Reviews with content warning for Racism - Будинок Старлінгів

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Будинок Старлінгів by Alix E. Harrow

176 reviews

ashdawn's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

katievallin's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional 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

Content Warnings

madscientistcat's review against another edition

4.75

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

hailstorm3812's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I really liked this book. I think the message of "yeah this place sucks, the people suck, everything sucks but there are glimmers of hope and we can stay and make it better," is so powerful and done so well. The blending of fairy tale and southern gothic really works, and the use of what stories are and who gets to tell them is used so well. I loved the footnotes and bibliography. I also really liked that the characters were late 20s and ugly. Also Ms. Harrow will deliver for the gays and I love her for it.

Content Warnings

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

5.0

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

Content Warnings

miraclesnow's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This holds a piece of my heart, and reminds me of my roots being my choice. I cannot thank it enough for being in my life.

Content Warnings

craftysnailtail's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

This isn't a genre I'd usually be interested in because it's rather spooky and I scare easily. But this was more atmospheric and gothic rather than gory or scary. The main characters felt refreshing and flawed in believable ways. This was my first time reading anything by Harrow, but needless to say, I'm completely hooked on her style of writing. I wish I had this novel in time for Halloween, but I'm still glad I finally got my hands on it at the tail end of autumn! It was a fun, dark, and adventurous read with a splash of romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

After I finished this book, I came across some reviews by people who hated the novel because they thought it was nothing but a Beauty and the Beast trope. This really surprised me because even though I understand why the comparison was made (despite neither of them being attractive), it didn't feel like a focus of the story at all. And it doesn't end in a way that's very Beauty and the Beast either. The fact a trope exists does not automatically discredit the entire book, in my opinion. I'm glad I didn't see these reviews before I read it, because it might have scared me away from what ended up being a great read!

Content Warnings

bkwrm1317's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark funny 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

Expertly written (lines I considered jotting down or snapping a picture of, but which would lose their meaning outside their context of course). My second read by Harrow.

Loved the motley crew of characters (a creaky old house that loves attention, Arthur and his broody little self-sacrificing self, Opal and her hard knock upbringing that has her thinking of her brother Jasper before herself after the death of their mother; Bev who runs the motel where they live - the sweet grumpy old lesbian that she is; Charlotte, the librarian who loves her for it and loves Opal’s reading; Jasper, who is exasperated by Opal’s need to care for him, and ultimately is most concerned when she isn’t even reading (gods forbid!) because of her dark mood.

A town haunted by the betrayal of one of its own early daughters (hey Eleanor!), and the destruction her vengeance wreaks for more than a century afterwards.

Love Opal and Arthur together 💜 because duh.

Content Warnings

ashhearddwrites's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Content Warnings

ishouldreadthat's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional 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

A gorgeous southern Gothic tale from Alix E. Harrow. I absolutely loved the combination of fantasy, horror, and Gothic elements. The amazing characters are amazing, despite their flaws, and I loved all of the interactions between them. This book also depicts one of the best sibling relationships I've ever read. This will easily make my 'best books of the year' list!

Content Warnings

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