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.

This was the dark contemporary non-hero heroine story I needed this time of the year. Opal is not an honest person, but she is a person who will do anything for her little brother, she is also a woman haunted by her past and the life she was made to live. This is a story about secrets, the ones we keep, the ones we try to figure out and the truth of a lie always being somewhere in the middle of the stories bandied around. Rich in its detail and the backstory the author has weaved a convincing world of fantasy and dreams that sits alongside our own, known but never admitted to the residents of this cursed town.

As a person whose scary threshold is basically the floor, I really was worried a little going into this, but I didn't really much to fear about Starling House as Alix E Harrow delivers to us more of her incredible writing and characters that just grow on the page.

The characters are really well fleshed out in this book with fantastic character development of Opal, who considering her life has the personality for it, you don't go through all that without being scarred and Opal is flawlessly written for me and with a fantastic world builder like Harrow writing, these concepts all worked so well together.

The plot is less spooky as I said than I thought it would be, but it is a really good plot nonetheless and I really enjoyed this, it gives spooky Alice In Wonderland and I am here for that. The trio really are a very curious bunch and where they end up in this dark and a little creepy tale makes for gripping and intriguing reading perfection the season.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Starling House by Alix E Harrow is dark, gothic fairytale focusing on the story of Opal and the mystery surrounding the strange Starling House.

After seeing so much hype for this book, I was sceptical as to whether it would live up to expectations. However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

The story is engaging and keeps you drawn in until the very end. Opal is a flawed and relatable character and I enjoyed reading about her experiences with the Starling House.

I was hoping for a bit more horror, however the book was more dark and gothic rather than scary.

I would definitely read more of Harrow's work after reading this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for providing me with this arc.

Having read two short stories by Harrow, I was prepared for a snarky heroine with a modern, twisty, fairy tale setting. I kinda got that but so much more!

Opal lives in a free motel room with her kid brother. They have no one and nothing and Opal is just trying to give her brother a better start, an escape.

The dead end town is dominated by the rich mining family and the creepy Starling House and somehow, Opal seems to be trapped between the two.

I meant to read this early October but after a cold wiped me out, I only picked it up this weekend realising I'd missed the publication date. Guilt started me reading but little did I realise that this amazing book was going to keep me imprisoned on the sofa until I finished. It is so good! The characters are fully realised, even the more minor, barely there ones. I love the setting and feel dissatisfied that my house isn't as considerate as this one.

The huge, neglected mansion is shambolic, likely haunted and frankly terrifying but as chapters pass, we begin to see another side to this home; caring, providing, nurturing. As much a character as a setting.

I love the idea behind the main plot - it's so hard to describe this element that is so imaginative as it will give too much of a spoiler but - excellent idea!! Also can we just look at this pretty cover.

Don't you just love a small town gothic mystery with a haunted house!

Opal's new job means she is embroiled in an old mystery - the mystery of the house that appeared as a reclusive author disappeared. To be perfectly honest, favourite character was the house! Opal is realistic, and has had a tough life, and meets the prickly heir to the estate. The romance is understated, but nice. It was a dark, whimsical, and magical tale!

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

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.

Thanks to Pan MacMillan (Tor) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an 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.

This has been the year of my discovery of Alix E. Harrow's work. After her short story gained tremendous success, I realized I was missing out by not exploring more of her writing. So far, I've enjoyed her shorter works, and this marked my first attempt at one of her full novels.

I dove into this book with high expectations, fully ready to fall in love with it and its characters. However, I can't help but wonder if my slight disappointment was due to those sky-high expectations.

It's not a bad story by any means, but it took me on a different journey than I had imagined. For instance, I anticipated a darker, more eerie tone, yet, while the story exudes a strong gothic atmosphere, it leaned more toward a form of magical realism set in a modern context, which isn't quite my cup of tea.

I thoroughly enjoyed Alix E. Harrow's writing style. Nevertheless, there's a certain aspect that left me somewhat frustrated—the limited character development. Also, I felt that it was challenging to label the books as plot-centric because even the plot seemed somewhat weak. The first hundred pages were absolutely enthralling, but then the narrative took a turn that, at least for me, caused my interest to wane.

Overall, l did find the book to be good, and I had an enjoyable time reading it. However, I don't see myself revisiting the story, and even a few weeks later, my recollection of the details and characters remains somewhat blurred due to how neutral I felt about the story. While I'm delighted to see the book receiving widespread acclaim, I feel sad it didn't fully resonate with me.

I really enjoyed this book. The protagonist is remarkably flawed and morally ambiguous, which initially gave me doubt. However, Opal gradually grew on me. Yes, she's a deceiver, a thief, and a cheat, but she's been left orphaned and is striving to provide for her brother, Jasper. It's hard to fault her when she dedicates everything she has to Jasper's well-being. What captivated me most was her cunning and her ability to use her intellect to navigate life's challenges. She swallows her pride and acts in her own best interests, refraining from reacting impulsively to minor slights.

The romantic interest, Arthur, is portrayed in unflattering terms, yet I genuinely appreciated this socially awkward and emotionally complex character. Like Opal, he too is an orphan, facing trying circumstances and inadvertently stumbling over his words on multiple occasions. Nevertheless, he consistently strives to do what's right and prioritises the well-being of others over his own safety.

The characters shine brilliantly, and I loved the various relationships depicted. There's a heartwarming brother-sister bond between Opal and Jasper, shades of a found family dynamic with Opal and Bev, as well as Opal and Charlotte. Not to mention the slow-burning romance between Opal and Arthur, which is a source of great anticipation. The writing is lush, occasionally veering into the grotesque, yet it remains vivid and utterly compelling.

The narrative weaves a mesmerizing spell. I initially had no idea where it was headed, but the mystery it presented was immensely engaging. Opal and Arthur's interactions with the House were a true highlight. I have a soft spot for sentient magical entities and places, and the House bickering with Arthur while trying to win over Opal was nothing short of brilliant!

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to fellow fantasy enthusiasts.

Any time Alix E Harrow publishes a new book, I brace myself for a journey that’s going to take my entire heart – and Starling House is no exception.

Alix E Harrow writes stories that make you feel like your heart was missing something before you read them. She writes books that burrow under your skin and become part of you, that hurt you and heal you at the same time. I don’t know how she does it, but she writes words that feel so right and real that it genuinely doesn’t feel like you’re reading until you put down the book, and then you’re overwhelmed with jealousy for how perfect and honest and full the story was.

All that to say: I adored Starling House. Part Gothic romance, part Beauty and the Beast, part hard-edged, bright-eyed look at poverty and outsiderhood and wanting, this is a great powerful tangle of a book that utterly ensnared me from the first page. I almost don’t want to tell you anything about it, because this is a book that should find you and grab you without any preamble.

I was certainly nervous to start it, because anyone who knows me will tell you I’m an absolute wuss when it comes to anything remotely spooky, and this sounded like it was going to be far too horror-y for me – but it isn’t, at all. It’s dark, yes, and there’s bucketloads of atmosphere, but it’s not horror for the sake of horror, and it steers (mostly) clear of gore and jumpscares – instead of feeling creeped out, I was as compelled as main character Opal to discover the secrets of Starling House. Never scared; only desperate to know more. The romance was equally heart-grabbing; I’ll be thinking about it for a long, long time. The shades of the Beast in his enchanted castle are simply too clever not to be loved.

I devoured this book in great gulps, and after reading the final page, I feel like I’ve grown up with this book. Partly it reminds me (in vague, dream-like flashes) of some books that are buried in my psyche – Poison by Chris Wooding; Alice in Wonderland; Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson – but part of it is simply Harrow’s talent for writing stories that feel like they’ve always existed, and they’re just waiting for you to discover them for yourself.

If you loved The Ten Thousand Doors of January, or the Fractured Fairytales novellas, this has enough in common with them that you should pick it up no questions asked – it’s a different beast, but the soul of the book is there. And if you’ve not had a chance to pick those up yet, this is a great place to start letting Alix E Harrow into your bones. Eleven out of five cats.

— 3.5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

"Dreams are just like stray cats. If you don't feed them they get lean and clever and sharp-clawed, and come for the jugular when you least expect it."

📖 | 320 pages
👤 | author Alix E. Harrow
🏢 | publisher Tor, UK
📅 | release date 31 October 2023

What you can expect:
— First-and-third-person POV
— Standalone Gothic Fantasy
— Dual POV
— Grumpy/Grumpy
— Sentient haunted house
— Slow-burn
— He-falls-first (and harder)
— Close proximity
— Found family
— Small-town mystery

Trigger warnings include: classism, homomisia, racism, mention of incest attempt (side character, mentioned), drowning, depression and PTSD, child abuse (side-character, past), alcohol consumption, alcohol abuse, character being drugged (main-character, on-page), blood and injury depiction, death of a parent, murder, car accident.

Starling House is a Gothic Fantasy standalone by author Alix E. Harrow and is set within Eden, Kentucky which is known for its rich history and back luck. Eden is known only for the legend of E. Starling, the reclusive nineteenth-century author and illustrator who wrote The Underland— a haunting children's book that depicts fears and Beasts, before her untimely disappearance. Before she vanished E. Starling left the small and conservative town of Eden with Starling House, which over a century later still haunts the the small-town and its residents with deeply-rooted fear and mistrust. Opal knows better than to believe that dreams are for people like her. After the tragic death of her mother and a teenage brother to feed, Opal has lied and forged and stolen her way through her adult life as her sole means of survival. And yet every-night when she closes her eyes Opal is plagued with dreams and nightmares of Starling House and its mystery heir, Arthur Starling. All Opal has yearned for is a home. Starling House is not hers for the taking... so why can't she fight against this irresistible pull that says otherwise? After an encounter brings an unexpected job offer from the last Starling heir, Opal finds herself unlocking doors to secrets long buried and a fight she never expected. Opal and Arthur are presented with dire choices to dig up the buried secrets of the past and confront their own fears, or let Eden be taken over by literal nightmares. If Opal wants a home, she’ll have to fight for it.

Starling House is my first read from author Alix E. Harrow, and I was very excited to dive into this hauntingly atmospheric tale about a women plagued by bad-luck and a lonely man plagued by demons. This story was very emotionally-driven and took me on a path I never expected. Opal is exactly what I expected based on her back-story as she is shown to be all bark and bite. There is no bar too low that Opal wouldn't drop too if it meant a better life for herself and her teenage brother. Opal was feisty and driven, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading through her point-of-view as we see a town that should have supported her but instead turned their backs. I enjoyed the complexity of Opal's moral compass that was explored throughout this story, particularly at the end when she was faced with an important decision. Opal is a liar and a thief. She has committed numerous crimes throughout her life and is entirely unapologetically herself. More than anything I held a lot of respect towards Opal because despite being a morally grey character she was entirely unapologetic and authentic to herself. As she should be, in my opinion. She was a teenager when her mother died, and rather than rallying as a community to support a grieving child, the town of Eden turned away and never looked back. Grief is a theme that is largely explored within this story that I believe added the perfect support to the story that was being told.

I largely enjoyed the budding relationship between Opal and Arthur Starling. The pair don't get off to a great start with Arthur's broody nature and outright attempts to send Opal away. With Opal's stubborn nature and Arthur's commitment to secrets, it takes some time to see them begin to ease into a sense of comfort and familiarity. Arthur definitely fell first out of the two, however as the story reaches that third act conflict we really see Opal battle within herself to move past her history of distrust and really open up to him. We truly see these two characters evolve and grow together as they push past that barrier and open themselves up to possibilities.

The lore behind Starling House is definitely most interesting of all. I really appreciate the effort that the author has taken into establishing a clear timeline of events that build up into the world that we are introduced to. The history of the Starlings, the mystery surrounding Starling House and E. Starling, and the long-hidden secrets of Eden and its most distinguished families. Secrets are discovered and harrowing truths are unveiled. Alix E. Harrow takes you on a haunting adventure filled with mystery and magic.

Honestly my main complaint about this book was the pacing. Whilst it overall didn't technically feel long to read, I was definitely surprised when I discovered the page count for this story. It read far longer than a mere 320 pages, and perhaps I can attest that to Harrow's keen story-telling and eye-for-detail. The ending in my opinion could have been slightly more fleshed out for it to feel more like a gratifying end. After being faced with so many revelations and shocking twists within the conclusion I was definitely left reeling by the end. The ending is fitting, absolutely, but it was filled aspects that left me with questions I didn't wish to have within an epilogue.

Overall Starling House was an enjoyable and compelling Gothic Fantasy that I recommend to anybody looking for a moody and haunting tale to read throughout the upcoming colder months.

Thank you to Tor, UK and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 REVIEW !!!

Starling House - Alix E.Harrow

💫✨🌟⭐️💫✨🌟⭐️

Starling House has wowed me - this is easily the best book I’ve read this year. It’s a standalone Beauty and the Beast retelling (don’t let this put you off if you don’t like retellings - I didn’t get this until I was getting annoyed the author kept calling Arthur ugly 😭), focusing on a sentient house, a centuries old curse, and a plethora of characters in desperate longing for a family & a home. The found family in this one tugs on the heartstrings for sure.

What I love most about Starling House is how Harrow managed to build out all the characters in the book to be so perfectly flawed. Both of the main characters, Opal and Arthur, struggling to distinguish clearly between their wants and needs, when it comes to one another, after that being what they lived their lives by (needs only; no time for wants) honestly shattered me.

The lore behind Starling House is so intricately woven, whilst still allowing for speculation throughout the novel. It beautifully written, and excellently paced, and I think this should be on every single persons tbr 📚

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this arc! 💫

#review #fivestarreview #starlinghouse #alixeharrow #reading #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #arcreader #arc #beautyandthebeast #reader #netgalley #bookquotes

Thank you to Netgalley, Pan Macmillan and Alix E Harrow for the ARC copy in return for my honest review.

A re imagining of beauty and the beast with a drizzle of Monster House for good measure. I bloody loved this book from start to finish the story of Opal the young girl struggling to bring up her younger brother Jasper since the death of her mother and is trying to provide a better life for him. Opal is drawn to Starling House and here she meets Arthur, The slow burn romance between the two main characters is just enough to keep you on task.
In a small town where everyone knows more than they let on this book a Gothic fairy-tale with mystery will draw you in as Opal learns more about her past and the horrors of Sterling House and it's secrets that Arthur and it hold.

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

My thanks to Pan Macmillan Tor for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Starling House’ by Alix E. Harrow.

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.

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.

"I figure dreams are like stray cats, which will go away if I quit feeding them."

Starling House is a lovely book that's a good mixture between fantasy, thriller & suspense. This book hooked me in from the beginning and I wanted to know more about Opal, Arthur and Starling House in the city of Eden, where everything is cursed and everyone looks away. This quote describes Eden perfectly:
"Small towns are supposed to be cozy and friendly, like perfect little snow globes, but me and Jasper have always been kept on the other side of the glass."

Somehow, this fiction book deals with a lot of important topic but the biggest lesson focuses on those who have suffered and everyone who has turned a blind eye to their suffering. Following the story through Opal & Arthur's journey, coming to understand what made them stand out & how they come to be and their relationship development is truly special and unique. I'll end my short review with a quote that left an impression:
"Maybe that's all a good ghost story is: a way of handing out consequences to the people who never got them in real life."

Thank you to NetGalley & Pan Macmillan for the Arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rating!

I immediately loved the atmosphere that Harrow creates, there’s no doubt that her writing style is beautifully crafted.
However this story fell flat for me in the romance department. I couldn’t understand why and how our main character suddenly loved the man, when she described him as ugly and an old man?

If the romance was built up rather than slam-bang-in your face, I would’ve enjoyed this far more!

I really love Alix E. Harrow, The Once and Future Witches is one of my favourite books and I really loved her new release, Starling House. A gorgeously gothic fairy-tale story following Opal who mysteriously lands a job working at Starling House Eden's resident spooky house. Opal knows better than to mess with a haunted house but she's desperate and as she's trying to save money to send her brother to a private school so taking this job seems like the only option. Starling House is full of secrets and the more Opal uncovers the more the secrets start to unravel.

I loved the themes explored in this story and although at times I found Opal prickly I loved exploring her coming of age story. This is a perfect book to curl up with over the Autumn and Halloween season!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!

I wasn't quite sure what to expect going into this book; I read the blurb back in August when I first saw this one on Goodreads, and thought it sounded good. WELL I think I underestimated the blurb because WOW this is one of my favourite books of the year so far.

Starling House is an absolutely sublime southern Gothic novel, set in a run-down coal town in Kentucky. Opal takes a job as a housekeeper at Starling House, to earn money to help her younger brother go to private school. Starling House is a crumbling estate on the outskirts of the town, with a reputation for hauntings and strange goings-on.

The characters in this book were wonderful; so relatable and likeable, and the world is so well-written and believable. There are all sorts of twists and turns to the plot, which I had so much fun reading! I think it's very well-paced too, the first half is quite slow, but in a lovely Donna Tartt sort of way with lots of tiny observations and moments in time.

Also, I loved the monsters! They could have been quite H.P. Lovecraft-esque but they're quite unique and far more interesting that an H.P.L monster would be. I think the idea of a whole town being haunted/cursed is really great, I'm not sure I've read anything quite like this. Lastly, a sentient House? Yes please, I am so here for that!

Read this book, it's absolutely wonderful. I will definitely be buying my own copy and will definitely read it again!

Everything a good 'ghost' story should be. Starling House had me staying up late to frantically turn the pages, eager to know what was about to happen next. Harrow perfectly sets the scene of a small town haunted by the stories of it's past in this gripping YA novel.