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Starling House

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Starling House

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

A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

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

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.

No one in Eden remembers when Starling House was built. But everyone agrees that it’s best to let the house – and its last, lonely heir – go to rot. Starling House is uncanny and ugly and fully of secrets, just like its heir. Opal knows better than to mess with haunted houses or brooding men, but it might be a chance to get her brother out of Eden. It feels dangerously like something she’s never had: a home.

But Opal isn’t the only one interested in the house, or the horrors and wonders that lie beneath it. If Opal wants a home, she’ll have to fight for it. She’ll have to dig up her family’s ugly history and let herself dream of a better future. She’ll have to go down, down into Underland, and claw her way back to the light . . .

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

'Starling House is Alix E. Harrow’s greatest work yet' -
Ava Reid, author of A Study in Drowning

‘Gorgeous, poignant, and honest – an unforgettable read’ - Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

Action & Adventure Fantasy Scary
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I have this in paperback and now audiobook. The performance is exceptional, and the story well thought out. Second favourite Alix Harrow novel, an author who is truly showing her mastery of the fairy tale.

Best Beauty and the Beast reskin I’ve read in a long time

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This started out promising—funny, with a good concept—but it became torturously slow. Unfortunately, the chemistry and love scenes never delivered enough payoff to redeem the pacing. And not many qualities to like about the MMC. I kept reading in the hope it would pick up, but it never did, disappointing given how many positive reviews it had.
But it might be just me.

Another frustration was how much of the story was pulled away from Vere and Ali to focus on Freddie. The book would have worked far better as a shorter story centered on the two main characters. As it stands, the imbalance and lack of momentum made this a letdown for me.

Great narration but story was underwhelming

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