House of Monstrous Women - by Daphne Fama Hardcover

About the Book

"Josephine del Rosario feels like a pariah in her town. Long orphaned after her father's political campaign ends in tragedy, she's all alone taking care of the family home while her older brother is off in Manila, where a revolution brews. And it's starting to feel like he's abandoning her. When she receives a letter from her cherished childhood friend Hiraya, inviting her to play a game, she jumps at the reason to leave town. Josephine will have whatever her heart desires if she wins. Maybe Josephine can change her life. It doesn't matter that dark rumors have always surrounded Hiraya"--

Book Synopsis

A young woman is drawn into a dangerous game after being invited to the mazelike home of her childhood friend, a rumored witch, in this gothic horror set in 1986 Philippines.

In this game, there's one rule: survive.

Orphaned after her father's political campaign ended in tragedy, Josephine is alone taking care of the family home while her older brother is off in Manila, where revolution brews. But an unexpected invitation from her childhood friend Hiraya to her house offers an escape. . . .

Why don't you come visit, and we can play games like we used to?

If Josephine wins, she'll get whatever her heart desires. Her brother is invited, too, and it's time they had a talk. Josephine's heard the dark whispers: Hiraya is a witch and her family spits curses. But still, she's just desperate enough to seize this chance to change her destiny.

Except the Ranoco house is strange, labyrinthine, and dangerously close to a treacherous sea. A sickly-sweet smell clings to the dimly lit walls, and veiled eyes follow Josephine through endless connecting rooms. The air is tense with secrets, and as the game continues it's clear Josephine doesn't have the whole truth.

To save herself, she will have to play to win. But in this house, victory is earned with blood.

A lush new voice in horror arises in this riveting gothic set against the upheaval of 1986 Philippines and the People Power Revolution.

Review Quotes

Praise for House of Monstrous Women

"Fama turns the 'haunted house' on its head, trading in the Victorian-era colonial-home imagery for a vibrant, eerie, beautifully haunting imagined world grounded in Indigenous Filipino folklore."
--Elle

"Fama's debut is ecstatically terrifying. Each page is a glistening homage to Filipino history and folklore and gothic atmosphere. I could not fight the lure of this story and I'm certain it will haunt me for days."
--Roshani Chokshi, bestselling author of The Last Tale of The Flower Bride

"Mesmerizing. Beautifully written, richly atmospheric, and compulsively readable, the horrors in these pages are confronted with ferocious hope. Suspenseful and heartfelt, House of Monstrous Women is a stunning gothic and an exceptional debut."
--Rachel Harrison, USA Today bestselling author of So Thirsty

"In lush prose, Fama paints Ranoco House as labyrinthine and sinister and masterfully incorporates the backdrop of political upheaval and brewing revolution in Manila to add to the tension. The result is a wonderfully fresh take on gothic horror that should win the author a legion of fans."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Themes of political oppression, intergenerational trauma, and feminine power reflect in both the real-world and supernatural horrors Josephine must survive. This is a sharp, scary read...."
--Booklist (starred review)

"Both grisly and tender, House of Monstrous Women invites readers to play an exhilarating, deadly game. Seamlessly blending history and horror, this spectacular story will hold you captive until dawn."
--Kylie Lee Baker, author of Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng

"Incredibly chilling and unforgettable. House of Monstrous Women found so many of my deepest fears and magnified them. This has to be one of the best horror books of the year."
--Darcy Coates, USA Today bestselling author of Where He Can't Find You

"A delicious blend of historical and horror, House of Monstrous Women uses the backdrop of mid-1980s Philippines to mirror the violence and terror in the story. From the deadly game played between friends to the mazelike house at the heart of the novel, a constant sense of unease awaits around every corner. Daphne Fama's debut will fully immerse you in an unsettling story that weaves its hooks into you and won't let go."
--Del Sandeen, author of This Cursed House

"Imagine being invited to an old friend's house. Then imagine that you might not leave alive. Those are the stakes upon entering Daphne Fama's House of Monstrous Women, a pulse-pounding tale of family trauma, frayed friendship, and political oppression. Forget warm and welcoming rooms. In this house, expect tension thicker than the rugs, dread that practically flows from the taps, and a bed chilled by your own cold sweat."
--Nick Medina, author of Indian Burial Ground

"...Truly atmospheric and unique."
--Montecito Journal

"...[S]ure to grasp you tightly, start your heart racing, and inspire a cold sweat."
--Ginger Nuts of Horror

"It's gothic and historical fiction at its finest, with a thought-provoking narrative that lingers long after turning the final page."
--Cemetery Dance Magazine

"Fama's evocative writing is perfect for this story, full of vivid imagery that brings every terrible detail to life. ... a fresh take on the gothic subgenre, perfectly written and paced, and is a must read for all horror fans."
--Books, Bones and Buffy

"Perhaps the most impressive element of House of Monstrous Women is that it is indeed Fama's debut novel. It is remarkably accomplished in prose and narrative structure and has some great character work."
--SFF World

"From the first sentence, the air feels charged with dread...It's both unsettling and addictive, perfect for readers who want intensity and beauty from the very start."
--Times Now News

About the Author

Daphne Fama was born in the American South, embedded in its tight-knit Filipino community. When she's not writing stories about monsters and the women who love them, she's writing about video games. And when she's not writing, she's spending every minute adoring her partner and pup.