Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me this Advanced Listening Copy in exchange for my honest review! The title will be released on October 31, 2023.

“Surely only the worst of fools would ever return to Starling House.”

Initially, I was on the edge of my seat with excitement over the dark, mysterious atmosphere of the book. Harrow seemingly melds small town Americana and a slight noir vibe with the gothic tradition. The story takes place in Eden, Kentucky, no paradise but a place that dreams go to die. Our protagonist has lived a hard life but becomes fascinated with the Starling House, big creepy mansion owned by the outcast, eccentric Starling family.

“Surely someone like me should know better than to dream.”

The problem for me was the main character. 26-year-old Opal should be sympathetic. She’s supporting her younger high-school-age brother Jasper after the tragic death of their mother. However, Harrow makes this character so unlikeable. She lies as easily as breathing, steals without remorse, and generally shows herself to be rude, abrasive, and opportunistic. I could go with it if Opal was younger and/or if she showed a shred of conscience, but she seemed arrogant and entitled to me. I did eventually adjust to Opal—you have to if you’re going to get through the book since it’s told from Opal’s POV—but it was a very long uphill climb.

My other problem was the romance. I’m not going to ruin any of the plot by going into details. Suffice it to say that I did not like the romantic pairing or how it was developed. I did not think they had chemistry; it was just convenient. Also, the romantic plot was much heavier than I anticipated in this type of book. Love scenes were not the most explicit but definitely more than I wanted from this book.

I think you will enjoy the book if you know that this is not a lush gothic tale or even mild fantasy-horror. It is largely a small-town dramatic tale centered on one underdog heroine whose life is transformed by a series of events. The fantastical Starling House is not particularly taken advantage of as an atmospheric setting or a potentially "haunted" location. The gothic/fantasy-horror vibes are there but in small doses.

The high point is Harrow's writing. The prose remains fairly simplistic but is embellished with some beautiful similes and metaphors.

AUDIOBOOK: Natalie Naudus does an exceptional job with the narration. Her baseline is something of a sober literary tone that expands with the progression of first person narrative and as the mood turns darker.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

2.75 Stars

While the description, blub and overall premise of this book is right in the heart of my wheelhouse, it just didn't hit me the way I expected or wanted it to. It starts with a spooky, eerie gothic vibe but, for me that seems to fall to the wayside for other things at play in the story.

Synopsis:

I dream sometimes about a house I’ve never seen….

Opal is a lot of things—orphan, high school dropout, full-time cynic and part-time cashier—but above all, she's a determined to find a better life for her younger brother Jasper. One that gets them out of Eden, Kentucky, a town remarkable for only two things: bad luck and E. Starling, the reclusive nineteenth century author of The Underland, who disappeared over a hundred years ago.

All she left behind were dark rumors—and her home. Everyone agrees that it’s best to ignore the uncanny mansion and its misanthropic heir, Arthur. Almost everyone, anyway.

I should be scared, but in the dream I don’t hesitate.

Opal has been obsessed with The Underland since she was a child. When she gets the chance to step inside Starling House—and make some extra cash for her brother's escape fund—she can't resist.

But sinister forces are digging deeper into the buried secrets of Starling House, and Arthur’s own nightmares have become far too real. As Eden itself seems to be drowning in its own ghosts, Opal realizes that she might finally have found a reason to stick around.

In my dream, I’m home.

And now she’ll have to fight.

Welcome to Starling House: enter, if you dare.

My Thoughts:

For a 320 page book I felt extremely weighed down by the writing and it felt as though it was more of a 520 page book. The audiobook is 12.5 hours which seems extremely long for 320 pages- Please also note that if you opt for the audiobook version there are footnotes that are read that did keep pulling the little attention I was managing to keep on the story out of it again.

The pacing was a bit choppy for me. While in Opal's POV is told in first person when it switches over to Arthur's it's told in third. There was a lot of this YA feel of drama romance going on that seemed to pull away from the initial gothic, spooky vibe. I don't even think the romance was needed- at all. Probably would have been better without it, because it literally did nothing for me.

Several areas of miscommunication which I am not particularly a fan of.

Overall, this didn't feel gothic horror to me. It felt more like a dark fairytale with a ton of family and societal woes tossed in that just took me out of the whole gothic, horror, mysterious feel I expected to get from reading this.

If you are a fan of Alix Harrow, like a creepy mysterious vibe of a run down town in poverty, a touch of romance and a slow pace- you will likely enjoy this.

Fall is rolling in, and so is the season for Halloween and spooky reads.
I highly recommend Starling House!
Starling House is a Gothic, fantasy, romance and horror story that centers around the character of Opal in Eden, Kentucky.
Opal, is a young woman in her mid 20's whose mother passed away tragically, and she has been taking care of her teenage brother and living in a hotel room. Opal doesn't really know much about her family or where her mother came from, but knows that her mother was trying to get away from her past. Opal works odd jobs, so that she can give her brother more opportunities and to one day get out of the town of Eden. Opal and her brother live in a hotel room that is run by one of her mother's good friends who allows them to stay there after her mother's death.
Opal seems to be have reoccurring dreams of a creepy gothic house on the out skirts of town, and finds that the house is supernaturally calling to her. One day Opal finds herself at the gates of the house that is called Starling House named after a rich family called Starling. The most famous Starling wrote a famous fantasy children's book that may hold secrets. One day passing Starling House Opal meets the mysterious occupant of the Starling House, Arthur Starling at the gate of the creepy house.
Opal begins doing housekeeping chores for Arthur to make some extra money while at the same time she starts investigating the weird history of the Starling House, and its past inhabitants. Opal and Arthur try to fight off an their attraction for one another, but cannot because of Arthur's supernatural connection to the House.
Soon Opal and Arthur are teaming up to fight against time to find out how to stop the House that seems to call people to it, and how to stop the possessed house from destroying them and the community of Eden, Kentucky.
There's a lot of twists in this story, and I don't want to give it all away, but if you want a great spooky read this is the book for you. I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it for fans of Gothic fantasy books.
I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review this arc. I really enjoyed this story.

The second I saw this absolutely gorgeous cover I was immediately sold! I’m so glad I picked this up because Starling House was one of the most hauntingly beautiful books I have ever read 🖤

Starling House has everything I want in a grim & gothic story - mystery, a haunted house, sinister secrets, magic, mayhem, lore, small town history, found family, friendship, heartbreakingly beautiful romance that makes my heart ache and a horrifically heart pounding tale that sends me on a page turning emotional rollercoaster. I was captivated from page 1 and I literally think I need to start a reread ASAP!

*I don’t want to give any spoilers as I went in completely blind to the plot and was 100% blown away with the story & character development!

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for an advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Alix E. Harrow book and was not sure what to expect before listening. I came to this with gothic fairytale vibes and a romantic subplot and those expectations were met, for the most part. The gothic atmosphere was prominent throughout, especially when tied to the mystery behind Starling House. Loved the constant imagery of starlings throughout and wished they were referenced more often. The romantic subplot between Opal and Arthur was fine. I did not quite understand what drew them to each other, but they seem like an okay couple. I did not love Opal's character, but I appreciated her character arc.

My main gripe with this story was the gothic elements. I believe this had to do with expectations going into this than the story itself. I was hoping for the story to lean more towards horror. It was haunting and eerie at parts, but I wanted it to go farther. Once the story gave the full story of Starling House, I was able to appreciate the full story moreso than before. I wished it kept that same energy throughout. Nonetheless, I had a good time listening to Nathalie Naudus narrate.

Content warnings: car accident, grief, blood, vomit, death of parent, slavery (minor), incest (minor), and sexual content (minor)

4-4.5
Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for this audio arc. *All opinions are my own.

Alix is one of my favorite authors, so I was thrilled to get this early copy! Her books are a slow burn. She takes her time building the world and developing her characters. I never know exactly where the story is going until closer to the end, which is a delight for someone who often can predict endings.

She tackles real social issues thru inventive, carefully woven stories, with flawed and complex characters, while sprinkling elements of traditional fairytales throughout a fever-dream-like atmosphere.

I personally enjoy not knowing exactly where the story is going bc it adds to the overall effect of the book as the storyline reveals itself.

The narration was enjoyable. And I loved the themes and representations in this book including: poverty, class, PTSD, mental health, bisexuality, oppression, memory, identity, family, destiny, agency, and the value of a name.

If you're like me, stop here. If you want more details, then continue:

.............MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS BELOW............

The positives:
I loved how this book explored class, prejudice, systemic poverty, oppression, PTSD and trauma.

The ultimate message I gleaned was that humans can be awful to other humans, and we can't control the presence of those types of monsters in the world. They exist, as much as we don't want them to.

But we can control the monsters we create in our minds and hearts. We get to decide whether to write those monsters into our story, carrying them with us throughout our life, and allowing them to haunt us and rob us of the peace we deserve.... or whether we choose to heal and write new stories, that are free of the fear and destruction the monsters bring with them...

Ultimately, we choose our destiny. We choose our path. We are the wardens of our life and the narrators of our own stories. Choosing to heal and rebuild is the choice that grants us reclamation of our personal power and happiness.

The negatives:
I'm not sure I appreciated the role of the third party narrator whose voice is a character that interjects facts and historical details. Aside from illustrating the inherent flaws of our memory and the effects of trauma on how we form memories, I found it more distracting than valuable to the story.

The MC is a bit insufferable, and sometimes she grated on me with her stubbornness and immaturity, but it's also prob consistent with her age in the book. I just wanted to like her more than I did. I did, however, love the side characters, especially Bev, Charlotte and Jasper!

Starling House is a dark, moody, gothic story set in Eden, KY. Contains light romance (fade to black), monsters, family trauma, and one unique house.

The footnotes were extremely unique and I feel like they really added to the story. Opal, the fmc, was extremely witty and funny. The descriptions of Starling House and of the monsters and the characters were so detailed, I was able to visualize everything. I loved how the mmm was described quite literally as ugly. I think so often our main characters are described with super unrealistic beautiful features and we are just so used to that. It was refreshing to essentially have normalcy.

The main premise of the story, or at least what I took away from it, was that life is what you make it. Your nightmares will haunt you if you let them. You are your own biggest enemy. Also, You are not responsible for the actions of your fathers and their fathers. That being said, you can make change and learn from their mistakes and create good.

I would 100% recommend this book for fans of The Hazelwood by Melissa Albert or Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo.

I love the house, the atmosphere, the cover, and much of the descriptive language in Starling House. The story is imaginative, Arthur is endearing, and Opal has grit and is likable despite being gruff. Ultimately, though, the book lacked much luster for me. I enjoyed listening to it well enough (the narration is great!), but there was no pull to keep listening or pick it up. The backstory wasn’t all that compelling, and two of the villainous motivations are ones I generally find boring because they end the same way every time and there's not much that can be done with them.

I enjoyed myself well enough to say, it’s good.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for access to this advance copy.

I was not totally into this book at first. I’m not sure what it was but it just wasn’t working for me. But once it got going I was absolutely HOOKED. Opal grew on me and I loved both her and Arthur so much. Opal was hilarious and relatable at every turn and I laughed out loud numerous times.

Opal is the epitome of a morally gray character and most of the time she’s absolutely feral (she will fight you in a Denny’s parking lot no questions asked). But she will do anything to make sure her brother makes it out of the crappy town they’re both stuck in. This need shoved her right in the path of Arthur Starling. The broody owner of the sentient Starling House who absolutely does not want Opal in his house. But he can’t help himself when Opal bulldozes herself into his life. Together they must figure out the mystery of Starling House. Or die trying.

I love love loved it. It’s the perfect spooky read for this year. It’s dark and moody but also SO RELATABLE. The cast of supporting characters (including the house, a feral alley cat, and a grouchy motel owner) make this book an entertaining read and worth it 100%. Don’t wait! Pick this up immediately.

It has been 4 days since I finished this book and I still cannot wrap my mind around the words I need to describe how much I loved it.

This is a perfect Southern Gothic Fantasy. Alix E Harrow is brilliant. I will be rereading this in physical form the moment it comes out.

Absolutely outstanding, possibly even one of my favorite books of all time. The perfect mix of beauty and dread, written so beautifully it will take your breath away. Highly recommended.

Loved this book. Harrow has an incredible ability to weave the brutal and the beautiful realities of life into stories that grab you and won't let go and Starling House lives up to her previous novels. I loved the protaganists, hated the villians, and learned to make peace with the shades of grey that make up an imperfect world.

I loved this book! This was not what I was expecting at all but that is not a bad thing. This book was really unique and the visuals were absolutely stunning. The whole book was creepy and atmospheric and the romance was a great little addition without taking over the whole book.
This book felt like what The Haunting of Bly Manner could have been if it had been taken to its deepest and darkest conclusion. It was dark and creepy and just absolutely beautiful! I can not recommend this book enough!

Perfect book for spooky season! 👻🦇🏚️

I received aa AudioARC of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you Netgally.

Excuse me while I go read everything Alix Harrow has every written, because her writing is beautiful. I absolutely ate it up.
I will read anything she writes.

This book is a great choice for those cold nights you wanna cuddle up with a book. It feels very gothic and spooky but it’s still fun. Full of monsters and a snarky MC. This book was one of my favorite reads this year. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy

Alix E. Harrow has done it again and truly knocking it out of the park with this one. I feel like if I have to conjure up the perfect book for me, it would be this book. Starling House tells the story of Opal, the haunted Starling House, and a small Kentucky town. This story is so unique, and the book is so well written. It is spooky and creepy, but not what I would classify as a true horror story -- think more gothic thriller. I listened to the audiobook and Natalie Naudus does and excellent job with narration. I think this is going to be my favorite book of 2023. Highly recommend!!

The titular Starling House has a feel as if Lewis Carroll’s beloved Wonderland mixed with Disney’s Haunted Mansion creating a unique gothic horror fantasy. Starling House is a sentient mansion with mood swings; it can be welcoming or more often malicious. What is below Starling House is the real mystery. Depending on who is dreaming, Underland is the place nightmares or dreams come true. The best part of the story is it is just spooky enough without bridging fully into the horror genre.

Opal and her brother Jasper live in smalltown Eden, Kentucky; the town and many of the residents treat them as veritable outsiders. Carefully curating a web of necessary lies, Opal does her best to protect her brother, gain employment, and understand the mystery surrounding Starling House and its current occupant Arthur. The more she finds out about the house, the less she truly understands. Does the house want Opal to find the monsters lurking below? How much of what is known about the matriarch of the Starling family, E. Starling, is really true? With time running out and a whole host of nefarious characters plotting against her, Opal will have to solve the mysteries of Underland on her own to save everything she cares about.

The overall character development of this novel was superb. Opal’s rough edges and grating personality were honest and raw. At first reclusive and lonely, Arthur’s character builds overtime into that of a protector. Of course, there is a love story, how couldn’t there be with two perfectly imperfect outcasts. The only criticism I have is the progression of how Opal ultimately navigates the Underland. The story could have felt a little grittier like Opal herself, but came across with a bit too much naiveté.

What a perfect start to spooky season! I love a good haunted house story and this absolutely did not disappoint. I especially enjoyed the way the author told the history of the house from multiple perspectives. The main character is tough and gritty, but also just vulnerable enough to be charming. The author had me rooting for her from page one.

I listened to the audiobook read by Natalie Naudus who does a wonderful job. She was great at conveying the right emotions for each character and I never had trouble distinguishing which character was speaking. Thank you, McMillan audio and NetGalley for the ALC.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an alc in exchange for an honest review.
Starling House releases October 3, 2023

<i>“I dreamed of Starling House long before I ever saw it.”</I>

Opal is a high school drop-out living in the small town of Eden, Kentucky. Her life’s purpose and motivation is to provide for her younger brother Jasper, and to get him out of this town.

Starling House wants Opal, but the heir, Arthur Starling, urges her to run away. So naturally, Opal does the exact opposite, and finds herself drawn right back to its gates.

It didn’t make sense to me how Arthur went from ‘stay away, you shouldn’t be near here’ to ‘here, let me employ you as my housekeeper and I’ll pay you whatever exorbitant fee you deem worthy even though I don’t know you and don’t think it’s necessary to ask for any sort of credentials’ so easily — it annoys me when characters are so flimsy like that and can’t stick to their original characterizations for longer than one interaction.

Opal read like an 18 year old as opposed to a 26 year old.
The footnotes were <I>so</I> jarring and don’t work well in fiction or in an audiobook format.
Additionally, it’s told in dual pov with one being written in first person, and the other in third.

I think this story would have been stronger without the romance so that the focus could have stayed on Opal learning about her family history/lineage.

I wanted more about the Underland and Eleanor. That aspect of the story was arguably the most interesting part, though I’m not sure that the incredibly slow journey to get there was entirely worth it.

Starling House is, somehow, a Reylo AU. Search your feelings, you know it to be true. A feral, unhinged girlie that’s ravenous with wanting for things she does not have; a reticent, tortured tree of a young man, haunted by the legacy put upon him; a mutual yearning for belonging; and one single haunted gothic mansion.

Starling House is a gritty contemporary Southern Gothic that is part Winter’s Bone (2010), part fairy tale about a small town with a dark, ugly history, a questionably sentient house full of secrets, and cursed bloodline. The book is a bit spooky, dipping a toe (or a whole foot) into the horror genre, but it’s also a cozy fantasy story with an undercurrent of magical realism.

I really liked Opal. She’d sell your soul right back to you just to get ahead in life. She’s mean, abrasive, opportunistic, a menace to society, and she loves her younger brother so much she’d chew through her own wrists and rip out a man’s throat with her bare teeth for him. I love feral female leads. Arthur is awkward and surly, reticent and thoughtful, tortured and conflicted—and a whole array of other characteristics that make him part tragic hero, part wild weirdo from the woods.

I did not like a few things about the ending (like the epilogue bit of the ending)—but that has to do with the fact that I’m the sort of person who when watching the movie will scream at the screen if the characters lose their money or belongings or get cheated out of something.

In conclusion: Opal and Arthur are definitely Rey and Ben Solo in another universe, and Alix Harrow’s Starling House is an atmospheric, haunting read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ebook ARC of Starling House.

The story is haunting. It hits all the right spots to make it an amazing gothic horror, but it's also modern and Alix E. Harrow's writing style is accessible and easy to read. Opal is an incredibly imperfect and real main character who is easy to root for. Arthur is adorably awkward and the cast of side characters all have their own quirks that make them easy to love or hate. The story really picks up at the halfway mark and becomes unputdownable, but my main complaints come with the ending. While the main story wraps up very nicely, the main antagonist seemingly disappears without a trace or explanation. I was completely rooting for their downfall and / or grizzly ending through the entirety of the book and not having a conclusion for them is honestly maddening.