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lurker_stalker's review
4.0
I haven't read anything by Guillermo del Toro before but I've seen his films. When I saw an offering on NetGalley (yay for the addition of audiobooks!) I immediately requested it. I still haven't looked Chuck Hogan up yet but will soon...
I really didn't know what to expect from this book but I had a very hard time putting it down once I got into it. The first few chapters were tough because we move between different time periods and characters but it all comes together fairly quickly and then the action picks up.
I'm not going to lie, the main protagonist, Odessa Hardwicke, did get on my nerves occasionally but redeemed herself fairly quickly. And I ended up becoming a big fan of Hugo Blackwood.
I will eagerly pick up the sequel so I can join in on the continuing adventures!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing the audiobook.
Oh! I almost forgot to mention that the narrator does a great job of bringing the characters to life.
I really didn't know what to expect from this book but I had a very hard time putting it down once I got into it. The first few chapters were tough because we move between different time periods and characters but it all comes together fairly quickly and then the action picks up.
I'm not going to lie, the main protagonist, Odessa Hardwicke, did get on my nerves occasionally but redeemed herself fairly quickly. And I ended up becoming a big fan of Hugo Blackwood.
I will eagerly pick up the sequel so I can join in on the continuing adventures!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing the audiobook.
Oh! I almost forgot to mention that the narrator does a great job of bringing the characters to life.
songwind's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
netflix_and_lil's review against another edition
3.0
R rated Skulduggery Pleasant vibes anyone?
I didn't know what to expect from del Toro's written work; for the most part, its story was engaging, it's writing was competent at worst, expert at best and the setup was superb - maybe one of the best opening chapters I've read this year. Unfortunately, my enjoyment was marred by the overabundance of timelines and character perspectives, which stretched the characters too thinly across the story. Hugo Blackwood, while at first seeming like a potential favourite new character, seemed to flip-flop between morals and priorities; one of my favourite things about immortal characters are their code of ethics, developed over many years and making them very stance in their views. Blackwood was just too changeable for my liking.
Like many of del Toro's films, The Hollow Ones lacks a satisfying conclusion, apparently just ending when it ran out of pages. I understand this will be part of a series, which I will likely return to; but a book should be able to stand on it's own, and while it's supernatural elements were intriguing, it didn't hit the mark for me.
I didn't know what to expect from del Toro's written work; for the most part, its story was engaging, it's writing was competent at worst, expert at best and the setup was superb - maybe one of the best opening chapters I've read this year. Unfortunately, my enjoyment was marred by the overabundance of timelines and character perspectives, which stretched the characters too thinly across the story. Hugo Blackwood, while at first seeming like a potential favourite new character, seemed to flip-flop between morals and priorities; one of my favourite things about immortal characters are their code of ethics, developed over many years and making them very stance in their views. Blackwood was just too changeable for my liking.
Like many of del Toro's films, The Hollow Ones lacks a satisfying conclusion, apparently just ending when it ran out of pages. I understand this will be part of a series, which I will likely return to; but a book should be able to stand on it's own, and while it's supernatural elements were intriguing, it didn't hit the mark for me.
zoe_1701's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bournea's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
madzsmiled's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Del Toro and Hogan have done it again, crafting a fast-paced, tense mystery filled with occultism and corruption. Over hundreds of years, Blackwood, Solomon, and Odessa are drawn together to fight the darkest forces. It reminded me a bit of Invasion of the Body Snatchers with a distinctly spiritual spin. At times, it felt a bit abrupt. Regardless, it was an incredibly vivid and entertaining book that is not for the faint of heart.
inaded's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
chocolaole's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0