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.
I absolutely loved the atmosphere of this book! The small town, haunted house vibes were immaculate and I was soo invested in the lore and the family history that was attached to it too! Opal’s perspective is so raw and unyielding and the struggles she’s had to overcome since her mother’s death really shows how strong willed she is.
The house wasn’t as spooky as what I was anticipating. I thought this was a haunted house story so I was waiting for the focus to swing back to the house but the main mystery was more so surrounding Eleanor and the Underland. It was interesting to kind of piece together the story from all of the different sources Eden went to and then ultimately getting the story straight from Eleanor was gratifying!
⭐️4/5 stars I lowkey want to stay the night there… sans the monsters of course lol
