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A review by yomireads
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A nearly perfect book with tinging of dark academia vibes. It has an intriguing mixture of a spooky house that may or may not be haunted, and that self same house being... homey. I don't want to give away too much on that angle, but it's a fun dichotomy of how something dark can also be a source of light.
Opal makes for an interesting FMC with her rugged past of petty theft and other (low stakes) crime after she and her brother find themselves orphaned. I really appreciated the depiction of her struggling to find a healthy boundary between sister and guardian while raising her brother, and the internal fight to be a better person than she believes herself to be. That said, maybe do less crime if you're so determined to do better for him.
The MMC, Arthur is wonderfully intriguing to me, because I literally could not tell you the last time I read a book with characters that weren't described as "handsome," "chisled," "gods gift to masculinity," and to have him be actively described by the side characters as flat out ugly was such a subversion of the stereotypes I loved him almost immediately. He's emotionally complex with a fun little cliche of the tortured lonely soul in the ancient old mansion. Ate it up.
The self awareness of our main characters was delicious. The sense of atmosphere well established and immersive. And the story progression felt quick and succinct, while somehow not tripping over itself to throw information at you. It was the footnotes and side bars in the story that tipped this into the dark academia genre for me as it explored the town history. No it doesn't take place at a school, but there are research and intellectual plotlines that added thay particular flavor for me. (Though others might disagree, which I'm fine with)
This is my first Alix E. Harrow book, but I'm certain it won't be my last.
Thanks Netgalley for opening my world to something I may have otherwise put off or passed by for another book on a shelf.
Opal makes for an interesting FMC with her rugged past of petty theft and other (low stakes) crime after she and her brother find themselves orphaned. I really appreciated the depiction of her struggling to find a healthy boundary between sister and guardian while raising her brother, and the internal fight to be a better person than she believes herself to be. That said, maybe do less crime if you're so determined to do better for him.
The MMC, Arthur is wonderfully intriguing to me, because I literally could not tell you the last time I read a book with characters that weren't described as "handsome," "chisled," "gods gift to masculinity," and to have him be actively described by the side characters as flat out ugly was such a subversion of the stereotypes I loved him almost immediately. He's emotionally complex with a fun little cliche of the tortured lonely soul in the ancient old mansion. Ate it up.
The self awareness of our main characters was delicious. The sense of atmosphere well established and immersive. And the story progression felt quick and succinct, while somehow not tripping over itself to throw information at you. It was the footnotes and side bars in the story that tipped this into the dark academia genre for me as it explored the town history. No it doesn't take place at a school, but there are research and intellectual plotlines that added thay particular flavor for me. (Though others might disagree, which I'm fine with)
This is my first Alix E. Harrow book, but I'm certain it won't be my last.
Thanks Netgalley for opening my world to something I may have otherwise put off or passed by for another book on a shelf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Death of parent
Moderate: Slavery and Vomit
Minor: Lesbophobia and Incest