Reviews with content warning for Suicide attempt - Starling House

Starling House is a spooky old house with a personality of its own, brimming with dark shadows and ominous vibes (but also with an attitude, complete with moody shadows and vibes so ominous they're practically rolling their eyes).

How do I classify this book? A haunted house saga? Contemporary gothic fairy tale, perhaps? Cozy horror? But what's clear is that this book is an exploration of dreams, rage, exploitation, love, and the profound longing for a sense of belonging. It delves into the realm of monsters, whether they lurk in imagined places or exist in the harsh light of the real world.

And it's written so beautifully! I find the prose captivating, evoking an almost fairy-tale ambiance. I also loved the charming, understated romance, and the extraordinary Starling House that is a character on its own!

If, like me, you've grown tired of characters who are perfectly attractive and flawless, Opal and Arthur offer a delightful change. The way they describe each other had me in stitches:

Opal on Arthur: “His face is all hard angles and sullen bones split by a beak of a nose, and his hair is a tattered wing an inch shy of becoming a mullet.”

Arthur on Opal: “a freckled scarecrow of a girl with crooked teeth and holes in the knees of her jeans, utterly unremarkable except for the steel in her eyes.”

I think adding Arthur's POV is clever! It tells the reader that this mysterious, brooding character has feelings and emotions.

As someone who doesn't read many horror novels because I scare pretty easily, I've discovered that Starling House doesn't fit the typical horror narrative that induces nightmares. There's a subtle infusion of horror, but even the descriptions of the eerie are rendered so beautifully that it softens the impact. Additionally, it unfolds as a mystery, featuring a house that resembles a puzzle box, concealing secrets both outside and beneath its structure.

I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy gothic fantasy novels with haunted houses and dark secrets. It's also an excellent choice if you're drawn to characters who are misfits, outcasts, and dreamers, discovering love and a sense of home in unexpected places. Furthermore, if you enjoy atmospheric, vividly descriptive writing that transports you to a different world, this book is sure to captivate your imagination.

Content Warnings

micaelamariem's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

I really really enjoyed this Southern Gothic horror. I’ll try to write a full review on my blog tomorrow but for now..wow!
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.

Content Warnings

flohbeutel's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Content Warnings

judassilver's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

story_goblin's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

I didn’t really know what to expect from this book, but can you really know what to expect out of any Alix E. Harrow book? I loved her first two novels, so I picked this up automatically. It’s difficult to describe Harrow’s writing… it’s dark and creepy and heavy and so full of love and hope at the same time. If you’re looking for something unique and complex, this is for you.

Content Warnings

sparklefarm's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional 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

4.0

Partway through this book, I thought to myself, hmm, I like this but I'm not as invested as I was in Harrow's other books. Then later I found myself involuntarily yelling "No!" in my car so it turns out she got me in the end. Just leave me here, tangled in wisteria and honeysuckle and kudzu. I'm fine being haunted by this house.

Content Warnings

aturb92's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Content Warnings

briely's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous 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? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

More...