Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

39 reviews

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: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Incest, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

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, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

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

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

darkdahlia9's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Alcoholism, Incest, Slavery, Murder, and Abandonment

acethirtynine's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

4.5

This book grew on me - it took me a minute to really get into it, but once the story picks up it really gets going. I found Opal both challenging and sympathetic in a good balance based on her life and experiences. Not my favorite of Alix. E. Harrow's but still very enjoyable. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Vomit and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Child death, Incest, Racism, Slavery, and Murder

jerseynoonatic's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

What a disappointing book. The idea could have been good, but the characters were so awful and the story fell sort of flat. The romance was poorly done, and the smut was unwa.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

svxi's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Slavery and Murder

katievallin's review against another edition

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Vomit, Stalking, and Classism

Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Incest, Sexual content, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Outing

madscientistcat's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racism and Grief

Minor: Incest and Slavery

torturedreadersdept'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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

Thank you to Black Crow PR for granting me a physical copy of this title and to join in on the book tour. All opinions remain 100% genuine.

This oozed rich, gothic atmosphere from the start. It felt like a dark and twisty fairytale, with fantastic similies that brought the writing ever more to life.

I was pleasantly surprised to see some illustrations were included, especially when learning about E. Starlings uncomfortable and eery art.

I like that when reading from Arthur's perspective, it switches from first person narrative to third person, which I found greatly emphasised this detached, recluse lifestyle he had.

This was reminiscent of Melissa Albert's The Hazel Wood, with the theme of a reclusive author, that wrote one book, mysteriously disappeared and has sinister fairytale that may be steeped in truth. There were moments between Opal and Arthur that reminded me also of The Secret Society for Irregular Witches. 

It was quite nice to read this alongside Heroes by Stephen Fry, as Starling House has some beauty symmetry and mention to the Greek myths.

The character growth of Opal, Jasper and Arthur was beautifully depicted as were the details on their desires and nightmares and how trapped they felt in Eden. You really got a strong sense of how deep the rot of the town was; despite the citizens believing they were good in every way that counted, they were often complicit in so much corruption, cruelty and neglect of those vulnerable.

The mirroring and rewriting of stories, lonliness, homelessness and desperation for vengence were such strong themes in this. They were so harrowing and devastating, but it swept me away perfectly into another world whenever I picked Starling House back up.

This was such a moving tale, of lies woven into truth and truth woven into lies and begs you to ask yourself what your story will be. Where will you choose to burrow your roots down and make a home? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol