Loved the world-building and the character Miles. He was funny and relatable. His family, apart from his cousin, were rather one-dimensional - they might be fleshed out in the next book but the father in particular is more of a cipher so far.

The banter between Miles and Gabriel is great and it makes you want to root for them.

The plot is a bit flimsy and predictable but I loved the set up and would want to read the next book to find out where it’s going.

Perfect for the season!

A haunting, emotionally charged tale of family, love, and the supernatural, The Hollow and the Haunted will appeal to readers who enjoy gothic horror with a psychological twist.

The story is set in Thistle, a town filled with psychics. We follow Miles Warren, who is an empath. He can vividly feel and absorb the emotions of others, but recently, his abilities have grown more intense. He begins having premonitions of someone’s death, disturbing flashes that leave him shaken. These visions lead him to Gabriel Hawthorne, a member of the rival family that his own has loathed for generations. As Miles learns more about Gabriel, he realizes that there is more to his facade. Gabriel is grappling with his own fears and uncertainties but is determined to do what is right.

The world opens us to a decaying grandeur of the Hawthorne's estate, the eerie woods that surround it all contribute to novel’s mystique and brooding atmosphere. The prose is both lyrical and sharp, the palpable tension between the characters all contribute in keeping the reader hooked as the mysteries of the past slowly unravel.

There are moments when the pacing feels uneven. The build-up to the final confrontation is effective, but some of the early chapters felt slow especially if they have anticipated the supernatural action. Although, for those who enjoy a slow-burn mystery with emotional depth, the pacing has opened up the opportunity for greater immersion in the world that was created.

The Hollow and the Haunted is an engaging and atmospheric novel that combines supernatural thrills with a deeply personal story about identity, legacy, and forgiveness. Miles’ journey is not only about saving Gabriel from his cursed fate but also about finding the courage to embrace his true self in the face of familial expectations. The novel’s themes of hidden secrets and the burden of the past resonate powerfully, making it a great read for fans of gothic horror and character-driven narratives.

Disclaimer: ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I had the opportunity to read an ARC of The Hollow and the Haunted by Camilla Raines, and I picked it up right after finishing A Court of Mist and Fury. I was still deep in a book hangover from ACOMAF, so I'll admit, my head wasn't entirely in this book at first. I was even tempted to DNF it early on, but I decided to keep reading and push through. I'm glad I did because the story did pick up.

As a debut, this one had it's strengths, particularly with the mysterious plot and character relationships. Charlee was easily my favorite character. I loved her dynamic with Miles; their close-knit relationship felt genuine and gave the story a lot of its heart. There were some really sweet and funny moments between them that I really enjoyed.

However, while the book had a few aspects I enjoyed, I did have a few issues with it. The parental situation for starters, not to mention that there were a lot of unanswered questions by the end. It honestly felt like this story was setting up for a series. I kept waiting for more to be revealed, with characters and plot, but it turns out this is a standalone – at least for now.

Overall, this wasn't a bad read. It had potential, and as a debut it shows promise. I'd love to see where Camilla Raines goes from here, and if she ever revisits this storyline, I'll be interested to see how it continues to evolve.

This has become one of my favorite books I've read this year. It's perfect for October, we love some spooky fun around Halloween time.

The main strength here is the vivid writing and wonderful world building that's done from the very beginning. You really get a sense of the town and the overall universe from the first chapter alone. The characters are all wonderfully well written, and the quirky psychic family reminded me a lot of the Raven Cycle series, which is always a plus.

Our main characters are wonderful, Miles is a belabored sweet heart and I always love a prickly character like Gabriel. The romance isn't quite the star of the book though, as it ultimately is more of a spooky mystery with a dash of romance and a cliffhanger.

It's got an overall Practical Magic type feel to it, which is always my go to explanation for books like this but it always seems to perfectly sum up the vibe so it works.

Long story short: read it and love it.

Gimme the sequel now pls thx

The Hollow and the Haunted has in interesting cover and looked to be perfect for the time of year, spooky time. I was very right with that.

We meet Miles just as he is digging up a grave and hoping that zombies aren't actually real. Of course they aren't. Ghosts are. Digging up graves and dispelling the ghosts and hauntings they do is the family business that he has been roped into since he was 13. And he is okay with that. Sort of. But when he gets a premonition of a boy in the mirror, it shakes up his whole world.

I was smiling and chuckling all throughout the first chapter and I knew then that I was going to really like this book. I took an instant liking to Miles. Responsible Miles who is a bit sarcastic as a young adult should be. I felt for him instantly. Its not that his family is bad, they just don't quite see him. Not his wish to go to an art school, not that he is actually gay. And you wish so much better for him.

Enter Gabriel, our premonition boy. And if you suspect he is the love interest, than you are spot on. But it doesn't matter for the story. It is a slow build, there is no talk of loving each other yet by the end. I appreciated that so much. It is just cute young adult love. Amidst murderous ghosts and all.

Gabriel was initially the cold hearted bastard but it is clear that there is so much more underneath him. That he is just scared about this death premonition about him. I feel like they were truly starting to get to know each other by the end of the book. They still had a lot of discovering to do but the start was there.

I also appreciated the friendship that Miles had with his cousin and the relatinship that Gabriel had with his brothers. They felt warm, each in their own way.

All in all, despite the murderous ghosts and all that, this book left me with a warm feeling. It is probably for that reason why I felt like screaming and throwing my phone across the room for that ending. Honestly, you can't end it like that. (Well you can, if you are going to have a sequel)

PLEASE this is one of the best books I've read this year. A horror mystery? YES PLEASE. I cannot teco enough.

The Hollow and the Haunted was a wonderful and well-paced queer horror mystery filled with excellent twists and some incredibly imagined paranormal elements.

This was the perfect type of book to pick up this time of year. It is perfectly paced with excellent characterisation and a cracking mystery to unravel. Raines builds brilliantly on that incredible premise, just let the story sink its claws into you.

I really enjoyed our central characters of Miles and Gabriel, particuarly Miles at first. He has such an interesting power and one that definitely feels like it could be a curse. Raines weaves his premonitions into the narrative in a way that feels disruptive and different. The two of them have such a great dynamic, with that enemies to maybe something more gradually building up. Their feud is deep-seated with a mysterious family rivalry that involves a bit of death and destruction. I liked how Raines added a class element to this fraught dynamic as well. It grounded it in the midst of the fantasy atmosphere. They’re both fiercely loyal to their families, feeling the weight of their legacies on their shoulders.

The mystery is well-crafted, with plenty of red herrings and surprises in store. It is incredibly paced, with that ticking clock adding a sense of urgency to proceedings. In fact, the whole magic system is deeply fascinating and has a sense of darkness that casts an eerie atmosphere over it all. It is so rich and Raines gives us just enough to keep you craving more. Without giving anything away, the ending is spot on, but I do have a bone to pick with Raines over it. I am beyond excited to see where the story goes next and will be thinking about that ending until then.

The Hollow and the Haunted is a spine-tingling, sensational YA debut that I thoroughly recommend.

If Netflix’s Dead’s Boys Detectives had a baby with The Inheritance Games books by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, this book would be it. But like… bigger. And better. And more cliff hanger-y.

Miles Warren’s family chock full of people who possess otherworldly abilities. In between digging up graves in the middle of the night to dispell restless spirits and cleansing possessed items, Miles is also a regular teenager with regular problems, the least of which is trying to figure out how to come out as gay to his incredibly busy family. When Miles starts experiencing visions of a dark (and handsome!) mysterious stranger, it becomes necessary to form an uneasy alliance with the subject of those visions.

Gabriel Hawthorne never wanted to team up with anyone, especially not a Warren. After all, a decades long chasm of secrets and hostility holds the two families at either end of a bitter rivalry. But fate doesn’t care about feuds. When Miles warns Gabriel that he had seen danger in his future, the two must work together to put the past aside and puzzle out the meaning of Miles’ visions before it’s too late.

Camilla Raines does an amazing job sucking the reader into the supernatural world of Miles and Gabriel. Their chemistry is immediate and immaculate. This was a quick read that kept me turning the pages late into the night. My only tiny critique is that the sequel is not in my hands RIGHT NOW because I need to see how these two wrap up their story.

The Hollow and the Haunted by Camilla Raines is a thrilling and atmospheric debut that draws readers into a magical world filled with tension, family feuds, and budding romance. Set in Washington State, the story centers on Miles Warren, a closeted teenage psychic who foresees the death of Gabriel Hawthorne, the son of his family’s sworn enemies. Forced to work together to prevent Gabriel's impending murder, Miles and Gabriel uncover dark secrets, twisted magic, and even deeper feelings that neither of them expected.

Raines does a fantastic job of developing the dynamic between Miles and Gabriel. I loved the grumpy-sunshine trope in this book—Miles, the empathic and warm-hearted protagonist, and Gabriel, the aloof and guarded rival. As the two spend time together, their personalities clash, but gradually they begin to see past their families' feud. Gabriel, once cold and distant, starts to reveal his softer side, while Miles grows stronger, learning to stand up for himself.

One of the biggest strengths of the novel is its vivid writing. The atmosphere Raines creates is darkly magical, and the setting feels immersive, especially as the boys navigate eerie cemeteries and haunted places. I especially loved how the banter between Miles and Gabriel lightened the mood, and even Miles' old car, Blanche, felt like a character in its own right. Their slow-burn romance had me hooked, and watching their relationship evolve from reluctant allies to something deeper was a true pleasure.

While the supernatural elements and the family mystery are captivating, the romance does take a backseat, as this book focuses more on the unraveling of family secrets and the eerie visions haunting Miles. The novel ends on quite the cliffhanger, which left me eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.

Though some parts of the plot felt a bit predictable, the engaging character dynamics and fluid pacing kept me invested from start to finish. Miles, in particular, is a relatable and likable protagonist, struggling with his role in the family business while dealing with his own insecurities and desires. Gabriel's transformation is equally compelling, and I’m dying to see where Raines takes these two characters next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Titan Books, and Camilla Raines for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a fun and magical read, and I can’t wait for the sequel!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

I liked the premise and the characters, but this fell into "like" and not "love" categories for me. Still, a strong debut and I look forward to more from this author.

5 GRAVE DIGGIN' STARS

I loved this book from the first chapter until the last. Gay paranormal version of Romeo and Juliet with an eerie premonition?? Sold!!!

I love where the book took me. I love the subtle and obvious character growths from all the characters and I'm so excited to be read the second book because how dare you leave me hanging!!!!!!

I thought this was a standalone, but honestly, reading through it all made me realize that it's better as a series!

Very sweet & spooky queer YA romance. Loved the magical elements and the Enemies to Unwilling Allies, to possible more trope. The only downfall (for me) is the abrupt cliffhanger ending! I was hoping already that there will more in this series but wasn't expecting this story to drop off before any meaningful conclusion was reached. I'd still recommend this title, and am already anticipating the sequel!

It took some time to get started on reading this, as life happens but ugh I regret that because this book made me sit my butt down at my screen and not more for hours.

As somewhat still of a romance rookie, I gotta admit I wasn't sure this book would get me, I'm still trying to find my thing so thanks for being that book to help me figure it out a bit, cos the dynamics and tropes in this book? Incredible. I knew I had a thing for grumpy sunshine, but this book does it so well - if you love that too, this book, read it.

Its comparisons to The Raven Boys would have put me off so I'm glad I didn't notice that, as this book does actually I feel have a voice of its own, I couldn't think of anyone to really compare it too (but maybe I've just not read enough!) but I really liked the tone and the style here.

Plot wise, from page one I was intrigued and it kept me sat though I don't know some of the last pages seem a little a bit of a climb down, however I do feel this book is just prepping for book 2, and that is okay with me after how good this was.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Ok, I'm going to say some things and it is probably going to sound mean, but this is probably one of the most basic ya books I've read in a while. Let's start with the plot. Miles and Gabriel are able to learn a lot of information about the mystery very easily and very quickly. Also, none of the reveals were particularly shocking. Everything that I thought was going to happen, happened. Very predictable, very simple. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just didn't find it particularly engaging. Now, the characters. All the adults act like adults in stereotypical YA books. They are irrational, useless, immature, and cause more harm than good. Again, this isn't "bad." A lot of YA books have this setup. The teens in the story need to be heroes, which means the adults need to be out of the picture. This means that either the parents are dead or they are useless. Miles and Gabriel were also pretty simplistic characters. They start out as "rivals/enemies" and then grow to care for each other over the course of the book. To the book's credit, they do actually talk and get to know each other. However, all these conversations are very "meme-y." For example, they debate whether pineapple should be on pizza and dog-earring book pages vs using a book mark. It was just pretty shallow. If you are not a fan of YA books, then I wouldn't recommend giving this a read. If you enjoy YA books and don't mind "teens acting like teens," then you will likely enjoy this.

This LGBT+ Romeo and Juliet/ Pride and Prejudice romance is full of action. Miles and Gabriel come from two magical families embroiled in a feud that started generations before. Miles sees a premonition of Gabriel's' death and feels duty-bound to pass the information on despite their families' hatred of each other. This act develops into a bickering, uneasy relationship as they work together to try to prevent Gabriel's demise and work out what started their families rift long ago. There are plenty of 'will they, won't they' moments, dangerous situations in graveyards and lots of family secrets to be revealed. The plot is pacey, brilliantly complex and will keep you turning the pages until the night.

Comparisons to The Raven Boys and Cemetery Boys was what initially pulled me towards this book, but what kept me reading was the cozy spookiness of it all, along with the moodiness of Gabriel vs the shyness of Miles. I could tell from the start that this was going to be a 5-star read for me, and it didn't disappoint. I loved everything about it.

Imagine how it would feel like to have a premonition of someone’s death that you don’t know. Imagine what it would feel like to meet them knowing that one day the fate you saw would one day come to pass. Imagine getting to know them, befriending them, and ultimately loving them knowing their death is imminent.

That is the story of ‘The Hollow and The Haunted’. It is a desperate search to find a way to save someone that might not be able to be saved. While, getting closer and finding that an arrogant exterior is all there is and there’s something beautiful to love on the inside.

My favorite parts of this book were the humors. The moments where it felt like the universe was pushing two people who are meant for each other together. The soft moments of Miles and Gabriel discovering the sweet little things about each other that makes them unique, lovable, and amazing humans. Add in that their friendship wouldn’t even be allowed by their families due to a past rivalry let alone loving each other, you get a story that you can’t stop reading once you begin.

I somehow didn’t realize this book was going to be the first in a series of books and when it came to the end I was like What?!? No I need MORE! But, there will be more in the sequel and I cannot wait to read it when that comes out eventually.

Read this gay little paranormal romance story. It will make you laugh, it will make you anxious, and it will make you believe that love has no boundaries.

The Hollow and the Haunted tells the story of Miles Warren, a closeted teenage psychic, and his attempts to help a member of another local family avoid a terrible fate.
Miles never feels as if his skills as an empath are that well regarded. However, when he starts seeing visions of a boy in his mirror he is curious to know what it means. When his parents insist on him attending a party at the Hawthorne mansion he realises that the boy in his visions is one of the Hawthorne children, Gabriel. Somehow their fates end up intertwined.
Throughout the story we sense there is a dark secret behind the skills of the Hawthorne family. Gabriel and Miles draw closer as they attempt to avoid the visions coming true. But it was inherently frustrating that we never work out exactly what was happening or what Gabriel’s mother may have had to do with this.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this prior to publication.

Thanks to Titan and NetGalley for allowing me to arc read this book.
Such a cozy queer fantasy romance! Camilla’s writing is so beautiful and descriptive that I felt like I was in Washington, even though I have never been there. I loved the rivals to lovers element as well as the grumpy/sunshine aspect. Seeing Gabriel’s character unfold and open up to Miles was probably my favorite part. The romance between the boys is such a small piece of this story though. The decades long rivalry between the families, and the paranormal happenings take center stage. I actually could not believe the book ended when it did and I will be on the lookout for a release date for book two!
If you don’t enjoy cliffhangers, I would wait to read this one until you can also binge the next one. Overall, this is just the perfect October read!

The Hollow and the Haunted is a captivating debut fantasy romance that blends elements of mystery, magic, and queer love. Set in Washington State, the story follows Miles Warren, a closeted teenage psychic, who is forced to work with his sworn enemy, Gabriel Hawthorne, to prevent his untimely death.

What I Loved:

Atmospheric Setting: The author creates a richly detailed and atmospheric world, filled with haunted cemeteries, dark magic, and intriguing family secrets.
Compelling Characters: Miles and Gabriel are both complex and well-developed characters. Their initial animosity slowly evolves into a captivating and heartwarming relationship.
Unique Premise: The concept of a psychic and his sworn enemy working together to prevent a murder is a unique and intriguing premise that keeps the reader engaged.
Queer Representation: The novel features a well-represented queer relationship, which is a refreshing and important aspect of the story.
What Could Have Been Better:

Pacing: While the story is enjoyable, some parts might feel a bit slow-paced, particularly in the beginning.
Predictability: While the overall plot is intriguing, some elements of the mystery might be predictable for experienced readers of the genre.
Overall:

The Hollow and the Haunted is a captivating and atmospheric fantasy romance that will leave you wanting more. With its compelling characters, unique premise, and well-developed world, this book is a must-read for fans of queer fantasy and magical realism.