ARC Review of 'The House Saphir' by Marissa Meyer

Marissa Meyer has been one of my favorites ever since The Lunar Chronicles. Now 'The House Saphir' feels a little different from her earlier books, but in a way that shows she's trying something new while still keeping that signature Meyer vibe of sharp heroines, mysterious love interests and immersive worlds you can practically step into.

This is a post-Bluebeard retelling, set a century after the infamous murders. The House Saphir still looms, haunted by the legacy of Count Bastien, and in walks Mallory Fontaine a witch who isn’t exactly a witch.

Sure, she can see ghosts, but mostly she and her sister survive by selling fake spells and giving creepy tours of the very mansion where the original murders happened.

When Armand, the handsome and oh-so-suspicious heir to the Saphir estate, hires her to banish his ancestor’s ghost, she jumps at the chance.

A free stay at a gorgeous countryside manor and a fat payday? What could possibly go wrong? Well… quite a lot, actually. Because when people start dying again, Mallory finds herself in way over her head torn between solving the mystery, keeping up her witchy façade and figuring out whether the guy she's falling for might also be a killer.

I had such a good time with this book. Mallory is one of those heroines you can’t help but root for. Messy, clever and completely determined to survive even when she’s clearly winging it. The haunted mansion setting is deliciously atmospheric: creaking halls, whispers in the dark, the unsettling sense that you're always being watched.

The romance adds just the right amount of tension, making you simultaneously suspicious of and charmed by Armand. And the pacing kept me turning pages late into the night, which is exactly what I want from a spooky murder mystery like this.

That said, I did wish for just a little bit more. And while the ending wrapped things up neatly, I found myself wanting a stronger emotional hit, something that lingered after I closed the book. It felt like Meyer was holding back just a touch, when this story could have pushed further into darkness and heartbreak.

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed The House Saphir. It’s fun, eerie, romantic, and so very readable. It might not reach the dizzying highs of The Lunar Chronicles or the fairy-tale magic of Gilded, but it’s a solid, satisfying read that shows Meyer experimenting with new tones and themes.

I’m happily giving it four stars, and I’ll absolutely be grabbing a physical copy when it releases in November. If you’re a longtime fan like me, you'll find plenty to love here. It’s worth picking up for the atmosphere alone, and Mallory might just become one of your favorite Meyer heroines.

Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the ARC!

ISBN: 9781250320957

Pub Date: November 5, 2025