Starling House, by Alix E. Harrow, is a story about enduring hardships and finding a place for yourself when the whole world seems hellbent on not letting you settle down. Opal, the main character, lives for her brother and only her brother. She’s trying to get him and his asthma out of their hometown, Eden, so he can breathe freely literally and figuratively. Opal finds herself working for a mysterious man, Arthur, in a mysterious mansion, despite everyone warning her of the dangers surrounding the place. Eventually Opal learns that the warnings were valid, but because the house is haunted by monsters that rise out of the mist, not because Arthur is a serial killer or something along those veins.

I found Starling House through Goodreads. I can’t remember if it was recommended because I read something similar or if it was on a list, but I found myself drawn to the artwork on the cover and the promise of gothic horrors and magic in a small-town setting. I worried a bit that it would be a bit of a portal-fantasy, which I’ve read my share of as a teen, but it was different enough that I really enjoyed it.

First and foremost, I really enjoyed the characters. Opal was the perfect narrator for this story. She seemed unreliable at first (which, who doesn’t love an unreliable narrator if well done) but she slowly became more real and genuine as the novel went on and we learned more. It felt like eventually she stopped trying to force herself (and the readers) to believe that she existed solely for Jasper, and instead she began to let herself live a little more. The best part is that the story didn’t end with Opal learning to be a better person. She still ended up being unapologetically abrasive just like in the start, but with a well-rounded support system where she can let herself be vulnerable every once in a while.

I also really appreciated that Opal and Eleanor had similar stories, but Opal managed to avoid becoming like Eleanor despite how easy it could be or how much she wanted to do it. Opal made a lot of bad decisions in her life, but she was dedicated to not becoming a murderer or falling into a complete lack of faith for humanity. I think it could be argued that Jasper and Arthur are the reasons she managed to rise above the occasion (though Jasper isn’t mentioned as often as Arthur during the big fight), but I also believe that Eleanor truly had a harder time in her life. She was a product of her time, and that time was not at all kind to women. So, I also really can’t fault Eleanor for coping the way she did.

I wish we got more from Jasper. I understand that he was supposed to be the broody teen, but I think it would have been nice if we learned a bit more about him other than how bright he is or how he has asthma. Has Jasper done any bad thing in his life outside of helping Opal peddle stolen wares? Has he ever made mistakes? He was an interesting character, and as the main motivation for Opal, I felt like we should have learned more about him.

All things considered, I actually do believe that Starling House ended up being a portal-fantasy of sorts. The House truly felt like another world, and Opal was able to escape to the house to avoid the real-world problems she faced. She had a whole emotional journey attached to her time in the House, and what was happening outside of the House. This was a really refreshing take on the portal-fantasy formula, and I love how it felt a bit like a detective mystery at the same time. Opal discovering who she is while also tracing down the true history of the house was fantastic. I wish that Harrow leaned a bit more into showing the ‘evidence’ or the snippets of the things Opal read and heard from the other characters.

I am really not sure about what other titles I would recommend based on this book. But if anyone comes up with any ideas please let me know!