy, and convinced that the Fontaine Sisters are as talented as they claim. The perfect mark. When he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his ancestral home of Le Bleu’s ghost, she can’t resist. A paid vacation at Armand’s country manor? It’s practically a dream come true, never mind the ghosts of murdered wives and the monsters that are as common as household pests.
But when murder again comes to the House Saphir, Mallory finds herself at the center of the investigation—and she is almost certain the killer is mortal. If she has any hope of cashing in on the payment she was promised, she’ll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.
But that all sounds relatively easy compared to her biggest learning to trust her heart. Especially when the person her heart wants the most might be a murderer himself.
My Review
I absolutely LOVED this gothic fantasy. It delivered everything I look for in a story: romance, ghosts, monsters, a compelling mystery, an immersive setting, and plenty of twists and turns. I also appreciated that the language was minimal and there was no spice, which allowed the story and atmosphere to truly shine.
Even though I had access to the ARC, I waited for the audiobook release, and I am so glad I did. The narration brought the story vividly to life, and I found myself completely absorbed, finishing it in just a few days. The historical setting was richly atmospheric, dark without being overwhelming. It felt like a magical, shadowed fairy tale layered with supernatural elements. The pacing was spot on, never dragging and never confusing, and the writing style was smooth and easy to follow.
While this is often described as a haunted mansion meets Bluebeard retelling, my unfamiliarity with the Bluebeard story did not affect my enjoyment at all. The mansion itself feels like a living, breathing character, steeped in both opulence and decay, its halls echoing with the whispers of dead wives. The supernatural elements were exceptionally well done. From the gruesome voirloup to the chilling rules of Le Bleu’s curse, every detail felt carefully crafted and intentional.
Despite its darker tone, the story balances beautifully with moments that made me laugh and moments that made me swoon. The romantic tension was especially well done, with the two main characters acting as perfect opposites. The character development was strong across the board, and even the side characters felt memorable and fully realized.
This story is addictive, suspenseful, and haunting, with fantastic character chemistry, magic, witches, and lush, vivid descriptions. It is unlike anything I have read before and left a lasting impression.
This would be a perfect read for autumn or the Halloween season. The author is a master storyteller, and this book exceeded my expectations. I cannot recommend it enough!