Reviews

The pacing was slow, almost unbearable, and I found myself most of the time skimming the pages waiting for it to get back to the “Hollow Places” and the not the struggles of the main character’s divorce or her trying to wrap her head around the only interesting thing that’s come up in like 2 or 3 chapters. But I feel like this was redeemed with the story’s captivating ending. It was tense, and emotional, and had a very nice resolution and the author’s note only added to the feel of the ending, like a journey’s end type feel. The center of the story is based around a taxidermy museum that is run by the main character in her uncle’s stead, and the little coffee shop connected to it where she ends up befriending the resident barista, and in the author’s note she explains how she drew inspiration for the idea of the museum from various museums she’s visited throughout her life, each one listed by name, and how The Black Hen, which is the coffee shop in the story, is based off her own resident coffee shop, Café Diem, where she goes to write and enjoy the company of the staff, whom she also dedicated this book to. At first my biggest complaint was how the “Hollow Places” was never elaborated or explored as much as I expected and hoped for, but in the end I feel it’s not so much a lack of world building but trying to preserve the mystery of this strange dimension that the characters stumble into, and it works, because I’m frustrated I want to know more about it and that sense of frustration is what kept me hooked throughout the story even when I felt like it was dragging on too much for me to finish properly. In the end, it was a captivating story and a nice homage to the author’s roots, and how she drove inspiration from said roots and Algernon Blackwood’s “The Willows” to craft this story it what drove this book home for me, along with its satisfying ending.

adler428's review against another edition

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5.0

I love this author! I loved this story!

chrismaebear's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Okay hear me out, some of this book is really silly. Some of it also managed to creep me out so bad I had to take a break from reading it. This was my introduction to T Kingfisher so it holds a special place in my heart. Bonus points for blatant references to The Magician's Nephew.

fuchsschatten's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Content Warnings

lechun1's review against another edition

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The main character was cute and fun to read in the beginning, in a mundane sort of way. Her narrative voice seemed more appropriate to a person in their early 20's, though, not someone who's in the their 30's and post-divorce.

The second quarter of the book is so incredibly boring, even though it's supposed to be where the action picks up. Reading about the characters wading around, feeling lost, not quite able to describe what they're seeing... It's such a slog.

Even though it's a short book I can't bring myself to pick it up again.

kaitik's review against another edition

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4.0

You know the horror book is good when I gives you nightmares.

the_pink_pharmacist's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

Cute book. I really enjoyed the lead character (a woman, of course) learning to be independent and zero focus on her shortcomings. Thankyou very much.

I enjoyed the Narni world she discovered with her friend, I found it to be intriguing!

My attention was kept the entire time which is truly a feat.

My only complaint was the entire chapter where our lead discovered that the raccoon had come to life. Duh lady. Duh.

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