Good creepy story! #StarlingHouse by #alixeharrow read by #natalienaudus #magicalhouse #townlegends #beasts #mysteries #siblings #housewarden #love #myeyespreferaudiobooks🎧 #accessiblebooks #netgalley #macmillanaudio

The plotline sounds familiar but the author's voice is far from ordinary. I sometimes fall short in words when I'm still in awe of wanting to be part of the book. Opal looks hopelessly stuck in the dire situation with her younger brother, barely surviving. From the outside, she's feisty but the only reason she can continue her way of life is because she believes in the potential of her younger brother. She's determined to get her younger brother out of this town for good, far from their past. When she gets an unexpected job offer from the owner of town's infamous Starling House, which everyone believes is a bad omen, she starts to feel something she didn't expect, a hope and warmth of a home.

There are moments of heartwarming conversations when Opal realizes that her relentless will to survive became the currency for many around her who've been secretly helping her out. Opal makes me want to live my life to the fullest. Arthur makes me want to have integrity, and Jaspar, oh he made me realize the only way of returning a favor is to live fearlessly and be the best version of myself. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is hoping for more than just a mystery/horror book but who's looking to feel the rawness of up and down human interactions at its finest.

Opal has spent the last ten years of her life living in Room 12 of the Garden of Eden motel, taking care of her younger brother since the death of their mom. Her strange dreams and nightmares become real when she is drawn one night to Starling House and meets Arthur, the seeming caretaker of the dilapidated mansion. While the rest of the town tends to shy away from the property, Opal has always been fascinated by it and once she meets Arthur their lives will never be the same.

The Southern Gothic vibes and atmosphere were absolutely perfect! Alix E. Harrow set the mood in such a masterful way that I've bumped her other books up higher on my TBR.

And to have Natalie Naudus as the audiobook narrator? Absolute perfection.

You really get a sense of who the FMC is, with her flaws, her thoughts, and the way she tries to make a better life for her younger brother. First person POV is usually a hit or miss, but with this one, it really worked.

There was one sequence/set of scenes that depicted depression really well without using the word "depression." I thought that was done really well.

I wasn't too sold on the romance. It felt very insta-love and honestly, I wasn't sure what attracted the FMC and the MMC to each other. Maybe it's because the MMC is the master of the creepy, old, sentient house and the FMC was hired as the cleaner that it sorta gave me Jane Eyre vibes.

Also, the MMC's POV was written in third person, which was really strange to read when the FMC's POV is in first person. It felt like lazy writing, as if the author decided that first person all the way through didn't work, so she added in a third person POV to add more nuance to the story. This seems to be a trend this year with adult fantasies that read younger, and I'm not sure if I'm into it. I wish it was third person omniscient all the way through.

I think I would've liked this novel even better if the setup itself wasn't so long. We understand the ins and outs of Opal's life situation, the small Kentucky town she's stuck in, and the history of Starling House, but nothing exciting really happens until the midpoint.

The ending itself felt really rushed. When the action finally got going, events and new characters weren't fully explained or developed, so you just had to roll with it. Sure, there were hints, but I honestly didn't expect a full-blown supernatural fantasy (which I'm definitely not complaining about).

Also, there was a minor queer romance that felt like it was shoehorned in for the queers. It's like, please straight authors, you don't have to do this. It's kinda cringe tbh.

But anyway.


***SPOILER ALERT***

I just wish that we had more scenes in the Underland because that entire sequence felt like it happened so quickly and was very tropey. (If you're into supernatural horror fantasy, it's pretty much your typical reveal and ending scenes.)

***END SPOILER ALERT***


Other than that, I really enjoyed this novel and I can't wait to read the rest of the author's books!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this arc.

My favorite part about this book was the atmosphere! I think the setting worked so well and the house, with all its secrets, was very interesting and had just the right sort of vibes. I did however have a difficult time connecting with the characters. There were parts where I think if I was reading, I would've put the book down. But the audiobook was done so well, it kept me engaged! The narrators did a great job! Thank you for giving me the chance to listen to this one!

"Starling House" by Alix E. Harrow takes readers on an eerie and captivating journey to the heart of a small town haunted by both its history and the chilling secrets hidden within its walls. In this grim and gothic tale, Eden, Kentucky, serves as the backdrop for a story that seamlessly blends supernatural intrigue with deeply human struggles. Opal finds herself drawn into the enigmatic Starling House and its mysterious heir, Arthur Starling. Set against the backdrop of a dying town and the eerie legends surrounding it.

Opal's quest for a sense of belonging and Arthur's struggle to face the legacy of his family collide with the uncanny elements that permeate the town. Harrow crafts a narrative that is as much about personal growth and redemption as it is about unraveling the supernatural mysteries. With themes of resilience, courage, and the power of confronting one's deepest fears, the novel resonates beyond its chilling surface.

Starling House

Plot: 1
Writing: 1
World building: 1
Characters: .5
Themes: 1
4.5/5

Spice: 1/5

Audiobook: 5/5
Natalie Naudus can do no wrong.

What you can expect:
- Gothic thriller
- Slow burn (not really a strong romance plotline)

I really enjoyed this one! It reads YA but is still so good. I do agree with some reviews that it probably didn't need to be this long. However, the length didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story at all.

This is the perfect fall read to sit in a comfy chair, with a comfy blanket and a cup of coffee.

As someone who lives in the south and loves dark academia, this was the perfect novel for me! So few dark academia books are set in a place that is familiar to me. The world building and lore were so well done and complete. The characters really made a connection with me, and I felt myself feeling their feelings along with them. I’m obsessed with Opal x Arthur. I love them. SO much. The ending where we learn just exactly where the beasts come from was an excellent reveal. I feel like I’m ready for fall and rainy, cozy days, which is exactly how I want to be left feeling after reading a book of this genre.

This is a book that I think you’re going to see everywhere when it releases in October and I’ll just say it now, yes this is the perfect book for your spooky Fall tbr. Get the plastic skeletons, pumpkins and haunted house movies out now because you’ll be dripping in black and orange after hearing my review for this.

I knew by the first few pages that this was going to be addicting. Sometimes you just know, "yup, this is a 5 star read" and it was. I can with certainty describe this book as very howls moving castle but instead of a castle it’s a creepy old house with a personality of it’s own and instead of fantasy, it’s modern day but it still has that whimsy feel.

Our main character Opal is your typical 26 year old trying to get by, she works at tractor supply, lives in a motel and is trying to help her brother get out of Eden Kentucky though his education has him stuck there but she’s kind of stuck there to. She’s always had these strange dreams about starling house, a creepy old manor that people of Eden Kentucky (the setting of the book) consider the curse of the town, the stain that can’t be removed and she relates to this feeling as the people of this town don’t like her either so she feels a connection because of this. So every night when walking home from work, she passes starling house and there’s always a single light on in one of the windows so she gets curious, and through a series of events, meets the last remaining heir to starling house (who I pictured as a very emo looking figure that I know many are going to swoon over. I’m calling it now. this is the next rhysand or azriel) and she gets a job as a caretaker there for some faster cash.

Cozy horror is a really good descriptor for this. Whether you like scary books or you don’t, I think you’re going to love this either way. It’s just spooky enough to quench my horror cravings cause there are definitly some scary scenes, some that are bloody but also not so spooky that someone is going to have nightmares and the whimsical, magical, mysterious feel to the story, helps dilute that. What adds depth to this story even more is we get the POV of Arthur starling, the caretaker himself, the last warden of Starling House and I thought this was a really clever add on to touch base with the reader that this wretched character that we’re supposed to fear has feelings and emotion and is fighting an invisible war all on his own. I loved this. It’s in my top 5 reads of the year. It’s the most perfect fall read that you can imagine. I will definitely be getting myself a physical copy. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was in some book boxes, run, don’t walk if those are announced.

Another phenomenal fantasy standalone from Alix E Harrow! Spooky sentient house with a tired warden who just wants the demons to stop bothering him and a grumpy pickpocket turned housekeeper who wants to help.

The narrator for the audio arc was fab and I thought she did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. Highly recommend the audio for this.

Y’all should get hyped for Starling House, releasing this October.

This is the story of Opal, who’s struggling to make ends meet, raising her brother in a motel in the small town of Eden, Kentucky. In the hopes of raising enough money to send her brother to college, Opal takes on a job at the Starling House, a decaying mansion on the edge of town occupied by the reclusive Arthur Starling. The Starling House and its occupant are a source of gossip, rumor, and fear across Eden, but Opal feels eerily drawn to them both. As Opal begins her employment, she discovers that the dark secrets of Starling House go even deeper than the small-town gossip-mill could have predicted.

I don’t usually love a gothic fantasy, but this book was the exception. In parts, this felt like a darker, more adult ‘House in the Cerulean Sea’ (in the best way). The magic didn’t feel too corny. The pace felt just right to me. I rooted for these characters so hard. The narrative style felt original and interesting -- one thing I REALLY loved was that we get footnotes (House of Leaves-style) which fact-check the narrator’s claims and provide important context, which I found super cool. I actually wish there had been more of these consistently throughout, but maybe that's just the academic in me talking.

Totally recommend preordering or putting this in your library holds now if you can. Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for letting me listen to this in advance.

The audiobook version of Starling House, for me, is one of the best listens of the year.

Superbly narrated by Natalie Naudis, the novel tells the story of Opal and her brother Jasper, orphaned when their Mom dies in a possibly suspicious car accident in their hometown of Eden, Kentucky. Obsessed by Eleanor Starling’s kids book The Underland, she also finds herself drawn to the spooky Starling House, built years ago by Eleanor Starling. A reworking of the classic haunted house trope, melded with the stories of the underworld, Starling House is a fascinating book, with many twists and turns. It may be a touch slow in the beginning, but it quickly turned into a book I couldn’t stop listening to. And I just loved the ending.

As mentioned, the narration was excellent. Ms. Naudis brought the book to life, imbuing each character, including the house, with distinct personalities. I could just sense the dread lurking in the background as the novel progressed.

Thoroughly enjoyable and highly, highly recommended.

My thanks to Macmillan audio and to Netgalley for providing an ALC of this fabulous book.

Wow, I loved this book! The vibes are so good and so creepy. I cannot wait to do a fall re-read. This is monster house meets dark Beauty and the Beast. Opal is a great FMC. She is funny, angsty but not too angsty, and she's trying to do the right thing when she can and survive it. You can't help but root for her. And Arthur as a love interest and MMC matches her so well; they both carry trauma and more responsibility than they should. I really enjoyed when we got Arthur's POV. I thought the pacing was great, any slower moments helped build the atmosphere and build out the "world" of Eden. I loved trying to figure out what the heck is going on, right alongside Opal.

The narrator, Natalie Naudus, does a great job setting up a spooky, sinister atmosphere.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an ARC of this audiobook.

3.5 stars for me. The story was a well paced and intriguing gothic fairy tale. I never truly felt connected to either main character so I had a hard time immersing myself in the story. Not my usual go to genre, but still an enjoyable read. Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Audio foe the ARC of this book.

As a fellow Kentuckian, this book was a breath of fresh air. I was acting like a little kid. I was screaming I know that place and that place and that place. Haha.

Since we got that out of the way, Our main character Opal has taken over the responsibility of her younger brother after their mother's death. Opal is 26, and Jesper is 16, lives in a hotel room because it is free of charge to them. She will do anything for her brother. Even If that means accepting a job at a house that she often sees in her nightmares.

I did listen to this book via audio. I found it an easy listen. Starling House contains some footnotes or side notes. I did not have a hard copy because this is an Arc. If you decide to listen to it via Audio then it is something to be aware of.

3.5 stars! I enjoyed Harrow’s writing. I am excited to read more from this author. My favorite part of the story was the characters. I felt as though I knew each character personally. I think the story was slow-moving and did not take the turn I felt it would take. The action started and sucked me in.
Thanks, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. For providing this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Alix Harrow's Starling House gets off to a somewhat slow start but once you get in, you're hooked. Opal has cared for her younger brother Jason in the small town of Eden, Kentucky since their mother's death in an accident. And Opal has cared for him to the best of her ability. Jobs were not plentiful in the coal town of Eden for anyone, much less a high school dropout. When Opal is offered the chance to work at Starling House, the big creepy house in town with only one resident, she is happy to walk away from her job at the hardware store.

But strange occurrences happen at the house and it's one occupant, Arthur, is ambivalent about having Opal around. Opal feels at home there and the house itself seems to welcome her. And, she certainly needs the money Arthur can afford to pay her. The original builder of the house, E. Starling, left behind a creepy novel titled The Underland. The Underland was one of Opal's favorite books as a child. Its tales of horrible creatures and dark happenings had a magnetic pull for Opal.

The Gravely family, owners of the coal mine in Eden, want to get their hands on the property. Arthur turns away all attempts to purchase or even enter the grounds. So, the would-be buyers turn to Opal and, with threats and promises, cajole her into giving them information about Starling House. Secrets about not only the house, but about Opal and her mother come out and the results are devastating.

Narrator Natalie Naudus provides a suitably matter of fact yet sinister reading of the book.

Those who enjoy mild horror, family drama, and a slight touch of romance will like this one. Especially young adult readers.

Opal lives in Eden, Kentucky with her 16-year-old brother. She is working at a Tracker Supply Shop to make ends meet and save up enough money to send him away to a private school. Arthur lives at Starling House and wants to keep Opal far away. When she shows up at his door and demands a job, Arthur can't deny her a job. Opal starts cleaning up Starling House and finding out about the magic that lies there. I really loved this book. Something about Alix E. Harrow's writing really works for me. This book took place in a contemporary setting and doesn't have specifically mentioned witchcraft but the vibe was still there. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next.

Thanks, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of Starling House for my review.

Who doesn’t love a good fantasy novel these days? This one was fantastic. I liked it much more than Ten Thousand Doors! It was actioned packed, suspenseful, and full of fun, well developed characters. You can’t ask for anything more.

I highly recommend a copy when it releases!

Starling House is a modern gothic fairytale and one of my favorite reads of the year. The heroine, Opal, is a smart, strong, and fierce character who is easy to root for. The writing is atmospheric which brings the characters and the setting to life. The story was full of mystery, magic, and folklore, with dashes of romance and creepy creatures. I loved the similarities to the fairytale of Beauty and the Beast. I really loved this book and cannot recommend it enough. The audiobook is well narrated and held my attention from the start. Go ahead and pre-order this one!

Thank you @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

4/5 stars. To be released October 2023.

Starling House was my first book by Alix Harrow, but won’t be my last. Set in a small town of Kentucky, Starling House provides gothic vibes in a modern world. The main character, Opal, finds herself drawn to the mysterious Starling House and the equally mysterious care taker. The book was both spooky and heart wrenching at the same time. Sometimes monsters are imagined and all too often they are real. Starling House is a perfect Halloween time read!