I started and stopped this numerous times since requesting it. I wanted a gothic fantasy that would grip me, but I found myself waiting for something substantial to happen. I liked Opal. She was pretty sassy but at times she felt more like a teenager than an adult and that’s why I paused often while reading this. Especially with the slow burn romance. Arthur just didn’t hit. I was reminded a lot of Beauty and the Beast, so I think readers who enjoy that type of trope would really like this. Harrow has written other things I enjoyed, but this one was hard.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read an ARC. I apologize for the very late engagement with finishing it. I have enjoyed other works by Harrow so I didn’t want to DNF, but this one wasn’t for me and I am sure others would enjoy it more.

I have heard of Alex Harrow and how many people love her novels! This novel did not disappoint! I love her writing style! It is very lyrical and atmospheric! There were many twists and turns! Therefore, this was a fun ride! I recommend this for fans of Karen White!

I have loved everything that I've read from Alix E. Harrow. This particular book took me a little bit longer to get into than usual, but by the end I was hooked.

This was an interesting read. I think it was too long for the story itself, which made parts kind of drag. For a gothic, cozy horror, it was decent.

I have tried to restart this book several times. I'm not quite sure why it is that can't get through it. I love the author and their writing, but I haven't been able to keep up my interest in this one - something about the pace. There are so many wonderful reviews so I feel it must be my mood for some reason. I'll be keeping this on my shelf and perhaps trying to revisit in the future.

Alix could literally write about paint drying on the wall and I would read it and find it thrilling. I love her stories, they are immersive, like putting on a costume and immediately becoming a part of the world she is weaving. I love a story where the fantastical is in the background, something that you're able to imagine fading into the background. This was a sad, tragic story about breaking ancestral patterns and finding love and acceptance in chosen family.

One of my new favorite reads. I loved all the edges of this book, all the dark and bruised parts of it and the truths that existed between it's pages. Because it's a story of broken people and what they'll do to survive and protect what they have left and I loved it so much. I could have read 100 more pages of Opal's story but only if she was happy and safe and warm.

Harrow has been a long time “auto-buy author” for me. In fact, even though I received an advanced read of this book, I ended up buying the hardcover and then again for a friend:).

It’s absolutely stunning, filled with robust world building and characters. It feels like folklore past down by generations. The perfect read!

A great take on the Gothic haunting, with a spooky house laden with poisonous secrets, literary obsession, and the desperation of people pushed to the margins.

This book started out so well, I was intrigued by Starling House and the mystery surrounding it. I loved Arthur – he was my favorite character and I totally got him. I liked the melancholy of him and I was fully on his side.
As for Opal, I liked her the first few chapters but then her monologues just started to get tiring. She rehashed the same things over and over again and there wasn’t any character growth. The writing dragged a lot during her monologues.
The plot overall was a good one with interesting plot twists but there wasn’t as much action as I’d hoped for and it was often too slow. That said, the ending plot twist was a really good one.

I really enjoyed the world-building and gothic atmosphere of the Starling House and it was everything I wanted from a spooky and dark read. However, I often found myself rooting against the main characters as they were just so frustrating in how they handled situations. This did not take away from enjoying the story and the world-building and I found myself interested in where the story was going. Having the dual POV helped the story move forward and kept the pace of the plot at a good rate. This was my first book by Alix E. Harrow, and I am looking forward to reading more. Overall I think there were some interesting plot points but did not buy into the romance subplot, it just felt too awkward. It is important to note that this is not a traditional horror genre text, and instead leans more towards gothic magical realism. If you do not like the miscommunication trope, proceed with caution as I think that was one of the key factors that made me frustrated with the characters. Make sure to read the content warnings before starting as this text deals with rage, grief, and loss.

This was the first book I read by Alix Harrow, and I must say, I'm a fan! She has quite a way with words, and even though it took me a while to finish, I was fascinated by the story.

It's about a girl with bad luck, a cursed small town, and a mysterious haunted house. The characterization was really well done: I especially liked Opal and her relationship with Jasper. Full of generational trauma, family bonds, and a sentient house, this read like an old legend brought to life.

This was definitely creepy and gothic, but I didn’t find it too scary! The writing was great and the mystery definitely gripped me. It also felt almost silly at times and poked fun at itself.

The house had an eerie vibe, but I almost wish it were scarier! But it was a fun fall read.

This cements Harrow as one of my must-read authors. This not-quite-horror story is an excellent choice for fans of spooky but not scary books.

I don't usually complain about something being too short, but I found myself wishing this book was longer. Harrow has a beautiful writing style. It's very compelling and you don't want to put the book down. While it meets the "scary" sort of vibe, there's a certain coziness to it, and I recommend reading it in the Fall for the vibes. The romance isn't as well fleshed out between Arthur and Opal as it could be, but I found myself not too bothered by it. There are some trigger warnings within this book, however so be warned.

Fine, but a bit boring and didn't really click or bring together all the threads. More weird house, less awkward romance, please.

I so enjoyed this grim read! I wasn't planning on this being the first book of Alix E. Harrow's that I actually read - I own the other two and haven't read them yet, like a weirdo - but this came up for a book club and seemed like the perfect start to get me into the autumnal mood! Spooky, gothic, the house is a character - everything up my alley. Harrow takes a mirror to the underbelly of a town very well. I had a little bit of sighing over some stereotypical characterization but I loved the house and vibes so much that I really didn't mind.

This book was so well written and built suspense so beautifully that it scared my socks off!
I could not stop reading this book even though it was scary to turn the pages at times.
Recommended for fans of Riley Sagar and Simone St James.

A riveting read that explores rage, grief, and revenge. This story has character development, magical realism, and a narrative that is thought provoking and touches deep.

THE 411...

It's become a summer time tradition for me to read at least one horror book and since Alex E. Harrow has been on my list of authors to read from this year, here we are! Starling House was actually an eARC I received last year but never seemed to be in the right mood for it, not picking it up sooner was a mistake. This book is a whole vibe whether you're looking for a creepy house to get sucked into or not. We meet our MC Opal while she's living in a motel in Eden town Kentucky with her sixteen year old brother Jasper. Orphaned and homeless, they've learned how to get by on their own in a town where none of its residents have much luck anyway. Think dirty running water and smoke filled skies stemming from one greedily owned coal mining company. In Eden there is also the Starling property with a big mysterious house previously owned by Eleanor Starling, a recluse 19th century author who disappeared. Starling wrote a children's book titled "the Underland" which featured beasts of all forms, her book eventually being deemed too dark for continued circulation. The Starling house has seen many warden's and whenever one dissapears or dies, another shortly arrives. Opal who once was an aspiring author, is intrigued by E. Starling and so she finds a way to get hired as a cleaning lady by the current warden Arthur Starling. Opal soon finds out she isn't the only one interested in the Starling house and the powers that be will stop at nothing to uncover its secrets.

THOUGHTS...

We love books that feature books in them, almost always they serve the purpose of pulling the reader in. I'm already a sucker for small town vibes even when that town exudes "Do Not Enter" vibes, sign me up! Starling House is slow paced with a healthy balance of plot/character driving the story. The warden of the Starling estate Adam Starling reminds me a bit of To Kill a Mockingbird's Boo Radley but with a sword and secretly bad a**! the MC Opal is hard not to like, she openly admits to thieving for a good cause which in her case is her brother Jasper's future. Although I typically don't support stealing for a living, this town in particular is just rotten to its core. Opal and her brother Jasper are the town rejects but not a care is given to what other people think and I love that for them. We get a strong sibling relationship, found family that won't quit on Opal, long buried town secrets, a house you'll come to see the magic in, and a love story between two misfits. Centered at the heart of this story are themes of racism, incest, and grief. Some of these themes are a part of the towns history and others such as the racism Jasper experiences due to the color of his skin are also a driving force. The fictional town of Eden Kentucky with its coal mines that were historically mined by slaves is an important piece of the story. This was one key element I would've liked to see more fleshed out since it was referenced and does play a role in one of the characters lives. Haunting, atmospheric, gritty while also melancholy...just what I was looking for in a Gothic Horror read this summer 🖤