Starling House by Alix E. Harrow – A Must-Read Gothic Thriller?

I remember once in Lit through Film, a class I took a senior year of high school, my teacher said, "Ah, Disney's Beauty and the Beast is a story about how if you love an ugly person enough, they will turn into a handsome prince." Since then, I haven’t been able to take Beauty and the Beast seriously. If you asked me to name the actual moral, I’d probably take an embarrassingly long time to remember. And I tell you all this because I recently read Alix E. Harrow's Starling House, a retelling of the Classic.

This book follows Opal, a young woman in a small town who has seen nothing but misfortune in her life as she goes to work for a Mysterious man who lives in a mysterious house. While there, she slowly uncovers the dark truth about the young man, the house, and her past.

This was my favorite book from February because this book had such interesting characters, from Opal to her brother to the man in the house. Every character has an interesting story, which will keep you guessing until the end. I found the pacing perfect, and I was hooked the whole time. Honestly, I couldn't put it down till I was done. I won't spoil the ending, but that was where I really couldn't put it down. So, was this like Beauty and the Beast? Kind of. it is a light retelling. There is a girl who doesn't feel like she belongs, a gruff man, and a library. But it is also a tremendous independent story.

Do I have any critiques? No, not really. I selfishly want a sequel because I love these characters so much. And I want to know what happens to them after all the events of this book. But that is not a critique, so I will say no, I don't have any.

Overall, I loved this book. It is so much fun to read, but I warn you that you will go through all the emotions. From profound sadness to visceral anger to love. So it's not a light read, but it's hard to put down that you will get through it quickly. You will love this book if you are a mystery thriller fan who likes a light romance thrown in.

If you’re looking for a book that blends mystery, gothic atmosphere, and deep emotion, this is a must-read. So those are my thoughts, but I would love to hear your thoughts! Did you read it? Did you fall in love with Arthur? Let me know in the comments.