Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. Solid read. Starts off as your average detective novel, and then takes a hard turn in Del Toro territory. The build up was a little slow, but I'm intrigued to read the rest of the series.
Format: audiobook
Author: Guillermo del Toro ~ Title: The Hollow Ones ~ Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Story: 3.5 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
While investigating a crime, an FBI agent Odessa Hardwicke, encounter some unexplainable things. The Hollow Ones is a fast-paced thriller with elements of the supernatural, and I can easily picture it as a movie.
This book is not my favorite Del Toro work, but it is a good one, anyway. The narrator did a great job. Overall, I liked the story and narration, though I have to admit, it took me more time than usual to finish it.
Author: Guillermo del Toro ~ Title: The Hollow Ones ~ Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Story: 3.5 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
While investigating a crime, an FBI agent Odessa Hardwicke, encounter some unexplainable things. The Hollow Ones is a fast-paced thriller with elements of the supernatural, and I can easily picture it as a movie.
This book is not my favorite Del Toro work, but it is a good one, anyway. The narrator did a great job. Overall, I liked the story and narration, though I have to admit, it took me more time than usual to finish it.
Wow! I’m not quite sure what I expected but this was great! The narrator did a great job with the characters and the storyline was enjoyable. It starts slow but once it gets going it doesn’t stop! Thanks to netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the audio review copy!
2.5-3
Holy crap did I really want to love this book.... The entire premise intrigued me however I felt myself dragging through each page. Astounded that some of the characters were still astounded by Blackwood.... How many more times do we have to do this song and dance?! Can we stop going into shock or question his motives????? Please! Even the very final anticlimactic fight scene was a snore.
The writing isn't anything special however it works for this. Just wish everything else was a bit more engaging. I probably wont be reading further into this series.
Holy crap did I really want to love this book.... The entire premise intrigued me however I felt myself dragging through each page. Astounded that some of the characters were still astounded by Blackwood.... How many more times do we have to do this song and dance?! Can we stop going into shock or question his motives????? Please! Even the very final anticlimactic fight scene was a snore.
Spoiler
My "strong" female protagonist was possessed for all of it anyways....The writing isn't anything special however it works for this. Just wish everything else was a bit more engaging. I probably wont be reading further into this series.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
Moderate: Child death
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
"The Hollow Ones" by Guillermo del Toro is a twist on a classic story of cop vs mystery, where who "the bad guy is" isn't clear... or even a human being.
I was intrigued by this book and was excited to listen. I have loved Guillermo de Toro's stories in the past and have found stories such as "Pan's Labyrinth" and "The Shape of Water" to be fascinating. He is known for violence in his stories, but in a way that blends into intense historical fiction story lines. With that being said, I thought I was ready to read this book but it was too violent for me off the bat. The killing of children is a little too much for me. Are there readers who will read this book and love it? Of course. I just wasn't the best reader of this story and books aren't always "one size fits all."
Narrator was fine and the story seemed compelling. Would recommend to readers who have a stronger stomach.
I was intrigued by this book and was excited to listen. I have loved Guillermo de Toro's stories in the past and have found stories such as "Pan's Labyrinth" and "The Shape of Water" to be fascinating. He is known for violence in his stories, but in a way that blends into intense historical fiction story lines. With that being said, I thought I was ready to read this book but it was too violent for me off the bat. The killing of children is a little too much for me. Are there readers who will read this book and love it? Of course. I just wasn't the best reader of this story and books aren't always "one size fits all."
Narrator was fine and the story seemed compelling. Would recommend to readers who have a stronger stomach.
It almost pains me to give this a 2-star review because I wanted to enjoy it. I read "The Strain" trilogy by del Toro and Hagan. The first book in that series was really good, but the conclusion of that series was so unsatisfying that I almost swore off the authors. When I was offered the chance to listen to "The Hollow Ones," I decided to give the authors another shot.
I enjoyed Brittany Presley's narration- for me, it was her voice that made this book worth listening to till the very end. She is able to portray so many different characters with her voice. However, I think that some books are not meant to be read out loud, especially books that use very basic sentence structures and word choice. Every time Presley would read "he said" or "she said" before or after dialogue, I would cringe. It is not something I usually notice in audiobooks and hearing it so constantly made the book feel like an "adult topic" horror thriller.... written by a grade-schooler.
This is book one of the Blackwood Tapes. The way that the series is set up is very open ended- it is like a television show that can either continue for a long time or end abruptly if there isn't enough interest. I'm not really interested in that type of series, so I doubt I will continue with it. Others that enjoyed del Toro's previous trilogy in its entirety may also enjoy this one.
Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced listener's copy of this audiobook. Thank you to Brittany Presley as well for a wonderful reading of this- I would be happy to listen to a book narrated by her again :)
I enjoyed Brittany Presley's narration- for me, it was her voice that made this book worth listening to till the very end. She is able to portray so many different characters with her voice. However, I think that some books are not meant to be read out loud, especially books that use very basic sentence structures and word choice. Every time Presley would read "he said" or "she said" before or after dialogue, I would cringe. It is not something I usually notice in audiobooks and hearing it so constantly made the book feel like an "adult topic" horror thriller.... written by a grade-schooler.
This is book one of the Blackwood Tapes. The way that the series is set up is very open ended- it is like a television show that can either continue for a long time or end abruptly if there isn't enough interest. I'm not really interested in that type of series, so I doubt I will continue with it. Others that enjoyed del Toro's previous trilogy in its entirety may also enjoy this one.
Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced listener's copy of this audiobook. Thank you to Brittany Presley as well for a wonderful reading of this- I would be happy to listen to a book narrated by her again :)