Member Reviews

Wasn't the biggest fan of this, despite being so excited to read it. I don't know what it was, but it just wasn't for me. Which is a shame, really, because the writing was good.

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I had mixed feelings about this book, especially with so much hype. At points it seemed so tedious to read with the constant phrases of how it all smelt like smoke and the numerous mentions of the smell of decay. However, there were points where it actually got interesting; it was such an up and down motion of boredom and interest.
An intriguing premise but one that I don't think I will reread.

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I read House of Hollow quite quickly but found it rather tedious. I was drawn in by the promise of body horror and creepiness but I got a short, basic fairy tale about 3 sisters who can travel to another 'world'.
I was disappointed in the resolution, it seemed a very easy conclusion which could have had so much more done with it.

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I didn't dislike this but I was going to lose it if I read “smelt like decaying leaves”, “smelt like smoke”, or “smelt like burning skin” once more.

Some of the writing was beautiful in this book (I highlighted so many passages), but the story was very rushed, I was 50% through and felt like nothing had really happened. The ending redeemed it a little but it was just an ok read and nothing groundbreaking.

Also, what is the obsession with absinthe ????

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I was intrigued by the premise of House of Hollow, but the sample didn't quite hook me enough to go out and buy a copy. If I come across it again, I may purchase.

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This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller!!
Absolutely loved the characters, the plot, the tension - impossible to put it down.
Certainly recommended!

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I don’t know if I liked this or not. It had an interesting concept. Dark and wowed is normally something I love but I just couldn’t get into this book. Didn’t like any of the characters really. The writing was lovely but something about this book was missing for me.

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When Iris Hollow was seven years old, she and her sisters were stolen into the forest and spit back out a month later. They have no memory of the incident, yet it left them permanently changed. The Hollow sisters emerged adorning crescent shaped scars on their necks, with hair that slowly changed to white, and eyes that became black. It’s now been ten years since then, and one of Iris’ sisters is taken again, leading her down a dark path towards the truth of what happened to them as children.

get repetitive in the second half, which is why my interest began steadily declining after that point. It’s a shame, really, because the setup was brilliant! House of Hollow had a ton of potential, and while much of it was delivered well, I do think Sutherland could have took a bigger leap. In the end, I can’t fault this book too much. It was quite enjoyable with just the right amount of creepiness!

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As soon as I read the book title I knew I would enjoy this book and I am happy to say I was not wrong. This book brings the creepy and unsettling vibes written in a different writing style than I expected. The book was really well paced that I didnt realise how much I was reading in one sitting. It's a must read.

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Best book ever. I read only the first few chapters because this is what was provided through NetGalley, but I ran to buy the kindle version (only 99p!! :O ). The style was engaging and elegant, almost literary. And the characters were interesting and complex. I just loved it and I cannot wait to go and read the rest! This promises to be one of my favourite books ever!!

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I really enjoyed everything about this book, I found it was written really good and can’t wait to read more from this author

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I have mixed feeling about this book, on one hand I love a twisted dark fairy tale on the other I hate clichés which House of Hollow has but doesn't do anything new with them. The story felt a little rushed, where most fairytale YA's I find drag. Though it was enjoyable I just wished I had enjoyed it more.

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DNF, I had to put this one aside, but maybe I will give it another chance in the future, as I believe I just started it at the wrong time

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A fabulous and enticing sample, the atmosphere was unbelievable and I just couldn’t wait for the rest so im about to buy the full book. This is exactly what I was looking for and can’t wait for more

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

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House of Hollow has an eerie premise that threads itself through the narrative that lends itself to the works of Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

The characters are very solid and well written and although there is an off centre spirit of the book, they feel three dimensional and often act within the natural aspects of the story. The poetic substance written to unfold the characters, especially Iris lends itself very well with the overall feel for the book.

The plot is very within its fable, mystery horror roots and although sometimes some of the pacing seems to give away for the fluid storytelling, the reader is very much engaged in the piece. It flows and but there is some passages that tend to meander a little where style sometimes takes over from substance. It is beautifully written and the overall effect is very spell binding.

The conclusion is a little bit of a let down and would have liked a more surprise turn but then again this is firmly aimed at the young adult market and they may find it more of a surprise than a seasoned reader like myself.

Overall, this is a spellbinding, dreamlike book with strong characters, interesting story technique and haunting imagery that stays in the readers subconscious long after the final words. This is an interesting book and one that should please people who are looking for something slightly different than what is currently out there. A book that will find its dedicated base and a new author that I am interested in reading more from.

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House of Hollow was such a bizarre yet beautiful read. I never quite knew what was going to happen next but I couldn't keep my eyes off the page. The characters are enchanting and I enjoyed the magical realism aspects.

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This book gave me everything I wanted and more. I wanted mystery, horror and to be on the edge of my seat and I got all of that. I love any books that explore family relationships and they were written beautifully in this. I don't often get scared by books but this one definitely creeped me out, which is always a good sign for a scary book right!

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Quick fire review:

- I was actually quite disappointed with House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland. While there's a sinister atmosphere and growing tension throughout, it fell quite flat for me in the end.
- House of Hollow is a mystery and a horror in one. What happened to the Hollow sisters when they disappeared years ago? What's happened to Grey this time? And who is the strange man wearing the skull of bull that seems to be following Iris?
- I was intrigued by the mystery, though the what of the story was pretty obviously from fairly early on, so it was the why and the how that I was looking forward to. But the big reveal was massively disappointing. Most of my questions weren't answered, and I felt the build up should have led to something bigger than what we got.
- The horror element was also really disappointing. The scariest aspects of the story happen off page, so we never actually see them. There's all this build up that doesn't really lead to very much.
- House of Hollow wasn't for me, but do read some other reviews before deciding whether or not to read it yourself.

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I was hooked from the first page, the writing style is absolutely beautiful, the story very whimsical & weird and I can’t wait to find out what happened with the Hollow sisters!

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This was a terrifying story in the best way; the creepy vibes, the depth of the writing and the dark, lush world-building really drew me in!!

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