Review: A House of Fangs & Deceit by Alex Frost

May 16, 2026

Synopsis:

The fae are gone and the monsters reign.

I am Samara Harker, and ruling is in my blood. As the Heir to House Harker, I’ve spent my life preparing for the union with another House’s Heir. The plan was simple: My future husband and I would jointly govern his House, and I’d fortify the delicate bonds between the Moroi Houses, Velesian Packs, and what remained of the Furies.

No one feels the weight of disappointment more than I do when my carefully orchestrated marriage and life crumble into ruins. After enduring betrayal and humiliation, I find myself forced to retreat to House Harker.

Returning home means encountering both old friends and adversaries. But things have shifted since my youth. In those days, I was promised to another. Now, I’m unshackled, free to pursue whatever—or whoever—my heart craves.

Unfortunately, my desire might have to wait. Because the monsters lurking in the shadows are growing stronger by the day… and my own people are helping them.

A House of Fangs & Deceit is book one of the Lunaria Realms series. This is a spicy why choose fantasy romance which means there is no choosing between love interests by the end of the story. You can expect different types of relationships ranging from sweet and playful to dark enemies-to-lovers; set in a world full of monsters with a dark history.

Review:

Samara was a character I fell in love with almost instantly. She is intelligent, outspoken, and not especially good at holding back – she tries, but it doesn’t always work in her favour. Three years into an arranged marriage, she is deeply frustrated and tired of not being taken seriously. When she finally gets the opportunity to share her ideas and is punished for speaking up, she reaches her limit and decides to return home.

What awaits her there is the complete opposite of what she endured for years. At home, she is valued and respected – though not equally by everyone – and, most importantly, she finally feels like herself again. She becomes a woman with a clear purpose, determined to move forward on her own terms, and no one is going to stop her.

This book was an absolute joy to read. It doesn’t present entirely new ideas, but it takes familiar concepts and gives them a fresh spin, which I really enjoyed. Samara reclaiming her sense of self – through the way she dresses, the choices she makes, and the way she goes after what she wants – reflected her journey back to herself, and I loved every part of it. The men around her certainly didn’t hurt either. The worldbuilding isn’t overly complex, but it adds enough depth to keep things interesting and made me want to know more. Overall, this was a strong start to the series, and I’m very much looking forward to what comes next.

🌙 Recension: A House of Fangs & Deceit (Lunaria Realms #1) by Alex Frost
📚 Genre: Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance, Vampires
📅 Release Date: January 23, 2024
📖 Publisher: ‎Greymalkin Press
📱 Read as: Kindle
📗 available in various formats
💸 I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 368
⭐️ 4/5