Genre: Fantasy/Gothic
Release Date: October 31st, 2023
Pages: 320 (13 Hours)
Publisher: Tor Books (Macmillan Audio)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publisher’s Synopsis:
“Eden, Kentucky, is just another dying, bad-luck town, known only for the legend of E. Starling, the reclusive nineteenth-century author and illustrator who wrote The Underland–and disappeared. Before she vanished, Starling House appeared. But everyone agrees that it’s best to let the uncanny house―and its last lonely heir, Arthur Starling―go to rot.
Opal knows better than to mess with haunted houses or brooding men, but an unexpected job offer might be a chance to get her brother out of Eden. Too quickly, though, Starling House starts to feel dangerously like something she’s never had: a home.
As sinister forces converge on Starling House, Opal and Arthur are going to have to make a dire choice to dig up the buried secrets of the past and confront their own fears, or let Eden be taken over by literal nightmares.
If Opal wants a home, she’ll have to fight for it.”
My Review:
Everything you want and expect from this author is delivered! The perfect gothic, fantastical, whimsical, horror novel with lyrical writing and depth of emotion. I just love her way of writing so much. It’s so captivating and really brings the story to life. Opal and Arthur are so endearing. The house is itself a character in the story, a trope I absolutely love in books. It has such a rich lore, legend, and history surrounding it. Harrow has a way of making the magical feel so real. I was completely engrossed in this story. I won’t be giving any further details on the plot because the synopsis says so little and I think that is the perfect way to go into a book. I had no idea what to expect other than a creepy house and I was so pleasantly surprised by how much more depth there was to the story. I listened to an early audio of this book and the narrator did a great job of portraying the style and tone of the story. The fact that this book is being released in October is perfection. This is the perfect spooky season read and I can see it being very popular. And, y’all, this cover is to die for! Props to the designer(s). Harrow is a master of gothic fantasy. If you loved The Ten Thousand Doors of January (as much as I did), then you have to read this one! I have no doubt you’ll love it too.
Disclaimers:
Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me an early copy of this amazing story! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Have you read this book? Planning to add it to your TBR?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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