Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

76 reviews

elaureads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Suicide, Body horror, Vomit, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Dementia, Death, Death of parent, Bullying, and Child death

ericageorge91'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book was okay. I liked how dark it got towards the end. That was interesting. 

That being said, I was really annoyed in the beginning and middle. I was intrigued about the story, but the sister codependency was…something else. I also didn’t care for the “Me and my sisters were sooo beautiful. We’re all tall, blonde, and thin, and sooo beautiful. And we have such a huge appetite and eat all the time but are still so tall, skinny, and sooooo beautiful” of it all. That was so boring to me. There is not a single chapter that goes by where their beauty is not mentioned. This book is a constant swing between, “Does Iris want to be her sister or fuck her? News at 11.”

Umm, this book is disgusting. Literally disgusting. You’ll see various descriptions of dead, rotting things that sometimes involves insects. I just…Tender is the Flesh didn’t seem all that bad compared to this 🤢

I’m a little confused about some things. Like, I feel like there were moments when the main character was trying to have her feminist moment like, “Ugh, isn’t it sad how men can be such creeps?!” But then…your sisters literally walk around bewitching, touching, and kissing people without their consents so…..🤨

I’m also a bit confused as to their background story? The other spirits in the Halfway seemed like catatonic and didn’t do shit. Why were they so different? And Grey was just this murder-savvy little girl? What? Are they all older? I just wish that story was developed more. There was so much buildup and I expected more explanation of what tf was happening. 

TW: Attempted kidnapping, bullying, sexual assault (forceful kissing/lip biting), physical abuse (hands on throat, a slap), suicide, drug use, alcoholism, binge eating (in a magical related sense but still), murder, attempted rape, 

Rep: Sapphic MCs (lesbian and bi/pan)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Stalking, Body horror, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, Animal death, Blood, and Child death

Moderate: Miscarriage, Bullying, Drug use, and Sexual assault

Minor: Physical abuse

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

House of Hollow is a gorgeously written, dark and twisted fairytale set in modern-day Scotland. Iris knows she and her two sisters haven't been normal since they were kidnapped as children. She is determined to figure out exactly who took them, what happened to them, and why they seem to have otherworldly powers. Iris leads readers on a nightmarish journey: through magic doors, coming face-to-face with the walking dead, cursed kisses, and long-lost family members.

This book is totally out of my wheelhouse, but I'm so glad I gave it a chance! It's a fast, fun read, but you should definitely check out trigger/content warnings before reading as the book can get fairly graphic in its depiction of gruesome imagery. If you like Stranger Things, you'll like this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Body horror, Sexual violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Toxic friendship

lyssb's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Stalking, and Body horror

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Stalking

Minor: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Addiction, Alcohol, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Vomit

garciaga's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

gingergothicc's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book was absolutely incredible. Haunting and dark with just the right mix of mystery thrown in. I wish there was more!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death of parent, Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Stalking, and Suicide

There is human skinning. It's not shown on the page but you are well aware of what happened.

kt2e56's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

Okay so this is described as a dark fairytale on here, but it’s actually a bleak fairytale. One of the very few books I’ve read that doesn’t waste a single page. It genuinely holds you captive from beginning to end. Nothing feels wasteful. Nothing feels unnecessary. All of the characters are compelling. The twists and turns and reveals feel earned. I just really loved this book a lot. Krystal Sutherland has such a visceral voice as a writer, I can really feel and see and touch and smell and taste EVERYTHING she puts on the page.

Very much looking forward to reading more from her.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Body horror, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Child death, Gaslighting, Grief, Murder, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Alcoholism, Stalking, Suicide, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Vomit

aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

4.0

A really interesting and spooky read. The vibes were good and the story overall was interesting and kept you wanting to find out more.
I could kind of guess a part of it though after a certain point in the book, but that's not a bad thing. Def enjoyed it and how the Hollow sisters were so different from each other. 

I recommend reading the trigger/content warnings for this one.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Body horror, Bullying, and Child death

bookishkale's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I am not one for horror, but 'tis the season, am I right? I picked up House of Hollow on Libby this past week for a little spooky season read, and it did not disappoint! I had fun reading it!

First of all, I enjoyed all of the characters! I found them endearing, and I was desperate to know what happened to the Hollow sisters, where did they go so long ago? Vivi is a little grating at the beginning but I really enjoyed her character in contrast to Grey and Iris by the end of the book. Vivi is also queer, but it's done in a super casual way, which is nice to see every once in a while. Tyler is a highlight, and he adds a great dynamic to Vivi and Iris as they search for their sister. Iris' characterization makes so much sense. She's the youngest of three girls, the older two were rambunctious and rebellious, and in turn, Iris was quiet and well in order. She grapples with her identity vs her sisters, wanting to be like them, but also, trying to find herself. She's not naive like the book almost makes her out to be, since she is not as cool and interesting as her older sisters, but I never found her to be.  She's the smartest one in the book and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this world through her eyes. Her character growth by the end was well worth it. One of the best narrators I've read in a while. 

For the plot, this is where I docked points. I loved that the story was centered around the three girls and their relationship with each other. I have two older sisters, so Iris, I get you. The book does not shy away from the grotesque body horror elements that a story like this needs. I just felt the pacing was off, I don't know how to explain it. I felt like the last half of the book was fantastic, but the beginning is a little slow. I just feel like it takes too long to get where they were going and the plot suffers a bit from that. But overall, everything ties up in the end, (really well, might I add!), and that's really all that matters to me. I did predict one of the mysteries, but for the question of the Hollow girls... I wasn't expecting it, and it was really well done! I applaud the choice! I think this story could have been better if Sutherland upped the age range for this book, and just went all in, no whammies. 

And I cannot end this review without gushing about the imagery! Krystal Sutherland does a fantastic job of putting you right there with Iris as she experiences these horrific events. I was obsessed with each disgusting thing that she describes. I had to gag at some points because it was so realistic. I'll be thinking about the imagery in this book for a while.  The book wraps you up in this nightmare with them, as it swallows you whole. 

Overall, highly recommend this book for the spooky season! I'd avoid it if you can't handle any amount of horror. I can handle some so I think this book is fine if you like to watch the occasionally scary movie with friends but don't watch anything scary by yourself. It's mostly just super creepy, but I know people can be super sensitive to things! This book does not shy away from the creep factor. Be sure to check out the rest of the trigger/content warnings for this book!! 

I look forward to what Krystal Sutherland releases next! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Gore, Self harm, Sexual assault, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Stalking, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Vomit

Moderate: Death of parent, Eating disorder, Bullying, Death, Child death, and Murder

Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

elsea_readingelsea's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Gore, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, and Blood