Starling House is a beautifully written novel that will leave the reader longing for an eerie house of their own. The overall atmosphere and mood of the story work together seamlessly to create a perfect cozy autumn read. The dynamic characters, as well as the author's brilliant storytelling ability are two major highlights.

The main character, Opal, accepts a job at Starling House, despite all the locals, herself included, knowing there's something not quite right about the house and its owner. As she uncovers secrets, not just about the house, but also about Arthur, the man living there, the stakes just keep getting higher.

The first chapters do such a great job of setting the tone and introducing the reader to Opal's life circumstances. Everything just seems to flow together so smoothly. This continues all throughout the book, and makes for a great reading experience.

I loved how this book was slightly spooky, while not actually being scary. It was also incredibly cozy at times. I'd highly recommend it as an October or Halloween read for people who aren't fans of horror/scary novels in general.

The audiobook narrator did an excellent job, and I would definitely recommend listening to it! They really brought Opal to life, and I especially liked how Arthur's parts were voiced. It really fit his character.

This was the first book I'd read by this author, and I will definitely be checking out her other books in the near future!

Opal is absolutely determined to stick out her lucrative new job as housekeeper for Starling House, despite the fact that the house is filthy beyond reason and her boss, Arthur Starling, is kind of a rude jerkface. Arthur's ancestor wrote a children's book called The Underland that has since haunted generations of kids, Opal among them. As she starts to poke around the house hoping to share in its secrets, Opal will discover far more than she ever intended, and she'll have to make decisions about her loyalties that frighten even her brave soul.

This book is so perfectly CREEPY and I absolutely loved it!! A wonderful spooky season read for sure, and I cannot wait to see artists' renderings of the monsters described in this book. Opal is a great character, I definitely connected with her and though the romance aspect wasn't super believable for me, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. The ending is just flawless in my mind, I love the way this book wrapped up.

Definitely pick this up if you're looking for spooky fantasy vibes this fall!! Narration of the audio version was simply perfect as well. Thank you to Alix E. Harrow, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for my advance audio copy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an early copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!

If you're ready for spooky season and looking for a book to really help you get into the spirit, this is the book for you! I loved how atmospheric it was and how it kept me sucked into the world that it created. It set such a creepy and chilling mood throughout the entire book, and I loved watching the world unfold and become more than more chilling as the story went on.

The one thing I felt lacked slightly was the romance. It really felt weak until right at the end, and even then I still was left wanting more from it. It might have been from how slow I felt it was in the first half, but I just couldn't find myself really getting into the romance aspect.

I loved the self-acceptance journey and the way that self-love ties into the story in a way that really shows the value of family and home. It was such a deep and thought-provoking piece to the story, and I really loved unraveling it all.

Get ready for your next spooky read!

At this point, I think we can all agree that if Natalie Naudus is narrating, the book is going to be good. Harrow is quickly up on my "must read" author list as well. So picking up this one was a no-brainer. Opal is brave and reckless, and filled with so much love. She's the flawed character that it is so easy to fall in love with. The whole story is filled with love, hope, darkness, and some bonus hope. I love the cast here and actively want to see more and more of this world. A beautiful stand alone.

If Howl's Moving Castle and Where the Wild Things Are had a baby directed by Del Toro, with a little bit of Ninth House thrown in, that's what this book reminds me of. I ATE IT UP. It felt like reading a fairy tale and the vibes were immaculate. One of the best things I've read this year.

4.5/5
My first Alix E. Harrow, but certainly not my last now that I know just how real the hype is!
On paper, I knew all the chances were that I would like this - a deadbeat small town, a fucked up house with spooky happenings, an eldest daughter feeling as though the weight of the world is on her shoulders, a side romance? What's not to love? But it really was the execution that made this as entertaining of a read as it was - I loved the playful format (who in their right mind doesn't like a good footnote???), the sarcastic and dry narrative voice, the right balance between grounding the story in reality and still offering it the air of whimsy that it requires, it all worked so well.
Extra points for the phenomenal audio narration, which made it all the more enjoyable.
Loved this!

If you're a fan of Ninth House and Atlas Six, don't miss Alix E. Harrow's new novel, Starling House!


Gravely Power is depleting Eden, Kentucky of all it has (minerals and people) and most residents are resigned to that fact. Opal doesn’t have a real place to call home in the dried-up, small town - so she is working hard to get her brother, Jasper, out of Eden. That’s why, despite all she’s heard about the Starling House when she has the chance to work there she says … yes.


Even though she’s heard ominous whispers about the possibly haunted and definitely eerie house, Opal finds herself drawn to it … and to its enigmatic owner, Arthur. But there is more than meets the eye happening in Eden and at Starling House. As Opal delves deeper into Eden's mysteries, you'll be just as captivated!


A note on the audiobook: Natalie Naudus narrates, with a cadence reminiscent of Julia Whealon’s.


Starling House explores profound themes of suffering, strength, justice, the enduring impact of trauma (both personal and intergenerational), and the significance of having our stories heard. It also examines community dynamics, (including the tendency to ignore problems and the obligation to participate when we'd rather not).


While the novel undoubtedly offers much to think about, it's worth noting that it didn't evoke strong emotions in me. Still, the book offers an intriguing blend of mysterious and spooky elements while inviting readers to reflect on the history of our country, our communities, and ourselves.


Special thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an ALC of this thought-provoking novel!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC! Starling House by Alix E. Harrow is a lavish, gothic fantasy that quickly sweeps you into the tale. Opal, an orphan and high school drop out, is struggling to support her younger brother, Jasper, and provide him a better life. This leads her to accept a job at Starling House, housekeeping for the reclusive Starling heir, Arthur. Soon Opal is discovering the many secrets of the house and developing feelings for Arthur. But when an offer arises (compiled by threats to Jasper), Opal must decide whether to take the offer and betray Arthur or defy the building threats. Starling House is a beautiful tale with hidden lore and abiding romance.

Starling House by Alex E Harrow was such a delight to read! Eerie, a bit gothic at times, unsettling and — for sure — a dark fairytale. I especially loved that it was set in a small town, Eden Kentucky, which is a part of Muhlenberg County. As soon as I heard Muhlenberg mentioned my interest was piqued. I grew up, listening to my parents singing Paradise by John Prine, which is about Muhlenberg and eventually, that song itself is even mentioned in the novel. Alex E Harrow blends upsetting elements of the real world as well as the supernatural to unpack scenes of lineage, poverty, trauma like survivors guilt and PTSD, and the obligations we feel to those we love or those we feel we have made even a burden to.

The story has kind of rhythm to it, which can be a bit familiar. But I find that this works really well in establishing that fairytale quality. I really enjoyed the research aspects of the book, including some footnotes. Our main character, Opal, sends a lot of time trying to uncover secrets around the most powerful families in the town, the disappearance of a famous author, and the history of Starling House itself. There’s been strange happenings and, as you’d imagine, there are a lot of negative connotations surrounding the Starling House and the author and it’s interesting to see news documentation come together with legend. It’s something quite recognizable to me, growing up in a small rural town… people talk. Often times there are outdated ideas about women and complexities surrounding power and also the fear of it. Small towns end up with their own kind of folklore. They often have witches and haunted houses, even legends. So this is wonderful, in that regard.

The atmosphere is completely delicious. In so many of the scenes, specifically inside Starling House is very much it’s own character. I would’ve loved even more of them.

At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked the audiobook narrator, but she really grew on me, and I think she accomplished an embodiment of the vulnerability, and the grit in Opal. Her voice had a kind of depth to it that added to the story.

I’d like to take just a moment to say that I really appreciated the way the PTSD was touched on in this book. As someone who has suffered significantly with PTSD it’s nice to see it on page is the kind of a logical change difficult thing that it is . People go through life all the time with this kind of pain laying dormant and when it comes out to be unpredictable but it doesn’t have to be a huge display. I thought it was very well done and I really appreciate it that was included and it added to my appreciation of us character.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for early access to this title. It was such a great way to start September! It’s out October 3, from Tor!

Starling House by Alix Harrow

I first heard of Alix Harrow when her short story “A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies” was nominated for a Hugo Award. I read it, and I loved it. When her first novel came out, The Ten Thousand Door of January, I read it right away, and was a little disappointed. The book felt disjointed, and I didn’t care for the protagonist or her struggles very much. I felt like the author didn’t successfully make the leap from short story to novel. I read Ms. harrows, two fractured fairytale Novelas when they were nominated for the Hugos and I enjoyed them, although they felt a bit glib.I think I’m part because I’m getting a little tired of the hard-drinking, Devil-May-care protagonist trope. But they were entertaining, if not exactly treading new ground, and I enjoyed them more than her first novel, so I was intrigued when I read the blurb for her newest book, Starling House. I was excited when the publisher and NetGalley granted me an eARC and wow. Just wow. Was this book ever a leveling up!

I’m not a huge horror fan, but after reading some T. Kingfisher novels over the last couple of years, I find myself enjoying it more. And this book was an excellent book of the “creepy house” variety.

The protagonist, Opal, felt very real and three dimensional. Her life and her struggles were rooted in reality and didn’t seem either overly glamorized or exaggerated. I loved the slow build and unfolding of the mystery and all of the secondary and tertiary characters. And it was creepy in just the right way. And I love the house! The titular Starling House is practically a character itself and I love it so.

This world felt real and lived in and shone a light on a part of the world (rural Kentucky) that I don’t often see in SFF books. The resolution of the novel was satisfying on several levels - in this type of book, it is essential to stick the landing, and this one does so in a very satisfying way.

I highly recommend this to anyone who likes horror, likes Alice Harrow, likes thoughtful, well written books that are a tad creepy.

I listened to this on audiobook. The narrator was good, if a tad slow of speech. I started this on 1.5 speed and was up to 2x before I was halfway through.

An intriguing gothic tale of magic and overcoming grief. Opal and Arthur both grew up in Eden, a town that seems cursed - and it 100% is. Arthur is the sullen, reluctant guardian of Starling House, and is all that stands between Eden and disaster. Opal is a girl looking for a true home, and stumbles into a housekeeping position at Starling House - all the while falling more and more in love with the house and the man that lives there. Together, the two of them will fight fairy tale monsters and save those they love - but not without a lot of angst, swearing, and intrigue along the way. A fantastic read from beginning to end, this dark fairy tale will captivate fantasy readers.

This was such a perfect slightly spooky story. Right from the start I absolutely loved Opal. She had such a heart and drive, but it blended well with how lost she was. My only issue is I want more of how the house influenced the town. Give me all the legends and whispers that would happen if this was real,.

Opal is so relatable in how she will do anything to provide and protect for her family until she becomes the housekeeper for the house that is haunting her dreams, Starling House. But the house and its owner aren't exactly as they seem..

What I love about this: (1) we have a sentient house, (2) just enough suspense/darkness to keep you guessing without overpowering the book, and (3) the story wraps up so well without feeling forced.

I listened to this book in one day. I quite literally did not stop listening to it because I wanted to know where this story went. This was my first book of Alix's and I can totally understand the hype.

Would highly recommend for fans of V.E. Schwab/Gallant.

I was not the right audience for this book. It was a gothic fantasy book and I spend the first half trying to figure out if it was connected to Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. This book and that book seemed like identical stories to me. I kept checking to see if I was re-reading the same book or if this was a prequel. They are in fact different, but so so similar. This is not my genre of book so I don't have anything noteworthy to add.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the book to read and review.

Love anything by Alix E. Harrow and this novel didn’t disappoint - such a great gothic fairytale that quickly sucked you in and kept you listening/reading, curious about the mysteries of the house. Really loved the small town setting and the cast of characters that felt very real (especially if you’re familiar with small town life and everything it comes with, including the gossip, rumors, politics, and folks knowing everyone’s business). A great read for the spooky season coming up - less horror, more gothic, with lots of sass. Recommend checking out the audiobook - the narrator is great (one of my favs) and really makes the story, the characters, and the house come to life.

Thanks to Net Galley for the audiobook!

What I liked: The book is very atmospheric and I enjoyed the author's use of language and description throughout the book. I liked the character of the house and the whole story about the underland.

If you like gothic novels, you will likely like this book very much, it has everything you would expect, nightmares, secrets, spooky settings (without being overly scary), a sense of decay, a little bit of romance, and so many emotions. While this particular book didn't work for me, it might work for you. I find it hard to enjoy a book when I don't like the main character. Unfortunately, I didn't like Opal. I really hoped she would grow on me, but she never did. I also needed more things to happen: more fights, more creatures, more scary things. The focus of this book was mostly on Opal and Arthur and the history of the house than it was the scary things happening inside the house. The scariest things that happened were more of the real life scariness of losing a parent, not being able to pay the bills, the fear of becoming homeless, living in a town with no opportunities, having no future.

I do recommend the audiobook version. Natalie Naudus brought all the gothic atmosphere with her voice. She does an excellent job of differentiating the voices. This book also has interesting historical notes throughout and I liked how she read those sections and brought interest to what could seem a more boring footnote the reader might be likely to skip over when reading a physical book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an advance audio ARC of the book.

The audiobook was phenomenally narrated and Starling House is easily my favorite book so far this year. Highly recommend it!

This was my first Harrow but it will not be my last! This tale unfurled like a most dreamy fairytale. I’m thoroughly enchanted!

Cozy gothic horror? Yes please! Two things I can always count on Alix E. Harrow to provide is rich prose and an uncanny atmosphere. One of my favorite things to read about is creepy haunted houses set in small towns and this book delivered that. I seriously loved the sentient mysterious old house that is Starling House. Not sure if I can technically count the house as my favorite character but it was one of the best parts of the story! The actual main character, Opal, was great. I loved how flawed and real she was. Her character development didn’t feel rushed, and I enjoyed watching her growth. The plot was easy to follow and had the perfect amount of whimsy and romance to offset the spookiness. I usually find character driven stories to be slow, but I felt that this one was paced well. Starling House is perfect for fall and for readers looking for an addictive spooky (but not too spooky) read!

Thank you to Tor and Macmillan Audio for providing an audio ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Starling House is dark and gothic and romantic and spooky and I really enjoyed it! It’s just the right amount of scary to kick off the start of spooky season.

I thought the audio narrator did a nice job setting the tone, and the writing really gave you a good picture of the little town of Eden, Kentucky with all of its secrets and intriguing characters. I thought the backstory/explanation for things got a tiny bit complicated and confusing for me but overall I thought it was unique and enthralling. At times I really felt like I was standing in the dark watching the mist rise around me, too.

I was given access to the audiobook ARC on NetGalley by Macmillan Audio and Tor books and this is my honest review. Starling House is available for preorder now and will be released on October 3rd!