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laurenmiller100's review against another edition
4.0
- Characters: 7
- Atmosphere/Setting: 8
- Writing Style: 9
- Plot: 7
- Intrigue: 8
- Logic/Relationships: 8
- Enjoyment: 6
This books is pretty good! It’s really cool take on the haunted house. I really enjoyed the build up of tension and mystery. Opal is an unusual heroine, and while that can make her frustrating, it also makes her interesting. There were times where I wish the book did more though. I think if it had leaned further into horror, it would’ve been a better book.
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Child death
micheala's review against another edition
3.0
There is a plot, however this does feel like the characters are the main focus. It's hard, because most of the characters are very unlikeable however that's clearly the point. It's also in first person, which always knocks down my enjoyment a little.
At the beginning we had these fun footnotes that kinda just stop, as if the author forgot that was a thing she was doing. I wish they had continued, especially based on how the ending of the book was framed.
There are a lot of topics that fall into content warnings that feel more in line when you view this as a horror novel rather than a fantasy novel. None of them are super graphic, but they are clearly on page.
The prose was good, and I might give Harrow another go with a book that has a more appealing premise.
Moderate: Murder, Blood, Classism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Alcohol, Incest, Xenophobia, Body horror, Gore, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Grief, Car accident, Child abuse, and Child death
acethirtynine's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Vomit
Minor: Slavery, Child death, Murder, Incest, and Racism
micaelamariem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The descriptions were vivid and beautiful in a haunting kind of way. The characters were uniquely flawed to the point where you couldn’t help but empathize with their pain. The sins in the book were atrocious, and the themes of identity, belonging, and mercy crawled across the pages, igniting the words into some higher morals. And of course, who doesn’t love a sentient house?
I also thought it was super unique to include footnotes and a fictional bibliography! What a way to add voice.
The only reason it’s not five stars is because there are parts of the ending I wasn’t thoroughly satisfied with.
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Sexual content, Car accident, Child death, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Cursing, Death of parent, Addiction, Death, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
judassilver's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Slavery, Violence, Car accident, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Xenophobia, Death, Vomit, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Incest and Child death
booksemmahasread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Bullying, Child death, and Adult/minor relationship
katievallin's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Blood, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Violence, Racism, Stalking, Classism, Cursing, Mental illness, Slavery, and Vomit
Minor: Drug use, Murder, Outing, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Child abuse, Child death, Body horror, Lesbophobia, and Incest
ilaxaria's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Incest, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, and Child death
Minor: Alcohol
theladydetective's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
General Thoughts:
I loved Arthur and wanted to protect him at all costs. I understood Opal's choices but didn't quite like her. I didn't like how the author focused a lot on Arthur's apparent physical ugliness; it felt mean. The main characters are in their late 20s but read a bit younger.
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Racism, Body shaming, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Slavery and Child death
gen_wolfhailstorm's review
- 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
This oozed rich, gothic atmosphere from the start. It felt like a dark and twisty fairytale, with fantastic similies that brought the writing ever more to life.
I was pleasantly surprised to see some illustrations were included, especially when learning about E. Starlings uncomfortable and eery art.
I like that when reading from Arthur's perspective, it switches from first person narrative to third person, which I found greatly emphasised this detached, recluse lifestyle he had.
This was reminiscent of Melissa Albert's The Hazel Wood, with the theme of a reclusive author, that wrote one book, mysteriously disappeared and has sinister fairytale that may be steeped in truth. There were moments between Opal and Arthur that reminded me also of The Secret Society for Irregular Witches.
It was quite nice to read this alongside Heroes by Stephen Fry, as Starling House has some beauty symmetry and mention to the Greek myths.
The character growth of Opal, Jasper and Arthur was beautifully depicted as were the details on their desires and nightmares and how trapped they felt in Eden. You really got a strong sense of how deep the rot of the town was; despite the citizens believing they were good in every way that counted, they were often complicit in so much corruption, cruelty and neglect of those vulnerable.
The mirroring and rewriting of stories, lonliness, homelessness and desperation for vengence were such strong themes in this. They were so harrowing and devastating, but it swept me away perfectly into another world whenever I picked Starling House back up.
This was such a moving tale, of lies woven into truth and truth woven into lies and begs you to ask yourself what your story will be. Where will you choose to burrow your roots down and make a home?
Graphic: Murder, Addiction, Blood, Torture, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Death, Abandonment, Bullying, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Racism, Slavery, and War
Minor: Child abuse, Mental illness, Child death, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Incest, Misogyny, and Death