Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

50 reviews

maregred'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Classism

amhud1030's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.0

I really liked the story, overall particularly the parts with the history behind Starling House and how things came to be. 

However I hated Opal and her whole personality. I wanted at times  to DNF because of my dislike for her, but I really wanted to see how the story ended. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

dani_reis's review against another edition

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

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

Minor: Homophobia, Slavery, and Abandonment

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

wildflower_magic's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

I loved the House- it's my favorite character. The Alice in Wonderland elements were amazing. I've heard others say the ending was rushed and while it was fast I think it was thorough. This is a book where everything gets wrapped up in a perfect bow at the end so it won't leave you with much mystery. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Homophobia, Racism, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Deportation

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, and Suicide attempt

devynreadsnovels's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Incest, Racism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, and Deportation

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

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

chronicacademia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Racism, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

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

Moderate: Incest, Vomit, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Slavery and Toxic relationship