Blurb: Dark, dangerous things happen around the Hollow sisters. Ever since they disappeared as children – only to reappear a month later, with no memory of what had happened to them – odd, eerie occurrences follow in their wake. When Grey, the eldest, goes missing again, Iris and Vivi are left to figure out the mystery – but they aren’t the only ones looking for her. As they brush against the supernatural, Iris realises that the world that returned them ten years ago might be calling them back. But just how much horror lies beneath the surface?
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Title: House of Hollow
Author: Krystal Sutherland
Publisher: Hot Key Books, owned by Bonnier
Genre: Fiction, YA, Horror
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Review:
Grey, Vivi and Iris are three sisters unlike any you’ve ever seen before. After disappearing as children from right under their parents noses, no one expected them to return. But they did. Naked and cold, huddled together in the exact same place they went missing from. Not all is as it seems when they return home, their brunette hair is now white and their blue eyes are black. What exactly happened to them while they were gone?
This book was on my list of 2021 releases that I was particularly excited for and it really delivered! I’m such a sucker for a dark story, even better if it’s a YA horror (as there aren’t many!) and this one is now firmly on my list of recommendations. The writing style offered a dark and delicious atmosphere that I found myself swept up in immediately – from the characters having unusual physical features to the disappearance, I was intrigued from the start. Sutherland really invokes the senses in her writing, often describing scents and settings with fantastic detail so it really feels as if we’re there with the characters. Speaking of characters, each of the sisters has their own distinct personality which is shown through their style, their interests, the way that speak and the relationships they form. I found it incredibly easy to distinguish between the sisters as they were so well written which I appreciated in particular. Also, I won’t give spoilers here but there’s definitely a certain fairytale aspect to this book that I adored. It made the story that much more complex and interesting! If you’re a fan of dark fairytales then this book should definitely be on your tbr.
As for what I disliked, there honestly wasn’t much of note. One thing I would say is that there are a few instances where American colloquialisms (cops, highway, etc.) slip out despite the idea that the characters are English and the story is set between London and Edinburgh. It felt at odds with the obvious research that’s been done when it comes to British street names, monuments and landmarks and pulled me out of the story a little bit. I’m aware that this is very nit-picky and probably wouldn’t bother other readers but for an otherwise pretty flawless story I noticed it every time.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark fairytales with a contemporary twist and isn’t adverse to a healthy dose of body horror!
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Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend?: Yes!
Have you read this book? Or maybe you’ve read something similar? What did you think? I’d love to know!
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Hannah's Bookshelf 🌸 