ALIX E HARROW
Synopsis:
A grim and gothic new tale from author Alix E. Harrow about a small town haunted by secrets that can't stay buried and the sinister house that sits at the crossroads of it all.
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 rating: ★★★★★
Categories: Adult, fantasy, romance, (very light, if at all) horror, contemporary, other
Content:
Language: regular use of mild and strong swears (including "f" and "s")
Violence: mild descriptions of blood, scars, arson, and several violent/deadly incidents around the town. A car crash that resulted in a death and a near-drowning is discussed semi-frequently. A sword is used to fight monsters that evaporate into mist (there are also descriptions of injuries caused by these monsters, some needing stitches). Allusions to emotional/possibly physical abuse. Parts of the story also focus on the mistreatment and abuse the workers in the mines (most of them black men) suffered in the past.
Not violence, but getting high and using drugs is also mentioned. A character is shown to be extremely drunk and mentions having relied on alcohol to cope with their emotions in the past as well.
Sex: A few kisses, two vague and almost fade-to-black sex scenes. Mentions of past relationships consisting of "mutual groping" and make out sessions (sometimes said to occur while high).
(slight SPOILER, but also an important trigger to note):
Some discussion of a forced marriage between an uncle and his niece (no sex is mentioned to take place, despite the uncle's attempts).
LGBTQ: past occupants of the town are alluded to have been a lesbian couple. Two of the major side characters are revealed to be in a relationship with each other (f/f). The town is shown several times to be against any kind of differences (including racial and sexual orientation), so there may be some lines that can be perceived as homophobia on behalf of the town.
My Review:
Pros:
- the characters! I love them so much!
- realistic and believable brother/sister relationship between Opal and Jasper
- I also adore Opal and Arthur! They balance each other so well
- the mystery of the house and the way the stories are woven into and connected with each other
- unique, distinct, and immersive writing/character voice
- (the cover)
Cons:
- this is an absolute plus for the author since this was her goal, but there were certain characters that just made me so mad
- I also think the beginning was just a little slow, but I still enjoyed it