Scan barcode
A review by pageboi31
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
My buddy read pick for April 2024!
Wow this book hit hard for me. I don't know if I've read too many high-fantasy books in a row now (4-5 I think 😅), but from the moment I started Starling House I instantly connected to it and felt refreshed. I loved the small town setting in Eden, Kentucky that feels reminiscent to where I live, with characters that felt like people I could bump into in real life.
The characters in this book are great. Opal reminded me a lot of another book character I love, Ferius Parfax, both having wild red hair and an attitude/snark just as wild. The struggle Opal goes through (all the lying and stealing) just to scrape by and give her younger brother a better opportunity in life was very touching and felt so real. She was so strong-willed and never backed down from a challenge, never gave in where others would have. Arthur was also beautiful and broken, dreaming to leave but compelled to stay after his parents pass. I also loved Jasper, Bev the landlady, and Charlotte the librarian. They made a fantastic "found family" in a sense to Opal.
The book made a lot of unique choices that I really liked. The footnotes found throughout were cool(looking back now, this was probably Charlotte's additions to Opal's book, aka Starling House) , as well as the illustrations spread throughout (Arthur's pictures 😊) . I think one of my favorite things was the many retellings of the E. Sterling myth, with different conclusions and details in each that paints everything in a different light.
*Spoilers!* I loooooved so many of the fantastical elements in the book, and the way the explanation for all the spookiness (aka the river of dreams and Eleanor herself) wraps everything up was truly magical. When first reading, I thought the house was haunted in a similar way like The Haunting of Hill House, but it turns out this house truly is conscience in a way, and was good! The confrontation in the Underland with Eleanor and her beasts was beautiful. Having Opal's arc so similar to Eleanor's was poetic, leading to helping her peacefully move on and give up her child-like revenge on the town of Eden and the Gravelys (even though they definitely deserved it)
This book was such a surprise hit for me! I haven't been this surprised by my enjoyment in a book since last May when I read Recursion. Perhaps a harsher version of me would rank it 4 stars, but the way I was hooked in and loved every minute of it means it HAS to be a 5 star. Here's to hoping my buddy read-mates like it too 😁
Wow this book hit hard for me. I don't know if I've read too many high-fantasy books in a row now (4-5 I think 😅), but from the moment I started Starling House I instantly connected to it and felt refreshed. I loved the small town setting in Eden, Kentucky that feels reminiscent to where I live, with characters that felt like people I could bump into in real life.
The characters in this book are great. Opal reminded me a lot of another book character I love, Ferius Parfax, both having wild red hair and an attitude/snark just as wild. The struggle Opal goes through (all the lying and stealing) just to scrape by and give her younger brother a better opportunity in life was very touching and felt so real. She was so strong-willed and never backed down from a challenge, never gave in where others would have. Arthur was also beautiful and broken, dreaming to leave but compelled to stay after his parents pass. I also loved Jasper, Bev the landlady, and Charlotte the librarian. They made a fantastic "found family" in a sense to Opal.
The book made a lot of unique choices that I really liked. The footnotes found throughout were cool
This book was such a surprise hit for me! I haven't been this surprised by my enjoyment in a book since last May when I read Recursion. Perhaps a harsher version of me would rank it 4 stars, but the way I was hooked in and loved every minute of it means it HAS to be a 5 star. Here's to hoping my buddy read-mates like it too 😁
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent