The perfect book for those who want a spooky but cozy read centered around a haunted house and small town folklore!

I loved the dark, fairytale storyline that Harrow wrote. It had lyrical writing and a unique story line that is perfect for the fall. I thought it brought in a lot of socio-economic issues and merged it into this folklore-esque story effortlessly.

While I loved the plot, the main character, Opal, sometimes got on my nerves and took me out of the story. It also had a bunch of moving parts that didn't connect too well together at first, but somehow smushed together at the end.

3.5 stars from me!

This isn’t my typical genre, I believe more and more as a read it’s harder for me to get into genres that are in my preferred categories. That is this to say, this is my review and it’ll be fair to the book, and not base it off my own preferences as that’s not fair.

Opal is in need of work to look after her little brother, but she is stuck in a dead end town dominated by a mine which poisons the water and the air and contributes to her brother's asthma and the need to get him out of there which requires money she doesn't have or can realistically earn with her measly retail hours. So when she's offered the job of housekeeper to an obviously haunted house, with a reclusive owner, she takes the offer. But her Heathcliff isn't brooding, he is determined, but what if the house has been calling for her?

Opal’s character was written beautifully and captured me from the get go. Also a bit relatable if I’m being honest.

I did enjoy this book! The style of writing was really nice. Characters developed well, and the story didn’t fall as it continued to grow.

Such beautiful writing, a bit spooky, a lot gothic, beautiful and atmospheric- the perfect pick for fall !
This book is an amazing slow-burn southern gothic/ urban fantasy/horror novel about a creepy house with a complicated history, a book about a book, an exploration on how history distorts the truth and is told by the winners, how poverty can be just as horrific and scary as the fantastical horrors plaguing this fictional town of Eden, Kentucky - or is it really a Beauty And The Beast retelling ?
Opal's character from start to finish was so incredibly written - a grumpy MC with crooked teeth hardened by years of not really being wanted anywhere, just tolerated. I feel that Harrow has truly nailed her flowery prose with this one - descriptive, emotive and atmospheric with a straight to the point plot.
Opal is in need of work to look after her little brother, but she is stuck in a dead end town dominated by a mine which poisons the water and the air and contributes to her brother's asthma and the need to get him out of there which requires money she doesn't have or can realistically earn with her measly retail hours. So when she's offered the job of housekeeper to an obviously haunted house, with a reclusive owner, she takes the offer. But her Heathcliff isn't brooding, he is determined, but what if the house has been calling for her?
I could not stop reading this book.

Entertaining story, and I'm not one for "horror" type books. This felt like a cross between YA and adult, even though the characters are in the mid to late twenties. Opal wasn't a very likable character at times, but she knew that about herself, which strangely made her more appealing. I enjoyed the writing style, and the way the story was pieced together with the various retellings of the Starling House story, and how the ending tied everything together (mostly, anyway).

What a great premise just really fell flat with slog pacing and clunky story telling. Also, the main characters had the inner monologues of hormonal teenagers and yet they were in their mid 20s to 30 years old?!?

This did not do it for me.

I love everything about Starling House, the gothic setting, the aching romantic B plot, and the hidden secrets in plain sight.

This book transported me and I adored every second of it.

All the stars go to Starling House, I will be dreaming of it for years to come.

If you are a fan of sentient houses, gothic settings, spooky vibes, and romance that makes you ache - read Starling House.

I really wanted to like this one, but I wound up DNFing at 40%. Unfortunately it just wasn't grabbing me and when I put it down, I never felt compelled to pick it back up.

I don't typically give star ratings to books I DNF but since NG requires one for me to post this, I guess I'd give it 2 stars.

This was a stunning novel and I didn't want it to end! Definitely a 5-star read for me, and I think Patrons will really like it. We might even have it as our fiction book club pick soon! Highly recommend purchasing for your collection.

6/5 stars if I could! This book combines a lush literary voice with well-worn fantasy tropes that are sure to capture new and old fantasy readers alike, but still is grounded enough to appeal to the wide masses. The romance was tender and had me screaming, the mystery a bit obvious (but that's okay), and above all else, Alix Harrow's writing is just utterly enchanting and visceral. I never knew I needed to compare people to "unsalted butter"!

This is a perfect fall read - spooky setting, monster house, fantastical creatures, and a tortured romance. What else can you ask for?

Starling House is perfect for anyone who ever wondered what it was like to live in a haunted house. Definitely not me, but if that was you, then you'll want to check it out. From the beginning, it's clear that you have a sense of who Opal is. She's fierce, used to having to take care of everyone else, and loves her brother. With footnotes, Starling House is a story about the ways a house draws us back. There's an immediate sense of atmosphere, the ways a setting won't let go of us. You can feel the weight of the shadows, the screeching of claws, and the smell of sacrifice. But even more so, Starling House also manages to be romantic.

Where do I even start with Starling House?

It was so beautifully balanced and easy to enjoy. The characters were well defined and the visuals were supreme. I absolutely loved the Mirror Mended series from Harrow, so I went in with high expectations and it far exceeded them.

It maintained mystery without feeling forced, the little things added up to just enough payoff- all ingredients of a well rounded thriller.

For lovers of the southern gothic genre, this will bend the genre stereotypes while paying homage to what is long-beloved about it.

I DNFed Starling House at 25% because I was really bored. Nothing of interest was happening. The book started out promising, with the creepy (but not too creepy) atmosphere I was craving during my spooky season reading, but I quickly got bogged down in all the extra details and descriptions that just didn't matter and that took away from the atmosphere. This is just not the Gothic novel I was hoping it would be. It wasn't creepy, the romantic intrigue left much to be desired, and I didn't like any of the characters.

“Starling House” by Alix E. Harrow immediately grabs your attention and never lets go, creating a haunting and rich gothic novel in the process. Both Opal and Arthur are compelling and captivating voices, with rich language and an eerie creepy vibe that threads throughout the story, making your imagination run wild. The author, Alix E. Harrow creates an inviting world, one that is both authentic but also deeply imaginative and touches on what it means to be different from those around you, either because of the color of your skin, your money, your interests, or sexuality. 

In “Starling House”, she delves into mysteries that patiently unfold and creates a story that is about both sacrifice and pain but also love and the willingness to dream, especially for those things that will make you happy. And the message of the book is do you embrace your dreams or do you stick to survival?  I love the message but also the way that the author explores this in a beautiful, haunting and rich gothic story that will resonate with me for a very long time.

If you like haunting and rich gothic novels, this is one I especially suggest you consider. It is rich in imagery, beautiful in the depth of thought and messages that it explores and has wonderfully compelling characters that are a delight to read with language that is sometimes as sharp as a knife. Read it because you believe in dreams and love.

Starling House is a perfect autumn read as it is full of atmospheric gothic vibes (complete with a sentient/possibly haunted house) and magical mysteries. I would best describe it as a "contemporary southern gothic fairy tale" with elements reminiscent of other stories (A Study in Drowning, Stranger Things, Beauty and the Beast all came to mind while reading) but it very much feels like its own distinctive and unique story.

It's a difficult book to describe without giving too much away - there were quite a few unexpected twists for me since I didn't know much about the plot making the reading experience even more enjoyable. In addition, I loved how tightly plotted this book felt - every little detail seemed to have importance and I can see it being one that I'll love to reread in the future.

Starling House is a very character-driven story so our protagonist, Opal, shines the most - she's layered, flawed, and easy to root for. I loved the focus on her relationship with her brother, Jasper, as well as the slow romance that grows between her and the other main character, Arthur. They're two characters that fit together so well that it was one of my favorite romances I've ever read despite this not being a super romance heavy book. The side characters are also quite memorable but I think outside of Opal and Arthur my other favorite character was Starling House itself.

Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys gothic fantasy stories and is looking for a fall read that is slightly dark and spooky but is ultimately hopeful (and not super scary).

With a beautiful cover and an excellent plot, I must highly recommend Starling House by Alix E. Harrow. Set in the town of Eden, Kentucky, this gothic tale involves a haunted house and the choices that must be made to make a house a home. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another beautiful read from Alix E. Harrow! I think I wasn't 100% in the right mood to be reading this and it may have been a 4.5-5 star at another time, but today it was still great.

The vibes of Starling House were great, and I loved reading from our main character, she was very scrappy and admirable.

I loved the idea of this book. It did drag on a little in the beginning. It became really good about fifty percent of the way through it. I can see how some people will love all the background stories in the first half, but I did not find it relatable. The second half starts to pick up with intensity and pulls you in. I love the idea that not all beasts are bad. They are how you make them out to be. I would read another book by this author!

This book took me sooooooo long to read.

Is there a plot? Not really

Is it well written? Well yeah, but that no plot thing was problematic for me.

Cool characters? Absolutely. Love that Opal, the female lead, is so complex (dealing with trauma surrounding her mother’s death, poverty, family history) Poor Arthur, the male lead and resident of the house, is a cypher for soooo long that I still don’t feel I know him?

Creepy setting? Oh, absolutely - that house is a rock star and lead character, and completely scary.

But story didn’t get its hooks in me until the last 25% - just not soon enough. I have read and loved all her previous books but this one was just not for me.

The story is set in Kentucky in a town that has seen better days. I found Opal to be a fascinating character. She's tough and sometimes a bit prickly, but at her core, she's a mama bear who will do anything to protect her younger brother, Jasper, whom she has practically raised. They've had some rough times, including being homeless, and Opal is desperate to secure a better future for her brother, so when the opportunity to earn some cash presents itself, Opal jumps at it, even if it means spying on the lone resident of the mysterious Starling House. Opal has felt herself drawn to this house for years so the opportunity to finally go inside is also irresistible.

A huge highlight for me is the house itself, which has had a haunting presence in this town for as long as Opal can remember. The house's presence is so strong that it actually feels like a character in the story. I was thoroughly engrossed as the secrets of the house and its previous owners are slowly revealed. The story takes on a fairy tale quality with a Gothic twist as we are taken through the folklore, myths, and curses that make up the house's history. It was fascinating!

Lastly, there's also a bit of a romance. I'm a romance fan so this was a plus for me, although I wasn't really expecting it when I first started reading. It works well with the rest of the story though so it was a welcome surprise.

This wasn't my favorite book from Alix E. Harrow, that honor goes to The Once and Future Witches, but it was still a beautifully written atmospheric story that is perfect for spooky season.