What do you think?
Rate this book
House of Hollow
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2021)Seventeen-year-old Iris Hollow has always been strange. Something happened to her and her two older sisters when they were children, something they can’t quite remember but that left each of them with an identical half-moon scar at the base of their throats.
Iris has spent most of her teenage years trying to avoid the weirdness that sticks to her like tar. But when her eldest sister, Grey, goes missing under suspicious circumstances, Iris learns just how weird her life can get: horned men start shadowing her, a corpse falls out of her sister’s ceiling, and ugly, impossible memories start to twist their way to the forefront of her mind.
As Iris retraces Grey’s last known footsteps and follows the increasingly bizarre trail of breadcrumbs she left behind, it becomes apparent that the only way to save her sister is to decipher the mystery of what happened to them as children.
The closer Iris gets to the truth, the closer she comes to understanding that the answer is dark and dangerous – and that Grey has been keeping a terrible secret from her for years.
Iris has spent most of her teenage years trying to avoid the weirdness that sticks to her like tar. But when her eldest sister, Grey, goes missing under suspicious circumstances, Iris learns just how weird her life can get: horned men start shadowing her, a corpse falls out of her sister’s ceiling, and ugly, impossible memories start to twist their way to the forefront of her mind.
As Iris retraces Grey’s last known footsteps and follows the increasingly bizarre trail of breadcrumbs she left behind, it becomes apparent that the only way to save her sister is to decipher the mystery of what happened to them as children.
The closer Iris gets to the truth, the closer she comes to understanding that the answer is dark and dangerous – and that Grey has been keeping a terrible secret from her for years.
292 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2021
About the author
Krystal Sutherland
6 books4,165 followersKrystal Sutherland is an internationally published author. Her latest novel for young adults, House of Hollow, was released by Penguin in April 2021. Sutherland's first novel, Chemical Hearts, was published in over 20 countries and was named by the American Booksellers Association as one of the best debuts of 2016. The film adaptation, produced by Amazon Studios, stars Lili Reinhart (Riverdale) and Austin Abrams (Dash & Lily); Sutherland served as an executive producer on the project. Her second novel, A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares, was published to critical acclaim in 2017 and has been optioned for adaptation by Yellow Bird US. In 2018, she appeared on the annual Forbes “30 Under 30” list. Originally from Australia, she has lived on four continents and currently calls London home.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 16,849 reviews
December 23, 2024
At least a hundred times after finishing the final line of this brain-cell-destroying, mind-hacking, nail-biting, shock-inducing, jaw-dropping novel, I asked myself: What the heck did I just read?
Creepy, dark, disturbing, eerie—these words don’t even begin to capture the sensations you’ll experience while reading this absolutely wild story. It’s bleak, soul-crushingly dark, and sharply twisted, with a complexity that will have you screaming internally at full volume!
Let’s dive into the blood-freezing, spine-chilling plot to give you a clearer picture:
Ten years ago, on New Year’s Day, in a quiet Edinburgh neighborhood, the Hollow sisters—Grey (11), Viv (9), and Iris (7)—vanished right before their parents’ eyes. Cate and Gabe, their devastated parents, searched relentlessly, but as weeks passed with no sign of the girls, hope began to fade. Then, out of nowhere, the sisters reappeared on the same street they had disappeared from.
They were naked, carrying only an antique folding hunting knife. Each bore a half-moon scar at the base of her throat, stitched with silk thread. Apart from being malnourished and dehydrated, there were no physical injuries or signs of assault. Strangely, hybrid flowers were tangled in their hair, leaving everyone baffled.
To this day, no one knows what happened to them. Theories run wild: alien abduction, a parental hoax, even fairy changelings. Locals dubbed them “witches,” believing the sisters could manipulate people with just a touch.
Initially, the girls were silent, remembering nothing about their disappearance. They slept huddled together, devoured food like they hadn’t eaten in months, and exhibited chilling transformations: their hair turned stark white, and their eyes turned jet black.
Their father, Gabe, was consumed by the belief that these were not his daughters. Overwhelmed by his anguish, he tragically took his own life. Afterward, Grey and Viv left home young, leaving Iris, the youngest, to live with their overprotective mother.
Now 17, Iris struggles with intense loneliness, endures relentless bullying at school, and feels trapped in her mundane existence. Her sisters have moved on with their lives—Viv is a rebellious, tattooed rock star with a shaved head, and Grey is a billionaire designer with millions of social media followers.
As the anniversary of their kidnapping approaches, Viv calls Iris to remind her of a concert in town. Grey sends a text, inviting them to meet there. But on the day of the concert, strange things start happening. Iris notices a man watching her, following her from the track to campus.
At the concert, things take an even darker turn. Grey doesn’t show up, and she’s not responding to calls or texts—completely out of character for her. Feeling something is terribly wrong, Iris and Viv start searching for answers, uncovering terrifying secrets about Grey’s life and the sinister forces tied to their disappearance.
I won’t spoil anything else, but let me just say: from this point on, the story plunges into a nightmarish journey that only true horror fans with a taste for the bizarre will fully appreciate.
The conclusion? Absolutely mind-blowing! Without giving too much away, I’ll just say this: five extraordinary, mind-numbing, earth-shattering, oh-my-goodness-this-is-freaking-mad-but-so-freaking-entertaining stars!
This is one of the strangest books I’ve ever read, but I loved every minute of its madness. The author’s brilliantly twisted imagination has delivered something truly unforgettable!
Creepy, dark, disturbing, eerie—these words don’t even begin to capture the sensations you’ll experience while reading this absolutely wild story. It’s bleak, soul-crushingly dark, and sharply twisted, with a complexity that will have you screaming internally at full volume!
Let’s dive into the blood-freezing, spine-chilling plot to give you a clearer picture:
Ten years ago, on New Year’s Day, in a quiet Edinburgh neighborhood, the Hollow sisters—Grey (11), Viv (9), and Iris (7)—vanished right before their parents’ eyes. Cate and Gabe, their devastated parents, searched relentlessly, but as weeks passed with no sign of the girls, hope began to fade. Then, out of nowhere, the sisters reappeared on the same street they had disappeared from.
They were naked, carrying only an antique folding hunting knife. Each bore a half-moon scar at the base of her throat, stitched with silk thread. Apart from being malnourished and dehydrated, there were no physical injuries or signs of assault. Strangely, hybrid flowers were tangled in their hair, leaving everyone baffled.
To this day, no one knows what happened to them. Theories run wild: alien abduction, a parental hoax, even fairy changelings. Locals dubbed them “witches,” believing the sisters could manipulate people with just a touch.
Initially, the girls were silent, remembering nothing about their disappearance. They slept huddled together, devoured food like they hadn’t eaten in months, and exhibited chilling transformations: their hair turned stark white, and their eyes turned jet black.
Their father, Gabe, was consumed by the belief that these were not his daughters. Overwhelmed by his anguish, he tragically took his own life. Afterward, Grey and Viv left home young, leaving Iris, the youngest, to live with their overprotective mother.
Now 17, Iris struggles with intense loneliness, endures relentless bullying at school, and feels trapped in her mundane existence. Her sisters have moved on with their lives—Viv is a rebellious, tattooed rock star with a shaved head, and Grey is a billionaire designer with millions of social media followers.
As the anniversary of their kidnapping approaches, Viv calls Iris to remind her of a concert in town. Grey sends a text, inviting them to meet there. But on the day of the concert, strange things start happening. Iris notices a man watching her, following her from the track to campus.
At the concert, things take an even darker turn. Grey doesn’t show up, and she’s not responding to calls or texts—completely out of character for her. Feeling something is terribly wrong, Iris and Viv start searching for answers, uncovering terrifying secrets about Grey’s life and the sinister forces tied to their disappearance.
I won’t spoil anything else, but let me just say: from this point on, the story plunges into a nightmarish journey that only true horror fans with a taste for the bizarre will fully appreciate.
The conclusion? Absolutely mind-blowing! Without giving too much away, I’ll just say this: five extraordinary, mind-numbing, earth-shattering, oh-my-goodness-this-is-freaking-mad-but-so-freaking-entertaining stars!
This is one of the strangest books I’ve ever read, but I loved every minute of its madness. The author’s brilliantly twisted imagination has delivered something truly unforgettable!
October 13, 2024
"You shouldn't be afraid of the truth. It'll set you free, right?"
Calling all fans of dark fairy tales. Have I got a book for you!
When Iris Hollow was seven years old, she and her sisters disappeared for a month, only to reappear with no memories of where they've been or what had happened to them. Now 10 years later, Iris just wants to leave it all behind and move on with her life. But when her oldest sister disappears again, it's as if history is repeating itself. And to save her, Iris must revisit her childhood and figure out what really happened all those years ago.
Right from the get-go, this story drew me in. I feel like so many books advertise as atmospheric, yet hardly any of them actually deliver. But this book elicited all the reactions. The hairs on my arms stood up. My spine was tingling like crazy. And I kept breaking out in goosebumps. I haven't had this much fun with a creepy read in a long time.
I should clarify—when I'm looking for a creepy read, I'm not aiming to have the bejeezus scared out of me. Nor am I hoping to be so freaked out that I won't sleep for a week and have to check every dark corner for fear of monsters. Rather, I want that perfect balance where a story is actually chilling, but it's also so much fun that I just want more. And this book hits it right on the nose.
I've been a bit biased lately against books labeled as magical realism. I think it's because I keep getting burned by the genre. The last few books I've read have been so flat and dull, almost as if the authors themselves don't even buy into the magical world they've created. But this book fully embraces the magic, and it totally works. I felt transported and I couldn't look away.
I loved the way the story unfolded, with lots of little clues and happenings, all building up to a spectacular set of twists and turns. I definitely did not see them coming, and it was great fun to partake in the journey and be thoroughly surprised.
I somehow missed this book when it first came out, but I'm so glad I found it now. I'm not sure what I expected going in, but it sure wasn't this. With its lush darkness and evocative imagery that was both beautiful and grotesque, this story feels like a fairy tale that's all grown up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
June 11, 2022
*Update a few months later: Bumping this up to 5 stars cuz I've rated other books 4 stars this year and they just do not hit the same way that this did
This book was so addicting to read that I finished it in 2 days! The descriptive writing and atmosphere were *chef's kiss*. Sutherland writes horror so well, and I loved the combination of creepiness and femininity. It’s both grotesque and aesthetically pleasing; ethereal while disturbingly strange. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
This book was so addicting to read that I finished it in 2 days! The descriptive writing and atmosphere were *chef's kiss*. Sutherland writes horror so well, and I loved the combination of creepiness and femininity. It’s both grotesque and aesthetically pleasing; ethereal while disturbingly strange. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Want to read
July 20, 2020All I want in life is to write a book weird and haunting enough to receive such a first class cover treatment
March 25, 2021
I wrote this. I think it's pretty good. I apologize in advance for any nightmares/strong feelings of betrayal you experience while reading.
April 25, 2021
what a bizarre little book. very ‘wayward children’ meets ‘the only good indians’ with a whole lot of riverdale season 3.
and my rating/review reflects that i misread the synopsis. i totally thought this was a realistic mystery/thriller story. im not a fan of magical realism and, had i known that was the backbone of this book, i probably would have given it a pass.
that being said, i cant deny that this is extremely well-written. for being such a strange, spooky story, the writing is actually quite beautiful. very lyrical, yet dark. its the perfect kind of storytelling for this sort of tale, so i did enjoy that.
but again, the plot wasnt my cup of tea. i have no doubt that it will capture the attention of many other readers, as gloomy fairy tale vibes are super popular right now. i just wish i didnt have such a personal aversion to magical realism so i could have enjoyed this more. :/
↠ 3 stars
and my rating/review reflects that i misread the synopsis. i totally thought this was a realistic mystery/thriller story. im not a fan of magical realism and, had i known that was the backbone of this book, i probably would have given it a pass.
that being said, i cant deny that this is extremely well-written. for being such a strange, spooky story, the writing is actually quite beautiful. very lyrical, yet dark. its the perfect kind of storytelling for this sort of tale, so i did enjoy that.
but again, the plot wasnt my cup of tea. i have no doubt that it will capture the attention of many other readers, as gloomy fairy tale vibes are super popular right now. i just wish i didnt have such a personal aversion to magical realism so i could have enjoyed this more. :/
↠ 3 stars
May 14, 2021
↠ 5 stars
Something lurks in the shadows unseen in this Grimm-inspired urban fairytale you won't be able to put down. Trouble has always accompanied the ethereally beautiful Hollow sisters. It’s a strangeness that can be traced all the way back to their childhood and the start of one of the most famous unsolved mysteries of the past decade. One fateful New Years’ evening, the girls disappeared right from under the watchful eyes of their parents and were not found until over a month later, huddled together on a sidewalk clutching an ornate knife. In the months that followed the sisters would undergo peculiar changes, hair becoming stark white and eyes turning to black. Iris Hollow is the last of her sisters, left behind with her mother while Grey and Vivi pursue careers. All Iris wants is to ignore the past, but when her eldest sister mysteriously disappears, she learns just how quickly it can return to haunt her footsteps. Following the unusual set of breadcrumbs left behind by her sister, Iris begins to uncover the truth of what really happened on that night all those years ago. Something demandant of a swift reckoning.
House of Hollow is straight-up one of the most unsettling books I have read in years. In just a few hundred pages, Sutherland tore me away from everything I know and love to grapple with an utterly grotesque mystery far unlike anything I have ever read before. This is an urban fairytale straight in the vein of the classic Brothers Grimm stories. Terrifying, yet achingly beautiful. Each layer of the story unfolded to reveal something much more sinister, creating an unsteady ground for everything known and unknown thus far. The imagery and atmosphere present throughout each chapter are what lift the story during its darker moments, something I found myself clinging to like a life raft upon reaching the turning point in the novel. There really is nothing I can say specifically about the revelation to the whole mystery without being spoilery, other than it was completely brilliant and I will not be recovering from it anytime soon. Sutherland interweaves sisterhood with terror, in a story that makes you ultimately question just how far you would go to protect the ones you love. Lines are blurred until the reader is no longer able to truly question the morality behind each character's actions. Nothing prepared me for how unsettling that would be, like a dense fog wafting over everything until there is nothing left but the haunting resolution to the story. Having arrived at the all-so-distant shore, I must commend the amount of foreshadowing present that just went completely over my head. It really is ingenious on the author's part, but I was much too engrossed in the story to slow down and catalog everything. Knowing there were so many breadcrumbs placed throughout though is certainly worth me rereading this at some point in the near future. This is a dark, twisted fantasy that will leave any reader regretting having not read it any sooner. Full of eerie language and middle places that will forever inhabit a place in their thoughts.
Trigger warnings: blood, gore, violence, murder, attempted murder, death, death of a loved one, self-harm, suicide, body horror, attempted sexual assault
Something lurks in the shadows unseen in this Grimm-inspired urban fairytale you won't be able to put down. Trouble has always accompanied the ethereally beautiful Hollow sisters. It’s a strangeness that can be traced all the way back to their childhood and the start of one of the most famous unsolved mysteries of the past decade. One fateful New Years’ evening, the girls disappeared right from under the watchful eyes of their parents and were not found until over a month later, huddled together on a sidewalk clutching an ornate knife. In the months that followed the sisters would undergo peculiar changes, hair becoming stark white and eyes turning to black. Iris Hollow is the last of her sisters, left behind with her mother while Grey and Vivi pursue careers. All Iris wants is to ignore the past, but when her eldest sister mysteriously disappears, she learns just how quickly it can return to haunt her footsteps. Following the unusual set of breadcrumbs left behind by her sister, Iris begins to uncover the truth of what really happened on that night all those years ago. Something demandant of a swift reckoning.
House of Hollow is straight-up one of the most unsettling books I have read in years. In just a few hundred pages, Sutherland tore me away from everything I know and love to grapple with an utterly grotesque mystery far unlike anything I have ever read before. This is an urban fairytale straight in the vein of the classic Brothers Grimm stories. Terrifying, yet achingly beautiful. Each layer of the story unfolded to reveal something much more sinister, creating an unsteady ground for everything known and unknown thus far. The imagery and atmosphere present throughout each chapter are what lift the story during its darker moments, something I found myself clinging to like a life raft upon reaching the turning point in the novel. There really is nothing I can say specifically about the revelation to the whole mystery without being spoilery, other than it was completely brilliant and I will not be recovering from it anytime soon. Sutherland interweaves sisterhood with terror, in a story that makes you ultimately question just how far you would go to protect the ones you love. Lines are blurred until the reader is no longer able to truly question the morality behind each character's actions. Nothing prepared me for how unsettling that would be, like a dense fog wafting over everything until there is nothing left but the haunting resolution to the story. Having arrived at the all-so-distant shore, I must commend the amount of foreshadowing present that just went completely over my head. It really is ingenious on the author's part, but I was much too engrossed in the story to slow down and catalog everything. Knowing there were so many breadcrumbs placed throughout though is certainly worth me rereading this at some point in the near future. This is a dark, twisted fantasy that will leave any reader regretting having not read it any sooner. Full of eerie language and middle places that will forever inhabit a place in their thoughts.
Trigger warnings: blood, gore, violence, murder, attempted murder, death, death of a loved one, self-harm, suicide, body horror, attempted sexual assault
Read
May 24, 2021ngl i didn't fully understand this. vibes were nice and spooky but i don't think i'll remember this one a year from now.
September 7, 2021
4.5 Stars ⭐️. Freaking awesome! This book was cray and awesome for a ya horror book.
I was not expecting this book and was pleasantly surprised or horrifically surprised 😏
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
There, in the distance, was the man in the bull skull, watching me.
I was not expecting this book and was pleasantly surprised or horrifically surprised 😏
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
December 16, 2022
Here is a small list of perfect things in life:
- fairytales
- scary weird mean beautiful girls
- unsolved mysteries
- flowers and generally pretty things
- magical worlds just outside of ours
- creepy stories
- sisters
There are probably eleven perfect things in life, and I just listed seven of them. (Shoutout to 7 Eleven.) (Now I want a slushie.)
And guess the hell what.
THEY'RE ALL IN THIS BOOK.
I 100% added this book because of its cover, but then I did something unthinkably brave and even more rare: I read the synopsis. And when I did, I only got...more excited??
This is a story of three spooky sisters who had something Mysterious happen in childhood: they disappeared completely for a month, then came back with pure white hair, black eyes, sharp teeth, and ravenous appetites, and no memory of where they had been.
DOESN'T THAT SOUND AMAZING.
Also, their names are Grey, Vivi, and Iris. I mean...come on.
A decade or so later, each sister is leading a very different (but always superlative) life, when the eldest goes missing. Cue a bunch of ethereal gore, model-on-model violence, and bug descriptions that will burn themselves into your head.
This is my favorite thing for YA to be: completely ridiculous, high on itself, and one of a kind.
Yes, that has its drawbacks: The plot dragged at times (under the weight of some truly try-hard writing), and our protagonist is less compelling than her sisters (this is the curse of most young adult fiction), and it has that extremely goofy thing of when YA authors try to make their characters rich and/or famous (in this case both) but they have literally no idea how and it ends up completely past the point of parody...
But when I let myself ignore all of that, this was fun. Much the dark spooky fairytale situation I wanted.
Undecided on whether to round up or down but 3.5 for sure!
Bottom line: dreams do come true.
-----------------
pre-review
accidentally read 100 pages of this in a sitting. either it's that good or it's a cursed object
update: probably a cursed object.
review to come / 3.5 stars
-----------------
tbr review
i know i've said many times that i judge books by their covers.
this is the truest that has ever been.
- fairytales
- scary weird mean beautiful girls
- unsolved mysteries
- flowers and generally pretty things
- magical worlds just outside of ours
- creepy stories
- sisters
There are probably eleven perfect things in life, and I just listed seven of them. (Shoutout to 7 Eleven.) (Now I want a slushie.)
And guess the hell what.
THEY'RE ALL IN THIS BOOK.
I 100% added this book because of its cover, but then I did something unthinkably brave and even more rare: I read the synopsis. And when I did, I only got...more excited??
This is a story of three spooky sisters who had something Mysterious happen in childhood: they disappeared completely for a month, then came back with pure white hair, black eyes, sharp teeth, and ravenous appetites, and no memory of where they had been.
DOESN'T THAT SOUND AMAZING.
Also, their names are Grey, Vivi, and Iris. I mean...come on.
A decade or so later, each sister is leading a very different (but always superlative) life, when the eldest goes missing. Cue a bunch of ethereal gore, model-on-model violence, and bug descriptions that will burn themselves into your head.
This is my favorite thing for YA to be: completely ridiculous, high on itself, and one of a kind.
Yes, that has its drawbacks: The plot dragged at times (under the weight of some truly try-hard writing), and our protagonist is less compelling than her sisters (this is the curse of most young adult fiction), and it has that extremely goofy thing of when YA authors try to make their characters rich and/or famous (in this case both) but they have literally no idea how and it ends up completely past the point of parody...
But when I let myself ignore all of that, this was fun. Much the dark spooky fairytale situation I wanted.
Undecided on whether to round up or down but 3.5 for sure!
Bottom line: dreams do come true.
-----------------
pre-review
accidentally read 100 pages of this in a sitting. either it's that good or it's a cursed object
update: probably a cursed object.
review to come / 3.5 stars
-----------------
tbr review
i know i've said many times that i judge books by their covers.
this is the truest that has ever been.
May 29, 2023
Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Amazon || Pinterest
HOUSE OF HOLLOW is one of the best horror stories I've ever read. I don't even normally like horror because I am a soft and jellied wimp, but I do like fairytales, and this is like the darkest of the lot: a story of three girls who went missing at the stroke of midnight while their parents fretted and worried, only for them to return, not quite the same, with matching scars on their throats and discolored hair and eyes. Ten years later, Vivi, Grey, and Iris Hollow are beautiful and exceptional girls, but beneath all of the gloss is the dark shadow of their shared pasts and the truth of why they really went missing.
Part of what made this such a win for me is the beautiful prose. It's like biting into a truffle, only to find it filled with rot. The exquisite writing masks the horrors until it's too late to run and by that point, you're so invested, you probably won't even want to. And don't be fooled by the dreamy teen narrator and the flowers on the cover: this book has triggers of all kinds, with many scenes of body horror, and some pretty emotionally devastating blows. There's one scene towards the end that really wrecked me and nearly made me cry.
I would recommend this to people who like really dark stories that explore deep topics and horror that goes beyond splatterpunk and gore. The whole time I was reading this book, I kept picturing it as a movie, with the same visuals as movies like Velvet Buzzsaw, Paradise Hills, and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I think if you enjoy those things, you'll probably like this book, too.
4.5 to 5 stars
Want to read
July 21, 2020How can a cover be so beautiful?
October 1, 2024
Gothic and mysterious.
"Like I could open any drawer or door or cupboard and there find my sister's bare-naked soul, neatly folded."
This one is so young adult dramatic and easy to read. A story about three most "perfect beautiful" teenage sisters who everyone else believed to be witches (you know what's it like with gossips). Something bad happened to them when they were kids and their dad. A mysterious man like being seems to follow them and it is well related to what happened to them. And we have to read the book to know the purpose for this. The eldest sister Grey goes missing. Well, that's basically it about the plot.
Turned out more fun and dark than I had anticipated. The writing is so fast-paced that I was trying my best to breathe normal while reading it.
Ever since the very first page, this book started out so good.
The witchy vibes just engulfs you from the cover itself. And it just doesn't know how to dial down.
There are lots of bullying going on at school, at home too I would say the way the mother and the older sisters are behaving towards Iris.
Well, the story is engaging even when none of the characters didn't turn out to be that outstanding as the writing described but everything blended well together.
And I really appreciate the fact that the writing and the characters nowhere made me feel the Twilight saga vibes.
Well, the characters do lots of silly things but in this world the adults seem to have limited words or actions.
Then again, things are made to sound so serious and scary one moment and the next moment we are talking about the beautiful things the most beautiful eldest sister used to wear.
And yes, we all know how "beautiful" and "perfect" these sisters are. It was repetitive throughout the entire story.
I wished the writing maintained the pace well and not jumbled up some parts.
I wish some parts in between the pages were removed because I genuinely felt that those were intentionally put to make the book longer. The mystery suspense isn't that harrowing or groundbreaking. It's the suspense in the writing that kept me engrossed throughout. The gothic details just fitted well.
And I was still pissed towards the end of the book that the bullies are still bullying.
But then I had a good time reading this book nevertheless. The gory details and the shady characters played their role well.
*The plot deals with PTSD, identity, some possible syndrome called Marie Antoinette syndrome as an option, alcoholism, self-harm.
*And now I have some journalling goals. Grey, you did well.
"Like I could open any drawer or door or cupboard and there find my sister's bare-naked soul, neatly folded."
This one is so young adult dramatic and easy to read. A story about three most "perfect beautiful" teenage sisters who everyone else believed to be witches (you know what's it like with gossips). Something bad happened to them when they were kids and their dad. A mysterious man like being seems to follow them and it is well related to what happened to them. And we have to read the book to know the purpose for this. The eldest sister Grey goes missing. Well, that's basically it about the plot.
Turned out more fun and dark than I had anticipated. The writing is so fast-paced that I was trying my best to breathe normal while reading it.
Ever since the very first page, this book started out so good.
The witchy vibes just engulfs you from the cover itself. And it just doesn't know how to dial down.
There are lots of bullying going on at school, at home too I would say the way the mother and the older sisters are behaving towards Iris.
Well, the story is engaging even when none of the characters didn't turn out to be that outstanding as the writing described but everything blended well together.
And I really appreciate the fact that the writing and the characters nowhere made me feel the Twilight saga vibes.
Well, the characters do lots of silly things but in this world the adults seem to have limited words or actions.
Then again, things are made to sound so serious and scary one moment and the next moment we are talking about the beautiful things the most beautiful eldest sister used to wear.
And yes, we all know how "beautiful" and "perfect" these sisters are. It was repetitive throughout the entire story.
I wished the writing maintained the pace well and not jumbled up some parts.
I wish some parts in between the pages were removed because I genuinely felt that those were intentionally put to make the book longer. The mystery suspense isn't that harrowing or groundbreaking. It's the suspense in the writing that kept me engrossed throughout. The gothic details just fitted well.
And I was still pissed towards the end of the book that the bullies are still bullying.
But then I had a good time reading this book nevertheless. The gory details and the shady characters played their role well.
*The plot deals with PTSD, identity, some possible syndrome called Marie Antoinette syndrome as an option, alcoholism, self-harm.
*And now I have some journalling goals. Grey, you did well.
February 28, 2023
this was FANTASTIC. i loved the dark fairytale vibes it brought to the table and the author nailed it in terms of building up the imagery. it's a book i immediately wanted to turn around and read again.
September 27, 2024
“My sisters. My blood. My skin. What a gruesome bond we shared.”
⚠️Trigger Warning: Kidnapping, nudity, suicide, mentions of drug and alcohol abuse, descriptions of murder⚠️
I had this book sitting on my shelf for a good two or three months before I picked it up. It’s exactly what I do to all the books I end up loving. Although, I picked this up much sooner than usual. It probably has to do with it promising a dark and twisted tale. Also, the cover kept drawing my attention because it’s gorgeous and eerie, and I love this sort of vibe.
To begin with, as I’ve said I’m always down for dark and twisted fairytale-esque stories, especially when they’re chock-full of mystery, suspense, and true crime, and are only about three hundred pages long. Despite how short the story was, it was very well-developed, spooky as fuck, and completely mesmerizing. Besides, the lore, which is part of the mystery, is fantastic. I was fascinated reading about the Hollow sisters, the horrifying powers they had over people, and the truth of what happened to them when they were children.
However, as amazing and eerie as it was, the plot was mostly predictable, hence the rating reduction. I doubt I figured everything out because I’m a genius, although I kind of hoped that was the case. It was the only negative thing about it because in spite of it being a little obvious, it was as eerie and dark as it promised. There were moments I felt actual chills down my spine and that’s what’s important with books like this.
Lastly, it was obvious that the characters were all well thought out and written. The bond between the three sisters, Iris, Vivi, and Grey, was incredibly gruesome, yet beautiful as well. They loved each other deeply and were willing to do anything, terrible things mainly, to keep one another safe. Yet, it was a dark and horrific event that brought them so close together. They also had some pretty interesting character development, especially Iris, who was the main character and narrator of the story. What’s more, Cate, their mother, despite everything that happened between them, as well as the truth about them, loved them deeply. She had such a complicated relationship with all of them, which is a pretty accurate representation of family and motherhood, only in this case, there were dark secrets and magic. My favorite character in this book was Tyler Yang, Grey’s boyfriend. The sole reason for this is that I can’t resist a babygirl boy, addicted to princess treatment, who is mostly useless and complains a lot but can be incredibly helpful when it truly matters.
⚠️Trigger Warning: Kidnapping, nudity, suicide, mentions of drug and alcohol abuse, descriptions of murder⚠️
I had this book sitting on my shelf for a good two or three months before I picked it up. It’s exactly what I do to all the books I end up loving. Although, I picked this up much sooner than usual. It probably has to do with it promising a dark and twisted tale. Also, the cover kept drawing my attention because it’s gorgeous and eerie, and I love this sort of vibe.
To begin with, as I’ve said I’m always down for dark and twisted fairytale-esque stories, especially when they’re chock-full of mystery, suspense, and true crime, and are only about three hundred pages long. Despite how short the story was, it was very well-developed, spooky as fuck, and completely mesmerizing. Besides, the lore, which is part of the mystery, is fantastic. I was fascinated reading about the Hollow sisters, the horrifying powers they had over people, and the truth of what happened to them when they were children.
However, as amazing and eerie as it was, the plot was mostly predictable, hence the rating reduction. I doubt I figured everything out because I’m a genius, although I kind of hoped that was the case. It was the only negative thing about it because in spite of it being a little obvious, it was as eerie and dark as it promised. There were moments I felt actual chills down my spine and that’s what’s important with books like this.
Lastly, it was obvious that the characters were all well thought out and written. The bond between the three sisters, Iris, Vivi, and Grey, was incredibly gruesome, yet beautiful as well. They loved each other deeply and were willing to do anything, terrible things mainly, to keep one another safe. Yet, it was a dark and horrific event that brought them so close together. They also had some pretty interesting character development, especially Iris, who was the main character and narrator of the story. What’s more, Cate, their mother, despite everything that happened between them, as well as the truth about them, loved them deeply. She had such a complicated relationship with all of them, which is a pretty accurate representation of family and motherhood, only in this case, there were dark secrets and magic. My favorite character in this book was Tyler Yang, Grey’s boyfriend. The sole reason for this is that I can’t resist a babygirl boy, addicted to princess treatment, who is mostly useless and complains a lot but can be incredibly helpful when it truly matters.
October 17, 2023
DAMN. THIS.
Idealna mieszkanka niepokoju, tajemnicy i elementów fantasy. I am in love.
EDIT:
I just freakin love this book
Idealna mieszkanka niepokoju, tajemnicy i elementów fantasy. I am in love.
EDIT:
I just freakin love this book
October 20, 2022
This is everything I love packed into one tiny book, I am obsessed <3
The grim earthy gothic, the unsettling vibes of everything being slightly unnatural and decaying, the toes to doorway folklore…I just adore it. I underestimated this book for so long but it ended up being everything I’ve wanted.
The grim earthy gothic, the unsettling vibes of everything being slightly unnatural and decaying, the toes to doorway folklore…I just adore it. I underestimated this book for so long but it ended up being everything I’ve wanted.
February 24, 2022
3.5 stars. My thoughts on this one are a little weird. I didn't love it like I was hoping to, but I also somehow ended up liking it more than I expected to???? Lol the writing style of this one was a little odd so it took me a bit to get into the story, but once I did I ended up finishing the book in one sitting because I was just so captivated by the eerie whimsy of it all. With that being said, I think I didn't like this as much as I was hoping to because I found that once the big reveal happened it ended up being a little... lackluster? Idk how to describe it better than that lol but overall this was captivating and fun, but not exactly the new favorite I was hoping it would be.
CW: death of a loved one, suicide, sexual assault, body horror
CW: death of a loved one, suicide, sexual assault, body horror
May 1, 2023
I'm rating this book 5 stars because it's a beautifully written tale surrounding what we let our minds believe and the dangers of beautiful things.... but House of Hollow will haunt me just as the author intended.
Find all the best YA & New Adult Fantasy Reads here!
THOUGHTS:
- This is one of those books I can't summarize because my mind is whirling after finishing. It's nothing like I thought it would be - but in the best way? I don't think the horror genre is for me, though, and probably won't read anything like this for a long time!
- The way the story developed in all of its grotesque glory is beautiful but also super creepy and unsettling.
- When reading fantasy/horror that's not fantasy-romance, I must remind myself to look for deeper meanings. Sutherland's story has some majorly good points and I think that's more the point of this atmospheric style of writing than the actual story line.
QUOTES I LIKED:
"That's what beauty often is, in nature. A warning. A disguise."
"Can I leave you behind if you die or do you expect me to be heroic and drag your corpse home?" - A bit of comedic relief was good in this one.
NOTES:
- CWs: This book is creepy and sort of disgusting, mentions of suicid3, bullying etc.
- I would consider this book appropriate for New Adult age range (16+) and up. It may have a pretty cover, but it's a dark read.
- Fast read (less than 300 pages)
- Somewhat of a psychological suspense novel too
Find all the best YA & New Adult Fantasy Reads here!
THOUGHTS:
- This is one of those books I can't summarize because my mind is whirling after finishing. It's nothing like I thought it would be - but in the best way? I don't think the horror genre is for me, though, and probably won't read anything like this for a long time!
- The way the story developed in all of its grotesque glory is beautiful but also super creepy and unsettling.
- When reading fantasy/horror that's not fantasy-romance, I must remind myself to look for deeper meanings. Sutherland's story has some majorly good points and I think that's more the point of this atmospheric style of writing than the actual story line.
QUOTES I LIKED:
"That's what beauty often is, in nature. A warning. A disguise."
"Can I leave you behind if you die or do you expect me to be heroic and drag your corpse home?" - A bit of comedic relief was good in this one.
NOTES:
- CWs: This book is creepy and sort of disgusting, mentions of suicid3, bullying etc.
- I would consider this book appropriate for New Adult age range (16+) and up. It may have a pretty cover, but it's a dark read.
- Fast read (less than 300 pages)
- Somewhat of a psychological suspense novel too
October 23, 2023
Ta książka została napisana dla mnie, więc innej oceny być nie mogło 🤷🏼♀️
July 19, 2024
july 2024
house of hollow was not was i was expecting it to be - in ways good and bad. it is deliciously dark and atmospheric, much more than most ya novels i've read; think stranger things or yellowjackets over the mortal instruments. this book is suffused with otherworldly malice that really gets under your skin, and i LOVED that, as well as the queer rep. what i didn't enjoy as much was the fate of the only explicitly racialized character(s) in the book; .
october 2020
one word: HOLY-MOTHER-EFFIN-COVER.
house of hollow was not was i was expecting it to be - in ways good and bad. it is deliciously dark and atmospheric, much more than most ya novels i've read; think stranger things or yellowjackets over the mortal instruments. this book is suffused with otherworldly malice that really gets under your skin, and i LOVED that, as well as the queer rep. what i didn't enjoy as much was the fate of the only explicitly racialized character(s) in the book; .
october 2020
one word: HOLY-MOTHER-EFFIN-COVER.
June 15, 2023
“We were sisters. We felt each other’s pain. We caused each other’s pain. We knew the smell of each other’s morning breath. We made each other cry. We made each other laugh…”
I really enjoyed this book! This was a creepy and dark fairy tale about the bond of sisters, love, family, and discovering your past. Iris and her two sisters Vivi and Grey disappeared when they were children and a month later when they were found, they couldn't remember anything that happened to them. Also their appearances started to change, their eyes turned black and their hair turned white blond. Iris is now 17 and only wants to fit in at high school, while her sisters are traveling the world. Then Grey goes missing and Iris and Vivi must follow her clues to find her. Will they find her in time?
I was transported into this creepy and dark world from the very beginning. The plot was so intriguing and I was engaged in the story the whole time. There were several plot twists that I didn't expect, although I did guess one plot twist. The writing was beautiful and had a poetic quality to it. I felt so many emotions while reading this book, I laughed, I cried, I was scared and I smiled. The author made me feel like I was in the dark world with the characters and standing next to them as they faced many challenges. I loved the dark fairy tale vibes. I've always loved reading fairy tales when I was young. The characters are very complex and interesting. My favorite character was Iris, she is smart, kind, loyal, selfless, strong and resilient. I felt a connection to her, I am very close to my sister and I have a deep bond with her. I liked Vivi, she is loyal, protective and has a great bond with Iris, but she made decisions I didn't agree with. I have mixed feelings about Grey, on one hand she is kind to Iris, protective of her sisters and independent, but on the other hand she is manipulative, rude at times and has made many mistakes. The character development was great, I loved watching the sisters grow as they learned more about who they are and their past. The ending was so shocking and exciting.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark fairy tales, mystery, great characters, and beautiful writing.
I really enjoyed this book! This was a creepy and dark fairy tale about the bond of sisters, love, family, and discovering your past. Iris and her two sisters Vivi and Grey disappeared when they were children and a month later when they were found, they couldn't remember anything that happened to them. Also their appearances started to change, their eyes turned black and their hair turned white blond. Iris is now 17 and only wants to fit in at high school, while her sisters are traveling the world. Then Grey goes missing and Iris and Vivi must follow her clues to find her. Will they find her in time?
I was transported into this creepy and dark world from the very beginning. The plot was so intriguing and I was engaged in the story the whole time. There were several plot twists that I didn't expect, although I did guess one plot twist. The writing was beautiful and had a poetic quality to it. I felt so many emotions while reading this book, I laughed, I cried, I was scared and I smiled. The author made me feel like I was in the dark world with the characters and standing next to them as they faced many challenges. I loved the dark fairy tale vibes. I've always loved reading fairy tales when I was young. The characters are very complex and interesting. My favorite character was Iris, she is smart, kind, loyal, selfless, strong and resilient. I felt a connection to her, I am very close to my sister and I have a deep bond with her. I liked Vivi, she is loyal, protective and has a great bond with Iris, but she made decisions I didn't agree with. I have mixed feelings about Grey, on one hand she is kind to Iris, protective of her sisters and independent, but on the other hand she is manipulative, rude at times and has made many mistakes. The character development was great, I loved watching the sisters grow as they learned more about who they are and their past. The ending was so shocking and exciting.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark fairy tales, mystery, great characters, and beautiful writing.
November 17, 2021
As soon as I saw the cover for House of Hollows I knew I had to read it.
The design reminds me of Horrid and Wilder Girls, books I both enjoyed so much, and I have a theory that covers like this keep weird and brilliant stories between the pages.
This book proves my theory right!
The story is narrated by Iris, the youngest of the three sisters who disappeared one night and came back one month later not knowing where they've been, and clueless about the truth about what happened to them.
The story is written in first person, easy to follow and fast paced from the very beginning.
In fact, it was so fast paced at times that I was lost for moments (that often happens to me in fighting scenes).
Once again, my favourite part of the story was the atmosphere.
I noticed that that aspect in storytelling became of huge importance for me, so I loved this book for it.
I can't say much about the world or things that happened, because I don't know where is the line between reviewing and spoiling in this particular case, but I will say that my bets are the author found some inspiration in the movie Insidious.
The characters were all presented very well, and I love how the author played the game of good guy/bad guy masquerade.
I would tell you who's side I was on, but then I would spoil you, so I'll keep my mouth shout (or my fingers reserved, I should say).
The epilogue was the only part I didn't like, as I find it unnecessary.
I should also mention I shared this reading experience with my friend Amanda, who I'm buddy reading so often lately, we should call ourselves bookish sisters.
She is not the one to pick fantasy, paranormal or ya on her own, but she really enjoyed this book too, so that says something, right?
In conclusion, I am sooooooo glad I've read this novel. It was perfect Halloween/October choice and I recommend it to everyone who is searching something spooky.
The design reminds me of Horrid and Wilder Girls, books I both enjoyed so much, and I have a theory that covers like this keep weird and brilliant stories between the pages.
This book proves my theory right!
The story is narrated by Iris, the youngest of the three sisters who disappeared one night and came back one month later not knowing where they've been, and clueless about the truth about what happened to them.
The story is written in first person, easy to follow and fast paced from the very beginning.
In fact, it was so fast paced at times that I was lost for moments (that often happens to me in fighting scenes).
Once again, my favourite part of the story was the atmosphere.
I noticed that that aspect in storytelling became of huge importance for me, so I loved this book for it.
I can't say much about the world or things that happened, because I don't know where is the line between reviewing and spoiling in this particular case, but I will say that my bets are the author found some inspiration in the movie Insidious.
The characters were all presented very well, and I love how the author played the game of good guy/bad guy masquerade.
I would tell you who's side I was on, but then I would spoil you, so I'll keep my mouth shout (or my fingers reserved, I should say).
The epilogue was the only part I didn't like, as I find it unnecessary.
I should also mention I shared this reading experience with my friend Amanda, who I'm buddy reading so often lately, we should call ourselves bookish sisters.
She is not the one to pick fantasy, paranormal or ya on her own, but she really enjoyed this book too, so that says something, right?
In conclusion, I am sooooooo glad I've read this novel. It was perfect Halloween/October choice and I recommend it to everyone who is searching something spooky.
March 2, 2024
Brief and slightly creepy, was instantly hooked
July 20, 2023
Blog | Instagram
Rating: 4 stars
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
With the ants, budding flowers and trickles of blood, this hauntingly beautiful design nicely reflects the story. I only wish the text font was a bit more striking.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The sensory writing style effortlessly presents the emotions and experiences of the protagonist to give a vivid and engaging narrative. A mysterious, unsettling atmosphere is also established and sustained throughout the story, making it hard to put down.
"Knowledge is power. And ignorance is bliss"
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
From the intriguing prologue to the well-crafted mystery and shocking revelations at the end, the well-paced story kept me invested in unfolding events. Interesting themes regarding beauty and family relationships are also nicely explored.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Despite being slightly naive and conflict-averse, Iris Hollow provides a great point of view for the story. I especially loved her gradual growth, as this makes her character endearing even though she makes some questionable decisions.
"Dark, dangerous things happened around the Hollow sisters."
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The strangeness surrounding the Hollow sisters made their characters fascinating, and I loved their distinct personalities and roles. While there are only a few other secondary characters, most are given enough depth to make them engaging and help drive the storyline.
Romance: 🌟🌟🌟
Iris' weird attraction to a character who should have been off-limit may have creeped me out, but it was fitting for the story. That said, I found the banter between them somewhat cute and was unable to predict how this aspect of the storyline would play out.
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Through vocal changes and inflexions, Eleanor Bennett nicely conveys the creepy atmosphere of the story and enriches the audiobook.
Right from the intriguing prologue, 'House of Hollow' grabbed my attention with its strange characters and mystery. The story that played out was hard to put down due to various revelations and twists that only made me eager to see everything resolved. Another creepy tale to check out if you liked this is Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
Rating: 4 stars
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
With the ants, budding flowers and trickles of blood, this hauntingly beautiful design nicely reflects the story. I only wish the text font was a bit more striking.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The sensory writing style effortlessly presents the emotions and experiences of the protagonist to give a vivid and engaging narrative. A mysterious, unsettling atmosphere is also established and sustained throughout the story, making it hard to put down.
"Knowledge is power. And ignorance is bliss"
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
From the intriguing prologue to the well-crafted mystery and shocking revelations at the end, the well-paced story kept me invested in unfolding events. Interesting themes regarding beauty and family relationships are also nicely explored.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Despite being slightly naive and conflict-averse, Iris Hollow provides a great point of view for the story. I especially loved her gradual growth, as this makes her character endearing even though she makes some questionable decisions.
"Dark, dangerous things happened around the Hollow sisters."
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The strangeness surrounding the Hollow sisters made their characters fascinating, and I loved their distinct personalities and roles. While there are only a few other secondary characters, most are given enough depth to make them engaging and help drive the storyline.
Romance: 🌟🌟🌟
Iris' weird attraction to a character who should have been off-limit may have creeped me out, but it was fitting for the story. That said, I found the banter between them somewhat cute and was unable to predict how this aspect of the storyline would play out.
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Through vocal changes and inflexions, Eleanor Bennett nicely conveys the creepy atmosphere of the story and enriches the audiobook.
Right from the intriguing prologue, 'House of Hollow' grabbed my attention with its strange characters and mystery. The story that played out was hard to put down due to various revelations and twists that only made me eager to see everything resolved. Another creepy tale to check out if you liked this is Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
June 23, 2021
"I am the thing in the dark.”
Wow. This book definitely brings the creepy, unsettling vibes, and after a long night with some very weird dreams, I'd say I'm still recovering.
House of Hollow is a dark, atmospheric mystery/horror novel about three sisters who disappear when they are young, return a month later without any explanation, and are never the same. This story is plot driven, so I never felt fully connected to the characters, but I think that's intentional. These sisters are as much a mystery to themselves as they are to the world, so in a way, we as the readers are just along for the unnerving journey.
Here are some of my favorite aspects of House of Hollow:
Sexual/Female Empowerment: The Hollow sisters are gorgeous and have the power to make anyone fall under their spell (literally.) While each sister handles this ability differently, each knows that the world can be a dangerous place for a female. Walking alone at night. Dressing provocatively. Just simply being a woman does not mean we should become prey. And Sutherland drives this point home through Grey, the oldest Hollow sister. Grey makes sure anyone who poses a threat to her or her sisters pays the price. (Think Jennifer's Body)
Dark Fairytale Vibe: Folklore. Brothers Grimm. R.L. Stine. Charmed. This book reminded me of a variety of things mixed together perfectly to bring us this tale.
The Twists and Turns: Okay, so I may have figured out one twist before it was revealed, but the rest of this book definitely shocked me. Some answers left me applauding Sutherland. Others left me a bit nauseous. But the book as a whole is one I won't forget anytime soon.
4.5/5
Thank you Penguin Teen for the advanced review copy
Wow. This book definitely brings the creepy, unsettling vibes, and after a long night with some very weird dreams, I'd say I'm still recovering.
House of Hollow is a dark, atmospheric mystery/horror novel about three sisters who disappear when they are young, return a month later without any explanation, and are never the same. This story is plot driven, so I never felt fully connected to the characters, but I think that's intentional. These sisters are as much a mystery to themselves as they are to the world, so in a way, we as the readers are just along for the unnerving journey.
Here are some of my favorite aspects of House of Hollow:
Sexual/Female Empowerment: The Hollow sisters are gorgeous and have the power to make anyone fall under their spell (literally.) While each sister handles this ability differently, each knows that the world can be a dangerous place for a female. Walking alone at night. Dressing provocatively. Just simply being a woman does not mean we should become prey. And Sutherland drives this point home through Grey, the oldest Hollow sister. Grey makes sure anyone who poses a threat to her or her sisters pays the price. (Think Jennifer's Body)
Dark Fairytale Vibe: Folklore. Brothers Grimm. R.L. Stine. Charmed. This book reminded me of a variety of things mixed together perfectly to bring us this tale.
The Twists and Turns: Okay, so I may have figured out one twist before it was revealed, but the rest of this book definitely shocked me. Some answers left me applauding Sutherland. Others left me a bit nauseous. But the book as a whole is one I won't forget anytime soon.
4.5/5
Thank you Penguin Teen for the advanced review copy
November 28, 2022
I have mixed feelings for this book and no, not because it was bad. The book was actually good but magical realism is just never the genre for me.
The book starts strongly, I really love the ominous atmosphere, the full-blown terror, the dark past, the eerie feelings, literally everything this book has to offer.
Seventeen years old Iris Hollow and her sisters have always been strange, well at least have always been after the kidnapped incidents that none of them seems to remember. However, when Iris' sister, Grey Hollow started to go missing under suspicious circumstances, it can't be helped that the only way to save her sister is to decipher the mystery of what happened to them as children.
The most interesting thing about this book is definitely the hows of the missing Hollow sister and the truth afterwards .
It literally blows my mind (in a good and bad way).
I already have my first suspicion, seeing how the Hollow parents only allowed the children to call them by their first name after the return. I was wondering why Cate doesn't let them called her "mom" anymore but then they almost killed themselves when they thought of the possibilities of their dead children. They lived with the guilt for the reason of their missing children and maybe by calling "mother" and "father" reminded them of the burden that they once failed...
And for whatever truth comes afterwards, even anticipated, still left me so taken abackbecause deep down, I wished the truth won't be as dark. But this part is the sole reason why this book is such a page-turner. The constant wondering and question if Grey is still alive, of what actually happened to the sisters, of who the dude with the bull's skull over his head, and for the truth. It was all intriguing until it took a very dark and horrible turn that left you with an unsettling impression. I applaud Sutherland for that, but again magical realism is not my cup of tea and my idealist self did not take the truth as openly as I thought I would.
The second thing I love about this book would definitely be the: Hollow sisters themselves.
I love the ties that bond the three sisters and how they could not co-exist with one another. They would do anything for one another no matter how morally questionable it is. This book puts sisterhood as one of its main focus as well as self-discovery and recovery from one's grief. And I love how this book traverses their curse to something pleasing instead of their weakness, especially when you look at Grey, who is the most apparent with her compelling and uncanny personality. This also brings me to point out how well written the characters are seeing how distinct the three sisters with one another.
I also enjoyed the symbolism and association with death that this book has going on, which give you more of the creepy feeling. One like the minotaur/the man with the bull skull which was a symbol of power and a tool for death and torture, seeing how legitimate it is to the truth in this book.
Not to say the significance of the carrion flower which also known as corpse flowers that emit an odour that smells like rotting flesh. And I swear, at one point I felt like I can smell what the characters were smelling for how graphic and lifelike the descriptions were. To see how these flowers keep growing on dead bodies got me so uncomfortable. Like it's cool but very uncomfortable.
So, if I were to put aside my non-favouritism for magical realism, this book can be a solid four for me. Even so, there was a moment where things get so repetitive and I started to get bored. Over and over, the book keeps on unfolding the kidnap story that I can remember the whole plot by the time the character decided to tell again. One moment, I feel like I really want to know the truth, and the next time, I hoped this book could have just ended sooner.
Hence, objectively speaking, this book only works three stars for me. But take it with grain or salts, if you love Neil Gaiman works or others of similar works, this book might be the one for you.
The book starts strongly, I really love the ominous atmosphere, the full-blown terror, the dark past, the eerie feelings, literally everything this book has to offer.
"We might be peculiar, but we're not new"
Seventeen years old Iris Hollow and her sisters have always been strange, well at least have always been after the kidnapped incidents that none of them seems to remember. However, when Iris' sister, Grey Hollow started to go missing under suspicious circumstances, it can't be helped that the only way to save her sister is to decipher the mystery of what happened to them as children.
The most interesting thing about this book is definitely the hows of the missing Hollow sister and the truth afterwards .
It literally blows my mind (in a good and bad way).
"If they're dead, do we killed ourselves?"
"Yes"
I already have my first suspicion, seeing how the Hollow parents only allowed the children to call them by their first name after the return. I was wondering why Cate doesn't let them called her "mom" anymore but then they almost killed themselves when they thought of the possibilities of their dead children. They lived with the guilt for the reason of their missing children and maybe by calling "mother" and "father" reminded them of the burden that they once failed...
And for whatever truth comes afterwards, even anticipated, still left me so taken aback
The second thing I love about this book would definitely be the: Hollow sisters themselves.
"I didn't follow my sister. I was my sister. I breathed when she breathed."
I love the ties that bond the three sisters and how they could not co-exist with one another. They would do anything for one another no matter how morally questionable it is. This book puts sisterhood as one of its main focus as well as self-discovery and recovery from one's grief. And I love how this book traverses their curse to something pleasing instead of their weakness, especially when you look at Grey, who is the most apparent with her compelling and uncanny personality. This also brings me to point out how well written the characters are seeing how distinct the three sisters with one another.
I also enjoyed the symbolism and association with death that this book has going on, which give you more of the creepy feeling. One like the minotaur/the man with the bull skull which was a symbol of power and a tool for death and torture, seeing how legitimate it is to the truth in this book.
Not to say the significance of the carrion flower which also known as corpse flowers that emit an odour that smells like rotting flesh. And I swear, at one point I felt like I can smell what the characters were smelling for how graphic and lifelike the descriptions were. To see how these flowers keep growing on dead bodies got me so uncomfortable. Like it's cool but very uncomfortable.
So, if I were to put aside my non-favouritism for magical realism, this book can be a solid four for me. Even so, there was a moment where things get so repetitive and I started to get bored. Over and over, the book keeps on unfolding the kidnap story that I can remember the whole plot by the time the character decided to tell again. One moment, I feel like I really want to know the truth, and the next time, I hoped this book could have just ended sooner.
Hence, objectively speaking, this book only works three stars for me. But take it with grain or salts, if you love Neil Gaiman works or others of similar works, this book might be the one for you.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 16,849 reviews