Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It wasn't mentioned anywhere but this series was for young adults,.and it definitely showed. My only real issue is that every main character is described as a model, and everyone else is basically described as ugly. So popular, good looking kids who are kind of assholes are the heroes and the ugly, unpopular ones are the bad guys,and I don't think that's very good for young adults reading this.
February 2023. MM romance paranormal mystery. Second in a 4 book series about a depressed teen psychic pulled into investigating a missing person’s case, while trying to manage relationships, friendships, and just getting through the day.
Gorgeously written, incredibly dark and sometimes devastating, but also full of heartfelt moments between flawed characters and quite a bit of humor. Absolutely adored Becca especially, our main character’s best friend.
Like book one, lots of content warnings for drug use, abusive parents, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and it all feels that much darker for being about teen characters.
“All the Inside Howling” by Gregory Ashe. Book 2 of 4 in “Hollow Folk.”
Gorgeously written, incredibly dark and sometimes devastating, but also full of heartfelt moments between flawed characters and quite a bit of humor. Absolutely adored Becca especially, our main character’s best friend.
Like book one, lots of content warnings for drug use, abusive parents, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and it all feels that much darker for being about teen characters.
“All the Inside Howling” by Gregory Ashe. Book 2 of 4 in “Hollow Folk.”
All of a sudden I didn't want any more death. I didn't want any more pain. I wanted life. I wanted fragile, beautiful, hothouse life, like the orchid, and I wanted to hold it in my hands.
more like "all the inside screaming"
Well, what on earth was that ending? Come on now, Gregory! I have to work today, but I need answers!!
This book was no less dark than the first one, but at least there was...some bright points...??
Also, thanks a lot, Greg, for making me nearly bawl my eyes out at 7:30 in the morning when we find out who's behind the door of the foster house. :P
As before, alllll kinds of triggers. Read with a clear mind. But worth it.
Onto the next!
This book was no less dark than the first one, but at least there was...some bright points...??
Also, thanks a lot, Greg, for making me nearly bawl my eyes out at 7:30 in the morning when we find out who's behind the door of the foster house. :P
As before, alllll kinds of triggers. Read with a clear mind. But worth it.
Onto the next!
All the inside howling
2.5/5
CW: self-harm, suicide, domestic violence, depression, just general violence (they're always punching each other), physical abuse, homophobia, bullying, homophobic slurs
+ There are also mentions of pedophilia and sexual abuse on minors
I liked this one more than the first book, mainly because since its focus is just on one thing happening at a time, it's easier to get a development out of these characters. In the first book, there are characters thrown at us left and right (Vie's family, the neighbor kids, the people at Slippers, the people at school and those at work etc etc) but the author hadn't focused on any of them, which lead to a lack in their characterization. I think he made a very good choice with focusing only on four or five characters here, because we finally got a glimpse of them without having to read between the lines to find who they really are. Even though there are still some flaws in there, like the fact that we barely got introduced to River and his story, where he comes from and how he ended up even knowing about Vie. We have definitely improved from the first book but there is definitely margin for growth.
Book 2 and nope, still not a fan of Austin, don't think I'll ever be. He didn't tell Vie it was his birthday (he's known him what, a month?! half of which they spent fighting each other, who would know your birthday dude?!) and he is pissed that Vie didn't miracoulosly already know about it?
Is there even anyone who thinks that Austin is a good person? He is manipulative and I won't go all heart-eyes for him just because he is sweet to Vie for ten minutes and then proceeds on being a dick for the rest of the day. He invited him to have dinner at his place even though he knew that Vie didn't want to because he knew that he wouldn't have been put in a good position and he wouldn't have been at ease. Vie went to the dinner and tried to act nice and positive even if Austin knows damn well that's not his character, and the first thing that he does is get mad at Vie for acting 'weird'. Second thing he does is throw him out of the house for punching his brother after he had punched him. Third thing he did was take him home when Vie asked him not to because his father could be home, Austin fucking knowing what goes on at Vie's house, so even if you want to give him a ride, at least take him somewhere safe, you don't just drop him off at the wolf's den. Fourth thing he did was threw back at Vie the money he paid for the antibiotics, knowing damn well again that Vie doesn't even have money to pay for his food, let alone antibiotics.
I swear I am trying to give it a go at seeing Austin and Vie together but I just can't. I seriously don't get why they keep trying to be together when 1) Vie is not even sure about his feelings for him (yes, he told him he loved him, but after three days of basically not even thinking about him), I think he sticks with him because Austin is the only one until now who has shown him that he truly cares about him, and that he can count on him and he's afraid to lose this sense of security he managed to achieve (abusive relationship anyone?); 2)they just don't fit together, there's no chemistry, no nothing, am I supposed to like them together just because they are together?
2.5/5
CW: self-harm, suicide, domestic violence, depression, just general violence (they're always punching each other), physical abuse, homophobia, bullying, homophobic slurs
+ There are also mentions of pedophilia and sexual abuse on minors
I liked this one more than the first book, mainly because since its focus is just on one thing happening at a time, it's easier to get a development out of these characters. In the first book, there are characters thrown at us left and right (Vie's family, the neighbor kids, the people at Slippers, the people at school and those at work etc etc) but the author hadn't focused on any of them, which lead to a lack in their characterization. I think he made a very good choice with focusing only on four or five characters here, because we finally got a glimpse of them without having to read between the lines to find who they really are. Even though there are still some flaws in there, like the fact that we barely got introduced to River and his story, where he comes from and how he ended up even knowing about Vie. We have definitely improved from the first book but there is definitely margin for growth.
Book 2 and nope, still not a fan of Austin, don't think I'll ever be. He didn't tell Vie it was his birthday (he's known him what, a month?! half of which they spent fighting each other, who would know your birthday dude?!) and he is pissed that Vie didn't miracoulosly already know about it?
Is there even anyone who thinks that Austin is a good person? He is manipulative and I won't go all heart-eyes for him just because he is sweet to Vie for ten minutes and then proceeds on being a dick for the rest of the day. He invited him to have dinner at his place even though he knew that Vie didn't want to because he knew that he wouldn't have been put in a good position and he wouldn't have been at ease. Vie went to the dinner and tried to act nice and positive even if Austin knows damn well that's not his character, and the first thing that he does is get mad at Vie for acting 'weird'. Second thing he does is throw him out of the house for punching his brother after he had punched him. Third thing he did was take him home when Vie asked him not to because his father could be home, Austin fucking knowing what goes on at Vie's house, so even if you want to give him a ride, at least take him somewhere safe, you don't just drop him off at the wolf's den. Fourth thing he did was threw back at Vie the money he paid for the antibiotics, knowing damn well again that Vie doesn't even have money to pay for his food, let alone antibiotics.
I swear I am trying to give it a go at seeing Austin and Vie together but I just can't. I seriously don't get why they keep trying to be together when 1) Vie is not even sure about his feelings for him (yes, he told him he loved him, but after three days of basically not even thinking about him), I think he sticks with him because Austin is the only one until now who has shown him that he truly cares about him, and that he can count on him and he's afraid to lose this sense of security he managed to achieve (abusive relationship anyone?); 2)they just don't fit together, there's no chemistry, no nothing, am I supposed to like them together just because they are together?
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Do not read the blurb of the next book if you don’t want this one to be spoiled.
Even with the twist being spoiled I still really enjoyed this book. I did have questions about unresolved things- like vie’s dad - but in the end I’m starting to realise these books just run straight into the next so I assume my questions will be answered shortly.
Even with the twist being spoiled I still really enjoyed this book. I did have questions about unresolved things- like vie’s dad - but in the end I’m starting to realise these books just run straight into the next so I assume my questions will be answered shortly.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This poor boy goes through soo much shit, that it is unbearable. The way the storyline and plot just builds up and up until, could have been almost ridiculous, if it weren't for Gregory Ashe's superb writing.
But instead of feeling uber unrealistic, I just followed Ashe's lead. I cried every time something bad happened and I cried every time something good happened. And I'll probably cry again in the next book in the series.
But instead of feeling uber unrealistic, I just followed Ashe's lead. I cried every time something bad happened and I cried every time something good happened. And I'll probably cry again in the next book in the series.