Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Addiction, Substance abuse, Drug use, Violence, Torture, Death, Colonialism, Trauma, Blood, Sexual assault (referenced), Pregnancy / childbirth, Magical coercion
The House of Binding Thorns
by Aliette de Bodard
Book 2 in Dominion of the Fallen
Come for the dragon kingdom under the Seine; stay for the political marriage nobody can afford to treat as harmless. It is gothic fantasy with court intrigue sharp enough to draw blood.
goodreads 3.89/5 1,441 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length320 pages
Series statusCompleted series · 5 books
Spice0/5
PacingMedium
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Found family
- None
- Intellectual satisfaction
- Thought-provoking
- Book hangover
Fantasy promise
- Dark fantasy
- Big city / metropolis
- Alternate history
- Angels
- Royal court / palace
- Gothic
Show more
- Dragons
- Underground / underworld
- Post-apocalyptic
- Slum / undercity
- Grimdark / dark fantasy
Reading experience
- Multi-POV
- Medium
- Atmospheric
- Heavy
- High
- Survivor
Show more
- Queer
- Dark
- Lush
- Damaged survivor
- Sapphic
- Apothecary
- Gay
- Tense
- Literary
- Protector
- Asian MC
- Haunting
- Character-driven
- BIPOC MC
- Political intrigue
- Forbidden knowledge
- Bargain with consequences
- Morally complex
- No one is safe
Similar stories
Similar in ways that matter
Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
547 pages Completed
The House of Sundering Flames
Aliette de Bodard
Similar because
Alternate history · Dragons · Angels
Different because
A longer read (547 vs 320 pages).
507 pages Completed
Cast in Shadow
Michelle Sagara
Similar because
Slum / undercity · Dragons · Forbidden knowledge
Different because
A longer read (507 vs 320 pages).
400 pages Standalone
Vespertine
Margaret Rogerson
Similar because
Bargain with consequences · Forbidden knowledge · Underground / underworld
Different because
It is standalone rather than completed.
Book details
- Length
- 320 pages
- Publisher
- Gollancz
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book