Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

268 reviews

echolliot's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Grief, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

embersbooknook's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

This book surprised me in so many ways - as such, hard to get my thoughts wrapped around it.  Interesting, thought provoking, and intense.  Would recommend to anyone looking for a good gothic read with a gritty, real world feel.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident and Classism

Moderate: Incest, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

a lot of the graphic stuff has to do with the resolution of the book, which due to the history of slavery, and Eleanor being forced to marry her uncle. Some of this stuff was disturbing, although not horribly graphic - just disturbing as a general idea. Important to note, I feel, as a sensitive reader.

A lot of the stuff around slavery, racism, slurs, lesbophobia, etc. was very brief but felt important to mention. Also some definite police intimidation that didn’t go all the way to brutality. This is a gritty read for sure - I am a pretty sensitive reader, and was able to get through it. But definitely read when you’re in the mood for this. I thought the difficult topics were handled well and sensitively by the author.

kelisabeth's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

anni_banani's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

Alix E Harrow Fan here so this is a rave and well earned! 
Yes girl! This was what i call a well executed book. Harrow not only accomplished what she set out to to but totally surpassed my expectations. If you are like me and have read other Harrow novels you know you are in for a MC who talks back, Kentucky, men with sexy tattoos on their forearms, worlds that bend to magic, generational curses (being broken), and a refresh from sexist tropes in fantasy. On top of all that which I already love, this book was a masterclass in pacing, I never got bored even during rising action or other slower parts of the story. I was thoroughly impressed. Her books always immerse me in the world which I attribute to how Harrow pulls us in by all 5 of our senses; totally enveloped. 5 stars is easy for me

Of course, I was so moved by the emotional message of this book, it brought me back to Ten Thousand Doors of January and The Once and Future Witches. It will keep you on your seat at the end with its twists and then have you chuckle “Oh Alix. I was most surprised by how much I loved the romance and that I was 100% rooting for them. it always impresses me when an author can so completely 180 flip my opinion so sincerely. I also really appreciated not one but both love interests are unattractive characters and have such a compelling love story. 
-If you are tired of MCs who are somehow gloriously angelic-ly gorgeous, this is for you.

Other things to love

• A grumpy cat
• Homage to creepy children’s lit
• Smashing patriarchy classism
• Reclaiming white washed history 
• A fun charming lighthearted and very fast read- not to be taken too seriously 

Great if you love fantasy and want a standalone - as with most Alix E Harrow

Cons-

• I love Opals arc but yeah she is so stuck in her ways that I barely let it slide. Lots of eye rolls and chuckles at her self sabotage and stubbornness. 
• I hold it against opal that her entire motivation in the book, sending jasper to the private school was something completely in the dark from him. I disagree with Harrow to make this choice. The scene where her and jasper finally talk was disappointing on opals half especially. I loved the development for Jasper overall but in this scenes especially. I don’t get why Opal didn’t at least acknowledge and take accountability for sending that Token Brown Kid photo
• Often the commentary on race in this book falls short 

Hope you keep writing for a long time Ms Harrow!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Blood, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, Vomit, Grief, Abandonment, and Classism

Minor: Incest and Slavery

kmoz's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Blood, Car accident, and Classism

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

jennabi8's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

A five⭐️ because I can’t give it a 4.5⭐️  but I don’t believe it’s a 4⭐️🤷‍♀️  don’t be detoured by warnings. It’s all very brief and not the main focus of the book!
This book is UNIQUE, in my opinion! The story is creatiiiivvve; sorry no spoilers here! The gothic and dark ambience of the town is written so consistently, it really sets and keeps the tone of the book! The chosen words and descriptions were, again unique, and align with theme so well. I genuinely enjoyed this book, its story and its unique energy.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Incest, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

crushh's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

5.0

I thought this was a romance, but it's not! It's a fantastic horror.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism, Self harm, Car accident, Death of parent, and Classism

glassarrow917's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

_david_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

This book reminds me of Life is Strange 3: True Colors. If you enjoyed either, you will also enjoy the other.

I thoroughly enjoyed the logic used by the characters in the book. If they're acting irrational or making assumptions, they're aware of it and/or it's challenged later on. For a second I thought a cliché (key location hidden in plain sight) would be dragged out, but then a main character just plainly said "of course I already looked there, duh" a few pages later.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the house. It reminded me of Encanto's house but in a horror setting. You'll probably enjoy the characters if you like YA's. They have a lot of growth to do with big impacts of their lives. At certain moments, the main character's self-pity annoyed me and

she never seemed to get that it was selfish to push so much of her own identity and values onto her brother

. Some of the antagonists are just almost pure evil without nuance, so you'll have to be okay with that.

The big lessons are a bit obvious in the book, but the main character actually points it out and sounds like she needs it, so I don't mind it as much.

A warning to people with trauma related to drowning or corruption (e.g. being blackmailed). Both are big themes in the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Incest, and Slavery

Drowning, water Mines, claustrophobia Corruption: blackmailing, bribing, rich people fucking over local area/nature/people for the sake of earning more money

thedarkfields's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

At around halfway, I thought this was an absolutely incredible book with amazing potential.

At around 3/4, I was dying of agony (in the best way).

At the end... idk. It wasn't quite what I'd hoped. There was a lot of exposition. But it was also the culmination of things hinted at and bread crumbs dropped throughout; I always admire an expertly crafted plot. Overall, I loved the conclusion of the story. I think I just wanted a little more to the climax than we were given. I was left feeling not quite satisfied while still loving the resolution. Blargh.

Fantastic characters. Beautiful writing. Amazing ability to capture the ambiance of the town without spending any excess time describing it. The secret thing(s) related to the mist were extremely creepy and I wish there was more time spent on the mist (even though there was plenty). On that note, I'd actually say it was a really good length and well paced overall. Only some of the bits closer to the end felt a little more rushed than ideal.

Could be 3 stars, could be 5 stars. I'll probably need to read it again later to decide.

Would recommend to people who like horror/creepy mysteries, especially fans of Locke & Key, Pan's Labyrinth, and/or Coraline.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident and Death of parent

Minor: Death, Incest, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Fire/Fire injury