Starling House

The first few chapters focused on poor Southern kids and I wondered where the story would go. I'm glad I stuck with it past the first 50 pages because the story grew into a modern Souther Gothic fairytale worthy of all the poor kids living on ramen noodles and twinkies who dream of a different life (and I say that as one of those kids who is now grown-up and wishes for a tale like this).

The characters are not beautiful nor misunderstood but they do want more than what life has dealt them. Then wrap that in a tale of monsters and magic and you have a book that is worthy of being one of the best books I read in 2023.