Rating: 5 ⭐️
Format: Audiobook

*I would like to thank Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, Tor Publishing and Alix E. Harrow for the ALC of Starling House in exchange for an honest review. *

I just want to start by saying I quite literally jumped for joy when this ALC landed on my shelf. In each magical world Harrow whips up, I have come to expect well rounded and intriguing characters alongside a beautifully curated plot. I must say Starling House is no exception and just in time for spooky season no less! Alix. E Harrow has been one of my auto-buy authors for a while and Starling House has only cemented that in stone for me.

This story takes us on a journey through the eyes of our FMC Opal, a moody magical house, and the homes grumpy caretaker (MMC) Arthur. From a young age Opal has been relentlessly haunted by dreams of a gothic mansion come to life. Constantly tormented by visions of another world filled with monsters and mayhem behind the gates of Starling House. With a deceased mother, a sick brother, a hell cat and a little to no money, a lost Opal finds herself drawn to the front gates of Starling House. Arthur, the home’s surely warden, reluctantly opens Opal’s eyes to the shadows beyond the doors. As secrets begin to unravel and a magical home with of a mind of its own begins to let Opal in, will she finally learn the truth behind her nightmares?

Thoughts:
This was hands down a five-star read. I highly recommend this for adults who love a dark gothic fairytale adventure. I urge you to check out Harrows other works such as “Ten Thousand Doors of January” and “The Once and Future Witches” if you have not already. I will say at times the pacing can feel a tiny bit slow, however, I feel as if this added to the overall spooky build of the storyline. I also want to give a huge congratulations to Natalie Naudus who delivered a beautiful narration from start to finish. I can’t wait to get my paws on a physical copy. This has been a highlight read of 2023 for me!
*My review will be posted to my Bookstagram @paperbacksandtwocats as well as my Goodreads account closer to publication day. Thank you for the opportunity! *

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was highly anticipating this book because of how much I loved Harrow's The Once and Future Witches. This book had a delightly gothic atmosphere, and I love stories about creepy haunted houses and the mysteries behind them. I liked the book overall, but I have two main complaints:

The main character was very difficult to like.

The pace of the story was extremely slow. While the prose was beautiful, I felt myself thinking about how so many superfluous lines could have been deleted so that the plot could progress quicker. I grew impatient and had to increase the audiobook speed.

The narrator, Natalie Naudus, did an amazing job as usual.

5/5 - A gothic haunted house story with strong Beauty and the Beast vibes.

We're following Opal, a young woman living in a motel with her teenage brother in the dead-end town aptly named, Eden. She is struggling to make ends meet, support her brother's schooling and is still haunted by the trauma of her mother's untimely death. Through all this, Opal starts to have dreams of the, supposedly, haunted house down the road. From there the story unfolds to include a sentient house, a grouchy protector of the house, a journey to the underworld, and a giant library!

Main characters, Opal and our overburdened house warden, Arthur, are flawed, complicated and carry the trauma of their pasts with them. We are rooting for them, even as they push away the people who care for them most.

Alix E. Harrow thrives when it comes to magical realism tied in with classic fairytale beats, which we see on full display here. I discovered Alix's work with the duology of fairytale novellas, A Spindle Splintered and A Mirror Mended, and fell in love with her short story, The Six Deaths of the Saint. This book fits beautifully into her growing library of fairytales for adults.

Audiobook praise! Sometimes when I listen to an audiobook I have to ask myself, was the story good or was the narrator just that amazing? In this case we're lucky enough for the answer to be both. Natalie Naudus brings the story to life with emotion and pacing. You're following her like a ghost (or a monster) just a step behind. You'll recognize Natalie from, The Bone Shard Daughter (series), One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston, and I just found out she's doing the audio for The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey (adding to the list!),

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listener copy.

This book is best listened to while drafting an outline of your newest horror book, "I was only trying to help". If it feels like someone is looking over your shoulder, you're probably right, so keep your sword close.

Excerpt:
“This is the story of Starling House… Once in the way back times, there was three brothers by the name Gravely who made a fortune digging coal out of the riverbank. They were good honest boys brought low by the same thing that always comes for honest men with a little money: a dishonest woman.”

At this point, “The Great American Dynasty” by Taylor Swift starts playing in my head and I just want this woman to burn it all down singing “Who knows if I never showed up what could have been / I had a marveloussss tiiiiime ruining everything.”

Billed as a gothic fairy tale (or perhaps horror story), Starling House follows Opal as she begins to work at the enigmatic Starling House, infamous in Eden, Kentucky for passing through a stream of reclusive Starling relatives.

Eden is an old coal mining town which has faced a long run of bad luck, much seemingly brought on by the coal industry. Opal and her brother, Jasper, were orphaned by that same string of luck. Her new high-paying housekeeping job is just what she needs to get her brother out. Opal has always had haunting, vivid dreams, and ever since she met Starling’s owner, those dreams center on Starling House.

I am a mood reader, and I was definitely in the mood for this!

I’m giving this 5 enthusiastic stars. This whole book was the perfect start to my spooky season. Great prose and imaginative plot rounded out by strong characters. The house reminded me of the Mayfair Witches’ home from Anne Rice’s The Witching Hour, and you might call this book the more whimsical little sister to The Witching Hour.

To bring a little balance to this review, I will point out two things:
Some readers might not love how this book goes down a rabbit hole toward the end. It’s clearly what the story built to, but most of the book is steeped in magical realism, and the end takes a harder turn into a fairy tale.

I listened to the audiobook. There were a few footnotes sprinkled in, which seemed to be read as soon as they were referenced. It was a big jarring the first couple of times; I think footnotes make more sense in text form. Other than that, highly recommend the audio!

This book goes on sale October 31, 2023. It was my pleasure to provide a candid review on a complimentary copy of this audiobook via NetGalley for Macmillan Audio.

Opal has been caring a huge load for the last many years. Guilt, care giving, striving for a better future for her brother.

She feels responsible for their mother's death and is doing all she can to make up for it.

Her dreams are haunted first by the car accident that claimed her mother's life and then by the infamous Starling House that has a myriad of rumors swirling about it and its inhabitants.

One night while walking home she feels drawn to it and meets the current heir, Arthur. He tells her to run away and never come back. But she does. Again and again.

Secret after secret is revealed in the history of the house and their little town Eden and all that lies beneath the surface.

Nice creepy paranormal story that really draws a line under the fact that the worst monsters are always people.

Okay now as someone who lives in Kentucky (like the author) one point just jumped out at and bothered me. Madisonville or even Owensboro are waaay close to Muhlenberg County where Eden is meant to be located and certainly host plenty of tattoo shops so why was the line included about the nearest tattoo shop being in Etown? (Also there's actually an Eden, KY in Butler County.)

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

Starling House is a modern gothic tale that is heartbreakingly beautiful. The house itself is the subject of local lore in Eden, Kentucky. The town doesn't appreciate the string of owners over the decades. They judge them as peculiar and untrustworthy. They don't understand the blood oath that was taken to protect their very lives.

This book is a dark, romantic fairytale full of nightmares. The prose bleeds into my soul. I hope we see a companion book of The Underland because I need that haunting piece of literature in my life as well. This book was phenomenal.

4.5 stars. I’m such a fan of Alix Harrow’s writing. It’s lyrical and always paints such an immaculate picture. It's whimsical and vibey. She never misses.

Starling House had me hooked from the start. The characters were interesting and the pacing was right on. I loved the way everything teased out, the role of the house, and the reveals along the way. The end of every chapter made me want to keep going. This book is a “just one more chapter!” book and suddenly you’ve read the whole thing wayyy faster than you anticipated.

It did have gothic elements and I LOVE a sentient house, but I feel like we could have leaned into the gothic vibes even more. Honestly, it actually felt more cozy and comforting vs. the gothic/horror vibes I was expecting. Not bad, just unexpected!

I loved the ending.

Starling House was SO good. 10/10 read. I feel like it has it all.
- Found Family
- Fiesty FMC
- Romance
- Prophecies
- Greed & Wealth
- Small town vibes
- LGBTQIA representation
- Magical House
I listened to this on audiobook and I really enjoyed the narrator’s voice. There was something about this story that just had me hooked from the beginning. I think this is going to be a huge hit in the bookish community. Everyone pick this up when the release happens!

I just love a good Sci Fi & Fantasy story! This book was incredible. I was pulled in from the very start. The characters had wonderful depth, from the “dumpster cat”, to the current “caretaker” of Starling house, to the “monsters” of Starling house. What an incredible imagination Alix E Harrow has demonstrated in this story! I loved how Opal fought for a home for her and her brother, and how she worked so hard to give her brother opportunities she never had. Opal was a very jaded young woman, with plenty of reasons to be. However, she never gave up on providing a home in any way it took for herself and her brother.

I’ve never heard of this author before, but did a quick research of her after this first experience. I will be reading more of her work! I highly recommend this story and this author to anyone who enjoys a great fantasy store novel!

Thank you, Macmillan audio and Netgalley, for this opportunity to read this story in exchange for an honest review.

5⭐️

Oh. My. Goodness. This was so surprisingly good, I loved all the different parts of this story. It was so eerily entertaining.

This story opens with Opal trespassing at the Starling House and is caught by the caretaker Arthur. Arthur is mysterious and grumpy, he doesn't want Opal anywhere near the house. Against his best judgement he hires her as the housekeeper. From there they get to know each other and Opal finds out the dark secrets of the home.

I really loved characters of this book. They both are a bit grumpy and Opal stands her own against Arthur. I loved their interaction and seeing their unlikely friendship grow. While we learn the horrors of the book and paranormal elements. It's so well done and excellently paced,

I read this book on audiobook format. The narrator is fantastic and does a great job bringing each of characters to life. Her voice is soothing and I will be looking for books narrated by her.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for this advance reader audiobook. My review is voluntarily my own.

I will be posting my review to my Instagram page the.floofs.booknook and retail sites close or on publication.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillion Audio, Alix Harrow, and Tor Publish for allowing me to review this ARC!

This book was hauntingly beautiful. I've been around Kentucky before and I could easily picture what the setting in Eden looked like! The descriptions really set the scene. I could picture every store, river, etc in my head.

I thought this book was a unique and twisted read. There were unexpected twists and developments I did not see coming.

I really liked that the main characters where not described as extremely handsome/or beautiful. That they where described almost as ugly but each found beauty in the other. The tension between Opal and Arthur was really good!

I listened to this in audio format and enjoyed the narration. She brought the characters to life and they each felt like their own and not muttled together.

This is the perfect fall/spooky time read. Can't wait for it to be published so I can buy a physical copy!

Hooooly Moooooly, this book was FANTASTIC! If you've been around a while you know that I LOVE Ninth House, and this is the same exact vibes, only with more monsters, and a conscious house! I love a good personation of an inanimate object! We follow the story of Opal, taking care of and working to save up money for college for, her younger brother Jasper. Both are orphaned after the death of their mom. They live in a creepy ass town where people from the same family keep dying tragic and horrible deaths. There is one house in the town that seems to connect all these mysterious deaths, Starling House. One day, on her way home from work, Opal walks by Starling House to appease the dreams she keeps having about it. When she walks up to the gate, it basically bites her and drinks her blood and she is bombarded by the last known Starling resident, told to run away and never come back. Obviously she comes back and learns far more about herself than she anticipated.
One thing I really liked about this story is that the people are vividly described as very common looking, crooked teeth, odd posture, not hot or good looking. It was refreshing!

An atmospheric creeper of a tale! That’s part of what makes this a good read, however, it’s beating heart is it’s people. Desperate, broken, tired, people who hunger for a home. It’s that want that drives the tale and fuels its monsters. Dreams become nightmares so easily when you realize what you’d truly give up for what your heart wants. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

**Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early edition.**

‘Starling House’ by Alix E. Harrow was dark, magical, mythical, cozy, and raw. The storytelling was rich; so darkly sumptuous that it surrounds you like a velvet-wrapped dream. This modern-gothic-romance-fairytale is the perfect story for spooky season, for one of those lulling, lovely fall days dense with fog and misty, melodic rain (or those longing for autumn days like I am right now).

This was a story of blood, love, wit, violence, and seething, loathsome rage. Of magic and curses, siblings and family (the one you’re born with and the one you make), facing the atrocities of the past and what ‘home’ means exactly - is it a place or a person? There was so much nuance here in this fresh, riveting fable with a magical, creepy-but-cozy, sentient house at its heart (a house that’s absolutely a character in its own right and that I loved as much as Opal, Jasper, Arthur, Hellcat, etc.). There’s a message, themes, here of generational trauma and inner child healing, of cycle breakers, living and not just surviving, of the vulnerability and courage it takes to let love in, that hit me straight in the heart with the naked humanity of it.

The romance was subtle and slow burn, but also somehow sweeping and charged, intense, something of the profound to it. The ramshackle, downtrodden town of Eden, KY the story is set in was dispiriting and claustrophobic, but also a place you can’t seem to help but root for to do better. Maybe it was the way the characters all seemed to love it, or feel strongly attached to it, despite how much pain it caused.

The audio was marvelous. Narrator Natalie Naudus brings an already heady, atmospheric story to vivid life.

I loved ‘The Once and Future Witches’ so much, was so excited to read ‘Starling House,’ and now love it even more than the I did the first. I am so stoked that I still have ‘The Ten Thousand Doors of January’ and ‘A Spindle Splintered’ to look forward to because I just want all of Alix E. Harrow’s storytelling now and forever. Absolutely a top favorite author for me, and ‘Starling House’ a top read of the year.

The Halloween release date for ‘Starling House’ couldn’t be more perfect, and I can’t wait to buy a physical copy for my bookshelf. I highly, highly recommend this one. 10 stars.

𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘺 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 (𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬-𝘺𝘰𝘶!). 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

I’ve always been intrigued by stories where the house is a character unto itself, so Starling House was right up my alley. I really enjoyed the gothic atmosphere of Starling House, as well as Opal’s willingness to do whatever it takes to keep what was left of her family together. There were a few clunky parts of the story where I lost interest, but overall, this was an enjoyable tale with a sweet romance. The narrator was excellent and kept me listening during the parts where the story lagged a bit.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Alix Harrow for allowing me the chance to read/listen to “Starling House” in exchange for an honest review.

Alix Harrow’s atmospheric writing is undeniably captivating. The Kentucky connections (Etown, 270, and Muhlenberg County) and the heartwarming sibling relationship make this book a memorable journey worth experiencing.

Barrow also introduces a lightly detailed romance between Opal and Arthur, the protector responsible for safeguarding everyone from the lurking evil beneath the house. While their relationship adds a tender dimension to the story, I felt that the development of their romance felt a little rushed and needed a little more development.

It’s also worth mentioning that the cadence of the book might be a bit slower compared to Harrow's previous works. As a result, it took me longer than usual to fully engage with the story. Nonetheless, the payoff was well worth it and I enjoyed the unraveling of this mystery.

Alix Harrow is an author that I will always support and read, no matter what is published. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

I really enjoyed the build up and intrigue of this book! The suspense and fantastical aspects of this book were super cool. However the conclusion of the book was a bit of a let down for me, i was hoping for something more. Overall i really enjoyed the characters and the slow burn romance between the characters.

A hauntingly beautiful gothic novel about a small town and secrets going back years, still plaguing residents.
When Opal comes to the haunted Starling House and meets its enigmatic heir Arthur, evil forces work to destroy them both and the fellow townsfolk, and to beat them, they have to confront their own nightmares.
I was really surprised by this novel and the addition of the paranormal and romance. It’s perfect for fans of the grim and gothic, especially during spooky season. The narration added a great dynamic that had me holding my breath at times, bringing the story to life.
Thank you to Tor and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This comes out in October, just in time for Halloween!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The fact that Natalie Naudus got chosen to narrate excited me more than ever! Opal was a fighter from a young age and became a strong and independent woman in the end. The story flowed very well and I absolutely loved how there were no unanswered questions at the end. The book had a great steady pass and the ending was not rushed!

Very Haunting of Hill House vibes! Crumbling, derelict old house that seems to have a life of its own "calls" for members of its ancestral family to act as a ward. The town seems to attract death and tragedy and our main characters are trying to set things right again. Really liked this!