A review by wlreed312
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

When they were young, Iris Hollow and her two sisters were walking down a street with their parents when they vanished. A month later, they reappeared on the same street with no clothes, no memories of where they had been, and scars on their throats. Years later, the eldest sister Grey has once again disappeared, and it's up to Iris and middle sister Vivi to follow the clues to find her before it's too late, possibly unraveling some of the past's mystery while they are searching.

This one isn't going to be for everyone, but I really loved it. It's a weird blend of haunting and pragmatic at the same time, and it really worked for me. A lot of it feels like the best kind of dark fairy tale, and the bits and pieces that are supplied as Iris and Vivi search for Grey are magical. It's a fairly slow paced book, and often feels almost dream-like as you read. I really liked the bond between the sisters, and particularly liked Vivi as a character. There is weird body horror sprinkled throughout, but again it feels more like a dark fairy tale than anything else. I guessed part of the ending midway through, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment. CW for mentions of suicide, weird bugs/plants, death of family (in the past)
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