Reviews

Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed

kem_reads's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

anikaisreading's review against another edition

5.0

This book is one of my favourite reads of the year. It was so difficult to read but so gratifying at the same time. It was also relatable considering how I literally had similar experiences as of late so it was amazing to feel seen AND understood. So 100/10, I loved safiya and jawad and how this book was unapologetically brown and Muslim

gibbygibson_'s review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

bibliobrandie's review against another edition

5.0

This book was really hard to read at times but I am so glad that I did. Set in Chicago and amidst escalating white supremacy activity and hate crimes, high-school journalist and Indian American Safiya is determined to find the killer of an Iraqi refugee classmate who was murdered. There are some brutal scenes but Ahmed does an excellent job of keeping it from being graphic or sensational. Told in alternating perspectives, you have Safiya's voice as well as the ghost of the murdered boy, Jawad. The story is also interspersed with multimedia clippings, some taken from real-world sources. This supernatural thriller is a page-turner that educates as much as it captivates. There is a lot going on in these pages and Ahmed handles it all beautifully.
Note: There is a new book by Candace Fleming about the real life killers that this story is loosely based on. a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58492091-murder-among-friends?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=6V1KnaMbIj&rank=18"

chipottleworker's review against another edition

5.0

Made the mistake of reading this in public where I almost cried multiple times

easyvisionary's review against another edition

5.0

The dual perspectives, the school articles, the interview transcripts, news stories, the academic articles! What a well researched, well written and clever book!

sallenreads's review against another edition

challenging hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

nmfolkman's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Lincoln 25

amieeaya's review

4.5

A full story. Twists and turns, both for characters and for plotline. Some will say it's heavy handed, leaning to the left. I say it does what good storytelling is supposed to do, to humanize issues and deconstruct the political dialog that has made this country so hateful and fearful. This book is a lot, but in a very compelling way. 

ocean_delight's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75