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thedarkfields 's review for:
Starling House
by Alix E. Harrow
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
At around halfway, I thought this was an absolutely incredible book with amazing potential.
At around 3/4, I was dying of agony (in the best way).
At the end... idk. It wasn't quite what I'd hoped. There was a lot of exposition. But it was also the culmination of things hinted at and bread crumbs dropped throughout; I always admire an expertly crafted plot. Overall, I loved the conclusion of the story. I think I just wanted a little more to the climax than we were given. I was left feeling not quite satisfied while still loving the resolution. Blargh.
Fantastic characters. Beautiful writing. Amazing ability to capture the ambiance of the town without spending any excess time describing it. The secret thing(s) related to the mist were extremely creepy and I wish there was more time spent on the mist (even though there was plenty). On that note, I'd actually say it was a really good length and well paced overall. Only some of the bits closer to the end felt a little more rushed than ideal.
Could be 3 stars, could be 5 stars. I'll probably need to read it again later to decide.
Would recommend to people who like horror/creepy mysteries, especially fans of Locke & Key, Pan's Labyrinth, and/or Coraline.
At around 3/4, I was dying of agony (in the best way).
At the end... idk. It wasn't quite what I'd hoped. There was a lot of exposition. But it was also the culmination of things hinted at and bread crumbs dropped throughout; I always admire an expertly crafted plot. Overall, I loved the conclusion of the story. I think I just wanted a little more to the climax than we were given. I was left feeling not quite satisfied while still loving the resolution. Blargh.
Fantastic characters. Beautiful writing. Amazing ability to capture the ambiance of the town without spending any excess time describing it. The secret thing(s) related to the mist were extremely creepy and I wish there was more time spent on the mist (even though there was plenty). On that note, I'd actually say it was a really good length and well paced overall. Only some of the bits closer to the end felt a little more rushed than ideal.
Could be 3 stars, could be 5 stars. I'll probably need to read it again later to decide.
Would recommend to people who like horror/creepy mysteries, especially fans of Locke & Key, Pan's Labyrinth, and/or Coraline.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent
Minor: Death, Incest, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury