Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

If Opal didn't have bad luck, she wouldn't have any luck at all. Needless to say, she knows better than to get involved with the likes of haunted houses and the creepy young men that inherit them. Despite what her instincts are screaming at her, Opal receives a job offer that she can't refuse working for the mysterious and brooding warden of the Starling House. As the sinister forces that surround Starling House make themselves more known, Opal and Arthur have a deadly choice to make - dig up the past and confront their worst fears, or let their town be consumed by literal nightmares.

Wow. Soooooo different from the haunted house plot I was expecting. As soon as I could wrap my head around the fact that this was simply going to be different from any other 'ghost story' I've ever read, I really got into it and couldn't put it down. The imagery is fascinating, and the storytelling is beautiful. It's a novel that reflects the reality of our own nightmares and how they manifest in our lives. A story of defining yourself, what you want for your life, and finding out that home is anywhere you are loved. I'm really curious about reading more from Alix Harrow.

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