⭐️Book Review⭐️

📖 The Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
🐦 Goose the Hornbill

Opal is doing everything she can to help her younger brother get out of town and reach his real potential. Unfortunately, the orphans are cursed and there is a dark entity who doesn’t want them to leave.

I struggled with this story for several reasons- one, there are so many secrets that the characters keep from each other that it poses the question: do these characters ever talk to each other about anything other than superficial topics?
Also, nobody ever seems able to express their true feelings. Everyone is constantly suppressing what they think and feel- leading to more unnecessary secrets. The story felt fractured in some areas- 2/3 of the way through it felt like the whole story was winding down to an end but there was still over 100 pages to go.

After a lot of thought, though, I realized that a couple of teenagers- who practically raised themselves in a town that doesn’t seem to want to see them succeed- would probably be very flawed and secretive people. It makes sense that they would try to hide their vulnerability and emphasize their independence. So I ultimately forgive the characters but still didn’t love the story as much as I wanted to. Especially given how much I LOVE the cover.

I still plan to Once and Future Witches by this author but now I’ll be doing it with cautious optimism.

Thank you to @netgalley for the audiobook- it helped me stay engaged as I read the physical copy from @bookofthemonth.

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I kept seeing people say that the first half of this book is really slow and they almost DNFd but the second half is so good that they ended up loving it. I weirdly felt exactly the opposite. The first half of the book, and maybe it's because I was expecting it to be bad, I actually enjoyed. I liked the tone that the author set. I enjoyed the idea of the house feeling like a character. There was a mystery that was set up that was intriguing. And a hint of a romance that I was hopeful for. But the second half of the book just fell flat for me. I didn't find myself caring about any of the characters. They all ended up feeling very cookie-cutter/caricature-esque. The romance was strange and passionless. Opal and Arthur seemed to take it in turns to see each other more as projects or stray animals that needed caring for than fully formed love interests. At least that's how I felt. As the "mystery" resolved, I didn't feel like there were any real stakes. And in the end it just kind of dragged for me. There were things that I liked about the writing, and the audiobook was really well done. But overall this was a miss for me.

what drew me in here?

for me, it was the promise of a haunted house in kentucky, a creep factor weaving through the nuances of rural living. i love southern gothic literature very much and in the beginning of this one, that's what i thought i was going to get.

first off - vibes were immaculate. i felt like i could see the overcast sky. i could see the dirty motel room that opal and her brother are sequestered in, trying to keep their heads above water since the deaths of their parents.

starling house is a looming, crumbling fixture in eden, kentucky. opal feels drawn to it and she doesn't know why. but when she clutches the gates closed around the ramshackle manse, the mysterious arthur starling himself compulsively offers opal a well-paying job that for opal is the ticket to paying her brother's expensive school tuition.

the first part of this book is vibes - we explore the unkemptness of the mansion, see the dynamics between opal and her brother, then opal and arthur.

about midway through, i feel like this becomes a different book than what i was expecting, leaning all the way into the horror fantasy romance archetype.

a lot of the plot hinges on an old book called the underland and how opal's been obsessed with it since she was young. if the plot really failed at any point for me, i don't think i got enough of the story of that book and when it became an object central to the plot.

all in all, i think this was a good book. for me, my expectations failed me, but i think it'll be well-loved by most.

3.75 stars rounded up

Thank you Macmillan Audio for an ARC of Starling House in exchange of my honest review.


Starling house is the story of accursed town and haunted house. Opal, our FMC is trying to make ends meet for her and her brother and raising funds to send him to a private school after the tragic death of her mother.
After follow this weird dreams that she has, she see herself employed to the brooding resident of the haunted house.

I really liked this eerie sentient house and all the history behind it. It was my favorite part of the book seeing the house imposing his wants to Opal and Arthur. I also enjoyed her relationship with her brother that seems to be the only less depressed character of this book.

There were elements that threw me off though. The first more obvious was the exchange of POVs that also changed the voice. Opal’s chapters are always in first person while Arthur’s chapters are in third. This felt odd, and in my head, it messed with the pace and made the book feel longer.
Also the plot about the people wanting to gain information about the house was quite unnecessary in my opinion. I understand it gives a layer of thriller to the story bringing some urgency and stakes but I thought it was not well done. lastly, this book was marketed as gothic but I believe it was a bit misleading label. I would say that is a low fantasy book with gloomy and horror elements, but not gothic.

Overall it was an interesting book with elements that are great for fall.

I had no idea what to expect when I started this audiobook. But I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable this book was. It didn’t suck me and hold my attention fully, but I loved the mystery surround Starling House and I loved learning all the history about Opal, Arthur, the house, and the town.

The narrator did a fantastic job bringing it all to life and I look forward to listening to my books narrated by Natalie Naudus.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this audiobook. This is my honest voluntary review.

I absolutely love this book. Themes of class structures, socioeconomic disparities, and generational storytelling consume the pages of literary fiction. Still, Alix E Harrow proves that gothic lit can also be their perfect vehicle. Hauntingly beautiful prose mixed with equally hauntingly beautiful illustrations (thanks Lindsey for sending me pictures of your final copy) makes Starling House an excellent selection for October.

What I loved (spoilers in my bullet points - so stop reading if on your TBR):
✨Female rage: Starling House was built by Eleanor Starling, who, as the legend goes, murdered her husband and used his money to build the house that seemingly haunts the town. However, Eleanor’s emotional and physical trauma controls the land and Starling House to the point that Starling House feels like a female character. Brilliant!
✨Magical world: dreams, folklore, and legendary curses create real and imagined monsters. Atmospheric is an understatement.
✨Unexpected love story & found family: Both these tropes weirdly wormed their way into my heart. I couldn't help but cheer for some of these morally gray characters.

I paired the physical with the audio, which Natalie Naudus narrated. Her narration adds to the dream-like quality of the story. As a reader, you can’t go wrong with either format.

Excuse me while I rush out to buy a finished copy. I need the illustrations. But I’m forever keeping my ARC for all the well-placed f-bombs. @alixeharrow - I understand why you deleted them, but they provided the best-unexpected humor for me. I’ll cherish both copies.

“Starling House”(Audiobook 3.5 Stars/Print - 4.5 Stars) (Pub Date:10/03/2023) by Alix E Harrow/Narrated by Natalie Naudus was a great story with a narrator that didn’t sit quite right with me, and left me with what I determined later, was the wrong voice in my head. The pacing of the reading was slower than I prefer, but didn’t flow well when sped up by the audiobook app. You should read this book because it was a great story, but if you’re picky about your audiobook voice acting or reading pace then maybe keep it to the print/e-book format. A pre-listen on your audiobook app should address any questions you might have and the story is definitely worth it! I've edited this review to include details of both the audiobook and print versions.

Good Things: The narrator was distinct, and created a very definitive version of the main character and her voice. The story itself was GREAT, and I loved the form of the story with the ‘footnotes’ and mystery “reporter” narrator telling the story. I loved the sense of place and Starling House itself. <don’t worry, “best friend who hates when I recommend atmospheric ‘place’ novels”. This isn’t that”>. Pacing of narration was very deliberate, and print read was perfection.

Final Thoughts: I appreciate the opportunity afforded me to have an early listen to the audiobook version of this story by netgalley and Macmillan Audio but I will most likely not request audiobook versions of books from netgalley again because I was not able to pre-listen to the narrators voice before requesting, and found it too difficult to concentrate on her reading of the story. This does not mean that other readers won’t LOVE THE NARRATOR, I’m just extremely picky and have an atrocious attention span for audio, unless it’s perfect (for me). Alix E. Harrow knocked it out of the park <again> and I've split the difference on my 3.5 stars for narration / 4.5 stars for pint.

The opinions in this review are expressly those of ButIDigressBookClub and are intended for use by my followers and friends when choosing their next book. #butidigress #butidigressbookclub #starlinghouse #macmillanaudio #alixeharrow #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #arc #arcs

Details
Review Shared on Goodreads - www.goodreads.com/leah_cyphert_butidigressbookclub
Publishing Review 10/20/2023

This was the first book I have listened to by Alix E. Harrow. I was expecting a haunted house kind of story but it is odd, magical and unique. It's really hard to describe this book. The characters were well written and I enjoyed them. This book is perfect for fall or spooky season. This book I think you have to just go into with an open mind. It wasn't my favorite listen but I would still recommend this book. I would like to read more book by this author. I also really enjoyed Natalie Naudus telling of this book.

*The cover is absolutely beautiful!!!!*


Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I am so glad I picked up this book. It's creepy and twisted, but not scary. There is a bit of mystery and it was solved. I loved Opal and Arthur grew on me. But my fav character goes to Starling House. It's a standalone with a clear ending, but I would love to see more of this world. EIther going back to Eden or seeing another crack in the world and how things play out there.

"Starling House" by Alix Harrow is a compelling journey into the heart of a town overshadowed by an mysterious mansion, with tales of legends that have been handed down like treasured heirlooms. Harrow's tale has all the spooky vibes, immersing the reader into dreams that are quickly becoming a reality. One of my favorite elements is the house itself, which feels as much a character as any human in the book, brimming with personality and emotions all its own. The dreams connecting each steward is adds a cozy but creepy element to this mansion makeover. While the narrative might occasionally tread familiar paths, its strengths lie in the vivid characterization, layered storytelling, and the unyielding pull of the mansion's history. A tantalizing read for those who love autumn mysteries & supernatural histories that will leave you wanting to put up Halloween decorations and sip on a cup of mulled cider. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Starling House was the perfect book to listen to during my long commute to work through the misty morning mountains. At once atmospheric and moving, the central themes of belonging, duty, and even hope shone in the well-developed characters. The narrator was brilliant - I don't usually love fiction on audio but this book was perfect. It won't be disappointing for those, like myself, who love a more mysterious atmospheric novel, as opposed to an in-your-face horror or thriller. You feel this one in your bones, the tell-tale fog rising as you dive deeper into Starling House. Highly recommend!

I thought that book was great and perfect for spooky season. The story hooked me from the beginning and I couldn't wait to see how the story was resolved with the house and the under. Overall, this was a 4.5 star read for me. There were a few points that were slow, but it was a really good book overall.

Stranger Things meets gothic haunted house vibes. Add in a dash of enemies to lovers 🖤. I got choked up about 4 times while reading, and I laughed or guffawed out loud about 14 🥹. 5/5⭐️!
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Opal is a high school dropout with a part-time job as a cashier at the Tractor Supply store in Eden, Kentucky. Her only goal in life is to get her brilliant little brother, Jasper, out of this dead-end town. The town is known for its bad luck, and for being home to Eleanor Starling, the famous nineteenth century children’s author who mysteriously disappeared a century ago. Arthur is the current heir and caretaker of Starling House, the creepy Southern gothic mansion Eleanor left behind. Arthur hires Opal to work as a housekeeper, but she realizes the house is more than what it seems. She’s soon face to face with dark forces and generational curses. But will she flee, or will she stay and fight?
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I love Opal so freakin’ much. She’s a ride-or-die sister who would do anything for her brother. She’s surly and scrappy, and she’s done what she needs to do to survive. This is a story about identity, free will, and not being bound by the past. Harrow’s writing is honest, heartwarming, and atmospheric. This book will make you question the reality of your dreams, and your nightmares.
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Add Starling House to your spooky season TBR asap friends! I read and listened to this one. The narration by Natalie Naudus is gorgeous and haunting. Thank you to @macmillan.audio @netgalley and @torbooks for the ARCs!
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Starling House - Alix E. Harrow
5/5⭐️
🎉OUT NOW!🎉
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💜QUOTES💜
(I have so many tabbed, it was hard to pick the best ones. 😂)
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“It’s the kind of hate no natural animal has ever felt, a mad, howling, frothing fury, the kind that only comes from unrighted wrongs and unpunished sins.”
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“And I might be a liar and a thief and a cheat, but I’ll walk barefoot through Hell for what I need.”
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“…and I think dizzily that I know exactly why Icarus flew so high: when you’ve spent too long in the dark, you’ll melt your own wings just to feel the sun on your skin.”

Harrow writes such hauntingly beautiful stories. I was a huge fan of Ten Thousand Doors of January and Starling House didn’t disappoint!

I have never read anything like Starling House and I loved every second. After 40-50%, I couldn’t put it down! It was so good.

The cover is stunning. The twists and turn got me except one (I predicted one thing correctly). I honestly can’t contain how much I loved this book.

Natalie is a great narrator and I will listen to anything she narrates. She did a fantastic job with Starling House!

This was such a crazy book. It was full of heart, but at the same time, creepiness. I really enjoyed the main character, Opal. She was full of snark and tough as nails, but she had a heart that made her relatable. If you liked Alix E. Harrow's other books, this falls in line. Please check it out!

This was a wonderful, creepy but not scary story. It’s perfect for the Halloween season! Loved the narrator; she really made the character come alive.

I absolutely LOVED this audiobook! Natalie Naudus did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. I loved it even more the second time around, listening to it - the first time I read this, I was bored in the beginning and it didn't pick up until almost 40% (although, when it picked up, it picked up HARD). BUT, now that I've already fallen in love with the setting and characters, I didn't have that problem the second time through! I loved diving back into this amazing and atmospheric world, and it was so much better via audio. Natalie Naudus knocked this out of the park!

See link for original ARC review!

The Starling House by Alix E. Harrow follows Opal and her brother Jasper living rent free in the local motel since their mother died years before. Opal has always been fascinated by the Starling House, its past history and the chidlren book written by the previous owner, Elinor Gravely. Opal has always been drawn towards it and doesn't really know why until she meets Arthur Starling, the current warden of the Starling House. This is a modern gothic horror / thriller book that is a fast paced read. Alix E. Harrow paints a vivid picture of the Underlings and of Elinor's beasts that Arthur has been keeping away form Eden, Kentucky with all of will power. If you have read Ten Thousand Doors of January, you will definetly love this book with world with a world kind of way.

I've tried to type a review or synopsis for this book a few different times and there's not a good way to describe this book. Like the house from which the book's name comes, this book is shape shifting, sometimes a beauty, sometimes terrifying, sometimes caring and sometimes battling. Opal is trying her hardest to keep herself and her younger brother alive, trying to get him out of their small down where bad things happen whenever the fog rises. They have bad dreams of the large fearsome house that everyone is warned away from but Opal finally finds her way in and befriends the house and its keeper. The rest of the story unravels in so many ways and it also feels shapeshifting, hard to pin down, and absolutely fascinating.

#arc
#netgalley
#startlinghouse

This was a fun read for October and pretty accurately marketed. I agree with one of the reviewers here that it was exciting and interesting at certain plot points, but a lot of the time I found myself distracted. I think this was a very accessible gothic novel though and would be a great place to start if you haven’t read too many before! Spooky and gruesome while being rooted in reality - well done overall, just a little mid for me.