This felt like such a nostalgic read, which is really impressive considering it's a debut. I loved Raines' writing, making me feel like I used to feel reading YA when I was actually YA age while also still feeling in touch with current youths. The development of the relationships - not only Miles and Gabriel, but also their families - was truthful and touching. There were some moments of this that genuinely startled/scared me, which I hadn't really been expecting. A perfect autumnal or spooky season read. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the duology. (LOVE a duology.) And I loved the small town feel even more because it was set in a (fictional) small town in Washinton. Always a fan of that. I totally get the comp to the Raven Cycle. Having just read that series for the first time as a thirty-something, I see a lot of the same elements I loved: psychic family, ambivalence/hate to love slow burn relationship building, trying to save someone's life, small town feel.

The one thing that bothered me pedantically, and will continue to, is the tagline. Ghosts aren't buried, so implying that they won't stay buried really irked me. But not enough to impact my experience of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Queer ghost books might genuinely be my favorite genre of all time, so when I finally started my read of The Hollow and the Haunted, my expectations were high and enthusiasm was even higher. This was everything I could've wanted and more. Miles was instantly lovable and his world of psychics, ghosts, and secrets was a joy to navigate! I loved learning about the different characters' abilities and how those powers affected them in day-to-day life. The anxiety rep was also fantastic and I really connected with Miles in regards to it.

And Gabriel. GABRIEL. The grumpiest old man teenager ever. He acts like he's a snooty eighty-year-old and I LOVE him for it. The dynamics of him, Miles, and Charlee (Miles' incredibly cool cousin) are such a strong core for the winding, eerie, suspenseful narrative to be built on. I was on the edge of my seat the whole way and cannot recommend this book enough! (Also, Bram and Balthazar shout-out!)

The Hollow and the Haunted is perfect YA Queer Romantasy everything. I absolutely loved this book! It was extremely creepy and the banter was on point. My favorite dynamic was really between Miles' and Gabriel's mothers. It was worthy of a Real Housewives episode. The one flaw is this book promises to do so much, it is so complex, that it cannot deliver on everything by the end, which results in a TON of loose ends and one hell of a cliffhanger. Like a steep, sharp, I'm going to have nightmares about it kind of cliffhanger. And I'm very invested. The romance is the sweetest, and the characters are very interesting. I just need the next book immediately, please and thank you!
And also thanks to NetGalley and Titan books for this ARC!

Miles Warren comes from a long line of psychics, and knows he is resigned to being part of the family business, but that doesn't mean he is used to, or enjoys, having tustles with angry ghosts.

Miles also doesn't like that being part of the business means attending parties.. especially if they happen to be hosted at the Hawthorne estate, who the Warrens have had a feud with for decades

In addition to the pressures at the party, Miles is taken aback when he meets one of the Hawthorne sons, Gabriel, and realises he is the mystery boy from a vision who meets an untimely end.

Regardless of Gabriel being a Hawthorne, Miles knows he will have to save him from his fate and sets out to do that whether Gabriel likes it or not...

Reluctant allies, the two boys must work together to save Gabriel and keep their parents in the dark about the uneasy alliance... but the more time the boys spend together, the more complicated this gets....

I loved this book, the boys connection was great and I loved how you see their dynamic change over the duration of the book. Both come from interesting families but in very different ways and Miles cousin Charlee was a Standout in herself.

Cannot wait for book two, this one is out now if you want to read and I would highly recommend

Thank you to Titan and NetGalley for the review copy, all opinions my own regardless

The Hollow and the Haunted was a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed the build up of the relationship of the two main characters (sunshine x grumpy). You get a story with mystery, special powers and complicated families. I can't wait for the sequel.

Huge Thanks to Camilla Raines, Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

October 23, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and TitanBooks for sending me the ARC.

Oh my fucking god. Are you kidding me??? This book is absolutely perfect for YA readers. I absolutely adore the relationships that are forming, and the STORYLINES??? Are absolutely phenomenal.

Miles is an empath who comes from a family with unusual gifts. He starts getting visions about a boy named Gabriel, and the visions include Miles witnessing Gabriel’s death. He should probably go warn and help him right? The problem? Gabriel is the son of the Hawthorne family, the very family that Miles’ family is sworn enemies with. So when Gabriel shows up at his school, Miles decides to take the leap, and help him ib any way he can, no matter the cost.

Gabriel and Miles’ relationship was the perfect amount of slow burn. They had me kicking my little feet omlllll absolutely enjoyed the build up and the REVEALS ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES??? I would LOVE to see more about the surrounding family relationships. I AM LOVING HOW ALL THE SIBLINGS ARE SO LOVING AND ACCEPTING!!! The writing is perfect, and I felt that the characters were so authentic, and that’s so evident through the dialogue. That cliffhanger makes me want to dive myself into the depths of Camille’s brain so that I can get my grimy little hands on the next one PLS!!!!!!!

This is a fantastic debut and I have to say perfect for lovers of a good spooky or gothic read. The writing is vivid and beautiful, the world building and characters are amazing. I instantly loved Miles and my only issue is he’s not real. Seriously I loved him. There is an edge of the gothic and while this runs the line between YA and New Adult I personally loved the vibes. It’s a bit Lockwood & Co but in the best possible way.

The book had me chuckling and worrying in equal measure. There is a bit of humour there that works to lighten it but Raines knows how to go dark as well. Despite the ghosts and danger it was almost heartwarming. I really can’t wait for more from Raines and I would recommend this to any lover of spooky reads.

As always thank you to the Titan Books and Netgalley for my copy. My review is always honest, truthful and freely given.

Thank you to Netgalley and Titan books publisher's for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sunshine characters are my absolute favourite trope - and Miles is the poster boy for sunshine characters. He's a walking, people pleasing golden retriever. Safe to say I really enjoyed reading from his perspective. The setting was comforting - small sleepy town, cosy close-knit family, who just happen to be psychics. The pacing is good with the story kicking off really quickly and the insight into the workings of the world felt natural and not info-dumpy.

Gabriel and Miles had loads of chemistry, and I loved the progression of their relationship. So curious to see how Gabriel's gifts will affect it in the future. Poor Gabriel, I just wanted to give him a hug! Him and all of his siblings!

Only complaint is I was really enjoying the story and it felt like it stopped suddenly - I know cliffhangers are a thing but it didn't feel like anything was truly resolved by the time it ended. Usually we have one aspect actually resolved and then the cliffhanger is something unexpected that we feel like we should have seen coming but <spoiler> I was never convinced Florence was the killer anyway, so ending it with her banishment and no unveiling of who it might actually be didn't feel right. It was obvious something was up with Gabriel but him running away on its own was just frustrating. Anyway, I suspect aunt Robin, ressurectuon, grief etc</spoiler>

тιтℓє: The Hollow and the Haunted
αυтнσя(ѕ): Camilla Raines
яєℓєαѕє ∂αтє: October 22, 2024
яαтιηg: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

✧ ✧ ✧
му тнσυgнтѕ:

Miles Warren is an empath who’s destined to follow in his dad’s footsteps and end up exhausted and working for next to nothing for the rest of his life…
That is until he has a premonition of a pale, dark haired boy around his age who turns out to be Gabriel Hawthorne, the cold, aloof, and terribly lonely son of a rival family…
A premonition that forces the boys to work together so they can discover the truth and stop Gabriel’s death before it happens.

𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨’𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙚𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘, 𝙣𝙚𝙬-𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙞𝙧𝙙𝙤𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙬𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨, 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙛 𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙩.

The sweetest, and slowest of burns.
A true enemies to sweet love at the heart of a mysteriously haunting and absolutely thrilling tale of ritualistic powers and lies.
The plot is SO GOOD.
It’s also a cliffhanger!
I wasn’t aware we were going to have a cliffy, so now I NEED the next book and I can’t wait!

“𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩.”

This one took me a bit longer to read than normal.
There’s a lot of material and the slowest of builds but it really is worth it all.
The writing is fantastic and the characters developed at a well-thought out pace.

𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣. 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣.

I love this book and am absolutely FUMING about the ending. I genuinely thought it was a sick joke where chapters were missing as it is so abrupt.

The Hollow and the Haunted is a YA spooky romance with countless family secrets, murderous ghosts, dark magic, and teenage angst. It's delightful to read as the characters are so likeable and their relationships are thoughtful and complex. Miles is from a tight knit family who struggle to make ends meet, and Gabriel is rich but lonely due to his icy upbringing. The two come together in an effort to change the future, but things aren't as straightforward as they first think...

I really like the writing style, and the characterization of Miles in particular had me invested really quickly. He's anxious, keen to please those he cares about, and is kind but sarcastic which is a great combo. His bond with Charlee is so comforting and sweet, and even though the content is pretty grim and packed full of gravedigging, evil rituals, and blood the story is actually super cozy too. I loved it - until the complete lack of any ending.

Yes, this is the start to a series, but I expected some sort of conclusion rather than more questions and a massive cliffhanger. I'm going to have this niggling sense that I'm missing out until I get to continue the story. If you struggle with waiting between books just keep this in mind.

This is definitely a story to check out though as it's really atmospheric, cute despite the potential for ritual sacrifices, and a real page turner. If you like opposites attract romances, eerie witchy vibes, or cold case mysteries then this is for you.

4.5 stars
Oh my God this book was absolutely brilliant and I found myself flying through it! I loved the characters, I loved the world building and magic system and I loved the mystery surrounding it all! Camilla Raines writing style is addictive and descriptive and the fact that this is a debut novel blows my mind!

Miles is a fantastic character and despite everything he has been told he decides to help the rival family's son. I really liked getting to know Miles and I loved watching him grow throughout the book. He is such a caring and helpful character and I just wanted to hold him tight and protect him. In comparison Gabriel is brooding, distant and quite cold when we first meet him. However I loved watching him open up to Miles the more they spend together and it gave me the best grumpy x sunshine vibes. I loved the slow burn of it all and cannot wait to see how it progresses in the next book!

Honestly this was an amazing read and I enjoyed every minute of it. All the characters, including side characters were fantastic and loveable. The ending had me on tender hooks and I am absolutely desperate for the next one already!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had a little trouble getting into this one, and I think it's because as much as I adore Miles as a narrator, this wasn't really his story. This book falls into the realm of queer paranormal romance/cozy mystery. Miles and Gabriel come from rival, gifted families. Miles is an empath, not a seer, but all of a sudden he starts getting visions of a boy in trouble. It turns out that boy is grumpy, brooding Gabriel, the son of his family's oldest rivals. Miles decides to help Gabriel find out who is going to kill him and try to stop it because he is too kind to let someone die, and as noble as that is, I wanted Miles to have a deeper, more personal reason to get involved. I think that would have raised the stakes and made this story far more addictive.

As it stands, the high points of this book are the characters and the banter. Miles has a great, quippy, on-brand voice and the development of the rivals to lovers, grumpy/sunshine romance was done spectacularly well. If you are a fan of F.T. Lukens' Spellbound or Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, you will love this, and despite my initial hesitation, this was definitely a book worth sticking with until the end.

The Hollow and the Haunted is something I have been looking for, for a very long time, a series that may at last fill The Raven Cycle shaped hole in my life. Filled with affection, psychics, intrigue, and the looming threat of a rich boy dying, Raines has crafted something wonderfully intense and absorbing.

The action, and gothic edge, of the Lockwood & Co. books meet the emotional power and intricate relationships of The Raven Cycle series, in what is sure to be a YA stand-out. Filled with sadness, duty, love, friendship and enough witty repartee to make you laugh out loud, Raines has stormed onto the scene with a debut so utterly beguiling, I am still thinking about it days later. I sometimes say I will continue series I start on NetGalley, but rarely can I say it with 100% certainty, I want to see how this story ends, but more than that, I have become a Camilla Raines auto-buyer based on this excellent debut alone.

The Hollow and the Haunted follows Miles Warren, a closeted teenage psychic recently plagued by worrying premonitions. As an empath, Miles shouldn't be foreseeing anyone's death, but, if he had to choose, front row seats to the untimely demise of Gabriel Hawthorne, middle son of the illustrious Hawthorne family, would certainly not have been his first choice. Add a long running family feud, Gabriel's shocking lack of social skills, Miles' need to keep their budding partnership from his family, and the sparks of something that is absolutely not a crush (despite what Miles' cousin Charlee might imply) and you've got the recipe for a pretty excellent YA novel.

It is hard to pinpoint what about this book makes it so successful. In part I think it is Raines' ability to bring us into Miles, to see how he navigates the world, follow his logic, and truly understand what it is he's hoping to achieve. In part, I think it is Raines' ability to make Gabriel so perfectly lovable, for all his sharp edges. And in part, I think it is the story, which spirals inexorably towards tragedy, the tide held back only by the will of a single young-man, whose earnest, good natured care feels so perfectly enough. I was absorbed by this tale, and charmed by its characters, but it is both of those elements layered together that makes this a truly brilliant example of YA fiction.

5 stars, and more praise than I can put into words. An utterly wonderful novel, in what will likely become one of my favourite series. Thank you to Camilla Raines, Titan Books, and NetGalley for a galley of this in exchange for an honest review.

“And now it was painfully clear that for the last few years, all he’d let himself want was the bare minimum: hide his sexuality until he was ready, pass his classes and keep his grades acceptable, manage his anxiety enough that he could function. Do whatever he could to make his parents proud, to keep the peace within his family and be an easy, good son. He didn’t think he wanted the bare minimum anymore.”

Miles Warren is all too familiar with the unnatural. Hailing from a long line of psychics, he is no stranger to hauntings, visions, or mystical charms. However, Miles is a stranger to Gabriel Hawthorne, a member of a family that has decades-long beef with the Warrens. So, when Gabriel appears to be haunting Miles’ life in what can only be described as an eerie death premonition, Miles is shocked. Knowing Gabriel is going to die weighs on Miles’ conscience. Despite Gabriel’s overall unpleasantness and the tension between their families, Miles decides to help the second Hawthorne son prevent his untimely demise. With Gabriel’s future at stake, the two boys work together to try to stop Miles’ premonition from coming true. Along the way, they develop an unlikely alliance and uncover dark secrets about their family histories that raise more questions than they answer.

A wonderful mix of mystery, fantasy, and romance, The Hollow and the Haunted was such a compelling and thoughtful read. The masterful character development of both Miles and Gabriel sparked a greater interest in the plot and the outcome of their narratives, and I grew to care deeply about both of them as the story progressed. Miles, as the novel’s protagonist, has a strong and relatable voice, and watching him come into his own over the course of the book was something beautiful to see. While the two boys start with nothing in common except a dislike for the other, their relationship evolves in a lovely, timid, and gripping way, adding heart to the novel. Seeing how well these characters were crafted, I wish some of the other characters in the story had been flushed out a bit more; the parents of both boys seemed to have such potential to be very compelling but were left undeveloped for a good portion of the story, leaving me wanting to know so much more about them. This supernatural story kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page (and long after; I am still thinking about the cliff-hanger). With an intense plot twist and a shocking ending that left me with so many unanswered questions, I am given no choice but to desperately await a sequel to Raines’ captivating debut novel.

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.

As Miles and Gabriel both agree to uncover the mysteries behind the premonition, the world opens us to the decaying grandeur of the Hawthorne's estate, the eerie woods that surround it all contribute to the novel’s mystique and brooding atmosphere. The story touched on the psychic society many times as well as the hierarchy of families in it. The prose is both lyrical and sharp, the mystery of the past, the tension between the characters and the secrecy all contribute to keeping the reader hooked as the story slowly unravels.

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.

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.

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.