House of Hollow

Absolutely beautifully eerie modern dark fantasy - similar to some other novels I've read this year, this book explores creepy, unsettling themes while also not shying away from the realities of our world. I love the characters, their exploration into womanhood, the writing, the interactions, the plot, the pace...everything. Maybe modern dark fantasy has become a vibe I ever so excitedly lean toward? This book was dark, it was creepy, and it was littered with so many gems that it's a book I can see myself reading again. An absolute WIN for April, my dears, I think nothing can surpass. Wowww.

this was a case of, “did i read the same book everyone else did?” because i saw friends raving and expected the same reaction but... i'm sad to report that i was largely disappointed by this

i will say, first and foremost, that i really enjoyed the spooky parts. i'm not big on blood and gore, but the b&g in this mixed with the thriller aspect properly spooked me in a good way – i felt thrilled and even a little scared to turn the light off at night, but also not permanently traumatized for life. i think that's my personal happy medium when it comes to anything scary or that involves body horror, so i'm pleased with that.

i'm also pleased with how sutherland handled the narrative of three sisters and the consequent dynamics, no matter where they grew up. i think each sister, in personality and actions and words, embodies key parts of being the eldest, middle and youngest sister and these complex dynamics are really well played out without being cringe-y and obvious. as an eldest sister who would once upon a time do anything for her younger, that part really struck me.

however, my disappointment largely lies in the “twist”, which was obvious to me from the second the characters were introduced on the backside. i don't know if that's the author's intention, or if they were trying to be clever, but for me i knew the twist from the back of the book summary and spent the entire book praying that the twist was going to be more spectacular than what it was. unfortunately, it was predictable and there were way too many hints dropped in i guess not the best way for me to personally enjoy it, but in retrospect it's kind of neat to see all the bread crumbs there (har dee har).

also i had a hard time switching between the urbanity and lighthearted rapport of the sisters and then suddenly blood and gore. i'm not saying that thrillers have to be 100% serious or 100% goofy, but the transitions between the two felt clunky and sometimes the effect of some of the funny or serious parts were lost on me because of it.

feeling uber conflicted about this book because, like i said, i liked the spook i got, but i have many (many many many) gripes with how the plot was executed

Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars

Stacks of Strange Book Club Pick: MayPeppathon 2021: mixed reviews, trope you dislike, horror, & savage main characterBuzzword-a-thon May Pick: House or Home

I absolutely adored this book. House of Hollow was so hyped in my circle of bookish friends, and it started off so strong I was scared I wouldn't like the direction it went. But trust me it didn't disappoint.

House of Hollow is an urban fairytale inspired by the Grimm brothers that is straight up unputdownable. There was always something pulling me in whether it was the writing, the mystery, or the action. I always wanted to keep reading. We follow the three Hollow sisters who disappeared New Year's Eve 10 years prior. A month later the three girls reappear out of thin air, naked, with no memory of what occurred, and with a moon shaped scar at their base of their throats. Nobody could figure out what happened to them and theories about what could have possibly occurred started swirling on the internet for years to come. The girls came back changed which impacted their family forever. In present day we follow the youngest sister, Iris, and her other sister Viv as they begin investigating the recent disappearance of their oldest sister, which is reminiscent of what happened to them years ago.

The biggest thing that stood out to me in this book was obviously the writing. It was so lyrical and whimsical but is a horrifying way. The way the prose was string together was beautiful but also gross and terrifying at the same time. The writing also incorporated a lot of nature elements which I really loved. I know some people think the writing was repetitive, but I think it was just the perfect amount.

Krystal Sutherland was able to create one of the creepiest and unsettling books I've read. The way she twisted things we generally see as beautiful and innocent into demonic and grotesque was stunning. I was actually anxious while reading this which is not something I feel often when reading.

Within only a couple hundred pages, there were so many layers backed into this book. There was the extremely horrifying mystery, grief, and sister relationships. This story is absolutely brilliant in the way it was woven together, and I just loved every second of reading it. The ending had me absolutely shook and mind blown! This book is incredibly haunting, and it will definitely stick with me for a long time.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books, Krystal Sutherland, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings: blood, gore, violence, murder, attempted murder, death, death of a loved one, self-harm, suicide, body horror, attempted sexual assault, PTSD, and alcoholism

Wow! Reading this book was an experience like nothing I've ever had before. When I first started this book, even though I was extremely intrigued, I worried that the fantasy components of this novel would put me off from finishing this book or maybe even liking it. I am not the biggest lover of fantasy so you can understand why I would have this fear. While I was reading it, I kept asking myself if it was too much for me and if it was rooted in enough reality for me to continue it and love it as well. And I just have to say- it totally blew me away and knocked my socks off. When I finished it, even though I knew this book was way outside of my comfort zone, I knew that I couldn't give it anything less than five stars because it was extraordinary from beginning to end.

First of all, House of Hollow is about these three sisters, who have gone missing when they were children and have returned later to the same place where they went missing from. Years later, when the oldest Hollow sister goes missing again, the other two team up to find her and unravel a whole chest of secrets that may have been better left locked away. If this isn't the definition of an amazing, creative and extremely unique plot, I don't know what is. It was so different from anything I've ever read and was full of twists and turns and countless layer after layer that kept being unraveled all the way through. If you want something that will captivate you with a very action packed and twisty plot, this novel is definitely for you. And even though I guessed a few reveals right, there were so many others that I couldn't even begin to fathom or comprehend the answers for.

Secondly, the characterization in this mostly action driven novel was beyond amazing. We went on a journey with these characters and I felt myself transforming and changing right along with them as all the things kept happening. But what's even more beautiful is the relationships that the characters have with each other and how those transform and change all throughout the book. I really grew attached to these characters and even though they were flawed through and through, I couldn't help but root for them in the end regardless. I will definitely be checking out Sutherland's future works because this novel was like an earthquake that shook me to my core and I will never be the same.

Finally, the writing style was simple, yet had a sophisticated tone to it. It wasn't just super straight forward or oversimplified and yet I understood things as they were happening very vividly and fully, the first time reading the paragraphs. This is definitely a very atmospheric read and even though sometimes that can be a little too much for my liking, I thought that it was masterfully done in this story. It painted the setting vividly and I never grew tired of reading about all these amazing places and imagining them in my mind.

In conclusion, this novel was so far outside of my comfort zone and yet I am beyond happy that I gave it a chance and picked it up. I would recommend it to lovers of fantasy and even those that love a good mystery, as wicked and twisted as that mystery may be. And even as a thriller lover, I absolutely loved every second of this book, so maybe other thriller fans would love it too! Give it a shot, you never know if you might love it, just like I did!

This book is very much out of my normal genre, but I can honestly say that I found it fascinating and enjoyable.

This is the story of the three Hollow sisters who went missing as children and returned one month later with no memory of what happened to them. The sisters come back different, with white blond hair, black eyes, matching scars at the base of their necks, and special abilities. It's almost as if they are not the same children at all. When one of the three goes missing again, the two others must search for her and uncover what happened to them as children.

The main characters in this book are quite captivating due to their strange appearances and their supernatural abilities. Their strange history and odd appearance make them interesting characters. I was invested in finding out what had happened to them and what was likely to happen to them in the present. Even the secondary characters are unique, such as the supermodel boyfriend of one of the sisters whose appearance has a pirate-like quality.

The story is fast-paced and engaging. I wanted to keep reading. The plot is interesting if a bit beyond belief. But it is a fantasy/fairy-tale, so it's not supposed to be believable. There are a couple twists revealed toward the end that make for an element of surprise.

The setting straddles the real world of England and a supernatural world. The supernatural elements are very dark. This is not a light and fluffy fantasy. There are a lot of grotesque details. I do not mind that, but some readers might. It is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Overall, I enjoyed the experience of reading this book. I would recommend this to readers who like dark fairy-tale style fantasies.

this. was. breathtaking.

also this was recommended to me by my co-worker who also recommended it to my entire freshman class and like ?? i get that it's ya but damn!! it was some scurry shit!!

so beautifully written yet so harrowing at the same time.

this is definitely horror. bordering on body and/or gross out horror. if you think you can stomach it i plead with you to read it as soon as you can!

Now, while it was a really good book, I had to scale down my rating based on how long it took to read this book. I will give it 4 stars for that.

But it was insane and I kind of guessed the different bits and pieces but I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the end.

Spoilers...




Oh and Tyler, my heart goes out for him... Murdered AND skinned