Starling House

by Alix E. Harrow

Magdalena Mieszczak (Illustrator) and Zarin Baksh (Illustrator)

Step into Starling House – if you dare . . . Alix E. Harrow reimagines Beauty and the Beast in this gorgeously modern Gothic fantasy, perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab and Naomi Novik.

Nobody in Eden remembers when Starling House was built. But the town agrees it’s best to let this ill-omened mansion – and its last lonely heir – go to hell. Stories of the house’s bad luck, like good china, have been passed down the generations.

Opal knows better than to mess with haunted houses, or brooding men. But when an opportunity to work there arises, the money might get her brother out of Eden. Starling House is uncanny and full of secrets – just like Arthur, its heir. It also feels strangely, dangerously, like something she’s never had: a home. Yet Opal isn’t the only one interested in the horrors and the wonders that lie buried beneath it.

Sinister forces converge on Eden – and Opal realizes that if she wants a home, she’ll have to fight for it. Even if it involves digging up her family’s ugly past to achieve a better future. She’ll have to go down, deep down beneath Starling House, to claw her way back to the light . . .

This is a romantic and spellbinding Gothic fairytale from Hugo, Nebula and Locus Award-shortlisted Alix E. Harrow.

• Publish Date: November 2023 (first published 3 October 2023)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Tor
• Edition: Illumicrate Exclusive
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• Special: Exclusive Design Sprayed Edges

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Opal has always been a little bit fascinated by the Starling House. Maybe it's because it felt like a kindred spirit. Both she and the house are looked down upon and shunned. Or maybe there's something more compelling lurking under those neglected shutters.

When given the opportunity to work within the house, Opal knows she can't say no. Not only will this be a chance to see inside – but she desperately needs the money. But by entering the grounds, she'll kick off a strange and deadly series of events.

My Review:

If you're looking for a spooky book to absolutely fall in love with, check out Starling House! I've been a fan of Alix E. Harrow's work for a while, but I was blown away by what unfolded within these pages.

Okay, I may be a bit biased. I'm a little obsessed with all things sentience house. By that, I mean I love it when a house (or building) has opinions. And boy, does the Starling House have opinions. Throw in two complex character backgrounds, and it's no wonder I fell in love.

Admittedly, getting to know Opal and Arthur takes some time. It takes a little bit longer to love them, but I was hooked by the end. I enjoyed reading their interactions and found myself trying to put the puzzle pieces together before the grand reveal.

Starling House had everything I was looking/hoping for. It's compelling, has strong dark academia vibes, and even a romantic fantasy element. It's perfect.

Highlights:
Gothic Horror
Living House
Buried Secrets
Romantic Fantasy

Trigger Warnings:
Classism, Racism
Slavery

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[Terri M. LeBlanc]

Starling House oozes with mystery and gothic vibes. It's about how we get stuck in our own narratives and how other people see us, how we see others and how that can trap us into believing things that are not necessarily true. How do we break the spell and move on? It's all inside Starling House.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.