Starling House

Alix E. Harrow's Starling House is a heartbreaking and haunting gothic story gorgeously narrated by Natalie Naudus. As Harrow does so well, this book serves magic, mystery, love, and enough tension to keep readers wanting more. Steeped in the painful reality of poverty, homelessness, and hunger in Eden, Kentucky, we find our feisty protagonist Opal struggling to care for Jasper, her book-smart brother with a bright future to preserve. An encounter with the brooding and mysterious Arthur sets off a chain of events that will forever alter the trajectory of their lives. A must-read for anyone who has ever wanted to find a door to a magical space beyond.

Natalie Naudus narrates this with a perfect mix of intention, personality, distinct and recognizable voices, and her unique ability to keep the listener enthralled throughout. The delicious slow burn readers savor in an excellent gothic mystery like this is beautifully enhanced in this audio rendition. Naudus handles steamy passages with just the right amount of sensuality, and her voice with Harrow's text is so, so good. Together, they will take you on a journey full of humanity. There will be laughs, possibly some tears, perhaps a little rage, and ultimately a satisfying scratch for that itch we call nostalgia for all those magical stories read under covers by flashlight.