Fans of Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House and Hell Bent, meet your next must-read.

Honestly, I don't know why I sat on this one for so long. From the description alone, it has everything I want in a contemporary fantasy: Southern Gothic stylings, Children's books about portal worlds, surly narrators at the edge of society. Black Birds (/Stephon voice). I finally grabbed just around the time it was featured on the cover of the October Bookpage.

Prepare to be pulled in by the lush, descriptive prose, the mysterious and possibly nefarious characters, Opal's tragic backstory and opportunism; her utter disregard for (almost) everyone in her life except her brother, Jasper. I started reading this as a book, then grabbed the audiobook because I couldn't bear to put it down while driving or cooking, and then finished it late into the night in a marathon read session. ("Well, I'm at 73%, I can't stop now")

This is a fantasy that's built on common tropes yet bends it in a way that feels new. Different bits reminded me of so many of my favorites, from the aforementioned Bardugo titles to Maggie Stiefvater's Raven Cycle to Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children to Kelly Link's Faery Handbag . And, NGL, at various points I pictured Arthur as Adam Driver. (Thanks, Ali Hazelwood!).

An new book becomes a favorite because it approaches you like an old friend. This felt familiar and fresh at the same time, and I hope it finds its niche with modern contemporary fantasy readers.

Perfect autumn dark vibes book. I love magic houses they're so fun. This book is full of creepy and mysterious

First of all, as a Kentuckian, I really appreciated the setting of this book. The geographical descriptions and locations mentioned were perfect. The author was able to perfectly encapsulate the small town KY feel.

The writing itself was very eloquent, but I did not love the storyline. It gave me vibes similar to that of a more grown-up version of Beautiful Creatures. My main issue with the characters is that they felt much younger to me than their given ages. The romance did not feel believable to me either.

It wasn’t my cup of tea, but I am in no way discouraging anyone who is interested in this book from reading it.

I found the story a bit meandering at times which is on brand for a Harrow novel.

I thought the premise was interesting and I wish the magical realism had been fully explored and expanded, rather than dialogue focused.

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillian Audio for the advanced audio copy of this novel.

This was on my highly anticipated list of books to read this year. This has everything you want in a fall novel.
While this falls into the category of gothic horror, it really is more of a cozy read. I would probably classify as a new cozy horror/cozy fantasy novel. I didn't find it terribly scary and the touch of romance probably helped add that cozy halloween read feeling.

I think despite it being written and classified as an adult novel, it would be perfectly acceptable for even an advanced middle grade reader to dive into this fall.season.

This book is going to be a success. That cozy lighter horror read makes this feel more of a main stream novel for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor books for the audiobook arc in exchange for my honest review!

I don't usually "read" books the first time through audiobook because the narrators can really affect my enjoyment of the book. I am not going to get too into the story because of how early I listened to it but I really enjoyed it.
I am waiting to finish it when it comes out in print - I stopped about 50% because I was so into the story I couldn't devour it fast enough. I plan on going to purchase it immediately when it comes out and I will come back and edit this review with my final thoughts!

So far I really am enjoying it!!

I’m not usually a go this horror fan but I really found this story intriguing! I’d say it leans more towards fantasy though.

Starling House is one of those places that could be so much as long as it’s not night time. Many people in the town just let things be and hope that one day it just disappears. It’s like the whole town is cursed from way back when one of the Sarling girls writes a creepy book on monsters and other stance things. Which our main character Opal just loved that book!!

Opal and Author end up being weirdly cute with the occasional sexual tension.

This book is filled with all kinds of mystery and twists and turns!!

I got this as an arc from Net Galley. Thank you for the opportunity!!

I loved this book in a truly personal way. I picked it up not realizing it was about where I grew up- and that made the rich descriptions come alive for me. When Opal talked about the caves and the rivers I could picture Lost River Cave in my mind, the 'bottomless' hole not far from the cave's mouth, and the abundance of vegetation. I could smell the honeysuckle and feel the sweat of a summer night, littered with fireflies. I am never going to be impartial with this book because it felt so utterly personal for me. Harrow touched on Home and left the reader clutching at a past fondly remembered, or thankfully over. Her use of contrast and understanding of the good and bad, the shining and broken, had me fiercely following along. I haven't missed Kentucky in a good many years, but this story brought ne right back to the little brick schoolhouse that no longer exists and the dilapidated barns someone tore down long ago, the ones I would run and play in as a little girl. The story itself was wild and sad and beautiful, hope mixed in with a story so desperate you couldn't help but feel a bit of Opal's anger, her hunger, and her unapologetic survival. This book didn't hand you a 'good' side and a 'bad' so much as it gave you reality, and the real evil that lurks alongside us, soaking up all we have to give it while telling us they're serving our needs instead. I could literally go on and on about this book for hours, and I am so grateful for the chance to get an ARC of it. I loved the narrator and will be snagging all of Harrow's work I can find from here on out.

I really liked this book! Interesting premise and great characters, I couldn't put it down. The narrator is excellent as well!

This book didn’t really resonate with me and dragged towards the middle.

It took a bit too long for the book to explain what was happening to keep me engaged and several plot points were built up and then dropped.

There was little character development for either main character as they were the same from the beginning, except the other love interest recognized these “new” characteristics. It was a bit of a slog and hard to resonate with characters are supposed to be in their mid to late twenties but act like high schoolers.

The world building and house would’ve been cool to explore.

3.75 out of 5 Stars

Was good?

Yes.

Do I remember any details of what actually happened?

Outside of Opal being an amazing big sister, nothing at all.

I love Alix E. Harrow. - Opal and her brother, Jasper are cursed. Everyone in town believes their mother purposely drove her car into the River, leaving her kids to fend for themselves. But Opal is doing her best to raise her little brother. Even if that means a little lying and forgery. The Starling House has been a part of her since she was little. She walks by and sees the light in the top and wonders who lives there. But now, she has started dreaming very real dreams about the house. All Opal wants is a home..::

A perfect gothic horror for Halloween time. Like mild to medium scary.

Opal is trying her best and using all the methods to make a life for her and her brother. She has heard tales of Starling house but not for as long as she has been having dreams about the place. She worms her way on to the grounds and into the current wardens graces to figure out her dreams and maybe “earn” enough money for her brother to go to a private school.

The haunted house was exactly what I was hoping for and
I loved the descriptions of the characters and how the story unfolded. A little romance but not the focus.

Thanks NetGalley and MacMillan Audio an advanced listening copy.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor/MacMillan Audio for access to an audio arc of the Starling House by Alix E. Harrow.

It's Eden, Kentucky. It's a southern town with mining roots and lots of secrets. Opal has been raising her brother since her mother died in a car accident years ago. Opal is 26, had to grow up young, and struggling to ensure her brother can leave Eden and pursue his dreams. On her way home one night, she's drawn by a glow in the window of the town's "haunted" house and meets Arthur, its current care taker. What follows is a story of betrayal, loneliness, longing, and redemption.

I loved every minute of it. It has a lot to say about poverty, family/generational trauma, healing, and realizing what you have before it's too late. The characters are well thought out, the story well-paced, and the setting riveting.

This book is a gothic look at family and hope. It starts slow and then builds to a fast-paced climax. This was my first Alix E. Harrow, and it will not be my last.

I love a good haunted house or sentient house story. I felt the protagonist was a little immature for someone who had to grow up fast, but perhaps that was the point. Overall it was filled with creepy vibe goodness and I’ll definitely be recommending this for a good, spooky season read.

Starling House is a very great spooky fall read for people who do not read spooky books. I loved the general vibe of the book and thought that the plot was interesting. The mysterious Starling House was a great setting that really lent to the gothic feel of this novel without being too scary. The overall setting of rural Kentucky was a great backdrop for the story and added to the spooky small town where everyone is watching. I liked the characters that inhabited the small town and the element of small town politics and gossip. The addition of the slow burn romance between Opal and Arthur was great and felt very natural. This broke up the complex plot and was very heartwarming. The dynamic of two misfits in society finding their place with each other was perfect. The main issue that I had with the book was pacing. I felt like so much of this could have been condensed. Towards the end of the book it took too long to get to the point that by the time everything was revealed I was ready for the book to be wrapped up. I also wished that this book would have been slightly more “paranormal”. From how this book was marketed I hoped for more supernatural elements throughout the book rather than just at the end. Overall, I did like this book. The concept was well thought out, and the characters were intriguing. This is a great light spooky book for fall reading!

Listening to this audiobook was such a wonderful way to enter into the spooky season. It was a little slow to start, but once the story started to pick up, I could not put it down. It was whimsical, creepy and cozy at the same time. The atmosphere was perfect for this time of year.

I love that it dealt with creepy and deep themes and topics, as Alix E. Haddow loves to explore these. I adore her writing, and how you aren't able to predict where her story is going to take us next. The characters felt real to me, and more so, the house felt like a character to me.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio & Tor Books for the review copy of Starling House by Alix E. Harrow.

Starling House was such a fun book to read at the beginning of fall, setting the perfect spooky light mood that I like to maintain through October. Not only does this book give us a wonderful gothic fantasy setting, but Opal and Arthur are the perfect flawed characters to keep that vibe going. It was a breath of fresh air that these two characters were weird outcasts whose massive flaws blended together to make them whole. It was a great story, and I give it an enthusiastic 5/5 stars.

Thank you @macmillan.audio & @torbooks for the review copy, I’ve loved all of Harrow’s books, and was SO excited when I got an early review ALC for this one!

This book was the *perfect* level of spooky for the start of my spooky reading season. Which is to say that it had a few creepy elements but I wasn’t actually scared.

Opal lives in a small town in Kentucky that is home to an eccentric family known as the Starlings. Decades ago, Eleanor Starling wrote a children’s book that became something of a cult sensation. I love when children’s books are part of the lore in a story. If you ever wished there was a creepier children’s book than Through the Looking Glass, this vibe is for you!

Starling House is this fantastic mix of fairytale and gothic mystery and romance and I just loved it so much. Pick it up if you like:
✨ Somewhat sentient, somewhat haunted houses
✨ Brooding, cursed male leads
✨ a dash of reckoning with corporate greed, slavery, patriarchy…

🎧 Narrator Natalie Naudus perfectly captures the tone of the book and the character’s voices. Starling House is fantastic on audio!

I wanted to love this way more than I actually did!! I have been a HUGE Alix E Harrow fan in the past and I had BIG expectations for their latest release. Unfortunately it was just an okay read for me. If you enjoy complex stories with messy family drama, haunted houses and fantastic narrators you don't want to miss this one. I am a BIG fan of Natalie Naudus but not even her narration could save this one for me. I'm not sure what exactly didn't work for me but I definitely found myself forcing to finish. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early audio and digital copies in exchange for my honest review!!