Starling House: A Reese's Book Club Pick

I love Alix E. Harrow’s books. From the gorgeous prose found in The Ten Thousand Doors of January to anger that seethes and roils in The Once and Future Witches, her writing is full of emotion that will suck you in and command your attention. Starling House is sometimes vicious and dripping with tension, other times heartbreakingly sad. Once you open the book and read the first page, there is no going back. You’ll be drawn into a world and story unlike any other. The book follows Opal, a youngish woman who lives in a hotel with her younger brother in the sort of town that everyone wants to leave but no one can get away from. Her brother, who is solely her responsibility, is massively smart and Opal has been squirreling away every penny she can to get him into a fancy school and out of town. When a weird encounter at the gates of Starling House- the sort of house that has ghost stories and rumors spread about it, with people who usually know better half-believing what they hear- leads to a job offer that pays extravagantly, Opal can’t refuse. Not that she really wants to. She’s been dreaming of that house and its secrets. Little does she expect, the house’s secrets mirror her own. The story was so much deeper and more complex than I expected going in. Starling House was one of my most-anticipated books of the year with good reason. The mystery of the house and its connection to the town was not what I thought it would be. It was darker and much more unsettling. If anything was going to build a haunted house or invite monsters, a secret like that would do the trick. The house was a character in its own right, and I was enthralled watching it go from monster, to guardian, to friend based on Opal’s viewpoint throughout the book. Opal was a fascinating character, although she veered into angst territory on occasion, which is something I don’t love. She was prickly and sometimes a bit of a butt. However, she was also hurting and lonely. It made perfect sense and led to interesting character growth. Arthur was just as interesting, although he really did enjoy brooding. At times, his “tragic hero” complex made me giggle a little. I do wish that Opal’s brother was in the story a little more. He was equally affected by Starling House and I would have loved to have seen that develop a little more. The climax was surprising and so much more intense than I expected. The ending was perfect, leaving just enough mystery to keep a small town talking and just enough surety to keep a reader satisfied. Alix E. Harrow remains an author that I’ll stand in line for. Each of her books is massively different from the one before, but the one constant is outstanding writing. If you have yet to discover this author, you need to remedy that right now.

This book was full of surprises and so many twists. From the creaking floorboards to the shadows that linger in the corners, the mansion is steeped in history and mystery, drawing readers into its eerie embrace. Starling House is a haunting tale that explores themes of family, grief, and the search for belonging. Harrow crafts a compelling protagonist whose journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about uncovering the secrets of a mysterious mansion. The character’s evolution is portrayed with authenticity, as she grapples with her past and confronts her fears. The author does a beautiful job in the development of all the characters throughout the book - especially Arthur 😍. I especially loved the exploration of familial bonds—both nurturing and toxic. These relationships added a poignant layer to the story, making it resonate with the readers on a personal level. Surprising read to start off 2025! Audible narrator was excellent!!

As an adult, I'm not sure if I liked this book or not. First, I feel it should have been categorized as a fiction for young adults despite the fact that the main characters weren't teenagers (lots and lots of teenage angst though). Second, it was rather hard to follow, especially at the end. What's real, what's not? There were also loose ends. As an example, what happened with the Baine woman? Third, the book was rather long, especially when it didn't really feel finished or complete. Volume 2, perhaps? Last, and most importantly, there was a huge factual error -- Corvettes do NOT have backseats. Moving on, I did like the motel owner, the librarian and the cat. They all had a rather cute and endearing aspect. However, I didn't like the creatures because they didn't seem realistic enough. From the book's drawings, they could have been wolves or blobs. Who knows? To finish, I am giving credit for the dust cover and the drawings in the book. They added a little shot of interest. Therefore, I'm giving this book three stars.

Wanted a spooky book for fall- Great read, kept me hooked-

So, I was pleasantly surprised to find a new author who writes so brilliantly! If you like gothic novels or slightly scary stuff (aka - you can't see what's coming, but it definitely won't scar you for life), this is an excellent novel!!! I won't describe the plot, because there are reviews that tell you more than you want to know before you read this. I'll just say -- PROS - it's set in the South, which is perfect for this story. The heroine keeps this story moving!! CONS - there were two minor aspects of the story that jarred me out of the suspension of disbelief that I like to assume for reading fiction. And it's possible that this is specific to one person's experience, but having grown up in the South, I was like - what? No... But this has nothing to do with the review somewhere here that accuses the author of straying outside their lane. What does that even mean? My complaints are extremely minor details - like signing a contract to work part time anywhere in the South, which I don't see happening for a part time, retail job, but maybe it happens in Kentucky? - whereas that reviewer seemed to be addressing other issues entirely. Anyway, really good book! I am already looking forward to this author's next novel!!!

Alix E. Harrow is a captivating author and this tale is creatively woven. The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a favorite of mine, and I absolutely enjoyed reading this one too!

I read this book on the recommendation of a friend. I'll read all her recommendations from now on.

4.75🌟I've had this on my tbr for awhile and I was saving it for spooky season. It was just what I wanted- dark, gritty, mysterious, and sad. The writing style really pulled me in and I loved all the references to various lores from our world. This isn't a nice story, it's reflects the realities of what North America was built upon. The fantasy and myster was gripping and I couldn't wait to figure out what was really going on. I also really enjoyed the harsh relationships portrayed they felt real and raw. I don't want to say too much about the actual story to save spoilers but id encourage you to read this i cant wait to read more from this author.

There’s really nothing that I can say except that if you haven’t yet read this book, now is a good time to do so!

Starling House etched its way into my list of all-time favourite books somewhere around “an appetite with two legs”, or perhaps much earlier. It has a certain unputdownable quality and, for all its beasts and darkness, is remarkably beautiful.

Original and perfect condition. Great to see the lovely concer intact