Alix E. Harrow burst onto the scene in the late 2010s with a blend of beautiful imagery, bingeable prose, and fabulist plots featuring sharp moral divides that earned her six Hugo nominations in five years. As a big fan of The Ten Thousand Doors of January and Mr. Death, I’m always up for giving her work a look, and October 2023’s Starling House promised the sort of “small town with a secret” story that I so often love.

Starling House takes place in a small Kentucky town ravaged by a coal mining company that would rather pay a fine than take meaningful steps to rectify their environmental crimes. Those who can get out generally do, but the heroine finds herself stuck working at Tractor Supply and living in a motel with her teenage brother after the tragic death of their mother years before. For years, she dreamed of the almost-certainly-haunted Starling House that she regularly passes on her way to work. And now it seems that Starling House has taken an interest in her as well.

Having read a fair bit of Harrow’s work before, I’m beginning to get a good sense of what to expect, for good or for ill. She’s certainly had some short fiction that leans a little more literary, but the books I’ve read (and even some of the short fiction) have all included small-town female protagonists, probably from Kentucky, and strong narrative voices. Invariably, I find the prose facilitates easy immersion and fast reading, despite a penchant for some beautiful and poetic imagery. The villains are usually rich white men whose identities are clear from the opening pages, and the themes are heavy but drawn with sharp moral lines that leave little room for ambiguity. Heavy fairy tale inspiration is typical, as are pointed asides drawing explicit connections to contemporary social issues.

That, as far as I can tell, is the book on Harrow. And if the obvious villains and straightforward themes don’t bother you, you’re likely to have a pretty good time. I certainly have in the past, and Starling House is no exception. It gestures in the direction of horror, with the opening chapters of a proper haunted house novel, but quickly moves in a more traditionally fantasy direction, with heavy inspiration from fairy tales and a Southern Gothic setting. The lead character voice is impeccable and makes her easy to cheer for, even when she’s being bull-headed. Contrarily, the men behind the (metaphorical) demons haunting her are eminently hateable from the start, even when the exact shape of their secrets is unknown. Harrow is an author who can signpost exactly which heartstrings she plans to tug and then make you feel it anyways, and that’s exactly what she did here, making Starling House a true pleasure to read.

There were some elements that I didn’t find quite as strong, though it’s hard to say whether they’re true flaws or just stylistic choices. I think the story would’ve had more power with a little more thematic complexity and less of a neat division into heroes and villains, but it’s hard to say it doesn’t fit within the author’s oeuvre or the fairy tale tradition that inspires it. And knowing the capitalist villains (or the romantic subplot) were coming from the get-go didn’t prevent the plot from having enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and prevent the individual beats from getting too predictable. I did find the asides jarring at times, with plenty of shade aimed at suburban white couples—including a wrongheaded swipe at foster parents—in a story that spends very little time in suburbia, but some of that may be on me as a reader. They fit well enough within the lead’s general attitude that it’s hard to say they’re out-of-place in a first-person narration, but once I noticed how often Harrow includes these asides, I started seeing them everywhere, to the detriment of immersion.

Overall, I expect reactions to Starling House to fall very much in line with reactions to Harrow’s previous work. Those who demand moral complexity or want to be surprised about who is good and who is evil will find themselves frustrated—as will readers looking for a true horror novel—while those who let themselves sink into the lead’s perspective and come along for a thrilling tale of a small town’s dark secrets will have plenty to love. But even if there were moments where I wanted a little more complexity or subtlety, I thought the rich setting, engaging narrative voice, and exciting plot were enough to make this an excellent read.

Recommended if you like: towns with dark secrets, villains getting comeuppance, scrappy leads, Gothic settings, romantic subplots.

Overall rating: 17 of Tar Vol’s 20. Five stars on Goodreads.

This was a fun spooky read. I enjoyed the world building and the past informing the present in the story. I could have used a bit more character development but overall, I liked it.

Starling House is a gothic fantasy story about a house and the people that come into its life. The main character, Opal, is a young adult trying to raise her brother and make ends meet in a small town. The town has never accepted her, or her brother. But all Opal cares about is getting her brother out and settled into a better life.

Except she dreams of the Starling House, a house that is empty except for its mysterious heir. Her dreams combine with a children’s storybook. The author built Starling House and then mysteriously disappeared. But Opal can’t seem to resist the pull and takes a job as a housekeeper in the house that never seems to stay the same.

Starling House is the perfect fall read. It is the right level of mystery and mysticism with a mild dose of romance that even I can get behind. I loved the writing and the solid characters. I was hooked from the moment that I picked up the book until the end. I’m not sure I liked the ending, but I do think it fit and was well written. The story really is more about the journey to reach the conclusion.

This is a book that I see myself picking up to reread next fall.

Starling House is the one house in Eden, Kentucky, that everyone avoids. There are many rumors about the house and its inhabitants, but no one seems to know what really goes on behind its doors. Opal knows something about avoidance, because people avoid her too. She is a high school dropout whose only goal is to take care of her brother Jasper and get him far away from Eden. When Opal is offered a job as a housekeeper at Starling House, she accepts, not only to make extra cash, but because she has dreamed of Starling House for as long as she can remember, even though she has never been inside. I really enjoyed Opal's journey in this story, which had many twists and turns. It was very atmospheric and moody and will stay with me for a while.

There is nothing better than a perfect blend of gothic fantasy set in an atmospheric small town plagued with mystery and drama rooted from its oppressive history; add to that a perfectly woven plot of family legacy and romance --- Starling House is a recommended book for fans of Mike Flanagan and Guillermo Del Toro's works.

Hugo-award winning Alix E. Harrow pens one of her best books to date, with a prose that pierces with unwavering honesty. If there's any book that captures her skills as an outstanding storyteller, it's Starling House.

Book Summary:

Opal has always been a little bit fascinated by the Starling House. Maybe it's because it felt like a kindred spirit. Both she and the house are looked down upon and shunned. Or maybe there's something more compelling lurking under those neglected shutters.

When given the opportunity to work within the house, Opal knows she can't say no. Not only will this be a chance to see inside – but she desperately needs the money. But by entering the grounds, she'll kick off a strange and deadly series of events.

My Review:

If you're looking for a spooky book to absolutely fall in love with, check out Starling House! I've been a fan of Alix E. Harrow's work for a while, but I was blown away by what unfolded within these pages.

Okay, I may be a bit biased. I'm a little obsessed with all things sentience house. By that, I mean I love it when a house (or building) has opinions. And boy, does the Starling House have opinions. Throw in two complex character backgrounds, and it's no wonder I fell in love.

Admittedly, getting to know Opal and Arthur takes some time. It takes a little bit longer to love them, but I was hooked by the end. I enjoyed reading their interactions and found myself trying to put the puzzle pieces together before the grand reveal.

Starling House had everything I was looking/hoping for. It's compelling, has strong dark academia vibes, and even a romantic fantasy element. It's perfect.

Highlights:
Gothic Horror
Living House
Buried Secrets
Romantic Fantasy

Trigger Warnings:
Classism, Racism
Slavery

"But Starling House was no longer just a house. What had begun as stone and mortar had become something more, with ribs for rafters and stone for skin. It has no heart, but it feels; it has no brain, but it dreams." —Starling House, Alix E. Harrow

I've read a lot of fantastic books this year and while I've found a myriad of new favorites, there is something to be said for the way this story has made itself a cozy little home in my heart, the way it's lingered in the back of my mind in the time since l've read it.

Starling House is the story of a girl whose life has been built on survival, stubbornness and spite, forced to grow up too soon. It is the story of a boy who wanted to grow flowers but was handed a sword instead, burdened by duty, plagued by loneliness. It is the story of how they found their way to each other. It is the story of a small town desperate to turn a blind eye to the horrors born of the sins of its past, and the lies they're willing to tell themselves to mollify the truth and alleviate their guilt. It is a story about generational trauma and bigotry. It is a story about desperation and perseverance, a story about anger, about daring to wish in spite of circumstances and in spite of yourself. It is a story about the family, and the home, we choose.

Outstanding in its duality, it is whimsical, atmospheric and achingly romantic, yet so brutal, monstrous and ugly in all its harsh, laid-bare-truths. With characters so raw and full-fleshed, a story so beautifully and cleverly written, a plot so delicately crafted, Starling House is truly a marvelous feat of storytelling.

I genuinely struggle to give words to the vast range of emotions that this story has coaxed out of me, but I hold on to the hope that the sincerity with which I share my love for this book comes across palpably clear.

I loved this book!
Alix Harrow is a great storyteller and she created an intricate and immersive plot with such lyrical sentences and descriptions. The gothic atmosphere was dark and mysterious and it drew me in. The pacing was slower but that led to a build up of tension that made the twists more impactful. The characters were interesting and Opal was a really complex and well developed main character.

This book was dark, magical, and perfect for spooky season!

Such a wonderful book, I enjoyed every second of Starling House. Gothic horror fantasy may now be my absolute favorite genre ever. I will be putting this on my list of books that I listen to on repeat over and over again, I don't think it will ever get old. The atmosphere that Alix E. Harrow created gives the perfect spooky fall vibes and this was exactly what I wanted for October.

I loved this book. It had just the right amount of gothic horror mixed with small town mysteries and touches of Underland.
This book really scratched the itch I needed for spooky season without being to gore heavy. To put it simply, this book was darkly enchanting.

I really enjoyed the writing overall. On a sentence level, the descriptions were very well done. Opal's character was also written well.

My only critique is the end; I would've liked more time/more information about Underland. Other than that, though, it was a great book. I love when books incorporate footnotes, so that was a pleasant surprise.

I ended up buying the book as well.

Alix E. Harrow’s Starling House is many things: A ghost story, a romance, a family drama, a haunted house saga, an exploration of rage and exploitation. It’s a perfect read for Fall, full of dark shadows and foreboding vibes, a story about the monsters that lurk in imagined places and those that exist in the harsh light of the real world. It’s about lost people and broken places, and the longing for a place to belong.

Its style is perhaps best described as a cozy horror—there’s nothing too scary about the book in terms of blood or gore, though several people are killed over the course of the story. The setting is perhaps its most disturbing aspect, mixing familiar everyday elements of dying former industrial towns across America with the unsettling sort of supernatural activity that hints at darker forces at work in the land than most of us would recognize.

Starling House is not only the name of Harrow’s novel, but one of its major characters, an occasionally sentient seeming dwelling that’s Eden’s most notorious residence. The stories and legends about the House, as well as its long string of owners and the various tragedies that have befallen them, are known to most in town, used as favorite ghost stories and cautionary tales, and often seen as proof of the wrong done by a variety of rich people who never truly fit in among the poverty-stricken community. Like many Southern-tinged Gothic tales before it, Starling House deftly uses its setting to explore the monstrousness of poverty, and the ways that those with means are willing to exploit those without the basic resources to resist them.

Alix E. Harrow does it again! She writes relatable characters and interesting stories. This book was spooky, fun, and intriguing. Opal is a great main character and I loved the parts that were written from her perspective. Overall, this book was a pleasure to read and the perfect book for an October/fall read. Starling House did not disappoint!

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Review:

I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review – thanks!

Look no further for the perfect book to get you in the mood for the spooky season, Starling House is here and ready to send chills down your spine at every turn. Alix E. Harrow has such a way with her prose, and this book is no exception. I love her use of footnotes to add details into the story, the characterizations, the world. There is just so much to love about Starling House and I hope this review will entice you to pick it up this spooky season.

First and foremost, the characters are what drives this story, at least it did for me. Opal and Arthur were such forces, and I am glad that we were able to get both of their perspectives throughout this story. While I wish we had more focused time on building their relationship, the choice to pace the story the way Harrow did was much better in terms of plot, so it can be forgiven. These are two people who so desperately want to belong, and find this space of belonging inside this haunted house.

I love the idea of a personified house, as even one with the best intentions is still as creepy as fuck. Starling House, itself, embodies this creepiness but at the same time draws you in because it really does want what is best for its Warden.

Speaking of Wardens, I really loved that aspect of the story. I loved all of the different perspectives we got as to the backstory of the house. The history aspect of this book is so reflective of the way historical stories are written, and as a history lover, it just made my heart so very happy. It emphasizes the importance of the history of Starling House.

I really do not want to give too much about this book away, so I will leave my review there, with the mystery of the story still in tact. This is a book you want to go into blind, or at least, with knowing as little as possible. I hope you will all fall in love with this story of a rag tag girl and ugly boy as much as I did.

Starling House released October 3rd, 2023

This book just landed Harrow in my auto-buy category. I have been slowly trying to complete all her works (it's hard when you have a TBR stack a mile long) BUT I'm doing my best. This book is neck and neck tied as my favorite with Once & Future Witches, if you haven't read it, you're sadly missing out.

It seems as if Eden, Kentucky is coated in bad luck. It's only claim to fame: Big Jack the giant coal mining machine that dug it's own grave (morbid) and Eleanor Starling. Starling penned and illustrated the one hit children's book wonder, The Underland before disappearing all together without a trace. The only thing she left behind was Starling House, which is left alone due to the deadly rumors that surround the home....oh and no one wants to deal with the sole cantankerous heir, Arthur. Insert Opal, who has bigger worries than a "haunted" house and one vexing man.

There are times that Harrow's purple prose gets a bit much for me, however she more than makes up for it everywhere else. There's so many different story threads Harrow has layered in, and each one is better than the next. Do yourself a favor and pick up Starling House! You will NOT regret it! Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the ARC! I can't wait for the next novel!

Starling House if a fun piece of horror fiction. I could almost call it a Gothic, though it's set in the recent past. The characters have that mix of likable/unlikable traits that make them seem more real than the purely holy or the purely diabolic. There's a strange, mostly forgotten house that draws a special few in offering alternating terror with a sort of edificial nourishment. There are horrors aplenty, some otherworldly, others destructive variations on capitalist greed.

I read this title in two nights and enjoyed myself immensely. Was I terrified? No. But there were moments of enthrallment.

If you like classic horror with a modern twist, you'll want to keep an eye out for Starling House.

I'm not sure exactly how I would categorize this book - gothic, soft-core horror, mystery, ghost story, a little bit of all four - but whatever it is, it's gorgeous.

Opal is NOT your quintessential I-woke-up-one-day-and-discovered-I'm-a-special-princess character. Rather, she's flawed and prickly and makes really terrible decisions. It doesn't even matter that her intentions are good, it just seems like she does everything wrong. And I really like that. Because then she has to go through the process of fixing her mistakes, too. And Arthur is not your typical hero; we find that out from the very first introduction and description of him. That said, these characters are deep and they are memorable.

There are some supporting characters - Jasper, Charlotte, Bev - who are also a part of the story, each in their own way, and these characters are just as important as Opal and Arthur. There is also more to all of them than first appears.

Starling House is a character in the book, as well, and while one could call it a "haunted house" I think Starling House is more sentient than haunted. Well, maybe haunted in terms of anguished, but not necessarily ghosty. It sent the stage for a lot of important things that happen both above and below.

Harrow wields language in a way that astounds me; I felt this book in my bones.

If you liked Melissa Albert's The Hazel Wood, you might want to give this one a try.

Obsessed doesn't even begin to cover how I feel about this book. The writing is absolutely stunning and the atmosphere was so dark and rich. I absolutely adored this book and is one I will not be shutting up about anytime soon.
I think the mix of gothic and romantic was perfectly executed and created a story so perfect to my taste. It was everything I could've wanted in a fall read.

DNF @ 80%. I couldn’t do it anymore. The story moved so slow, the actual plot didn’t pick up until like 65% and by then it felt rushed and confusing.

This book along with "Once and future witches" are the perfect fall combo. Neither book by this author are to scary or over the top on horror - its a nice middle ground that sets "fall/spooky vibes". With this book you get a spooky haunted house, and with the other witches galore. I can't recommend these enough and I would go out on a limb and say that The ten thousand doors of January is also a nice inclusion for some magical elements/realism too.