This was a fun read but not entirely what I was expecting.
I still enjoyed all the twists and turns and the very last twist was definitely shocking.
I would recommend it to fantasy lovers and people who enjoy books centered around ancient/haunted houses.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Tor Books for approving me for an ARC of this book. I buddy read this with me lovely friend Wendy and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

👻Well this book certainly had the gothic, creepy vibe. The atmosphere and tension were felt immediately, and the house became its own character. I adored how it responded to Opal and seemed to transform under her touch.

👨🏻‍🤝‍👩🏻Opal and Arthur were such intriguing characters. Both were from very different backgrounds and finding themselves pulled into the story only added more anticipation for me.

⭐Simply put this story is a masterpiece. It’s gothic, haunting and utterly beautiful, I could get lost in Alix’s prose. Whatever I say will not do this book justice so trust me when I say, you need to read it!

"Starling House" by Alix E. Harrow presents a grim and gothic narrative set in the declining town of Eden, Kentucky. The story revolves around the mysterious Starling House, haunted by the secrets of the reclusive 19th-century author E. Starling. As Opal navigates an unexpected job offer, the novel delves into the town's haunted history. Harrow skillfully weaves a tale of choices, buried secrets, and confronting fears. "Starling House" is a great read for those drawn to atmospheric and suspenseful storytelling.

This book was exactly as described, I was so drawn in by the house aspect of this. It was totally worth it. Opal was such an interesting character to follow and even though I found her thought process maddening at times, I also understood it. Arthur, I did not expect to like, and was determined not to (like Opal), but he also won me around very quickly. This book was as good as Harrow's previous and I look forward to her next adventure.

This review is for the ebook - not the audiobook

****Stopped listening to the audio book as it kept cutting bits out. Luckily I had the ebook as well or this would have been a 0 star. I don't know what happened, even contacted the people to let them know, so quite frustrating as the ebook was too big to go onto my kindle so I could only read on my laptop or phone which was frustrating****

I loved once and future witches by Alix E Harrow. So was exciting when this got announced.

Overall it was enjoyable, the narration was really good, but the footnotes did cause disruption when trying to take in the story.
There was a few parts that felt rushed, or characters not utilized to their full potential. It also is classed as 'gothic' which i didnt get those vibes. Yes the house has magic and alive l, but it wasnt haunting or gothic which again led to slight disappointment.

I plan to read more of alix e harrows backlist. And will still pick up future releases. But sadly this one just didnt quite nail it or kept me as lost in the book as once and future witches.

☆☆☆☆¾

Nobody in Eden remembers when Starling House was built.

What drew me to the book / Why I requested: I've read another of Alix E. Harrow's books (The Once & Future Witches) which I really enjoyed plus I read The Six Deaths of the Saint which I loved so I thought I'd give Starling House a go, especially as it was an audiobook and I've been wanting to get more into audiobooks recently.

My thoughts whilst reading / listening: Starting with the narrator, at first I wasn't really a big fan of her and assumed that I would have the same view for the rest of the book but then she grew on me and I found myself enjoying her narration more and more and then a little further in the book I found her voice matched Opals well and ended up thinking that she was a great choice. Onto the characters I absolutely loved them from Opal and her brother (Jasper) to Bev and Charlotte and Arthur as well, I thought they were all so interesting and well written, I couldn't get enough of them. Another thing I absolutely Loved ( yes with a capital 'l' because I need to emphasise how much I enjoyed it) was the romance between Opal and Arthur, I absolutely loved every scene and interaction between the two, I couldn't get enough like it was perfect which was a nice surprise as I wasn't expecting any romance in the book. As for the ending I was worried at first (although I shan't divulge as to why due to spoilers) like I knew if it ended in this one way it would still be a good book but then there's a few paragraphs at the end which made me so happy (and slightly relieved), it was the sort of ending I wanted and I'm happy it turned out that way.
Overall: I really enjoyed it and I feel where I've read a lot of books recently which have left me unsatisfied I enjoyed this more and was able to better appreciate the pacing and the balance of things such as plot and relationships (compared to other books I've read which I felt haven't balanced things well and focus too much on one thing for chunks of the book like only focusing on the romance and then switching to plot and vice versa). This was the book not that I wanted but that I needed. It also had me tearing up, repeatedly, so much of it left me emotional and sad, Harrow really knows how to pack a(n emotional) punch.

Miscellaneous: I found there were issues with my copy, it cut chapters off early meaning they ended three-quarters of the way through which was frustrating as some of the parts were important meaning I missed parts of the story (Note: I tried to find a way to report the issue to Netgalley or Macmillan UK Audio but couldn't find a way to do so). At a certain point for some reason I was convinced that I was 60% into the book and I was worried, after all how could the rest of the book fit everything in and would I get answers to all the questions I had and would everything have a satisfactory ending? And then I checked how far I actually was into the book and it turned out I was 40% in,,, anyway it's safe to say I was happy that I still had a lot of time left in the book and that I wouldn't have another rushed and unsatisfactory book on my hands, it'll also teach me for not trusting in Alix E. Harrow's books when I already knew that she was a good author and wrote good books.

Why I rounded the review up / down*: I rounded up to 5 stars as I feel the book deserves it rather than a round-down.
Do I regret reading it: Not in the slightest.
Will I be reading the sequel: No as it is a stand-alone but I will be reading the author's other works.
Will I invest in a physical copy: If I find myself wanting to reread then yes.
Do I recommend it: Absolutely yes! Please give Starling House a read!

One more thing I will say before I go is that the synopsis doesn't do this book justice

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Macmillan UK Audio for the AudioARC.

*(For rating systems such as Goodreads and Netgalley)

⭐️⭐️.5

I want to start by saying if you’re a fan of a spooky haunted house story and beautiful writing then this is definitely a read for you! The characters and setting are very well developed and beautifully described. The concept sounded perfect for me and the writing was great. At its core it’s your typical gothic, haunted house horror story but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. The pacing was the main issue for me, I really enjoyed the action and pace of the last 50 pages but other than that I really felt like we needed more speed in order to get the spooky vibes across. I will definitely read more Alix E. Harrow as I’d love to see her write other concepts.

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There was a lot I enjoyed about Starling House - the writing was stunning. However, I feel that it didn't quite meet the vibes I was promised or hit the intent it was sold as. I've seen this pitched endlessly as a gothic romance fantasy. I went into it expecting a small town gothic, with brooding characters and spooky vibes. And I got that... for the first half. At that point, I felt that this story melded into something else. Something more on the fantastical horror side, and it lost that gothic magic a little. It became a full on sentient house monster fighting fantasy. It just wasn't what I signed on for. And whilst the set up and early segments with the beautiful writing and gothic intrigue were perfect for me and perfect for October, I did lose my investment in the story as it developed into a completely different vibe entirely.

There were many tropes I loved - the examination of trauma and loneliness, of grief and alienation - and these were handled with elegance, and I really cannot fault the stunning writing style. Alix E. Harrow weaves prose so lyrical, I almost forget I'm not in a Bronte novel. But I think there was something I was looking for here that was lost in translation.

I think one of the big draws for many was the brooding romance. This didn't do it for me though, I didn't buy Arthur and Opal's connection or chemistry and the development of the relationship went from 0 to 100 very suddenly. The antagonist and her motivations also baffled me somewhat - and the overall pace went from a beautiful intriguing opening, to a slow and slightly confusing middle and then straight into an action-packed ending which is not how I expect a gothic to unfold. I think I was looking for that slow burn mystery and emotional experience all the way through - akin to Rebecca and Jane Eyre, which all gothics can be measured against in my mind - and when it became an action-packed fantasy, I lost the vibe I'd been holding onto from the start.

I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I genuinely believe that everything Alix writes is perfection. Or at least perfect for me. This is no different. This is a glorious, creepy, beautiful and haunting book and I just want to curl up in it.

Opal is a great main character. She’s unreliable at best, largely because everyone in her life isn’t telling her everything. She is fierce and spiky and perfect. I adore her. I love that she is so dedicated to her brother, and believes she loves nothing and no one else, but we get to see Bev and Charlotte and Arthur creep under her skin. And her love (or hate to love!) of Eden is fun, I like how it plays across the book.

Arthur just needs all the hugs 😂 as does Jasper, actually! I would have loved to see more of him or his pov, I loved what we did get. It would be great to see more in general, consider this the start of a campaign for a short story collection from the pov people in the town. People like Bev, who cared for Opal and Jasper, people like the sheriff or Lucas’ parents who have so much behind their motivations and mistrust. I need it!

I always love a story within a story and while there isn’t one common one throughout we do get lots of them all leading to the eventual whole. I loved them fitting around each other, complementing each other and the main story. When we finally get Eleanor’s full story it all makes so much sense but there’s also so much resonance with Opal and it’s just perfect. The way that they are so similar and so different is stark and beautiful.

Honestly I could ramble forever. I read this on audio and the narration was so good. I went to bed last night, 2/3 of the way through and I could feel the way the story was told in the tones of the narration, spilling through my brain, almost haunting me in a way that feels appropriate 😂

This book will stay with me, I already know. Definitely one of the best books of the year for me.
5 stars.

I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in a long time. This book was everything I wanted and more, and truly lived up to the hype.

I would give a synopsis but it’s hard to encapsulate everything this book is. Starling House is a spooky, cosy, beautiful book about love and family and learning to trust in others.

Opal and Arthur are excellent main characters that you want to hear from. And even the side characters are fleshed about and worth hearing about. At first I was struck by how ugly the MMC and FMC are but you grow to learn the beauty in them and in their ugliness.

Of course this was an audiobook so I was say: the narration was excellent. The characters had distinct voices and the narrator really set the pace and tone for the book.

I would highly recommend this. 1000/10

Delightfully delicious and gorgeously gothic, Harrow has written a truly compelling story where the reader will be hooked from the very start, desperate to find out all of the secrets and mysteries of the titular Starling House.

I really appreciated the casual queerness present in this book.

I was immediately hooked by the concept of a house that haunted our FMC's dreams as well as it apparently "wanting her blood". These elements made for a really sinister setting in a town that felt as though it was a time capsule for Americana somewhere between the Gold Rush and the end of Jim Crow. Add into the mix some creatures of cosmic horror that would have made Lovecraft proud and you have a book that once I started, I literally couldn't stop listening to.

This is one of the best examples of gothic literature that I have read recently and I think it will attract fans of books like House of Leaves, The Last Tale of the Flower-Bride, and Rebecca.

Mysterious, hunted, gripping and so easy to get invested in a book. The second I started Starling house I felt as watching movie in my own mind.

I do not read a lot of horror books let alone lone I probably would not be able to name another dark, gothic and fantasy story but I really enjoyed this one.

Opal was quite realistic character that had personal traits that were some way relating to myself. In a way how she started feeling like at home in this old and everyones else's ignored house made me even more involved of the story and I could honestly say, I felt the meaning the moment they said “ we should rot in this old house together” - count me in !

Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read this book !

Starling House is a gothic fantasy story set in a small town where a woman keeps dreaming about a hunted house, a place known only for having reclusive inhabitants over the years. But when one day Opal gets a job offer from the current warden, she gets entangled in the secrets and nightmares of the house.

I keep picking up Harrow’s books because I love her stunning writing but except for The Once and Future Witches and The Six Deaths of the Saint, which I truly loved, it seems to be something missing for me in her stories. I was intrigued about the hunted house setting and the unreliable narrator, but I just came to realize that I just find Harrow’s villains too bland and one-dimensional, which kind of ruined part of the story for me. Additionally, the romance and the revelations of the the last third of the book made me lose interest in the book.

If you think this book might be up your alley, I highly recommend the audiobook. I listened to it while following along with the ebook and Natalie Naudus did an outstanding job as the narrator.

Yet again I loved the first half and then got bored. Sadly don’t think this author is for me. Every time I reach the middle it feels like it should be the end of the book, so my interest has gone.

Nothing much really happens in this book, despite a fascinating premise. It’s less about the creepy house and more about family and trust, which is fine but a little disappointing given the build up, and the initial sinister setting.

I also found the MC really irritating and a bit too dramatic, considering her background and personality. Her narrative style didn’t seem to fit her character, although perhaps this was down to the narrator. It would also have been nice to have more info on Eleanor and Underlands as that was a really interesting angle.

Overall a good concept that didn’t live up to expectations.

I really enjoyed Alix E. Harrow’s writing style and was immediately swept up into this gothic tale. The characters are well drawn and while flawed were each loveable in their own way. I especially enjoyed that the main male character was depicted as being socially awkward and not particularly handsome, this was a nice departure from the norm.
The relationships between the characters were beautifully realistic especially the brother/sister relationship. With themes of capitalism and generational trauma this book is hard hitting and touching at times. The narrative of poverty and yearning for a better life was portrayed in a real way and this blended well with the fantasy elements of this book.
Natalie Naudus did an excellent job narrating this story it was a pleasure to listen to.

Thanks to Macmillan UK Audio (Tor) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

I’d never read a book by Alix E. Harrow before I listened to this one. When I heard this book was a Beauty and the Beast reimagining I just had to read it. And I loved it!
It has a bit of everything: Mysterie, Thriller, Romance, Horror all perfectly wrapped up in a gothic fairytale bow. Such a wonderful read for the fall season.
Natalie Naudus narrated this story beautifully, she really knows how to bring a story to live.
I don’t want to give away too much, but I highly recommend picking this one up! 5 out of 5 stars!

Thank you MacMillen UK Audio, Alix E. Harrow and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

Two lost, lonely people long for one another amidst the backdrop of an old crumbling, haunted house. Whats not to like?

Starling House is the story of Opal who is a stubborn woman who is doing everything she can to fiercely protect the only family she has left. Beaten down by life and circumstance, she takes a chance and accepts a job working at the notoriously decrepit and haunting Starling House. Within the house Arthur still resides, the last of the Starling family.
The story involves a lot of history of the house and the Starling family, as well as the growing relationship between Opal and Arthur. Opal feels like a fully fleshed out character, with realistic baggage and a prickly sense of self that matches her circumstances. The writing is truly a thing of beauty and the format of using the footnotes adds so much to the story.
One of my labourite things in horror stories is a House having a personality and Harrow done an excellent job here with that.
Highly recommend this book however I am not a fan of the narrator, I have read a few books narrated by the same Narrator and they all sound the same. I think its her tone of voice, it adds nothing to the story. Im sorry ro say I am not a fan.

Oh this was the most wonderful Gothic fairytale which was just perfect for autumn/spooky season. I listened to the audiobook which I loved, but I think I would have got even more from it in print. It has been described as a Beauty and the Beast reimagining which I think I slightly missed out on in the audio - although poor Arthur is repeatedly described as “ugly” so I think that was just me not concentrating properly!! I loved Opal - she is brave and strong and sassy (and so sarcastic)! She really will do anything for those she loves. My favourite bit of the story was the mind-bending final section where Opal meets Eleanor Starling, which was so clever and mesmerising! Really recommend this book to readers who are looking for a magical spooky house vibe with a hint of will they/won’t they romance. Loved it!

4 stars

This book has an eerie and atmospheric gothic setting which I love, with a gripping storyline involving a living house and monsters of nightmares with social commentary sprinkled throughout, set in a small judgemental town. A great read for the spooky season!

I liked the relationship between the FMC and her brother; for me the author did a really great job of exploring the relationship of an older sister and the responsibility an older sibling often faces and feels rightly or wrongly in times of tragedy. I got quite emotional reading some of these parts.

The MC was rather unlikeable at times, which is not necessarily a bad thing, with her making bad and questionable decisions which she is aware of (i.e. some internal dialogue about how "I shouldn't do this"), it felt a bit repetitive at times and slowed down the pacing, however I understand this being necessary for the character development.

Personally I found that the way the multi-POV chapters were structured sometimes made it difficult to understand whose perspective we were in at times, which had a tendency to leave me a bit confused.

I listened to the audiobook of this one, and I have to say that the voice actress fit the voice of the FMC perfectly and I was really immersed in the audiobook and flew through it; I would recommend listening.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend if you are a fan of books like Mexican Gothic.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“To every child who needs a way into Underland. Befriend the Beasts, children, and follow them down.”

My thanks to Macmillan Audio U.K. for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘Starling House’ by Alix E. Harrow. The audiobook is narrated by Natalie Naudus.

I have read and enjoyed Alix E. Harrow’s two previous Gothic novels, ‘The Ten Thousand Doors of January’ and ‘The Once and Future Witches’ and so her latest, a Southern Gothic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, was a ‘must read’.

In the small town of Eden, Kentucky no one remembers when Starling House was built. Stories about the house have been passed down the generations. Still, the townspeople now ignore the ill-omened mansion and its lonely heir, Arthur.

Twenty-six-year-old Opal has raised her younger brother, Jasper, since their mother died eleven years ago. Opal had been two young to be his guardian, though had falsified documentation so that they could remain together rather than be taken into care.

When an opportunity to work at Starling House arises, Opal knows that the money could help get her brother out of Eden. She soon discovers that Starling House is full of secrets. While she initially has a prickly relationship with Arthur, she discovers that they have a lot in common as both are orphans and outsiders. She learns that there are both terrors and wonders buried beneath the crumbling mansion. Opal feels an increasing sense of connection with Starling House and its legacy.

Yet sinister forces are about to converge on Eden and Starling House. While hoping to retain her outsider status, Opal realises that if she wants to ever find a home, she’ll have to fight for it. No further details to avoid spoilers.

A classic children’s fantasy book titled, ‘The Underland’, published in 1881, is also featured. It was an important book in Opal’s childhood and resurfaces in her present as its mysterious author, Eleanor Starling, had written it at Starling House.

I found that despite Opal being in her mid-20s and Arthur a little older, the novel read quite young in places almost as if it was a Teen/YA title. For example, at times Opal refers to Arthur as a boy and Arthur refers to her initially as ‘the girl’, which seemed odd given they are adults. However, it might have been linked to their outsider status that left both somewhat frozen in time.

I felt that ‘Starling House’ was quite a slow burn, which was suitable given the novel’s focus. Harrow also incorporated footnotes and a bibliography for ‘further reading’, which was an interesting way to frame the novel.

With respect to the audiobook, Natalie Naudus began her career as an opera singer and has since served as narrator on over 400 titles across various genres. I have enjoyed her reading of a number of titles and feel that she seeks to embody the characters as the author intended. Her voice is clear and always a pleasure to listen to.

On a side note, the cover design and illustration by Micaela Alcaino was stunning and I also appreciated the interior illustrations by Rovina Cai.
Of these, some are full page illustrations while others are small decorative ones.

Overall, I found ‘Starling House’ an atmospheric Gothic romance. It didn’t quite wow me as much as her earlier two Gothic novels, though still proved an engaging read, perfect to curl up with on autumn evenings.