Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

121 reviews

laurenmiller100's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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.

I felt that the plot became overly sentimental at the end, and I don’t think I understood the dream aspect of everything. I don’t really get how the beasts are dreams in the end and some of the “battle” between Opal and Eleanor is confusing. However, the final  moments  are beautiful.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse

Minor: Child death

purplatypus's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Car accident

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Cursing, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Classism

Minor: Slavery, Vomit, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Addiction, Alcohol, Racism, and Alcoholism

micheala's review against another edition

3.0

This is a haunted house story that toes the line of horror. Honestly, if not for the fact that it came in my Illumicrate box, it's far enough outside of my normal reading preferences that I would not have picked it up. 

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. 

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Content Warnings

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

brea's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Body horror, Grief, and Death

jessicarenz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

This would make a good movie. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Grief, and Slavery

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Racism, and Classism

ladyflash's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Incest

Minor: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, and Suicidal thoughts

rhiannonaradia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Car accident, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Gore

Minor: Incest and Classism

bethfern04's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

Starling House was a great way to start the year. With its dark and Gothic setting and loveable and complex characters it really draws you into the story almost immediately. 

Opal is a great main character who isn't obviously a good or bad person. She suffers from some serious unresolved trauma and has become skilled at pushing everyone away. She's jaded, cynical and a thief. She's far from perfect, but watching her grow as a character was one of the best parts of the book. Her realization that she had so many people who truly loved and cared about her all along was incredibly touching. 

I think the side characters were well flushed out and felt like whole people, especially Jasper her brother, her landlord, and her librarian friend.

I loved Arthur and Opal together. It was so fascinating watching these two people who had both worked so hard to stay isolated and emotionally distant, get under each other's skin!

The fantasy plot of the story was pretty strong as well. I especially liked the reveal of Eleanor Starlings true life story at the end. The themes of justice versus revenge, and the ripple effect of one family's cruelty over several generations were very well done. 

4.0 ⭐ is my final rating.
As always, reviews are subjective, and love what you love. XOXO 😘

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Car accident

Minor: Chronic illness, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury

micaelamariem's review against another edition

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. 

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Content Warnings

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

aliiloue's review against another edition

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? Yes

5.0

loved everything about this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Classism, Car accident, and Death of parent

Moderate: Vomit, Slavery, and Racism

Minor: Alcohol and Drug use