The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer

“She remembered the power she had felt tingling in her finger tips. She could still feel the absolute certainty she’d had in her abilities, her lineage, herself.

Mallory Fontaine. A witch, through and through.”  - Mallory, The House Saphir

The House Saphir is the newest novel from the well established writer Marissa Meyer. This story is part fairy‑tale, part gothic, part murder mystery, with a dash of romance.

The main character, Mallory Fontaine pretends to be a witch with powers who can see ghosts. She is hired to exorcise the House Saphir, a haunted mansion with a well-known

violent past. A new murder occurs and she finds herself in the position of having to solve the case using magic she really doesn’t possess. As Mallory navigates hauntings, clues, and a charming but potentially dangerous heir, she not only has to find a killer but reclaim her past and trust herself.

In full disclosure, this is the first novel by Marissa Meyer’s I’ve read.

The premise of The House Saphir is intriguing. I had never heard about Bluebeard and the folklore around him. The twist she gives on the tale makes the plot more sophisticated and engages readers. The setting has fantastical elements yet was very believable. However, I did feel like it dragged in places. I think the author was trying to create opportunities to build the romance between Mallory and Armand but it slowed the pacing down.

This novel is full of quirky characters, especially the trio of ghosts and the two monster hunting characters Fitcher and Constantino. The levity they add balances out the heavy dramatic moments. Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting to Mallory. On the one hand, I liked her boldness and sass and that she cared for her sister very much. Something about her just didn’t work for me though. I felt she came off as swarmy and glib at times. I don’t think her journey was so much about trusting her heart as it was about being honest with herself and open to accepting her possibilities so she no longer felt she had to lie to people. As for Armand, I didn’t walk away having a great understanding of who he is. The swing between awkward boyish nerd and confident master of the legacy didn’t gel for me.

🔮This book is available on November 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the advanced copy to read. All opinions here are my own.

Companion Song: Evanescence "Bring Me To Life"

Author Authentic: Marissa Meyer has a a fairytale writing studio built by her husband who is a skilled carpenter. He built her a special backyard writing studio that resembles a fairy tale cottage, complete with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.