A review by tired_cicada
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

The beginning was pretty slow but does pick up close to the end. They pay off is nice and I do enjoy seeing how the stories and myths of individual towns change with time.

im not sure I can forgive the author for having a “she’s my girlfriend you intolerant shit” moment while we are worried that a 16 year old boy might have burned to dead in a fear tactic arson strike by a gas company…. Or for having Opal fantasize about “stomping on each of [arthur’] fingers” while they are getting hot and heavy. Genuinely what the fuck was that? That came so far out of left field it hit the umpire in the back of the head

Great gothic vibes! The magic was real and not just a metaphor for changing times which was refreshing as I’ve been bamboozled by too many books like that of late. 

We end

on a very hopeful note

and overall it was a very nice read!