review

starling house is a gothic fantasy set in a cursed small town and follows opal who takes a job at the haunted house she's been having nightmares about. opal and arthur, the house’s heir, have to decide whether to come together to uncover secrets about the town or leave eden to be taken over by nightmares.

somehow, this book is atmospheric, dark, eerie, hopeful, and heartwarming all at the same time. it’s a cosy, whimsical, character-driven fairytale set in a southern town full of secrets and has a beautiful love story between two people trying to find a home… and i loved it!

i really enjoyed the focus on family in this. opal’s relationship with her younger brother, while complicated, was so special and felt so real. the development of their relationship was one of the ways the changes in opal’s character was shown over the events of the book, which i really appreciated.
speaking of characters… the fact that starling house had a (very strong) personality of it’s own and felt like a character itself was absolutely everything!

i read the six deaths of the saint a while ago (twice in two days) and absolutely fell in love, so it’s not surprising that i LOVED this too. it’s the perfect fall read- beautiful writing, incredibly vivid imagery, cosy atmosphere, filled with horrors but won’t keep you up at night type of thing. i truly can’t wait to get into more of alix e. harrow’s books :)

rating: 4 ✩

I was very excited to be approved for this - first of all, look at that gorgeous cover! I was ready for gothic, haunted house story!

I enjoyed it at first. I was intrigued by Starling House and how Opal was drawn to it. I liked the characters, their situations made them really sympathetic and I was ready to feel all the feels with them. Alix E. Harrow's writing was great the whole way through too (which is why I wanted to round it up to 3 stars, but I think 2 is fairer for my overall reading experience).

The book lost me on the plot, though. It took a ridiculously long time for something to actually happen - other than Opal cleaning up Starling House and finding out bits and pieces about it.
I was disappointed by the lack of gothic, haunted house plot, which was completely side-lined by the 'random evil woman really wants to get into Starling House for some reason' plotline. This is a bit of a spoiler, and I know this is an ARC, but I have to say it: that plot-line lead nowhere and ended up having zero impact! Why was it there, other than to create unnecessary drama?

That was another part I didn't enjoy. It was a tad melodramatic. In the sense that the characters' thoughts were so fatalistic and doom-and-gloom, but what was actually happening didn't live up to it, in my opinion. They also expressed the same thoughts a lot, so it became a bit repetitive.

I thought the fantasy element wasn't particularly believable, or grounded into the universe. For me, urban fantasy needs to explain how the fantasy part can exist in our world, with no one being the wiser (and I'm talking governments, not the locals). I mean, if there's a place where a lot of deaths and strange accidents occur, is it believable that no one would really investigate? I couldn't just go with it, sadly.

And finally, the main characters are 26-28, but I thought this read a bit YA. I think because it was so dramatic, and because Opal kept referring to the 28 y.o. Arthur as 'a boy'.

I do think that this book will appeal to a lot of people, but it wasn't for me.

2.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy. Take a pinch of Beauty and the Beast, a hint of gothic sensibilities and a soupcon of Buffy, add brooding male and orphaned female leads and a sentient house and stir vigorously. What do you have? Alix E Harrow's Starling House. I loved The Ten Thousand Doors of January and hoped I'd like this as much, but unfortunately I didn't. I just didn't engage with the characters. Well, the human ones, because the titular house is enchanting. If only the other characters were as fully rounded. The romances, one of which came totally out of left field, didn't ring true. The prose was stilted and the narrative disjointed. Three stars is probably being a bit generous, if I'm honest, but the house itself was that engaging and the book is beautifully illustrated by Rovina Cai.

I got to read Starling House by Alix E. Harrow! Now don’t shout at me but this was my first book by this author 👀 I’ve only heard amazing things so I was super excited for this one! Here are my thoughts!

This is such a Halloween book. The vibe is so spooky, it’s a gothic fantasy that is so incredibly atmospherically written that you immediately get that autumn feeling from it 🍁. I really enjoyed the characters, especially Arthur who I just LOVED. I had so much empathy for his character and I think the relationship between him and Opal was kind of beautiful. I loved the small town vibes that gave the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped by the same old thoughts by decades of the families who lived there. I thought it was really interesting that there were footnotes! The book itself had a slower start where it built the scene but I think the ending was great, if a little rushed. This book had elements of romance, the supernatural, old secrets and found family! If you enjoy any of those tropes, I think this book is for you!

I think perhaps gothic fantasy is not for me. I did enjoy the book but the difference between this being higher rated for me and what I do give it is because of the fact that I think the genre is not for me. And that is okay! I think people who are a fan of the genre and the author will really love this book and I can’t wait to see more peoples opinions on it!

3.75/5⭐️’s

This book will be published on the 31st of October 2023.

Thank you to @netgalley and @panmacmillan for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in return for a fair and honest review 🤍

Thank you for my earc of this. I really enjoyed the atmosphere in this book and thought the beginning of the plot was engaging, but something was really missing. I needed more information and more background. The whole book felt too superficial and for that it didn’t keep me engaged so I DNF at around the 50% mark.

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.

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 the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Oh my, what a ride this was .This was absolutely beautiful . I could not put this book down.I was so engrossed in the story everything else ceased to exist. I don't usually read this genre and this was my first book by this author but it will definitely not be my last. Magnificent. Can't wait for my special edition of this book. 10 stars. Would definitely recommend.

Unfortunately not the book for me. Gorgeous writing but I could not connect to the story or characters. I would still recommend it if the premise is for you.

I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting! I loved the creepy atmosphere throughout but this author knows how to hook you I was so immersed in the story I could literally not put the book down!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!

When I sat down to write my review of Starling House I was conflicted. I enjoyed the story immensely but I just didn’t like any of the main characters and I found the ending lacklustre. I wanted this to be a spooky tale of an anthropomorphic house which had me gripped but somehow it fell flat and left me wanting more.

Opal is a thief and a liar, more than willing to screw over anyone to make sure that her 16-year-old brother Jasper, is taken care of. This might be Opal’s only redeeming characteristic though. She’s rude, abrasive and selfish, with her only goal in life being to get her brother out of the Kentucky town they’ve found themselves stuck in.

With nightmares of her mother's death and the creepy gothic mansion plaguing her, Opal ventures closer to Starling House one night and becomes drawn into the tales and mysteries surrounding the property. She’s warned by the house’s recluse owner Arthur, to stay away and she temporarily listens to his advice and leaves but the nightmares draw her back. Reluctantly, Arthur offers her the job of cleaning up the property for an undisclosed but extortionate sum which Opal greedily accepts.

Starling House has many secrets which rise eerily in the mist. The beasts can only be seen by the Warden of the house but target the town's inhabitants causing all manner of accidents and disasters. I thought that the premise would see more of a focus on the paranormal attacks and a battle between Opal and the beasts but Starling House lost its way at some point and became more of a romance than the paranormal mystery I expected and wanted.

The gorgeous cover and the intriguing premise caught my attention. I love Gothic novels, and having heard great things about Alix E. Harrow's books, I thought this one would be up my alley. Unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed finding the writing style stiff and lackluster. The story was interesting but at the same time there was nothing fresh about it, compared to other novels in the same vein.

Starling house just wasn’t for me.
I loved the once and future witches but found this book too YA, a whole lot of soppy romance while trying to build a dark gothic story based around a house with secrets and an Underland where beasts arise when the mist rises.
This felt very long and dragged out with many unnecessary plots running alongside the main story.

Another unique, absorbing dark ride from Alix E Harrow.

Opal's life is going nowhere fast. She lives in a motel in a polluted backwater, stealing from her minimum wage job to make ends meet, her entire focus on getting her clever younger brother out into an environment where he isn't looked down on for the colour of his skin and his parentage. So when she gets the opportunity to become housekeeper at Starling House for a ridiculously inflated wage, she jumps at it. No matter that Starling House is quite obviously haunted, inhabited by one mysterious man, the source of endless gossip, speculation and fear - and has been calling to Opal through her dreams. But Opal isn't the only one interested in the house's secrets and her new job puts her into the path of a ruthless company prepared to do whatever they must to find out what she knows. Opal should be delighted at their willingness to bribe her for secrets, but the more time she spends with surly, unkempt Arthur Starling, the more conflicted - and traitorous - she feels.

Alix E Harrow weaves a compelling, original take on the haunted house genre. Highly recommended.

One of my most anticipated reads of 2023!
Starling House follows the main character, Opal. Opal is a nobody, She doesn't even know her last name, she has no home, and is living day to day. Her only goal is to get out of the town she is living in - a town where the legend of Starling House sparks rumours of witchcraft, satanic worship and murder.
When Opal starts dreaming of Starling House, and the creepy things that appear in the mist that only she can see, she is drawn towards it, and what she thinks is a chance encounter with its current occupant ends with her taking a job as Starling House's new housekeeper.
This book was everything I had hoped it would be. As one of my most anticipated reads of 2023, I was nervous that it wouldn't live up to the hype that had surrounded it, but I was not disappointed.
This book had just the right amount of creepy suspense mixed with intrigue and mystery, with a slow-burn romance element thrown in for good measure. It also included a found-family trope that I was not expecting but was incredibly heart-warming, as well as some LQBTQ representation.
4 stars!

"Starling House" by Alix Harrow is a captivating tale of mystery, family secrets, and the supernatural that unfolds in the eerie setting of an ill-omened mansion. Opal's determination to work at Starling House and earn money for her brother's future sets the stage for a gripping narrative filled with uncanny occurrences and hidden truths.

Harrow masterfully blends elements of horror and wonder, creating a story that keeps readers on edge while also evoking a sense of curiosity and enchantment. The characters, especially Opal, are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to root for them in their struggle against sinister forces.

The novel's exploration of the past and the sacrifices made for a better future adds depth and emotional resonance to the plot. "Starling House" is a beautifully written and atmospheric story that combines elements of Gothic fiction with a contemporary twist, making it a compelling read for those who enjoy tales of dark secrets and the power of resilience.

Stupidly I began reading this book at midnight, I had to peel my eyes away from reading at about 3am, and then continued reading as soon as possible the next day. I was captivated from the beginning. This gothic, spooky novel is not usually a genre I read often, however, I adored it at every stage. I felt the pacing of the book was just right and I was invested in all the characters- including the character of Starling House itself.
I felt the epilogue was satisfying- having a third person narrative meant that the reader was provided with more of an overview rather than living in the shoes of the character, and this for me worked well.
I think this book will be well received by adults and YA audience and I will be recommending to my teenage children and their friends to pick up and read alongside friends I know who love this genre.

Thanks so much NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. I feel like I have been thoroughly treated with this book!

Definitely an improvement for me on the last AEH book I read but I wasn't blown away. The plot was enjoyable but not quite exciting enough to keep me gripped. I loved the gothic setting and Opal was an intriguing MC

Starling House is unlike anything I've ever read. It is rather slow paced and it took a few chapters for the book to fully immerse me but once it did, I couldn't take my eyes off this dark and thrilling book.

I tend to stay away from the horror genre, and from what I've read in other reviews, this one seems to be rather tame. For me, however, it was the perfect mix of creepiness, mystery and danger.

Romance was a very prominent factor in this book and I wouldn't have it any other way. I was sceptical about Arther Starling at first but his character really grew on my and I really loved his interactions with Opal. I loved how they were described to be not very beautiful people, which made it all the more meaningful for me.

There is no doubt in my mind that this book is extremely engaging and wonderfully written, however, the overall tone of the book wasn't at all what I'd expected. Despite being marketed as gothic, I didn't really get that sort of vibe from it. The overall atmosphere and setting felt a lot more like horror/thiller.

Regardless, I really enjoyed Starling House and it is a book that will definitely stick with me.

2.5 stars

Ugh, I dunno. I really enjoyed this book at first, but the pacing was off. It was so slow in the last 40% that I had to skim read and skip a lot of it (I actually considered DNF'ing at this stage) but I wanted to know that happened in the end so pushed through. I'm not sure it was worth it.

The story starts off with lots of promise. It's about Opal (I loved her name!) who lives in a small town called Eden, and has nothing really going for her except her younger brother, who she is desperately trying to provide for. She ends up getting a job offer from Arthur Starling, the mysterious inhabitant of the Starling House, and takes it so she can pay for her little brother's private school tuition.

May I point out, it takes about 30% of the book to get to this part. I feel like this could have been condensed massively. Actually, I would say the entire book could have been cut a lot shorter, because there wasn't much of a story there. When Opal gets the job, I was thinking 'whoopee, now let's see some magic and solve these much-alluded to mysteries ... well, don't expect to find anything out for a while. All the reveals come at around the last 20% of the book and by that point I was so bored I was skimming the pages.

This book is marketed as gothic fantasy/horror but there was very little in the way of horror and only a bit of a gothic feel. There's a much more 'chick-lit small town' vibe to it in my opinion, and the mostly contemporary setting (the MC lives in a motel, uses the internet etc) didn't help me to believe that the setting was gothic or scary at all. Even the Starling House itself is quite welcoming in the end and everything but spooky, so I'm unsure how they're managing to push the horror element...

The romance was neither here nor there, I felt nothing for Opal or Arthur and I wish the entire book was in 3rd person rather than switching between 1st person (Opal's POV) to 3rd person (Arthur's POV). I didn't like Opal's POV at all, the constant use of modern slang, the 'i don't ask for help' attitude etc etc. The main reason I kept reading was because there was the *faintest* amount of intrigue with where the story was heading and I wanted to find out. In the end, there was so little of substance there that I feel like I've wasted my time reading this book.

I received the ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review