Rating: 2.5-3 stars

Dates read: 10/4-10/7 (DNF)

ARC audiobook provided by NetGalley

I made it nearly half way through before I could bring myself to DNF the book. The beginning was pretty decent and I was a little excited to read this due to hearing it all over BookTok. The downfall that made me stop was that it kept dragging and felt that there wasn’t really a plot nor did feel a connecting to continue listening to the book.

This is a perfect book to read in the fall, it has mystery, magic, a haunted house with nefarious ghosts and even a hellcat. It starts with 2 orphans living on their own in the small town of Eden, Kentucky. Opal lied about her age after her mother's sudden death so that she and her brother could stay together. She's long been drawn to the decrepit Starling House and finally gets the chance to go inside when its reclusive keeper Arthur offers her a job working as a housekeeper. I really enjoyed the spooky vibes and unravelling all the mysteries in this story. It is gripping and atmospheric and tears at your heartstrings, and Natalie Naudus's narration of the audiobook is wonderful.

This was a perfect book to start reading in October. I would describe this book as a weirdly cozy gothic story to listen to on a dark rainy day. The narrator was pleasant to listen to, and the author did an amazing job writing this book. I already requested our library to purchase a copy of the book. Starling House is for those who love found family, finding yourself, and a story of a mysterious haunted house.

A wild time, I thought it was strange how much information we were given so early in the novel but then was not disappointed with the pay off that it gave. A truly fun and wild tale, big fan of any magical house type story.

This is a perfect gothic read for October.
Opal and her brother Jasper are orphans living in the little town Eden, Kentucky. The town’s claim to fame is Eleanor Starling, the reclusive nineteenth century author who wrote The Underland. Before she mysteriously vanished, she built Starling house.
Opal has been fascinated with The Underland her whole life, and she feels a pull to the house. A lot of dark secrets surrounds the Starling house, and they affect the town of Eden. There is more to the house and the Starling family than meets the eye. The question is, will Opal be able to save everybody involved?

The story is well written, and I did love the footnotes; they gave it something extra.
It is full of fantastical elements, dark creatures, and death.
I listened to the audio version of this book and found the reader excellent. She brought the characters to life. I highly recommend this book, especially as a Halloween read.

Starling House is not just a house, it is alive and beckons for its keepers. Opal, who has been scraping by since her mother died and is now taking care of her high-school aged brother –has also always had nightmares and a strange pull towards Starling House. Arthur Starling is the current keeper of Starling House (although he tried to leave when he young but got pulled back) and is doing everything is his power to make sure he is the last – he doesn’t want another generation to be stuck having to watch over the house. Unfortunately for him, the house’s pull is far stronger than he and he cannot stop Opal from coming in and becoming part of the Starling House’s history – it is part of her destiny.

I listened to this novel and thought it was a fun gothic story to bring in the Halloween season. I do think it loses something to not be able to read certain scenes (especially towards the end) so I am not sure I would suggest only having the audio, but I did really enjoy the narrator. I liked the characters although I think the romance came off as a little odd just based on the description of Arthur but maybe it’s not supposed to be conventional. I enjoyed the history of the house and its past occupants and would recommend if you’re looking for a spooky Halloween read. Great bookclub pick for the month!

3.75 stars rounded up to 4

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

"I want to explain about people like me. About the two lists we have to make, and the one list we get to keep. The everything we give up for the one thing we can't."

"Dreams are like stray cats, which will go away when i stop feeding them."

"I know that look. I've gone hungry too many times not to recognize a starving man when he kneels in the dirt before me."

"I know exactly why Icarus flew so high. When you spent to long in the dark. You'll melt your own wings, just to feel the sun on your skin."

This book was so absolutely amazing!
Gothic horror meets romance. What every spooky girl needs in her heart.
It's dark and atmospheric.
It's warm and sweet.
It is so good!

I was surprised, because I have not enjoyed any of Reese's other picks.
But this one I could not put down.

This book is about growing up with nothing, having lost everything, and still dreaming of more.

Incredible! Phenomenal! Sensational! One of my favorite books of 2023.

A brilliant examination of wealth, class, the U.S. south, and what it means to have a home mixed with gothic fairytale-esque lore and a wonderfully haunted house.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook. I will be thinking about this book for a LONG time.

Alix E. Harrow’s newest novel boasts a foul-mouthed spunky orphan heroine and excellent gothic vibes. I want to mentally file Starling House under the genre of “Dark Academia” but this novel takes place in a haunted house in a mining town rather than a campus. Some more things I loved about this book include its morally grey main character, a great sibling relationship, an eerie otherworldly mystery, a kick-ass librarian, a dash of romance, and a historic house that is practically a character in and of itself.

My only criticism is that I felt that the finale lacked the momentum that I was expecting. Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed listening to this deliciously creepy fantasy novel. Natalie Naudus did a terrific job narrating Starling House and I would particularly recommend Starling House on audiobook. If you enjoyed Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House and Holly Black’s Book of Night, or if you’re looking for a fittingly spooky October read, then definitely check out Starling House.

Thank you to Macmillian Audio and Netgalley for the ARC!

I’m a big fan of Alix E Harrow, so I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of Starling House. I am pleased to say that it did not disappoint. I found the characters relatable, the plot compelling, and the creepy vibes were perfect for spooky season. This isn’t necessarily the most profound book that Harrow has written, but it a solid fantasy horror that’s perfect for a fall night.

<i>Starling House</i> is an atmospheric, spooky tale masquerading as a gothic novel with horror elements. To me, this wasn’t very scary, or particularly gothic. Looking at the synopsis and even reading the start of this novel, I was anticipating something more akin to the 2006 children’s horror-comedy flick, <i>Monster House</i>. Instead, the “sinister house” depicted in the synopsis ended up being more like the House of Wind from <i>A Court of Silver Flames</i>—a sentient, lovable building that interacts with its inhabitants and cares for them like a mother hen.

Additionally, the romance was a far bigger element in this story than I was expecting. For about the first 40% of the novel, it seemed like it might not even go in that direction, and then it took a hard left turn toward the romance. The book itself even culminates in a scene between the two individuals in the couple, indicating that the romance was the trajectory of the story all along.

This isn’t exactly what was marketed, and it’s especially frustrating considering the romance itself was rather shallow. Arthur and Opal rarely interact in meaningful ways outside of Arthur realizing that Opal lives in poverty. In this section of the novel, we see him constantly pitying her for being poor and then overstepping to provide for her (when, at this point, she is solely his employee, nothing more).

Somehow, Opal digs this brand of condescending love and falls for him. I honestly just didn’t buy it. Opal comes across as proud and cagey, so it was difficult to buy that she would be into Arthur’s charity. It also made me pretty uncomfortable when we get Arthur’s POV which compares letting Opal into his home to the time his mother warned him not to take in any pets (the maybe-unintended insinuation being that Opal is lumped in as yet another animal he opened up his home to, completely belittling and dehumanizing her).

The next issue I had with this was the structural choice Harrow made. This book is set in first person POV via Opal, with very occasional chapters in third person from Arthur’s POV. Then, we have the added element of footnotes indicating that perhaps this whole book is a diary written by Opal that someone found and compiled with the footnotes to provide context. This wouldn’t make sense though, because who writes their diary in present tense? And how did we get third person accounts from Arthur? And why do the footnotes randomly decline in number before ceasing almost completely halfway through the novel? If an author sets out to structure their novel this way, it has to have a purpose. I spent the whole book trying to puzzle out why there would be an unnamed researcher providing footnotes to a first-person present-tense account with random third-person chapters thrown in. By the end of the novel, absolutely no light was shed on this. It seemed like the footnotes were foisted in there as an easy way to info-dump, even though most of the information we obtained through them was usually completely unnecessary.

Speaking of structural issues, there was a glaring plot hole that undermines the entire premise of the novel. Specifically, Arthur warns Opal away from Starling House at the very beginning of the novel. He literally tells her to run because he knows the house wants her. And yet, when she returns, he offers her a job. What happened to wanting her to stay away for her own well-being? The job offer was the catalyst for the whole story, so this inconsistency chafed for the entirety of the novel. It felt contrived, and that was ultimately so disappointing because the scene where Arthur urges her to run could have just been cut or altered to completely erase this issue.

Lastly, the ending was a struggle for me. In an effort to avoid spoilers, I’ll just vaguely say that the big battle sequence relied far too much on intangible displays that were rooted in the rivals’ imaginations, which completely decimated any tension or stakes that could have been present. It was a battle of minds, and since creativity was the only limitation, I wasn’t very concerned that Opal would fail. The intangibility of it all was the root of this issue. Had they still been battling in the real world, I would have felt there could be more deadly consequences and that would have solved a lot of the issues I had with this. I also didn’t love how the antagonist spent several paragraphs delivering a villain monologue and info-dumping their reasons for their actions.

Overall though, I found myself enjoying the story Harrow gave us. I didn’t mind that this wasn’t a full-on gothic horror novel (although I wish different marketing had been employed), and I ended up enjoying the romance, however underdeveloped it was. It was nice to see two main characters who aren’t the most attractive people in the world. I also always love the trope of twin flames, where the love interests have tragic home lives that mirror each other, like they did in this instance. Arthur’s sudden surge of protectiveness when Opal’s life was threatened was one particular moment I loved.

Ultimately though, I do wish more work had been done to tighten up the structure of the novel and actually establish the intent for the footnotes and the first- and third-person chapters. I also wanted more development from the romance, less info-dumping, and a more stakes-driven finale. Because of these issues but also taking into account my general enjoyment of the novel, I’m settling at giving this 3 stars.

As for the audiobook narration, Natalie Naudus’s performance was spectacular. I always really enjoy listening to her narrations, and this was no exception.

I vibed with this book so much! I was so invested in the character that I loved it. The FMC is a typical outsider who just wants to find a safe place to belong. I really enjoyed her wit and commentary at times (including the Butterfinger gesture iykyk). I feel like some of the conclusion could have been done better but overall it didn’t harm my read. I do enjoy the layering of corporation issues on top of the family ones. This has a lot of great moments and pulled on the heartstrings. I definitely would recommend it!

Starling House is a hauntingly beautiful read, filled with the perfect blend of nightmares, mystery, a touch of romance, and plot twists that keep you guessing right up until the very end.

Opal is a harsh woman with harsh smiles and sharp edges and lies that slip so easily from her lips. She is not the perfect image of a lovable character and yet I could not help but resonate with her want for a home.

This is the perfect mild spooky read for spooky season and fairly friendly for other scaredy cats like myself!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

A beautiful & haunting story featuring a girl you'll want to cheer on as she tries to be the best version of herself for her younger brother, and a mysterious man who lives in a very haunted house. This book has the perfect Fall vibes and I loved how all of the storylines intertwined to create such a perfect ending.

Absolutely loved Natalie Naudus's narration!

This was an amazing story!
And I do not consider myself a huge fan of magic and scary/spooky novels... so that says a lot!

Opal and her brother Jasper have been making it on their own since their Mom died many years ago...in what appeared to be a suicide.
But Opal keeps having these very strange dreams...
And then one day, the house in her dreams becomes a reality.
And somehow, she finds herself as the house cleaner for a strange, scary, heir of her dream house, named Arthur.
At first she is terrified of him...but as time goes on, not so much.

In addition, due to it being a small town, there are definitely some shady dealings going on here.

This one will take you through many layers of spooky, scary stuff (and people) with a small town charm...and some big hearts of some of the residents!
At times I was so taken in by what was going on, that I felt like I had to remind myself to BREATHE.

Loved all the creepy characters and images (in my head).
Also loved the narrator!!
5 stars for me!!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for the ARC of the audiobook that was released on October 3rd...so look for it on shelves NOW!
This is not one to be missed!

#StarlingHouse by #AlixEHarrow, narrated by #NatalieNaudus.

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This book is a really phenomenal addition to a Halloween season TBR. Opal, a scrappy and determined woman gets a job at an eerie and mysterious house to try to provide for her younger brother.

I've got the say, the vibes of this book are immaculate. Who could ask for more than a heavily tattooed mystery man in a sentient house? Also, in the same way that "Legendborn" is uniquely North Carolinian, this book is so very Kentucky, especially with it's mentions to Ale8 (which I would literally kill for a case of).

I seriously appreciated how neatly the story comes together. Throughout the book, there are so many small details dropped in the first 80% of the group, and they weave together so nicely as the book winds up. And it's a standalone, perfect for fellow folks who are dreading picking up a new series.

I was granted the opportunity by #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio to listed to this book as an audiobook, and I'd really recommend listening to the story. There are some moments where the grief and strife in the narrator's voice is visceral. Excellent.

I do have some really minor gripes. Opal has an internal list in her mind of what matters to her and it guides her decisions. Early on, this was a cool way to see her priorities laid out. However, by the second half of the book, she'd mentioned her list so man times I audibly groaned when it came up again. Overall though, this was a great read!

3 Stars
This was interesting, not as much of a horror as I was hoping though I did enjoy the romance and gothic elements. This book seemed longer than it should be, and it started off with footnotes and then they just stopped which felt unnecessary to me. I liked the themes this book explored but ultimately, it felt like this fell short to me.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

I loved the Fractured Fables by Alix E Harrow so it is no surprised that I also really enjoyed Starling House. This book is almost a dark twist on the story of Alice In Wonderland. I loved it.

The audiobook is narrated by Natalie Naudus, who brings a variety of tones and octaves to the story with her voice. You can always tell who is speaking based on how her voice adjusts. It is really very well done.

In keeping transparent, I listened to 60% of the book but then read the last 40% because I had to know how it was all going to wrap up and I read much faster than I can comprehend listening. This has nothing to do with the narrator, I just needed to get the rest of the story as fast as I could.

Starling House is an incredible spooky, haunted house story that teaches us about the reality of looking the other way and human nature when things are happening right in front of you that you do not want to acknowledge. I loved every second and will be recommending it to everyone I know.

A great cozy horror book for October! A fun mix of gothic and romance. I also loved the writing style, very lyrical and beautiful. The author really made me feel for jaspers character. I hope to read more from this author

Everything I wanted and more from a perfect gothic fall read! I loved this story, I loved these deeply flawed and realistic characters, I loved the illustrations peppered in. Do yourself a favor and pick this book up!