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mlivings8's review
4.0
This one may be one I need to read the physical copy, I liked the idea, but I struggled with this one a bit. Will probably pick up the next in the trilogy though as I did very much like the ending.
zoe_e_w's review against another edition
4.0
Dave Kohlar and his sister Sally have a problem with a phantom. Dave believes only he can see it, and his sister is instead projecting his problems into her own deluded fantasies, but after the suicide of a friend of Sally's, Dave begins to learn how many other people have seen the strange man without a face. The other people who have come to know the chilling voice of the Hollower gather together in search of a way to kill something which seems ageless, and whose only desire is to feed on them through their fears.
Everyone looks to Dave for answers, and yet his own insecurities keep him trapped in his own pattern of second guessing himself. But then this is consistent for most everyone under the influence of the Hollower. It is they who generate their own pains and fears, and the Hollower amplifies their feelings. So this theme of uncertainty is a common trait that the group shares, and in many ways, it is what has defined them for their entire lives. Long before the Hollower arrived, the characters were already haunted people, and that's partly what makes the monster that much more effective.
The pace of the book is quick, and the balance between action and character development is good. I only felt minor disappointment for the low body count, but that's just me being a cynic. There's certainly no shortage of grisly visuals, and the descriptions of the Hollower's attacks are always vivid and brutal. The book is a good read, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a new horror story with a wicked monster.
Everyone looks to Dave for answers, and yet his own insecurities keep him trapped in his own pattern of second guessing himself. But then this is consistent for most everyone under the influence of the Hollower. It is they who generate their own pains and fears, and the Hollower amplifies their feelings. So this theme of uncertainty is a common trait that the group shares, and in many ways, it is what has defined them for their entire lives. Long before the Hollower arrived, the characters were already haunted people, and that's partly what makes the monster that much more effective.
The pace of the book is quick, and the balance between action and character development is good. I only felt minor disappointment for the low body count, but that's just me being a cynic. There's certainly no shortage of grisly visuals, and the descriptions of the Hollower's attacks are always vivid and brutal. The book is a good read, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a new horror story with a wicked monster.
catladylover94's review
3.0
not as good as i wanted it to be. i was hoping for more. liked the characters, just did not have the story to go with the characters. easy read.
errantdreams's review
5.0
At first this book seemed a bit mundane, particularly when held up against some of SanGiovanni’s other work, such as Chills, Behind the Door, and especially Thrall. The bad guy is basically just a man with no face, who sometimes whispers frightening things to people. Luckily things pick up, with the Hollower gradually becoming more. We even get a passage told from its point of view, which is surprising, and carried off well. There’s one spot that maintains that it “could be anywhere it wanted, anyone it wanted, at any time.” Unfortunately this kind of begs the question of how anyone could possibly stop it if it wanted to kill someone. But we eventually see snatches of unusual behavior–such as its unwillingness to touch anyone–that make things believable. Eventually SanGiovanni puts the ‘cosmic’ in ‘cosmic horror’, and the world comes apart at the seams.
The characters have a fair amount of depth. Cheryl’s a little borderline, with her giggling and cooing, but luckily there’s a bit more to her than just that. I liked Sean, who is a believably mature eleven without being overly precocious, and Detective DeMarco is probably my favorite character. She’s practical and smart, but knows when it’s time to believe her eyes and her hunches. The pacing is also quite good, ramping up steadily as the book goes on. I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy!
Consider my rating a 4.5
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/02/review-the-hollower-mary-sangiovanni/
The characters have a fair amount of depth. Cheryl’s a little borderline, with her giggling and cooing, but luckily there’s a bit more to her than just that. I liked Sean, who is a believably mature eleven without being overly precocious, and Detective DeMarco is probably my favorite character. She’s practical and smart, but knows when it’s time to believe her eyes and her hunches. The pacing is also quite good, ramping up steadily as the book goes on. I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy!
Consider my rating a 4.5
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/02/review-the-hollower-mary-sangiovanni/
martinroberts's review
3.0
Whilst I'm not against the writing itself,I just found that I did not care what happened to the characters...
There were moments when I could not read fast enough but all of a sudden I'd feel like I was just thrown out of the plot because the Hollower would just repeat his actions with a new character.
Sadly, the Elm Street franchise is also brought to mind and that hinders the novel too.
The bottom line is that its a good starting point for those new to the horror genre in both books and films.
12/01/02 - I revisited this one over the weekend and felt that I'd been harsh and have consequently decided it to be a three star read.
There were moments when I could not read fast enough but all of a sudden I'd feel like I was just thrown out of the plot because the Hollower would just repeat his actions with a new character.
Sadly, the Elm Street franchise is also brought to mind and that hinders the novel too.
The bottom line is that its a good starting point for those new to the horror genre in both books and films.
12/01/02 - I revisited this one over the weekend and felt that I'd been harsh and have consequently decided it to be a three star read.
boo909's review
1.0
Really disappointed with this, barebones characterisation, I really could have cared less about the characters, an awful, awful cliched "monster", not particularly scary, in fact it's extremely boring and I really struggled to finish it. The protagonists win through finding some random thing laying around. I've heard good things about this writer so I'll have to try something else but this was terrible.
Edit: I've just realised SanGiovani and Brian Keene have been in a relationship since 2012 which would explain the gushing introduction.
Edit: I've just realised SanGiovani and Brian Keene have been in a relationship since 2012 which would explain the gushing introduction.
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