Synopsis: Every small town across America seems to have one. A big house, slowly deteriorating, that sits just off the well-worn paths. In Alix E. Harrow’s version of Eden, Kentucky that place is called Starling House. 

Opal is an orphan living with her younger brother in a motel room, surviving on gas station food and Pop Tarts. One night after leaving work at the Tractor Supply Opla passes by the gates of Starling House. The wrought iron creatures that make up the gate remind her of nightmares that have plagued her since childhood. When Opal touches the gate she is pulled into a world of monsters, both natural and supernatural. She joins forces with Arthur Starling, the latest caretaker for the magic house, to rid the town of a curse that has haunted it for generations. 

My Opinion: I haven’t had this much fun reading a book in quite some time. From the first page I knew this would be a book I wouldn’t be able to put down. Ms. Harrow has created characters that feel alive with their own personalities, dreams, and quirks. I often found myself thinking I wish I could hang out with these folks. There is a rough, short-tempered motel owner; a caring and quirky librarian; and a heartless and determined corporate investigator. There is always a risk of these characters becoming clichés, but just when you think you have a character figured out they zig when you would swear they were going to zag. 

The story also subverts the reader’s expectations. There are some classic story items in Starling House such as a haunted house and a small town with secrets and strange residents. However, instead of writing another horror clone, Ms. Harrow twists each of these to create something that feels fresh and new. 

I would recommend Starling House to anyone who enjoys strong female characters, supernatural stories, and books that put your attention in a stranglehold and don’t let up until you’ve turned the last page.