You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

15 reviews

amhud1030's review against another edition

Go to review page

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. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kimveach's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

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

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

pm_me_book_recs's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sarahyjackson's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

An incredible, atmospheric contemporary Southern gothic triumph. 

Unreliable, sharp edged, tenacious heroine? ✅

A sentient house whose walls and eaves and panes strain and warble and tend? ✅

A boy who wants to tend  flowers but  chooses to wield a sword? ✅

A story which asks questions about what it means to be from somewhere generally but from the Upper South specifically? ✅

I’d follow Alix Harrow just about anywhere - Underland included. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...