Hello, fellow bookworms! I’ve taken a little time off the blog to deal with my brain refusing to brain, but I also had the opportunity to read some incredible books over the summer which I can’t wait to share with you. Let’s start with Starling House, Alix E. Harrow’s latest gem!
There are very few books that can ensnare you from the very first page. As I delved into its pages, I was immediately captivated by an ineffable magic, a blend of Harrow’s atmospheric style, intriguing characters, and an intricate setting.
Blurb
A grim and gothic new tale from author Alix E. Harrow about a small town haunted by secrets that can’t stay buried and the sinister house that sits at the crossroads of it all.
Eden, Kentucky, is just another dying, bad-luck town, known only for the legend of E. Starling, the reclusive nineteenth-century author and illustrator who wrote The Underland–and disappeared. Before she vanished, Starling House appeared. But everyone agrees that it’s best to let the uncanny house―and its last lonely heir, Arthur Starling―go to rot.
Opal knows better than to mess with haunted houses or brooding men, but an unexpected job offer might be a chance to get her brother out of Eden. Too quickly, though, Starling House starts to feel dangerously like something she’s never had: a home.
As sinister forces converge on Starling House, Opal and Arthur are going to have to make a dire choice to dig up the buried secrets of the past and confront their own fears, or let Eden be taken over by literal nightmares.
If Opal wants a home, she’ll have to fight for it.
What I loved
The Enigmatic Setting
Set in Eden, Kentucky, ‘Starling House’ navigates through a gothic tale touching upon themes like money, power, and the haunting legacy of environmental damage in middle America. But perhaps the most evocative part of the novel is the titular Starling House itself. This house isn’t just a backdrop or a setting; it’s a character. Haunted yet very much alive, it brims with monsters and memories. Harrow’s words paint it so vividly that it emerges from the pages, demanding to be felt, understood, and sympathized with.
Our Protagonist, Opal
Opal is a character with depth and layers. She’s portrayed with a prickly exterior which, when peeled back, reveals a soul laden with burdens and a past that continually weighs her down. Her inadvertent entanglement with the foreboding Starling House, and its enigmatic owner, becomes the crux of a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
A Tale Familiar Yet Unique
While reading, I experienced an uncanny sense of déjà vu, not because it was repetitive, but because it felt like a quintessential Mining Town Folk Tale. It seemed to blend the eerie charm reminiscent of Sabrina’s first season with the bone-chilling suspense of a Stephen King novel. The undercurrents of a darker Wonderland blending with the real world add a touch of magical realism that’s both enchanting and intriguing. Harrow succeeds in intertwining both the fantastical and the mysterious, crafting a narrative that’s as much a mystery as it is a fairy tale.
Final Thoughts
Starling House stands out as a narrative triumph. It is beautifully written, hauntingly atmospheric, and rich in character development. If you’re on the lookout for a gripping read this spooky season, this should undoubtedly be on your list. Harrow has once again showcased her prowess in storytelling, and I eagerly await her next masterpiece.
Expected publication October 3, 2023
Readcommendations 