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The House of Sorrowing Stars

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The House of Sorrowing Stars

By: Beth Cartwright
Narrated by: Aysha Kala, Adam James
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Brought to you by Penguin.

How do you heal a broken house?
First you unlock its secrets.

Alone on an island, surrounded by flowers that shine as dusk begins to fall, sits an old, faded house. Rooms cannot be rented here and visits are only for those haunted by the memory of loss.

When Liddy receives an invitation, she thinks there must be some mistake - she's never experienced loss. But with her curiosity stirred, and no other way to escape a life in which she feels trapped, she decides to accept.

Once there, she meets Vivienne, a beautiful, austere woman whose glare leaves Liddy unsettled; Ben, the reserved gardener; and Raphael, the enigmatic Keymaker. If Liddy is to discover her true purpose in the house, she must find the root of their sorrow - but the house won't give up its secrets so easily . . .

A spellbinding and haunting literary fable of loss, from the author of Feathertide. Perfect for fans of The Binding and The Night Circus.

© Beth Cartwright 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

 Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Magic Magical Realism
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Critic reviews

This beautiful and beguiling book tells a poignant and haunting story rich in slow-burning intrigue and tender emotion
A transporting, delicious fairytale about loss, beauty, and love.
A haunting journey of self-discovery, bursting with metaphor, and with the feel of a classic fairytale. Prepare to get lost in this spellbinding world.
The House of Sorrowing Star is like a dream poured onto a page. Haunting, surreal, and intricate, Cartwright has deftly crafted a story about what we find when we believe we are lost.
Enchanting, poetic prose that enriches a beautiful fairytale world.
PRAISE FOR FEATHERTIDE
A beautiful fairytale of a book with the most delicious prose. I devoured every page
A charming read filled with some beautifully poetic prose
An enchanting fairytale set in a rich fantasy world.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are a fantasy fan and just want a book you can cosy up in bed with and just forget about the world.
All stars
Most relevant
a story of love, loss and for those who grieve, I DNF'd this story a few times since I struggled to get through the first few chapters but I'm glad I tried again while on my maternity leave.

I do wish the "threat" was a bit stronger since they don't appear that often but I love the premise of the house, the library and why they love in the house of sorrowing stars

follow the stars

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2.5*. The story was sweet and had a good premise but for me it was too description-heavy and very very slow. I could only listen for a couple of minutes before my attention drifted off completely. The narration was good.

Very slow-going

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