Starling House

I received an arc copy from a Tor giveaway

I wish I didn't have so many negatives about this book but alas I do...

Overall, this book was middle of the road. I did not get attached to any of the characters or the House for that matter. I wish we spent more time in the House and getting to know the characters, because maybe I would have cared about what they were going through. The concept of the House was interesting, but fell flat since not much time was spent there. In order for me to truly feel the romance provided, I wish we saw more of Opal and Arthur interacting within the House. She claims it felt like her home after a time, and while I understand given the context, I just never felt that real connection between her, Arthur and the House while reading. The plot was uninteresting and I found myself bored throughout most of the story.

The prose was excellent and I enjoyed the atmosphere but those are the only real positives I have.

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.

Rating: 3.8 leaves out of 5-Characters: 3/5 -Cover: 5/5-Story: 4/5-Writing: 4/5Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Gothic, Mystery, Romance-Horror: 1/5-Fantasy: 5/5-Gothic: 5/5-Mystery: 3/5-Romance: 4/5Type: AudiobookWorth?: YesHated Disliked Meh It Was Okay Liked Loved FavoritedWant to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.I had requested this book and was on the fence about it. I left it sitting and was going to pick it up later September but a woman on Tiktok said she wished she had picked it up sooner. That really had me curious. Do I agree with her? Kinda.Where I did enjoy the story a lot as a whole I did have some annoyance with Opal, mostly, and a bit from Jasper. Opal could be a bit much and how she acted towards Arthur made my blood boil sometimes. As for Jasper. How he treated Opal sometimes annoyed me. Also this whole book felt like a NA/YA novel. For these people to be 26/27 and acting like they fresh out the womb... it was annoying. Beyond that, the story was... so so good. Despite how I felt about Opal as a person I did cheer for her and Arthur a good chunk of the time. It was magical and gothic. It showed the ugly side of history. It showed how people are disgusting monsters when it comes to ownership and land. I really really do recommend this book.