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Starling House

The perfect dark, Gothic fairytale and a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

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Starling House

By: Alix E. Harrow
Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
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About this listen

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.

Opal is a lot of things – orphan, high-school dropout, full-time cynic. Most of all, she’s determined to find a better life for her younger brother. One that gets them both out of Eden, a town renowned for bad luck. So when Opal gets the chance to earn a good wage at Starling House, Eden’s very own haunted mansion, she can’t resist.

Her new workplace is uncanny and full of secrets ­­– just like Arthur, its brooding heir. It also feels strangely, dangerously, like something Opal never had: a home. As sinister forces converge on Eden, Opal realizes she might finally have found a reason to stick around. But now she’ll have to fight for it . . .

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

Praise for Starling House

‘Alix E. Harrow is an exceptional, undeniable talent‘ – Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas Six

‘Alix E. Harrow’s greatest work yet‘ – Ava Reid, author of A Study in Drowning

‘This book has everything you could possibly want this fall . . . a cursed town, a haunted house, a vivid & eerie setting‘ – Reese Witherspoon

**A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick**

Fans love Starling House:

‘This book is literally EVERYTHING TO ME’

‘This was the perfect mix of fantasy and horror’

‘I will never not be swooning over this book!’

‘10/10, no notes, will absolutely read again when I'm prepared to cry’

 Action & Adventure Fantasy Gothic Horror

Critic Reviews

This book has everything you could possibly want this fall . . . a cursed town, a haunted house, a vivid and eerie setting—plus, characters willing to risk everything (Reese Witherspoon, Reese’s Book Club October 2023 Pick)
Alix E. Harrow is an exceptional, undeniable talent, and Starling House, with its gentle reassurances of the homes we make and the love we deserve, is more than satisfying. It’s pure loveliness in book form (Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas Six)
Gorgeous, poignant, and honest—an unforgettable read (Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter)
The gaudy, dark seam between horror and romance. Starling House is Alix E. Harrow’s greatest work yet – if you can survive its slow belly-crawl into hell (Ava Reid, author of Juniper and Thorn)
This is gothic fairy tale at its best and truest: dark and romantic, angry and hopeful . . . I loved it (H.G. Parry, author of The Magician's Daughter)
This book is as knife-edged and sharp as its protagonist, a rich and strange exploration of home and need and want . . . A smart, spectacular contemporary Gothic (Kat Howard, author of An Unkindness of Magicians)
This is one you’re going to love (Glamour Magazine)
Tender and triumphant . . . Starling House will no doubt take its place alongside fiction’s most memorable haunted houses (Publishers Weekly, Starred Review)
Harrow’s mash-up of twisted fairy tales and Southern gothic fiction is a haunting story of longing, lies, and generational curses (Library Journal, Starred Review)
Alix E. Harrow is a fantasy author who just does not miss. This magical, heartfelt haunted house tale is no different (Paste Magazine)
Devastating, eerie and upbeat (SFX)
A spooky story about how hidden truths always come back to haunt you (Kirkus, Starred Review)
All stars
Most relevant
I love a good sentient house story. This one is satisfyingly Gothic & full of thorns & the characters are all just as imperfect & prickly & relatable.

Prickly modern Gothic romance at its best

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Who can resist a haunted house, ghost tales and a town with a past? Lovely, vivid visuals too. A little cheesy toward the end for my taste, but came back around with a satisfying ending. Didn't love the choice of narrator; I think the main character was meant to be gritty, but instead sounded a bit waspy, so some parts didn't completely sell. Still, a fun read.

A Fun Read

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I loved the characters in this book. A vivid story that I could picture as the narrator was telling it. Not my normal choice, but loved it.

Not my usual read

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Another masterpiece by Alix Harrow, performed magnificently by Natalie Naudus. It’s like a combination of A Spindle Splintered and The Once And Future Witches.

Powerful & emotional

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A rotting gothic mansion - tick.
It's broody custodian - tick.
A small town full of secrets and monsters. Some human, some not - tick tick tick.
I had been anticipating this books release since I read the pre-release synopsis. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and engrossed into the wee hours of the night.

Engrossing dark gothic mystery

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