House of Matchsticks

Written by Elisa Downing

Narrated by Zura Johnson

Deadly machines. Strange creatures. A sinister secret.

A crew of treasure hunters risking their hearts to uncover the truth.

But they’ll have to find the lost House of Matchsticks first …

"Readers will be swept away … [House of Matchsticks] is a literary rarity." –The Booklife Prize

On the surface of the sea, a burning island beckons the Collector.

Approaching the fire, the Collector bears witness to a vicious crime. When he realizes an innocent life will be lost—a baby, swathed in a bundle and left to die in a floating rowboat—the Collector makes a choice that will change his course forever.

So begins House of Matchsticks, a brand-new, unforgettable YA Fantasy series set in a world called Benemourne, where a mysterious ore powers a society rife with danger.

Follow Isaline, a girl who dreams of becoming a City Watchman in Benemourne’s capital, and Jack, a former treasure hunter with a dark and painful obsession, as they are dragged with the Collector into the beginnings of a deadly adventure.

House of Matchsticks is a third person, multi-POV series with found family, slow-burn romance (straight and LGBTQ+), and a healthy dose of action/adventure. This is Part 1 in the series. Expect a cliffhanger.

The House of Matchsticks series:

1. House of Matchsticks
2. Night of Matchsticks
3. Tree of Matchsticks

... and more to come.

PS. Your first clue: it’s all upside down.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dark Window Books
• Release date: Jul 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781778183553

Reviews for House of Matchsticks

[Reina · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book! The narrator has a captivating way of bringing the words to life and the story is varied and intriguing! Can't wait to start the second book <3

[Lyss Elaine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Audio ARC review:

(I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review)
Holy heck! That ending of part one! This book is definitely my jam. It’s got everything I love, interesting characters with enough of a back story to understand their motives, but not too much where you lose the actual plot line. A little magic, and a found family in the works! I’m loving the elements that are coming together here! I went into this pretty blind and I love when I do that because I’m always pleasantly surprised. I was a little hesitant doing a fantasy audiobook because I prefer to read those. However, I really enjoyed how this one was written. The world building was not a huge info dump at the beginning like most fantasies kind of have to be, but instead it unfolded as the story went in a seamless way. When you needed to know what was next, Elisa built it up and perfectly placed it. I’m really excited to see where the character relationships go! So…. Do I wait for the next audio release, or do I satiate this cliffhanger?! Ahh!!!!

[Book Loving Nerd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Saying I liked this book would be under rating. I loved this book and can’t wait to continue on with the series.