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Hex House
ELLY
Elly is running. Pregnant and still in her wedding dress, she flees the cottage that her new husband has rented for their wedding night. Because he’s not what people think he is—and she knows that, one day, he’ll hurt her in a way she can’t fix. Freezing and lost in the dead of night, Elly begins to lose hope. A woman in the woods alone is never the beginning of the story. It’s usually the end. So, when a beautiful house appears out of nowhere and a woman beckons her inside, it almost feels too good to be true. Welcome to Hex a refuge, a home, a sanctuary. A place that can only be found by those who truly need it; a place that promises to teach Elly how to access a power more incredible—and more terrifying—than anything she could have imagined.
SIOBHAN
Four years after Siobhan meets Elly at Hex House, her life is in ruins. Once a promising filmmaker invited to the house to make a documentary with her brother, Theo, she’s given up on her dream after witnessing unspeakable horrors there. Now, she spends her time drinking too much, toying with an older man in increasingly dangerous ways, and trying to get Theo to speak to her again. She ignores the scar on her stomach that never fully heals. That is, until someone reaches out with news about Hex House that could change everything. And Siobhan knows, deep down, that she was always destined to return.
Elly is running. Pregnant and still in her wedding dress, she flees the cottage that her new husband has rented for their wedding night. Because he’s not what people think he is—and she knows that, one day, he’ll hurt her in a way she can’t fix. Freezing and lost in the dead of night, Elly begins to lose hope. A woman in the woods alone is never the beginning of the story. It’s usually the end. So, when a beautiful house appears out of nowhere and a woman beckons her inside, it almost feels too good to be true. Welcome to Hex a refuge, a home, a sanctuary. A place that can only be found by those who truly need it; a place that promises to teach Elly how to access a power more incredible—and more terrifying—than anything she could have imagined.
SIOBHAN
Four years after Siobhan meets Elly at Hex House, her life is in ruins. Once a promising filmmaker invited to the house to make a documentary with her brother, Theo, she’s given up on her dream after witnessing unspeakable horrors there. Now, she spends her time drinking too much, toying with an older man in increasingly dangerous ways, and trying to get Theo to speak to her again. She ignores the scar on her stomach that never fully heals. That is, until someone reaches out with news about Hex House that could change everything. And Siobhan knows, deep down, that she was always destined to return.
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Published April 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
June 19, 2026
Hex House, a debut thriller/dark fairytale by Amy Jane Stewart, offers an impressively original tale of trauma, rage and redemption...though I wouldn't necessarily say "recovery."
Composed of two different 3rd person limited POVs, Elly's taking place in the recent past and Siobhan's taking place in the present, Hex House tells the story of women who have been abused or greatly wronged in some way. Instead of slipping quietly into the roll of victim and remaining there, these women flee into the woods where a large manor home appears to those who need it. In this safe, magical, liminal space where the outside world can't find them, these women learn transform into creatures which fight back. On the surface, this woodland home available only to women seems like quite a positive, safe haven, but as with all magic, there is a very high cost.
I thoroughly enjoyed Hex House, and I'm shocked that it is "a first book." The prose is structurally sound and mature--it is compulsively readable. And the plot itself is unique and remains unapologetically true to itself with no tendency to moralize. It's an excellent effort all around.
I found her two central characters a bit lacking in development, but I loved the fact that Stewart used only indirect characterization--she never tells, always shows. This said, the two main characters make such weighty choices, and I wish readers had a bit more background information about them to support those choices. This is actually a fairly common issue with thrillers though, and it should by no means keep anyone from reading this novel asap--it is worth it!
A great choice for fans of Angela Carter, A. G. Slatter's dark fairytales or T. Kingfisher's folk horror, I most definitely recommend this book.
Composed of two different 3rd person limited POVs, Elly's taking place in the recent past and Siobhan's taking place in the present, Hex House tells the story of women who have been abused or greatly wronged in some way. Instead of slipping quietly into the roll of victim and remaining there, these women flee into the woods where a large manor home appears to those who need it. In this safe, magical, liminal space where the outside world can't find them, these women learn transform into creatures which fight back. On the surface, this woodland home available only to women seems like quite a positive, safe haven, but as with all magic, there is a very high cost.
I thoroughly enjoyed Hex House, and I'm shocked that it is "a first book." The prose is structurally sound and mature--it is compulsively readable. And the plot itself is unique and remains unapologetically true to itself with no tendency to moralize. It's an excellent effort all around.
I found her two central characters a bit lacking in development, but I loved the fact that Stewart used only indirect characterization--she never tells, always shows. This said, the two main characters make such weighty choices, and I wish readers had a bit more background information about them to support those choices. This is actually a fairly common issue with thrillers though, and it should by no means keep anyone from reading this novel asap--it is worth it!
A great choice for fans of Angela Carter, A. G. Slatter's dark fairytales or T. Kingfisher's folk horror, I most definitely recommend this book.
June 12, 2026
Beautiful, powerful. Gothic. A very slow story, takes its time. Feminine rage and transformation and sisterhood and endless questions: what does revenge do to us? When is rage necessary and when does it verge into destruction? What does safety cost us?
There is so much nuance within this story. It would be a great book club pick.
I read my physical copy while listening along with the audiobook. The audiobook very much amplified the reading experience; I highly recommend it.
Full review to come. 🩶
3.5 / 4 stars. Haven't landed on this yet.
There is so much nuance within this story. It would be a great book club pick.
I read my physical copy while listening along with the audiobook. The audiobook very much amplified the reading experience; I highly recommend it.
Full review to come. 🩶
3.5 / 4 stars. Haven't landed on this yet.
May 5, 2026
2.5 ★
Another slightly disappointing read.
This year I am making a conscious effort to engage with a wider variety of genres and the description of this one really hooked me - it had all the elements to make the story a compelling one and reminded me a little of 'Just Like Home' by Sarah Gailey which I enjoyed a lot.
Unfortunately many of the aspects of the story felt undeveloped. For example, the main protganist was experiencing some sort of traumatic response to the events at Hex House and acting out through alcoholism - this was depicted as a relatively shallow coping mechanism, and though some sort of familial past with the illness was touched on it was never developed. Similarly, Ellie, the other protagonist, reminisct several times on returning to her abusive husband - I think this was a great opportunity to develop a more nuanced narrative on victimhood and the complex feelings that one might feel within such a relatioship but this was similarly glossed over. The magic used was unexplicable and though part of its appeal was the mystery I never fully understood how it fit in with the narrative.
Further, I think the idea of 'Stockholm syndrome' could have composed a major undercurrent in this novel which would have been incredibly interesting to explore.
In short, many aspects of this story intrigued me but they did not really deliver. Although several interesting themes were touched on, the book lacked the emotional depth to make them more impactful within the story.
Another slightly disappointing read.
This year I am making a conscious effort to engage with a wider variety of genres and the description of this one really hooked me - it had all the elements to make the story a compelling one and reminded me a little of 'Just Like Home' by Sarah Gailey which I enjoyed a lot.
Unfortunately many of the aspects of the story felt undeveloped. For example, the main protganist was experiencing some sort of traumatic response to the events at Hex House and acting out through alcoholism - this was depicted as a relatively shallow coping mechanism, and though some sort of familial past with the illness was touched on it was never developed. Similarly, Ellie, the other protagonist, reminisct several times on returning to her abusive husband - I think this was a great opportunity to develop a more nuanced narrative on victimhood and the complex feelings that one might feel within such a relatioship but this was similarly glossed over. The magic used was unexplicable and though part of its appeal was the mystery I never fully understood how it fit in with the narrative.
Further, I think the idea of 'Stockholm syndrome' could have composed a major undercurrent in this novel which would have been incredibly interesting to explore.
In short, many aspects of this story intrigued me but they did not really deliver. Although several interesting themes were touched on, the book lacked the emotional depth to make them more impactful within the story.
May 1, 2026
Hex House is a beautiful merge of fairytale, urban legend, mystery, and revenge, all wrapped up in an incredibly atmospheric setting and gorgeous writing. These characters felt so lifelike, flawed and broken as they were—sometimes pieced back together with all of their sharp and bloody edges still showing, like many trauma survivors in the real world.
I love a story told like this, with glimpses of "then" and "now" gradually meeting in the middle, and I thought it was brilliantly done in Hex House. Elly's chapters give us an opportunity to know and love a few truly wonderful women and to experience the house in all its glory, while Siobhan's chapters tease out the threads of a multilayered, tragic event.
While Hex House includes some painful elements and quite a few very dark scenes, there's something oddly gentle about Amy Jane Stewart's writing that approaches it all with such care and love. I can't believe that this is the author's debut novel, but it makes me incredibly eager to see what she comes up with next.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
✨ Content warnings for (very minor spoilers):
I love a story told like this, with glimpses of "then" and "now" gradually meeting in the middle, and I thought it was brilliantly done in Hex House. Elly's chapters give us an opportunity to know and love a few truly wonderful women and to experience the house in all its glory, while Siobhan's chapters tease out the threads of a multilayered, tragic event.
While Hex House includes some painful elements and quite a few very dark scenes, there's something oddly gentle about Amy Jane Stewart's writing that approaches it all with such care and love. I can't believe that this is the author's debut novel, but it makes me incredibly eager to see what she comes up with next.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
✨ Content warnings for (very minor spoilers):
June 4, 2026
I expected more of an horror story, but the book leans more towards the magical realism and literary fiction side, which I don't enjoy as much.
I preferred Elly's story and didn't enjoy Siobhan's at all. I know that making the reader uncomfortable was the point, but in my opinion Siobhan's POV was boring, disgusting and had no satisfying payoff.
On the other hand, I listened to the audio version and the audiobook narrator was really good.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media via NetGalley for providing an ALC
I preferred Elly's story and didn't enjoy Siobhan's at all. I know that making the reader uncomfortable was the point, but in my opinion Siobhan's POV was boring, disgusting and had no satisfying payoff.
On the other hand, I listened to the audio version and the audiobook narrator was really good.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media via NetGalley for providing an ALC
April 22, 2026
*4.5
Hex House is a fantasy-horror blend done in a way that actually works for me. It deals with serious subject matter, features fully developed and realistically flawed characters, and uses its darker elements to serve both the plot and a larger purpose beyond just aesthetics.
The story tackles heavy topics including domestic abuse, women’s autonomy, substance abuse, and handles them with care. They’re woven into the narrative well, keeping the story engaging without trivializing it’s themes. This reads like a dark, feminist fairy tale that explores trauma, resilience, and rage, with a strong focus on women's struggles and transformations.
This is also one of the rare times where I enjoyed both POVs equally. Both perspectives follow complex characters dealing with their own issues, and their threads move at an even pace toward the same end goal. I liked how the perspectives contrasted and gradually came together in the final act.
I loved the investigative/documentary-making aspect. It keeps the mystery of Hex House front and center, making the story more plot-driven while also giving solid character development for both the observer and the observed.
Stewart definitely made her presence known with this debut! I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next.
Readers who enjoyed The Brood by Rebecca Baum like I did will have a phenomenal time with Hex House.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Hex House is a fantasy-horror blend done in a way that actually works for me. It deals with serious subject matter, features fully developed and realistically flawed characters, and uses its darker elements to serve both the plot and a larger purpose beyond just aesthetics.
The story tackles heavy topics including domestic abuse, women’s autonomy, substance abuse, and handles them with care. They’re woven into the narrative well, keeping the story engaging without trivializing it’s themes. This reads like a dark, feminist fairy tale that explores trauma, resilience, and rage, with a strong focus on women's struggles and transformations.
This is also one of the rare times where I enjoyed both POVs equally. Both perspectives follow complex characters dealing with their own issues, and their threads move at an even pace toward the same end goal. I liked how the perspectives contrasted and gradually came together in the final act.
I loved the investigative/documentary-making aspect. It keeps the mystery of Hex House front and center, making the story more plot-driven while also giving solid character development for both the observer and the observed.
Stewart definitely made her presence known with this debut! I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next.
Readers who enjoyed The Brood by Rebecca Baum like I did will have a phenomenal time with Hex House.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2026
This story unfolds across two timelines, following Elly and Siobhan, whose lives become dangerously tied to a mysterious place called Hex House. In the past, a pregnant Elly is on the run from her new husband - she stumbles upon the house in the woods, a refuge that feels like salvation but hides something far darker. Years later, Siobhan is still haunted by what she experienced there while filming a documentary, her life uncoiling in the aftermath. When she’s pulled back toward Hex House, it becomes clear that the house is not just a sanctuary, but something far more sinister. Told like a cautionary fairy tale, this is a story about power, temptation, and the price of stepping into something that seems too good to be true.
This is a fever dream in the best way with a blurring of the lines between reality and something just slightly off. And if you know me, you know that fever dreams are my sanctuary. The story has the feel of magical realism, but with a strong emphasis on the “real”. The emotions, the choices, and the consequences all feel grounded even when the story drifts into the eerie and weird. Despite its layered structure and dual timelines, it was surprisingly easy to follow, and there’s a steady sense of impending dread woven through every page that never lets up.
Elly’s journey hit me hard. Her mix of desperation and fragile hope was heartbreaking, especially knowing she was trying to escape something she just couldn’t fully outrun. Siobhan’s storyline felt just as powerful in a different way. Her descent into dangerous habits and her twisted relationship felt achingly human, and her addiction was both intoxicating and painful to watch unravel.
For a debut, this is incredibly impressive. The writing, the atmosphere, and the emotional depth all came together in a way that stayed with me long after I finished. I’ll definitely be watching for whatever this author does next!
Thank you so much to and for including me on this book tour and providing me with a copy of Hex House in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fever dream in the best way with a blurring of the lines between reality and something just slightly off. And if you know me, you know that fever dreams are my sanctuary. The story has the feel of magical realism, but with a strong emphasis on the “real”. The emotions, the choices, and the consequences all feel grounded even when the story drifts into the eerie and weird. Despite its layered structure and dual timelines, it was surprisingly easy to follow, and there’s a steady sense of impending dread woven through every page that never lets up.
Elly’s journey hit me hard. Her mix of desperation and fragile hope was heartbreaking, especially knowing she was trying to escape something she just couldn’t fully outrun. Siobhan’s storyline felt just as powerful in a different way. Her descent into dangerous habits and her twisted relationship felt achingly human, and her addiction was both intoxicating and painful to watch unravel.
For a debut, this is incredibly impressive. The writing, the atmosphere, and the emotional depth all came together in a way that stayed with me long after I finished. I’ll definitely be watching for whatever this author does next!
Thank you so much to and for including me on this book tour and providing me with a copy of Hex House in exchange for an honest review.
Read
April 16, 2026A dark fairytale with rich atmosphere, for fans of Scottish folklore and creeping, slow-building horror.
Premise - Pregnant newlywed Elly flees her honeymoon cottage on her wedding night, knowing a life with her new husband would be more dangerous than facing the wild unknown of the woods.
Elly, near hopeless, stumbles upon a beautiful house, Hex House, and learns that it’s a refuge that appears only to those who need it most.
Fast forward four years and we meet Siobhan, an alcoholic hot mess with a mysterious scar, a brother, Theo, who won’t talk to her, and ties to both Hex House and Elly. Now, the only way forward is back.
While this is a very well-written story and surely find a large and eager audience, it wasn't quite for me. I can't seem to figure out what it is that didn't grip me, so I'm not going to put a star rating on it. It's a good book, just not my specific taste.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Lianne Walker. She did a great job building the atmosphere of Hex House in her read!
Thanks, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Premise - Pregnant newlywed Elly flees her honeymoon cottage on her wedding night, knowing a life with her new husband would be more dangerous than facing the wild unknown of the woods.
Elly, near hopeless, stumbles upon a beautiful house, Hex House, and learns that it’s a refuge that appears only to those who need it most.
Fast forward four years and we meet Siobhan, an alcoholic hot mess with a mysterious scar, a brother, Theo, who won’t talk to her, and ties to both Hex House and Elly. Now, the only way forward is back.
While this is a very well-written story and surely find a large and eager audience, it wasn't quite for me. I can't seem to figure out what it is that didn't grip me, so I'm not going to put a star rating on it. It's a good book, just not my specific taste.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Lianne Walker. She did a great job building the atmosphere of Hex House in her read!
Thanks, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 stars rounded up.
The Hex House is marketed as a dark Scottish gothic folk horror novel. The Hex House is supposed to be a story, not a real place. However, if you need it, you will be able to find it. But is it what you think it is? For me - no. This premise sounds interesting but the execution was lacking for me, I was bored. I kept waiting for the story to turn into something else, and it eventually did, but I did not find the payoff entirely worth it.
2.5 stars rounded up.
The Hex House is marketed as a dark Scottish gothic folk horror novel. The Hex House is supposed to be a story, not a real place. However, if you need it, you will be able to find it. But is it what you think it is? For me - no. This premise sounds interesting but the execution was lacking for me, I was bored. I kept waiting for the story to turn into something else, and it eventually did, but I did not find the payoff entirely worth it.
May 14, 2026
Hex House brings us feminine rage in a mix of horror and fantasy. We follow 2 different timelines that are slowly moving toward each other and the tension building is delicious. The structure of the story is so well done it is hard to believe that this a debut for Amy Jane Stewart. You get little pieces of the bigger story as she weaves you between the different timelines and she keeps you guessing until the very end. I like that it covered heavier subjects and the characters reactions to those subjects were very realistic. You could feel their pain, their confusion, their anger. And they had every right to be angry. This was such a good read! I can't wait to see what the author releases next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the ARC of this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the ARC of this novel.
April 26, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Elly, newly married and pregnant, flees her controlling husband and is welcomed into Hex House by its mysterious administrator, Haina. She discovers that Hex House is a refuge for many other women and that there is something sinister at its heart.
Siobhan and her brother Theo are working on a documentary about the mysterious house and are welcomed.
Years later, Siobhan and Theo haven’t spoken since the night they fled Hex House, and Siobhan’s life has become a wreck. She hears that Haina is dead and finds that Hex House is calling her.
There is so much to this book. It explores fear, anger, pride, rebirth, obedience, ambition , and sacrifice as well as marriage, friendship, community, and family - found and native. It is a slow burn, but the pacing is a little uneven at times. The story itself is original, and the characters are developed, though I would have liked to have had a little more insight into Siobhan. Why did she choose to have a beef with Owen? We have no idea about anything in her background that would explain her motives
Overall, I read it straight through with only a brief pause for sleep because I have no respect for my physical and mental health (allegedly).
Anyway, this is a nice gothic tale of female empowerment and feminine rage, especially how it can be exploited - even by those who claim to have our best interests at heart.
Elly, newly married and pregnant, flees her controlling husband and is welcomed into Hex House by its mysterious administrator, Haina. She discovers that Hex House is a refuge for many other women and that there is something sinister at its heart.
Siobhan and her brother Theo are working on a documentary about the mysterious house and are welcomed.
Years later, Siobhan and Theo haven’t spoken since the night they fled Hex House, and Siobhan’s life has become a wreck. She hears that Haina is dead and finds that Hex House is calling her.
There is so much to this book. It explores fear, anger, pride, rebirth, obedience, ambition , and sacrifice as well as marriage, friendship, community, and family - found and native. It is a slow burn, but the pacing is a little uneven at times. The story itself is original, and the characters are developed, though I would have liked to have had a little more insight into Siobhan. Why did she choose to have a beef with Owen? We have no idea about anything in her background that would explain her motives
Overall, I read it straight through with only a brief pause for sleep because I have no respect for my physical and mental health (allegedly).
Anyway, this is a nice gothic tale of female empowerment and feminine rage, especially how it can be exploited - even by those who claim to have our best interests at heart.
April 30, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook.
📝 Short Summary
A dark, unsettling fairytale about a mysterious house that appears when you need it most but comes with a cost you don’t fully understand.
Review
This audiobook pulled me in immediately. The opening scene with Elly running, pregnant and still in her wedding dress, sets such an eerie and emotional tone right from the start. You can feel something isn’t right, and that quiet tension carries all the way through the story.
I really enjoyed the dual timelines between Elly and Siobhan. One is just entering Hex House in a vulnerable moment, and the other has already been through it and is clearly still affected. That contrast kept me hooked because I was constantly trying to piece together what actually happened inside that house.
Hex House itself felt like its own character. It starts off as a sanctuary, almost too perfect, and then slowly shifts into something more unsettling. That dark fairytale atmosphere was done so well. It is not loud or jumpy horror. It is more of a slow, emotional unease that builds and lingers.
The audiobook experience made everything stronger. The writing already feels immersive, but Lianne Walker brought so much life to it. Her narration felt natural and really captured the emotional weight of both characters. The shifts in tone, the tension, even the quieter moments all came through in a way that made it hard to stop listening.
I also loved how it blends genres. It moves between horror, fantasy, and magical realism in a way that feels seamless but is still grounded in emotion. It is the kind of story that quietly pulls you in and stays with you after.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Yes, especially if you enjoy dark fairytales, eerie settings, and character driven stories with a haunting edge.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook.
📝 Short Summary
A dark, unsettling fairytale about a mysterious house that appears when you need it most but comes with a cost you don’t fully understand.
Review
This audiobook pulled me in immediately. The opening scene with Elly running, pregnant and still in her wedding dress, sets such an eerie and emotional tone right from the start. You can feel something isn’t right, and that quiet tension carries all the way through the story.
I really enjoyed the dual timelines between Elly and Siobhan. One is just entering Hex House in a vulnerable moment, and the other has already been through it and is clearly still affected. That contrast kept me hooked because I was constantly trying to piece together what actually happened inside that house.
Hex House itself felt like its own character. It starts off as a sanctuary, almost too perfect, and then slowly shifts into something more unsettling. That dark fairytale atmosphere was done so well. It is not loud or jumpy horror. It is more of a slow, emotional unease that builds and lingers.
The audiobook experience made everything stronger. The writing already feels immersive, but Lianne Walker brought so much life to it. Her narration felt natural and really captured the emotional weight of both characters. The shifts in tone, the tension, even the quieter moments all came through in a way that made it hard to stop listening.
I also loved how it blends genres. It moves between horror, fantasy, and magical realism in a way that feels seamless but is still grounded in emotion. It is the kind of story that quietly pulls you in and stays with you after.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Yes, especially if you enjoy dark fairytales, eerie settings, and character driven stories with a haunting edge.
October 29, 2025
Love when a debut is perfect.
April 6, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to Titan Books for an early copy - all opinions are my own.
Hex House is a cleverly woven dual-timeline, fantastical horror that promises feminist themes and an atmospheric Scottish setting. While it delivers strongly on both counts, magical realism is not something I seek out in horror so there was a disconnect early for me.
This is a wonderfully strong debut with an excellent balance of heart and bite. The tone perfectly matched the dark, disturbed setting. Amy Jane Stewart masterfully uses timelines and POVs to feed the reader small pieces of the plot until they form a whole, cohesive story.
The pacing was a bit disjointed but mostly leaned slow. Rather than assisting in building the dread, it smothered it a bit. My largest disconnect in the cast of characters was with Siobhan. I could not find anything relatable or endearing about her. The women of Hex House as a whole were lovely though and watching the friendships bloom was a nice juxtaposition to the horrors unfolding.
I’m anxious to try more by Amy Jane Stewart. This is an excellent story and I’m hoping to find additional connection with the next.
I recommend for fans of atmospheric stories, fantastical horror, and psychological darkness.
Thank you to Titan Books for an early copy - all opinions are my own.
Hex House is a cleverly woven dual-timeline, fantastical horror that promises feminist themes and an atmospheric Scottish setting. While it delivers strongly on both counts, magical realism is not something I seek out in horror so there was a disconnect early for me.
This is a wonderfully strong debut with an excellent balance of heart and bite. The tone perfectly matched the dark, disturbed setting. Amy Jane Stewart masterfully uses timelines and POVs to feed the reader small pieces of the plot until they form a whole, cohesive story.
The pacing was a bit disjointed but mostly leaned slow. Rather than assisting in building the dread, it smothered it a bit. My largest disconnect in the cast of characters was with Siobhan. I could not find anything relatable or endearing about her. The women of Hex House as a whole were lovely though and watching the friendships bloom was a nice juxtaposition to the horrors unfolding.
I’m anxious to try more by Amy Jane Stewart. This is an excellent story and I’m hoping to find additional connection with the next.
I recommend for fans of atmospheric stories, fantastical horror, and psychological darkness.
Did Not Finish
June 6, 2026I sadly had to dnf this book. immediately, I didn't connect with the characters and the writing style. something about it just makes it feel like a chore to continue reading... I love when books grip me from the beginning, and this one was unfortunately not for me.
February 12, 2026
I was hooked from the start i literally couldn’t put this book down and found myself waking up early to get a few chapters in before my day started. A cross over of genres between fantastical and horror truly terrifying but beautiful . Cleverly written that makes every chapter ending a cliffhanger and keeps you reading. I can’t wait to read more from this Author with thanks to Titan books for the ARC
April 28, 2026
Hex House left me thinking about anger and survival long after I closed the book. Amy Jane Stewart builds a house that is both refuge and reckoning, a place that appears to women at their most desperate and asks them to choose what they will become.
The prose moves with a steady, unnerving clarity and the magical realism elements feel earned rather than decorative. Elly's flight into the woods and Siobhan's fractured aftermath form a conversation about trauma, memory and the cost of reclaiming power. The women who gather at Hex House are not caricatures of victimhood.
They are complicated, sometimes frightening, often fierce.
My only reservations are that the pacing slackens in places and a repeated phrase began to grate, but those moments did not undo the book's emotional force. This is not a comfortable read. It asks you to sit with rage and with the idea that survival can demand hard choices. For readers who want horror that interrogates rather than merely shocks, Hex House is a memorable debut. I will be recommending it to friends who like their horror thoughtful, unsettling and rooted in human consequence and morally complicated too.
With thanks to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for the ALC
Publication Date Apr 28 2026
The prose moves with a steady, unnerving clarity and the magical realism elements feel earned rather than decorative. Elly's flight into the woods and Siobhan's fractured aftermath form a conversation about trauma, memory and the cost of reclaiming power. The women who gather at Hex House are not caricatures of victimhood.
They are complicated, sometimes frightening, often fierce.
My only reservations are that the pacing slackens in places and a repeated phrase began to grate, but those moments did not undo the book's emotional force. This is not a comfortable read. It asks you to sit with rage and with the idea that survival can demand hard choices. For readers who want horror that interrogates rather than merely shocks, Hex House is a memorable debut. I will be recommending it to friends who like their horror thoughtful, unsettling and rooted in human consequence and morally complicated too.
With thanks to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for the ALC
Publication Date Apr 28 2026
May 3, 2026
Hex house is a fantasy horror involving a mysterious sanctuary whose inhabitants are performing strange rituals.
The first chapter is incredibly compelling. Our first glimpse into this world is through the eyes of a character, Elly, who you can’t help but feel for. However, then the story moves on to our other narrator, who is certainly not as likable, but worse than that, not as compelling. Elly’s chapters fly by, but Siobhan’s chapters creep at a snails pace. Her story doesn’t feel as important until we reach the last slice of the book.
What this book has going for it is that readers know there is a tragedy that happens, but not quite what it is or how we come upon it. The fun is definitely in piecing together the story!
I wish the pacing was more consistent- it felt like getting a head full of information and action one chapter, and then the complete opposite the next. A jarring experience when reading.
The story itself once complete was satisfying and interesting (although I wasn’t blown away by the ending) I just wish the execution was a tatch cleaner.
The first chapter is incredibly compelling. Our first glimpse into this world is through the eyes of a character, Elly, who you can’t help but feel for. However, then the story moves on to our other narrator, who is certainly not as likable, but worse than that, not as compelling. Elly’s chapters fly by, but Siobhan’s chapters creep at a snails pace. Her story doesn’t feel as important until we reach the last slice of the book.
What this book has going for it is that readers know there is a tragedy that happens, but not quite what it is or how we come upon it. The fun is definitely in piecing together the story!
I wish the pacing was more consistent- it felt like getting a head full of information and action one chapter, and then the complete opposite the next. A jarring experience when reading.
The story itself once complete was satisfying and interesting (although I wasn’t blown away by the ending) I just wish the execution was a tatch cleaner.
May 25, 2026
Pregnant Elly is trying to escape her abusive husband when Hex House appears. It's a house that can only be found by people who need it, and boy does Elly need it. Hex House is where Elly meets Siobhan. Even after she leaves, Hex House is a place that Siobhan can't forget. Estranged from her brother and currently an alcoholic, Siobhan gets the chance to return to Hex House. But is the past worth digging up? Or should some secrets stay buried?
This female empowerment book should have been a win-win for me, but I had a few issues with it. First of all, it's very atmospheric which is a good thing. But as often happens when an author focuses too much on world building or story., the ones who suffer are the characters, I had a hard time relating to any of the characters because they felt a bit flat. As I said, the story is great, the world of Hex House is super interesting, but the characters were just not there.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Lianne Walker was a great narrator and I would probably give Stewart another go.
This female empowerment book should have been a win-win for me, but I had a few issues with it. First of all, it's very atmospheric which is a good thing. But as often happens when an author focuses too much on world building or story., the ones who suffer are the characters, I had a hard time relating to any of the characters because they felt a bit flat. As I said, the story is great, the world of Hex House is super interesting, but the characters were just not there.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Lianne Walker was a great narrator and I would probably give Stewart another go.
April 28, 2026
The ultimate direction and conclusion of the book really let me down. It's very much a good-for-her type of story that focuses on women's rage. However I'm much more of an SFF reader and I felt that the book's engagement with the themes was far more litfic/magical surrealism than I'm personally a fan of.
I also don't enjoy the Thriller type of book that has a simple premise and a simple explanation that the reader can guess from the beginning, but insists on dragging and dragging out the 'mystery' to keep you engaged. It's not engaging; it's just frustrating and feels kinda cheap and transparent.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing me an ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I also don't enjoy the Thriller type of book that has a simple premise and a simple explanation that the reader can guess from the beginning, but insists on dragging and dragging out the 'mystery' to keep you engaged. It's not engaging; it's just frustrating and feels kinda cheap and transparent.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing me an ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 29, 2026
Shoutout to Titan Books & NetGalley for this copy in exchange for my honest feedback!
As soon as I sensed the depth between the multiple POVs (Elly and Siobhan's), that page-gripping tension built with the non-linear narrative and the hungry, angry spirit in our revenger Haina, I knew I'd be hooked on this book. And I sure was right. Fiercely full of female rage and empowered by the intense energy of the powers within the house, the women in this story are sure to be remembered for their courage, and their sacrifices.
Just ever so captivating, cunning and impressive— I was deeply entangled, enchanted and emotionally bewitched by Amy's debut novel. Kudos and cannot wait to read more in the future ✨
As soon as I sensed the depth between the multiple POVs (Elly and Siobhan's), that page-gripping tension built with the non-linear narrative and the hungry, angry spirit in our revenger Haina, I knew I'd be hooked on this book. And I sure was right. Fiercely full of female rage and empowered by the intense energy of the powers within the house, the women in this story are sure to be remembered for their courage, and their sacrifices.
Just ever so captivating, cunning and impressive— I was deeply entangled, enchanted and emotionally bewitched by Amy's debut novel. Kudos and cannot wait to read more in the future ✨
April 27, 2026
Ethereal, supernatural
Two women, two different set of circumstances end up needing the necessity of a place, rumored to be a myth, an urban legend-The Hex House.
Supposedly a safe house of sorts, a place to hide from societal issues, and possibly rehabilitate-to regain one’s composure, strength and the will to move on.
A superb detail driven debut about life’s pitfalls, a place to regroup and possibly be handed “tough love”
The author’s handling of delicate issues and substance abuse is beautifully written into the story, while also rendering one speechless with the graphic descriptions.
Thanks to Titan Books for this arc, and a truly a unique reading experience!
Two women, two different set of circumstances end up needing the necessity of a place, rumored to be a myth, an urban legend-The Hex House.
Supposedly a safe house of sorts, a place to hide from societal issues, and possibly rehabilitate-to regain one’s composure, strength and the will to move on.
A superb detail driven debut about life’s pitfalls, a place to regroup and possibly be handed “tough love”
The author’s handling of delicate issues and substance abuse is beautifully written into the story, while also rendering one speechless with the graphic descriptions.
Thanks to Titan Books for this arc, and a truly a unique reading experience!
May 12, 2026
A dark gem of a book🖤
I was so desperate to get my hands on an early copy of Hex House when I found out they’d be available at Fiction Fest and I was over the moon when I was able to grab it on the day!
It is haunting and enchanting, pulling you in and refusing to let go of you even once you’ve closed the last page. These characters have a little piece of my heart, especially Elly who I just adore, and their stories will stay with me for a very long time.
This is one of those books that calls out to you every time you’re away from it. The kind that you can’t shake from your mind. It is a dark fairytale, a beautiful exploration of feminine strength and rage. I was absolutely blown away by this debut and will be talking about this book to anyone and everyone who will listen.
I was so desperate to get my hands on an early copy of Hex House when I found out they’d be available at Fiction Fest and I was over the moon when I was able to grab it on the day!
It is haunting and enchanting, pulling you in and refusing to let go of you even once you’ve closed the last page. These characters have a little piece of my heart, especially Elly who I just adore, and their stories will stay with me for a very long time.
This is one of those books that calls out to you every time you’re away from it. The kind that you can’t shake from your mind. It is a dark fairytale, a beautiful exploration of feminine strength and rage. I was absolutely blown away by this debut and will be talking about this book to anyone and everyone who will listen.
Did Not Finish
March 18, 2026DNF @ 40%
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan for the e-ARC.
This book was sadly not for me. While the writing was good, I'm not a fan of magical realism at all. I thought the book would be a horror fantasy but this wasn't the vibe.
I did not like the characters at all, and while I did get the sense that I was supposed to feel bad for them, I had no clue about them or their personalities as far in as 40%. While I would be intrigued to know what happens, I found myself not caring and not wanting to pick up the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan for the e-ARC.
This book was sadly not for me. While the writing was good, I'm not a fan of magical realism at all. I thought the book would be a horror fantasy but this wasn't the vibe.
I did not like the characters at all, and while I did get the sense that I was supposed to feel bad for them, I had no clue about them or their personalities as far in as 40%. While I would be intrigued to know what happens, I found myself not caring and not wanting to pick up the book.
Read
May 19, 2026
Trigger & Content Warnings
Emotional, physical & verbal intimate partner abuse
Substance addiction mentioned
Alcohol abuse & mentions of alcoholism, including brief depiction of withdrawal
Murder
Emesis
Emotional, physical & verbal intimate partner abuse
Substance addiction mentioned
Alcohol abuse & mentions of alcoholism, including brief depiction of withdrawal
Murder
Emesis
Did Not Finish
May 13, 2026Not holding my interest. Dnf at 50%
May 25, 2026
Beautifully haunting tale of feminine rage. A bit slow and confusing at times, but a good story.
Did Not Finish
May 10, 2026DNF at 51%
June 2, 2026
This debut horror folklore novel is a dark and uneasy tale of trauma, feminine rage, and revenge. Hex House is a sanctuary for women that appears in the woods, only for those who desperately need it. But at what cost?
Would you like to come inside? (I’d think carefully about that.)
Hex House is a dual perspective and timeline, following Elly’s journey to the house in the past, and Siobhan in the present as she tries to navigate her life after leaving. Elly is gentle and vulnerable and pregnant. She wants the house to make her stronger, to be someone her child can be proud of. Siobhan is reliant on alcohol and manipulating the people in her life to try to forget the past. The characters are complex, gritty, and flawed in the best way. I was absolutely rooting for them. There is gore, claws, and hidden secrets at Hex House. The brilliance of this is how Amy Jane Stewart navigates this twisted and rotting story with the most beautiful and intricate writing style, almost poetic in places. All of the pieces come together for a satisfying, albeit troubling, conclusion. I loved this. Can’t wait to see what’s next for Stewart.
Would you like to come inside? (I’d think carefully about that.)
Hex House is a dual perspective and timeline, following Elly’s journey to the house in the past, and Siobhan in the present as she tries to navigate her life after leaving. Elly is gentle and vulnerable and pregnant. She wants the house to make her stronger, to be someone her child can be proud of. Siobhan is reliant on alcohol and manipulating the people in her life to try to forget the past. The characters are complex, gritty, and flawed in the best way. I was absolutely rooting for them. There is gore, claws, and hidden secrets at Hex House. The brilliance of this is how Amy Jane Stewart navigates this twisted and rotting story with the most beautiful and intricate writing style, almost poetic in places. All of the pieces come together for a satisfying, albeit troubling, conclusion. I loved this. Can’t wait to see what’s next for Stewart.
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