kerri_m's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
rhack05's review
4.0
This is a good, creepy, magical/gothic house story. Definitely a good time to read this story as spooky season is coming up. This wasn't my favorite book by Alix but I did enjoy it. I love a creepy haunted house story and this one lives up to that hype. The romance was a bit "meh" for me. I also hated that she didn't talk to her brother more and let him in on what she was doing. Talk to each other dang it! O
Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Alix E. Harrow for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Alix E. Harrow for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
lisbethwhite's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
harpbrat's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A maybe-haunted house in the woods, a small town full of legends, and a lonely orphan bound to the town by her circumstances and the house by her dreams - this is the story of Starling House, Eden, Kentucky, and Opal, who needs no last name.
This is a story of ghosts, whispers, hauntings, and mazes. You will meet thieves who mean well, corporate villains, heroes wielding swords, and Eldritch horrors. But you'll also see the strength in admitting weakness, the weakness in pride, the power in defending your love, and the evil that can grow from fear. Starling House is never quite what it seems, but what really is?
I loved this journey, feeling myself drawn through the twists and turns of the story as though I was wondering the ever-changing halls of Starling House myself.
Thank you to Alix E. Harrow, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story of ghosts, whispers, hauntings, and mazes. You will meet thieves who mean well, corporate villains, heroes wielding swords, and Eldritch horrors. But you'll also see the strength in admitting weakness, the weakness in pride, the power in defending your love, and the evil that can grow from fear. Starling House is never quite what it seems, but what really is?
I loved this journey, feeling myself drawn through the twists and turns of the story as though I was wondering the ever-changing halls of Starling House myself.
Thank you to Alix E. Harrow, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
holyschmitz's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
bekahzabel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
This is a perfect spooky season read! Although this wasn’t my favorite Alix E Harrow book, I did enjoy this once it got rolling and about 40% of the way into the story. The narrator for the audiobook is perfect and engaging. Beauty and the beast ft. haunted house vibe. Alix really has a way with descriptive imagery, and I enjoyed the gothic setting.
3.25/5⭐️
I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much macmillan for sending this my way.
3.25/5⭐️
I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much macmillan for sending this my way.
aforestofbooks's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I requested this book because <i>spooky vibes</i>. The premise kind of reminded me of Mexican Gothic (minus the mushrooms), and it's been a while since I've read a spooky book, so I thought I would give this a chance.
I pretty much went in with zero expectations and only a vague idea of what this book was about. And boy did it take me by surprise.
So to start off...
1. Spooky House duh
2. Grumpy warden of said Spooky House who is mysterious and lonely and no he doesn't need anyone and the mc is annoying and she needs to leave him alone but also 👀
3. And a cat who likes to bite and scratch and hates everyone except a certain grumpy man
So pretty much, a recipe for a great book.
I was not expecting to feel so many feelings. Opal, our mc, is the kind of character you can't help root for. She's very abrasive, speaks her mind, and is always willing to put up a fight for the things she wants to protect. You feel so much for her and her story, both the past and present. Her motivations are very relatable and understandable, and she's overall a very captivating character.
I laughed out loud so many times in this book thanks to Opal, but also thanks to Arthur. There's something about a lonely, tortured, self-sacrificing man that just gets to me. <s>Definitely don't see myself in that at all.</s> He's constantly fighting himself and denying his feelings, and while usually this trope annoys me, this was done really well, and Opal was a good counterbalance to his moodiness, so I fell in love with the two of them instead. Their back and forth is just so good, and the yearning is so <i>yearning</i> I ended up having to scream about it on my Instagram stories.
I think what carries this book is the narrative style and Opal. She has such a unique voice, that without it, I don't think I would have enjoyed this book as much. I think it would listen quite well as an audiobook. The vibes are spooky and creepy, but if you scare easy like me, Opal and Arthur make it more digestible and funny.
This book reads fast and is kind of an "edge of your seat" read, which fulfills all my expectations when it comes to spooky books. There is more depth and history to the storyline than I was expecting, and I really appreciated the mystery behind it and watching Opal try to figure out the truth among all the different stories surrounding Starling House.
The ending wrapped things up nicely, though it wasn't as action-heavy as I was hoping for.
Overall, I highly recommend if you're trying to figure out a tbr for October and want a book that is a bit creepy, but won't give you nightmares!
I pretty much went in with zero expectations and only a vague idea of what this book was about. And boy did it take me by surprise.
So to start off...
1. Spooky House duh
2. Grumpy warden of said Spooky House who is mysterious and lonely and no he doesn't need anyone and the mc is annoying and she needs to leave him alone but also 👀
3. And a cat who likes to bite and scratch and hates everyone except a certain grumpy man
So pretty much, a recipe for a great book.
I was not expecting to feel so many feelings. Opal, our mc, is the kind of character you can't help root for. She's very abrasive, speaks her mind, and is always willing to put up a fight for the things she wants to protect. You feel so much for her and her story, both the past and present. Her motivations are very relatable and understandable, and she's overall a very captivating character.
I laughed out loud so many times in this book thanks to Opal, but also thanks to Arthur. There's something about a lonely, tortured, self-sacrificing man that just gets to me. <s>Definitely don't see myself in that at all.</s> He's constantly fighting himself and denying his feelings, and while usually this trope annoys me, this was done really well, and Opal was a good counterbalance to his moodiness, so I fell in love with the two of them instead. Their back and forth is just so good, and the yearning is so <i>yearning</i> I ended up having to scream about it on my Instagram stories.
I think what carries this book is the narrative style and Opal. She has such a unique voice, that without it, I don't think I would have enjoyed this book as much. I think it would listen quite well as an audiobook. The vibes are spooky and creepy, but if you scare easy like me, Opal and Arthur make it more digestible and funny.
This book reads fast and is kind of an "edge of your seat" read, which fulfills all my expectations when it comes to spooky books. There is more depth and history to the storyline than I was expecting, and I really appreciated the mystery behind it and watching Opal try to figure out the truth among all the different stories surrounding Starling House.
The ending wrapped things up nicely, though it wasn't as action-heavy as I was hoping for.
Overall, I highly recommend if you're trying to figure out a tbr for October and want a book that is a bit creepy, but won't give you nightmares!
monster_romance_reader's review
5.0
I feel like my reading life has been split into before and after Starling House. Like I'm sitting here crying and I don't think I'll ever process a book the same way again. Like there's a new standard of incredible, and everything I knew about books has been tiled sideways and I'm totally changed forever and for the better. Just read this damned amazing and incredible book.
jennamonaco's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of the best books I’ve read this year. In all its southern gothic perfection, Starling House is a gorgeous, haunting tale of nightmares and a girl who dared to dream.
jmarchi's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0