Thank you to @netgalley and @torbooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @macmillian.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

This dark gothic story was wrapped in a shear scarf of whimsy thanks to the love developed between Opal and Arthur. I loved the description of the house and the magical draw it has on Opal. I love that it took actual monsters from a girls imagination to allow her to see the love and kindness that has blanketed her hard life. The lesson of creating your own happiness to change your surroundings is key for Opal and Arthur to both learn.

There were some things that confused me through out the book. I didn’t understand the beasts or the mist that Arthur kept fighting until the very end. And I was really lost on the whole “entering the Underworld”.

I still enjoyed the book and am so glad to have read it!

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #torbooks #macmillianaudio #ltbreaderteam #starlinghouse #alixharrow

I really love gothic horror, and I liked the idea of this book, but it was not the book for me and I was disappointed. This was my first book by this author, but I did not mesh well with the writing style. I found it overly descriptive yet oddly abrupt at the same time. I get gothic horror is about giving details to paint a horrific picture, but this one, just didn’t work. I also found this book a lot slower than I am used too. Yes, gothic horror is a slow burn, but there is usually a good momentum. I did enjoy the touch of romance in this book. And the cover really made me want to pick it up. I am sad it didn’t work for me but I hope it works for you.

Thank you to Tor & Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Well isn't this just the perfect read to get you ready for spooky season! STARLING HOUSE is just creepy enough to keep readers on the edge of their seat anticipating what's going to happen next - especially when more information about The Underland is exposed. And the house? Oh Starling House is a beautiful gothic sentient being that I would give almost anything to explore.

Side note - I LOVED the brief Little Shop of Horrors reference early on in the novel and that one of the few people in Opal's corner is the local librarian (which isn't giving that character quite enough credit but I don't want to include any spoilers).

Speaking of Opal, she is scrappy and is fiercely protective of the few people she cares about. I thoroughly enjoy when our "hero" is morally gray. Arthur is an interesting recluse as is how and why he's tied to Starling House.

The mystery is interesting and the conclusion of the conflict is satisfying. While this is perfect as a standalone, I wouldn't say no to a novella giving readers an update on what happens next. Overall, Harrow has done it again with a compelling read seeped in the traditions of the gothic novel.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Tor Books in exchange for an honest review.

Strange, deep and hopeful- a story where the real horror is provided not by the monsters, but by men.

Starling House is one of my new favourite stories 💙 it's a perfect autumn read, so go preorder it so you can enjoy it in the first days of October! Besides, isn't it gorgeous?

Opal quickly became one of my new fictional friends. Or at least I became hers, she would definitely not warm up easily to a stranger. She has learnt to separate wants from needs, and pours her every waking moment into her goal, to save her brother from the life they got stuck in. Well-meaning but clueless, it takes literal monsters to make her open her eyes to the glimpses of kindness all around her. Random thing I loved about her: Opal's reaction to people's attacks is not fight or flight, it's fawn. She's very aware of it, but it's still coming out as an armour against the world. Did I mention I think we could be friends?

I listened to the ARC and I want to go back and read it slowly to soak in every word. I absolutely loved the narration- Natalie Naudus is simply fantastic and she makes the characters' voices truly come to life 🤎

ALL the stars and a permanent rent-free spot in my brain 🖤

This book took a little while for me to get into, but by the end I absolutely couldn't put it down. The slow build-up is absolutely earned; one of the best descriptors I could think of for this book is 'textured.' There is so much texture and detail to the world, the characters, Starling House and its inhabitants—both past and present—as rough as Opal and Arthur's lives are, I can't help but want to revisit their world again and again.

While the plot didn't necessarily pull me, the unfolding mysteries surrounding Starling House and Opal's life kept me seated and glued to the page. At times, I didn't think the romance elements would work for me, but I surprisingly ended up loving these two goons and wanting them to be happy.

A great pick for fans of the classic romantic Gothic who are looking for a fresh twist.

More like 4’5 stars.

Thank you so much Tor for a copy of Starling House!!!

I liked this one A LOT. The only reason it’s not 5 stars is because I reserve that for books that completely shatter me—and although this book did not do that, it was still super very enjoyable!

What I adored most about this story was Opal. Alix did such an incredible job with her character that she felt real. She was relatable, self-deprecating,, funny, selfless only for certain people. I loved her because she had flaws, she wasn’t perfect. She wasn’t even pretty! She had cavities and was on the dirtier side, always miserable. She made for such a memorable character.

I enjoyed the magic and the plot as well! I had theories and they turned out not to be true—I’m not great at predictions, oops. The starling house was eerie and interesting, and so were the secrets it held!

So essentially, if you want a spooky fall read, absolutely add this to your list!

What can I say about the newest Alix E. Harrow that I haven’t said about the previous ones?
This book made me cry bitter tears of heartbreak. It made me laugh and cheer and brought my heart to my throat. I wish I could go back and read it again for the first time.

For publisher only: there's a small discrepancy in narrative: Jasper finds Arthur after a multi-day drinking binge after Opal leaves, but there's also a line near the end that says Arthur hasn't touched a drop of alcohol since the day the Corvette went into the water.

Imagine my surprise, and even delight, to have the male lead in a book described as looking like a sick crow and a human gargoyle. This was a total 180 from what we're all used to; by now we expect tall and broad, strong and steady, Matthew Macfayden walking across that field with the chest hair and the coat billowing in the breeze and if you try to tell me that Colin Firth could ever top that I'll insist that you need to see a doctor about your head.

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow is my third Alix E. Harrow book and I am firmly an Alix E. Harrow fangirl at this point. (The other two I've read were The Ten Thousand Doors of January which was absolutely perfect in every way and The Once and Future Witches which was also absolutely lovely and wonderful). So when I found out that she'd written a gothic fairytale, nothing could have kept me from this book. Nothing.

Opal has lived a life of deceit, lying as easily as she breathes. Her mother raised her to be wild and carefree, down to choosing whatever last name may suit you at the time. But after her mother's death in a car accident, Opal is forced to grow up fast; she has her decade-younger brother, Jasper, to raise. They scrape by on Opal's job at Tractor Supply in their free Room 12 at the Garden of Eden motel--something that her mother "worked out" with the owner, Bev. Opal does what she can to survive while being haunted by dreams of the notorious Starling House, Eden, Kentucky's most gossiped about haunt.

Starling House is the former home of the now-beloved author, Eleanor Starling, who wrote the macabre Neo-Gothic and modernist children's book The Underland. The Underland is a tale about a young girl who discovers another world full of beasts beneath the ground. E. Starling, as she was professionally known, mysteriously disappeared one day, before being declared dead in 1886. Throughout the years since her disappearance, there have been a hodge podge of "Wardens" of Starling House; as soon as one dies or disappears, there is someone else there to take up the mantle and care for the house.

One day, Opal, having had enough of the dreams of Starling House that call to her so often, stomps up to the gates of the house, where she's told to run by the awkward and hunched resident, Arthur. She does, but she's not so easily turned off, quickly returning, where she is eventually offered a job as a housekeeper at Starling House--the only other person Arthur will let inside its doors. No sooner does Opal begin her employment than she is approached by a corporate looking woman asking questions and demanding secrets about Starling House, and threatens Jasper to force Opal to comply. Since Opal is a natural born liar, though, she does what she can to play everyone in order to keep the hefty income Arthur pays her (which she needs to try and fund a better future for Jasper).

Opal is brash and untrustworthy and absolutely wonderful. She's so different from main characters you're used to in all the best ways, and I freaking loved her. The devotion she had for her brother was so heart warming, and the lengths she'd go for her people, and for her notion of home, were so inspiring. I also loved Arthur, in his non-traditional-male-lead way. Even if he didn't exactly look the part of the romantic love interest we have come to expect, Arthur still has the heart of the brave and noble man we all know and love.

I love Alix E. Harrow's writing style, but I think that this may be my favorite of her books so far. It was dark and depressing while also ending on an inspiring, hopeful note. It felt like both a love letter and a middle finger to Kentucky, at the same time, which seems on brand since Alix is from Kentucky and probably shares many of the same feelings that Opal has about her hometown. I also really enjoyed the real-life problems that we see, making the book that much more relatable. A corporate, money-hungry mega plant poisoning the locals? That same company being able to pay a fine and continue doing what they were doing without making changes? Pollution in the air, making everyone sick? Cancer, asthma, and water that "just isn't quite bad enough for it to kill most folks"? We've seen and heard that all so often in real life. Teflon? Flint? This book will renew your rage.

I honestly can't say enough good things, this book was perfect.

Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read the E-ARC on Netgalley. I want to address that this is my first time reading a novel from Alix Harrow, so I'm on the fence about reading any other stories by her because I quickly lost interest in this one. I think I was expecting my horror from the story. I also wanted to know more about Opal's mother's upbringing and how it was caring for two children on her own. A huge plus was the characters. All of the characters felt real and unique in their way. However, I could not stand Elizabeth Baine! I say if you love Alix Harrow novels, definitely give this one a try.

Wow so spookily great! I read this in less than 24 hours and couldn’t put it down. It’s a Southern gothic horror story, a love story, a commentary on greed and corporate malfeasance, an examination of small town corruption, and finally a beautiful found family story plus what we’ll do for those we love. It’s so very atmospheric; while not an overly scary horror story, it is pretty creepy. I loved the relationship that developed between Opal and Arthur. They’re both so very damaged and morally grey, but also trying to protect what they care about. Arthur really reminded me of Eammon from For the Wolf.
This story has so many layers; the first half was good, but the second half really shone. I definitely cried a couple of time. Absolutely another beautiful book from Harrow.

4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the requested copy to review. All opinions are my own.

unexpected job offer might be a chance to get her brother out of Eden. Too quickly, though, Starling House starts to feel dangerously like something she’s never had: a home.
Release Date: October 3rd, 2023
Genre: Horror/Fantasy
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Liked the cover
2. Liked the idea of the book

What I Didn't Like:
1. God this writing is so over the top
2. Does the book ever end

Overall Thoughts:
I did not enjoy this book at all. I honestly feel like I've read this book so many times before;
"Tough as nails girl left to take care of a sibling, mother wasn't good with men, mother dies, father out of picture, has to take random job, owner of house is loner, owner of house is out of touch with "poor" people, owner slowly starts to be nice..blah blah.. They fall in love...blah"
This book is edging between Beauty and the Beast too - even with the character reading a retelling of the book in this story.

I found very very odd that they would hire one person randomly to clean this huge house by herself. And of course Opal thinks nothing of this.

I felt weighed down by the overly descriptive writing of every little thing. Describing the smallest thing like a blade of grass felt endless and pointless. Some of the descriptions made me laugh at them.
"Sucks the sugar off of her teeth."
How prey tell does one suck sugar off of their teeth? You'd look ridiculous even trying.

Why in these stories is government assistance never a thing? They just have to suck it up and live in this motel. She would rather her and Jasper struggle for his schooling to pay for it rather than ask for help. But it's even better because her working at the Starling House and putting all her money into the school is pointless because Jasper doesn't want to go. He got a scholarship and Financial aid too. So I guess he didn't need to know any of Opal's info to apply for those things. These two hiding things from one another is ridiculous.

I found the parts of the book with the authors noted very out of place and disruptive. I got the ebook & audiobook and the sections with them were something I found out I didn't care about at all.

Final Thoughts:
I dipped out at page 250. For so many reasons but it just kept going on and on. Opal felt too whiny. The book felt too long. The story is too similar to other stories that told it in a better way.

Recommend For:
• Gothic novels
• Creepy houses
• Sibling stories



Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio & Macmillan. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Obsession doesn’t even begin to describe it. Starling House was a magnificent gothic fantasy story I’ll be holding dear to my heart forever. Magic, mystery, intrigue, and excellently developed main characters. What more could you ask for?! I truly believe there’s something for everyone in this book. Completely perfect for spooky season!!

As a little bit of a slow first half, I ended up really liking Starling House. I think the author had specific and consistent themes that were executed well, which j always love to see. I liked the characters and I believed every relationship in the story, including the romance, which can be hard to do in a fantasy novel.

I definitely recommend this for anyone who likes fantasy and especially for people who like settings as characters. The titular Starling House was very well done.

Starling House is another winner from Alix Harrow. In this southern gothic tale we are introduced to the town and inhabitants of Eden, Kentucky a down-on-its-luck place that just hasn't been the same since the coal started to dry up. Eden is haunted by the ghosts (both literal and figurative, perhaps) of it's two prominent families, the Starlings and the Gravelys. Their descendants and everyone else in town are still dealing with decisions made long, long ago. Most notably in the form of Starling House and the secrets that lie beneath it. The House is a character and setting in this story and has a strong presence. Eden feels lived in and real and will feel especially real to anyone from a small town in the South. As ever, Alix Harrow weaves magic and reality throughout her stories and she writes complicated characters so well.

Starling House quickly immersed me in this chilling and addictive gothic fairytale set in a southern small town in Kentucky mixed with truth and fiction.

Alix E. Harrow brought some history to life in a fairytale way with Starling House in Eden, Kentucky. the house is alive, it's become a home for those with nowhere to call home or to belong. but it's not as easy as that. they are wardens of this house, brought here from all over to become a guardian to keep nightmarish beasts from escaping the Underland.

Opal and Arthur are both resilient in their quests. for Opal, that's taking care of her younger brother, and for Arthur, it's Starling House. i wasn't expecting a romance on the side, but the smallest of moments between them would send me into a blubbering and giddy little frenzy.

this would make a perfect cozy and spooky read during autumn when it's chilly, foggy, and gloomy outside.

The plotline sounds familiar but the author's voice is far from ordinary. I sometimes fall short in words when I'm still in awe of wanting to be part of the book. Opal looks hopelessly stuck in the dire situation with her younger brother, barely surviving. From the outside, she's feisty but the only reason she can continue her way of life is because she believes in the potential of her younger brother. She's determined to get her younger brother out of this town for good, far from their past. When she gets an unexpected job offer from the owner of town's infamous Starling House, which everyone believes is a bad omen, she starts to feel something she didn't expect, a hope and warmth of a home.

There are moments of heartwarming conversations when Opal realizes that her relentless will to survive became the currency for many around her who've been secretly helping her out. Opal makes me want to live my life to the fullest. Arthur makes me want to have integrity, and Jaspar, oh he made me realize the only way of returning a favor is to live fearlessly and be the best version of myself. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is hoping for more than just a mystery/horror book but who's looking to feel the rawness of up and down human interactions at its finest.

Opal has spent the last ten years of her life living in Room 12 of the Garden of Eden motel, taking care of her younger brother since the death of their mom. Her strange dreams and nightmares become real when she is drawn one night to Starling House and meets Arthur, the seeming caretaker of the dilapidated mansion. While the rest of the town tends to shy away from the property, Opal has always been fascinated by it and once she meets Arthur their lives will never be the same.

This is a book that I think you’re going to see everywhere when it releases in October and I’ll just say it now, yes this is the perfect book for your spooky Fall tbr. Get the plastic skeletons, pumpkins and haunted house movies out now because you’ll be dripping in black and orange after hearing my review for this.

I knew by the first few pages that this was going to be addicting. Sometimes you just know, "yup, this is a 5 star read" and it was. I can with certainty describe this book as very howls moving castle but instead of a castle it’s a creepy old house with a personality of it’s own and instead of fantasy, it’s modern day but it still has that whimsy feel.

Our main character Opal is your typical 26 year old trying to get by, she works at tractor supply, lives in a motel and is trying to help her brother get out of Eden Kentucky though his education has him stuck there but she’s kind of stuck there to. She’s always had these strange dreams about starling house, a creepy old manor that people of Eden Kentucky (the setting of the book) consider the curse of the town, the stain that can’t be removed and she relates to this feeling as the people of this town don’t like her either so she feels a connection because of this. So every night when walking home from work, she passes starling house and there’s always a single light on in one of the windows so she gets curious, and through a series of events, meets the last remaining heir to starling house (who I pictured as a very emo looking figure that I know many are going to swoon over. I’m calling it now. this is the next rhysand or azriel) and she gets a job as a caretaker there for some faster cash.

Cozy horror is a really good descriptor for this. Whether you like scary books or you don’t, I think you’re going to love this either way. It’s just spooky enough to quench my horror cravings cause there are definitly some scary scenes, some that are bloody but also not so spooky that someone is going to have nightmares and the whimsical, magical, mysterious feel to the story, helps dilute that. What adds depth to this story even more is we get the POV of Arthur starling, the caretaker himself, the last warden of Starling House and I thought this was a really clever add on to touch base with the reader that this wretched character that we’re supposed to fear has feelings and emotion and is fighting an invisible war all on his own. I loved this. It’s in my top 5 reads of the year. It’s the most perfect fall read that you can imagine. I will definitely be getting myself a physical copy. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was in some book boxes, run, don’t walk if those are announced.

If you tell me you have a gothic fairytale that is set in a small town on your hands, I will be the first to rip it away from you and sit down and DEVOUR it. Add to that the writing style and storytelling that Alix E. Harrow does and you have a match made in heaven.
Having an object (house) be a main character in a story is just so, I can't find the words but I love it. It makes me look at any inanimate object in my home and go, 'What story could you tell, and what have you seen?' It truly adds to the depth and creativity of Alix's storytelling.
I was hooked from the very beginning of this story, which doesn't surprise me because it is Alix's writing. But I was PULLED into this world, with Harrow's vivid imagery, I have to say, this may be Alix's best yet.
This is very much THE book you want to curl up with this fall, put this on your TBR ASAP!

*Thank you Tor Books and NetGalley for giving me this arc*

A classic haunted house trope with generational curses, a scrappy protagonist, and a complicated romance. This is a great spooky season read with just enough creep to keep you interested but not too much to keep you up all night.