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Feature image credit: Pan Macmillan Australia
Reviewed by Max Marten

Strap in, everyone: Alix E. Harrow’s Starling House is not your typical stroll through the literary sidestreets. This tome is as much a symphony of gothic elements as it is a crafty nod to the reader, coaxing you into the enigmatic world of Starling House. This creaky old mansion, a character in its own right, is older than your nanna’s heirlooms, yet the town of Eden seems to have forgotten its origins. With a haunted house, a brooding heir named Arthur, and our heroine Opal, who’s sharper than a stanley knife, a narrative as enticing as it is mysterious develops. Opal isn’t just chasing coin here; she’s lured to the mansion by a pull as strong as gravity.

In Starling House, Alix E. Harrow shows us that a quest for a home isn’t just about finding a place to hang your hat. Opal’s journey, intertwined with the house’s secrets and Arthur, its mysterious heir, is a testament to her storytelling prowess. The house itself moans and sighs throughout the story, as much a participant as any of the characters.

The prose is a treat – layered, nuanced, and utterly engaging. Take the description of Lacey Matthews as “the human equivalent of unsalted butter” – classic. And likening a handshake “to grabbing a freshly peeled boiled egg” is just next level.

Harrow isn’t afraid to innovate. The times referencing system thoughout this book adds a clever depth. And the text messages and historical tales recounted in a different font and size? A twist that if not already will soon be an Alix E. Harrow signature.

The humour, like the crack about Lacey’s meemaw and her questionable choice in men, is contagious, while the Wikipedia entries on pages 32 to 34 are a stroke of genius, complete with a nod to the Wiki’s fictitious author: the renowned film director Guillermo del Toro.

Laser-strength storytelling shines through in Arthur’s tale  – his return to find his mother’s skull with a vine growing out of the eye socket is a terrifying blend of the chilling and the poetic.

The characters are magnificent. Bev, the motel owner is a glorious creation – rough, tough, and unforgettable. Bev’s experience tale of Starling House is masterful, and her big reveal snuck up on me like a seagull swooping for my chips on Saturday at lunchtime on Glenelg Jetty.

The artwork included in Starling House serves as visual milestones, another example of Harrow’s knack for blending narrative and visual storytelling.

But … it’s not all plain sailing. The house, with its Escher-like layout, is a maze that keeps you guessing, especially evident in the scene on page 261 where Opal takes her leap of faith. This is a perfect balance of tension and grace.

Alix E. Harrow’s Starling House is a love story, a horror tale, and a gothic saga rolled into one. It’s a history and reference book for a world that’s just a whisper away from ours, where Starling House isn’t just in a locale in your mind’s eye but a living, breathing edifice in a backwards Kentucky one-horse rural bore called Eden.

This book is a deep dive into a world of haunts and wonders, where each page is a step deeper into mystery. If you’re up for a journey that’s as wild as a cyclone up north, Alix E. Harrow’s Starting House is your ticket. Grab it, sit down and tune the rest of the world out. Try not to analyse what’s coming next, if you can. And when you arrive at the halfway point and think, “What’s Alix gonna do now that she’s given it all away?” Keep reading — you won’t be disappointed!

Reviewed by Max Marten
Twitter: @AussieMaxMarten

The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.

Distributed by: Pan Macmillan Australia
Released: October 2023
RRP: $34.99