Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

15 reviews

dani_reis's review

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Sexual content, Medical content, Confinement, Grief, Medical trauma, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Vomit, Police brutality, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Incest

Minor: Abandonment, Homophobia, and Slavery

kimveach's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Excellent narration added to this creepy horror novel.  Perfect for October.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death of parent, Sexism, Violence, Classism, Grief, Incest, Kidnapping, Stalking, Abandonment, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Toxic friendship

pm_me_book_recs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

I listened to an ALC via Libro.fm

The narrator was not my favorite, I would highly recommend physical format. The voice given to Opal felt more weak/whiney than I would imagine her being. Also not having a Southern/Appalachian accent reaaaallly irked me! -Although, bonus point for saying Louisville the correct way. 

It was so cool to have representation from small town Kentucky in this genre! My family is from Cave City (specifically Mammoth Cave grounds) and I could realistically imagine each of these characters and locations. I really enjoyed this gothic tale- slow burn but intense romance, family secrets, social commentary, supernatural happenings, haunted mansion, found family and all the small town drama! I don't want to give any of the plot away, but watching Opal come full into power and self-agency was very satisfying. The character relationships grow and mature organically awkward, as traumatized and walled off people do. It was fresh, to see healing happen within a story so dark. 

There were some moments of interaction that were a bit irritating and immature, that just felt a little off, but I'm not certain if it was influenced by my dislike for the narration, or if it was actually the content.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Car accident, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Police brutality, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Violence

jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

I am beyond obsessed with this book and will be screaming from the rooftops about it.  Eerie and haunting this book follows the story of starling house, from local town knowledge to the deepest darkest secrets behind its actual truth.  

Opal has always been gravitated towards the house and after winding up working there we see so much change and develop for better and for much worse. I can’t say much without spoiling this but this is one of those must read books which I can just tell is going to pop off!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Stalking, Vomit, Violence, Alcohol, Animal death, Medical content, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Car accident, Classism, Death, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Blood, Death of parent, and Grief

fivecatsinacoat's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy of this book.

I cannot adequately put into words how much I loved this book. It's filled with complicated and detailed characters whose actions sometimes really make it hard to root for them, but you can't help loving (many) of them anyway. 

It would be so easy to lean too far into the cheesy aspects of a House that's somehow alive and monsters made of mist, but Harrow's talent instead creates an intricate world that's the perfect amount of gothic with a sprinkling of light horror and fantasy. I find myself thinking about it in the days since I finished. I want to get lost in the House and fall asleep on the lawn listening to the starlings sing.

I also listened to the audio version and Natalie Naudus really does an amazing job. Her pacing and acting is so perfect that you really feel as if you're in Eden. I wouls listen to anything she narrates!

Fyi: the cat does not die. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Blood, Car accident, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Police brutality, Racism, Stalking, and Violence

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Vomit, and Incest

Minor: Slavery and Toxic relationship