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A review by saucy_bookdragon
The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"You're just a house I'm haunting. You're a house, Hollis.
One of the most interesting things about K. Ancrum's books is how they take fantasy or sci-fi premises and use them for contemporary novels. Though they don't have speculative elements, they feel fantastical in their plots and atmosphere. The Corruption of Hollis Brown broke that pattern, being an outright paranormal story.
Though it's a full-fledged fantasy story, it's a contemporary take on fantasy, maintaining Ancrum's existence on the edge of genres. It's focus is less on what ghosts are like and more so on what sharing a body would be like. The worldbuilding was sparse and mysterious, taking a long time to be explained.
It's a bit like if Venom played its premise more straight and its central relationship more gay (which is surprising given Venom is already pretty gay). Hollis and his ghost went from a power struggle over his body to loving each other so much their lives blur into each other. It's a possession story where possession helps them heal.
As usual, Ancrum does an incredible job writing troubled teenagers, doing so with empathy and grit. Hollis Brown is specifically about how communities remain trapped in poverty for generations, set in an impoverished Michigan town. It's the weirdest book in Ancrum's bibliography so far, unpacking the trauma and relationships of a ghost.
One of the most interesting things about K. Ancrum's books is how they take fantasy or sci-fi premises and use them for contemporary novels. Though they don't have speculative elements, they feel fantastical in their plots and atmosphere. The Corruption of Hollis Brown broke that pattern, being an outright paranormal story.
Though it's a full-fledged fantasy story, it's a contemporary take on fantasy, maintaining Ancrum's existence on the edge of genres. It's focus is less on what ghosts are like and more so on what sharing a body would be like. The worldbuilding was sparse and mysterious, taking a long time to be explained.
It's a bit like if Venom played its premise more straight and its central relationship more gay (which is surprising given Venom is already pretty gay). Hollis and his ghost went from a power struggle over his body to loving each other so much their lives blur into each other. It's a possession story where possession helps them heal.
As usual, Ancrum does an incredible job writing troubled teenagers, doing so with empathy and grit. Hollis Brown is specifically about how communities remain trapped in poverty for generations, set in an impoverished Michigan town. It's the weirdest book in Ancrum's bibliography so far, unpacking the trauma and relationships of a ghost.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail