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esterie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Hollow, but not empty.
Words are meaningless until you read them.
liked:
- the backrooms-esque vibes, but outside
- the body horror (Sturdivant swimming in his own organs, "the squad" being unraveled like thread )
- the descriptions of how other dimensions work: a 1 pixel thick layer over the world, a thin skin over reality and if pushed too hard a hole opens and it goes..... somewhere, the comparison to clipping through the ground in a video game and seeing through everything from below
-the horror elements, PARTICULARLYkara realizing she's bee sleepwalking & clawing at the patch in the wall - full body goosebumps. smth about sleepwalking in horror really does it for me
- i obviously peeped the algernon blackwood inspiration, but a good part of the "off"ness of There gave me Annihilation vibes too
neutral:
- so many unanswered questions:who built the bunkers? were the built in retaliation to Them? did They/the willows overtake the area? i want to know more about "the squad" and their world, and Singer's world. Sturdivant? so much i wanna know.
-the resigned nature of the characters just... moving on after. like i get the hole is patched fully - no way thru to There, but like. the existential dread of KNOWING it's there, pressing on our reality. i guess kinda feels like real life. we can get the most soul-crushing, life-changing, terrible news and just.... have to keep going
disliked:
- honestly only one thing:the taxidermy in the museum taking up defense near the end. i get it, it just didn't really land for me and felt cheesy imo
so far that's 3/3 of t kingfisher books ive read and really enjoyed! overall there was A LOT i liked, way more than i didn't. this setting is gonna be rotating in my head for a while.
Words are meaningless until you read them.
liked:
- the backrooms-esque vibes, but outside
- the body horror (
- the descriptions of how other dimensions work: a 1 pixel thick layer over the world, a thin skin over reality and if pushed too hard a hole opens and it goes..... somewhere, the comparison to clipping through the ground in a video game and seeing through everything from below
-the horror elements, PARTICULARLY
- i obviously peeped the algernon blackwood inspiration, but a good part of the "off"ness of There gave me Annihilation vibes too
neutral:
- so many unanswered questions:
-
disliked:
- honestly only one thing:
so far that's 3/3 of t kingfisher books ive read and really enjoyed! overall there was A LOT i liked, way more than i didn't. this setting is gonna be rotating in my head for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
brashknuckles's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Mad creepy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Child death, Death, Blood, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
cup__of__stars's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Injury/Injury detail
mmelibertine's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail
The veil between worlds is thin, sometimes...rmgmorrow's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
There's at least one image in this book that will haunt me. The slow creep of dread is immaculately done, the cosmic horror is top-notch, and Simon and Carrot have just enough genre awareness to feel intelligent and reasonable, without feeling frustratingly detached from events. Highly recommended to anyone who 1) likes otherworldly horror or 2) finds taxidermy unsettling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Minor: Animal death
radtj's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Chilling and adventurous with relatable main characters! The atmosphere the author creates is intense! It definitely left me with a foreboding feeling after reading some parts. The ending was also very comforting. I felt like this book had everything I love in a horror story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Body horror, Death, and Gore
tiredcreature's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Body horror
keiraonyxraven's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was my first book by T. Kingfisher and it most certainly won’t be my last! I finished The Hollow Places with 24 hours of it being delivered to my door and I have immediately purchased two more books by this author.
I am a huge horror fan so I often find myself bored or giggling at even the most “terrifying” horror. I always thought I was just desensitised, but I am in awe of the authors ability to create a world with inhabitants and events so genuinely unsettling. I tore my way through this book and I was shocked at the genuine eeriness and uncomfortable feeling the writing caused within me. When I say I was checking the shadows in my room between every other line, I am not over exaggerating and I LOVED every second!
The storyline and plot itself is not something I wish to delve into. To experience the full effect of this horror, going in almost blind is by far the best option and the blurb provides you with all the information you need.
Regardless, this book will most certainly leave a lasting impression on my brain and I have no doubt in my mind that T. Kingfisher will become a firm favourite horror author of mine from now on. I highly highly recommend The Hollow Places for any horror fan who is seeking that skin crawling, adrenaline pumping, “you are not alone” feeling.
I am a huge horror fan so I often find myself bored or giggling at even the most “terrifying” horror. I always thought I was just desensitised, but I am in awe of the authors ability to create a world with inhabitants and events so genuinely unsettling. I tore my way through this book and I was shocked at the genuine eeriness and uncomfortable feeling the writing caused within me. When I say I was checking the shadows in my room between every other line, I am not over exaggerating and I LOVED every second!
The storyline and plot itself is not something I wish to delve into. To experience the full effect of this horror, going in almost blind is by far the best option and the blurb provides you with all the information you need.
Regardless, this book will most certainly leave a lasting impression on my brain and I have no doubt in my mind that T. Kingfisher will become a firm favourite horror author of mine from now on. I highly highly recommend The Hollow Places for any horror fan who is seeking that skin crawling, adrenaline pumping, “you are not alone” feeling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Torture
snazzy10101's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
4.25
A fun mix of night at the museum and house of leaves, with some wind in the willows and annihilation thrown in for good measure. A sweet and easy horror read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Injury/Injury detail
annapple1's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror