Starling House is Alix E. Harrow's fifth novel. With it, she solidifies her status as one of my favorite fantasy authors. Her writing is so evocative. Plus, she excels at establishing a novel's tone, balancing the eerie otherworldliness that is the hallmark of her novels against the mundanity of the small towns where she sets her stories. 

Set in a forgotten, southern, blink-and-you-miss-it town, Starling House follows the travails of Opal as she attempts to pull her little brother out of their go-nowhere situation. 

Opal is not your stereotypical heroine. She is unapproachable, secretive, and very, very angry. Her anger permeates her entire being, affecting every interaction and her decision-making. As prickly as she is, however, she is the type of character you can't help but love. You love her not just because she is the ultimate underdog but also because everything she does is for her brother. Her unselfishness is her most redeeming quality, and you want her to obtain some semblance of a happy ending to reward her for all her sacrifices.

In Opal's world, vulnerability is a liability, a lesson she repeatedly learned in the school of hard knocks that became her life after the death of her mother. Starling House is as much about watching Opal learn to accept this part of being human as it is about the mystery of Arthur Starling and the Starling House. It may be the heart of the story because battling everyday monsters is something everyone can learn to do.  

As in her previous novels, Ms. Harrow fills Starling House with weighty themes. With its mix of human and otherworldly monsters and Opal's extreme emotions, it is not an easy novel to read. She puts Opal through the proverbial wringer, but it makes the conclusion so satisfying. Starling House is a fantastic Gothic mystery and the perfect read for October and the spooky season.