A review by betweentheshelves
Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed

dark emotional tense 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? No

4.5

Honestly, the main reason this book is so heartbreaking is because 1) it's based on a true story, and 2) it's something you could see happening today. In fact, it's something you see happen in news a lot. Ahmed's writing is lyrical, descriptive, and emotional. It lends itself to this story, and Safiya's and Jawad's voices just make it all the more haunting.

I think the additional of the facts, lies, and alternative facts at the beginning of each chapter added that journalism element to the story and emphasized the main themes. This is definitely a heavy book, so know that going in. It's not something you read to escape, but something you read to help make these voices heard.

The only reason this isn't getting 5 stars is because I do think the big reveal was easy to spot about halfway through the story. I'm not sure if that was intended or not, and there are definitely some readers who might not see it coming. All in all, if you're looking for a dark thriller about getting justice for those without voices, I'd definitely recommend this one!
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