The Hollows

This was a really fun, wintery horror! It took a bit for me to get into the story & to get on board with Ellie as a protagonist, but once it picked up I was really engrossed throughout the rest of the book.

Most of the Harpers were hatable, but not in an overly annoying or repetitive way, which made them very good villains. I also loved the creatures in this book, specifically the scene with Joda close to the start, that's what really got me hooked into the story 

Overall, this book had great atmosphere, characters, monsters and villains and was just an overall very fun time! My only real critique is that the book was a bit long and some parts definitely could've been shaved down, but I'd still recommend if you're looking for a small town, wintery creature feature with lovable characters 

Felt a lot longer than it should have been; there???s a chunk in the middle that I think could have been done away with and the story would???ve still been fun. Much tighter in that sense, too.  If the monsters hadn???t been revealed so early, I think that entire middle part of the plot might have worked, because there???d be that tension of not knowing what the fuck is out there. But maybe that???s personal preference, because I don???t really like knowing what the monster looks like until absolutely necessary. What you see in your head is always scarier than anything can actually be and all that. 

Regardless, this was an immensely fun ride! Loved the concept of the Tatterskins and the old gods in the deep; loved the folk horror with the pinch of cosmic horror (or maybe Lovecraftian horror; the nods to Lovecraft were practically everywhere) on top of everything. Also liked the insight into the characters; the multiple POVs could easily go off the rails but the author managed to keep things on the rails for the most part.

This would make a FANTASTIC movie or miniseries though! Put it in the hands of a good director; not sure I can name names for this but it would make a great movie. There???s plenty of scenes that feel cinematic; the way some scenes are written feels that way too. Almost feels like it???s made for adaptation. 

I just finished The Hollows by Daniel Church and here are my thoughts....

In a semi isolated village in the Peak District in England.. Snow, the likes that this small town never sees, isn't the only odd occurrence Ellie Cheetham finds a body. Looks like a tragic accident but was it?

The dead man is holding a knife and his position suggests he was hiding from someone but who? Who left the mark drawn on the stone next to his body and what does it mean?

When people start to disappear right out of their homes and the only trace is smashed in windows and doors.... Someone or something is killing and taking people under the cover of darkness.

The storm is relentless and the village is now without power, phone lines and cut off from the outside world. Can who's left make it through the night? Can one family's bible explain what is happening and help them survive the longest night of the year?

This book was well thought out and researched which was just the very start to this brilliantly written novel. I actually didn't have any expectations of this book as I felt the synopsis was cleverly vague but intriguing enough that I was happy to sit down and get stuck in. It started a little slow but it was again, a clever tactic of the author to gently introduce you to what will become a book full of mystery, intrigue and a little horror with a dash of carnage. I enjoy books that straddle genres and this one I would call a paranormal mystery.

So cleverly done and I wanted to know more about what was going bump in the night and sometimes, I find books like this don't offer up explanations of what the what was but this one didn't do that and that excited me no end!

Loved the location and the plot. Was well worth the read.

4.5 stars! If you love some paranormal in your mystery books then grab this one today! Happy publishing day!

Thank you to #netgalley and #angryrobots for my digital and paperback copies in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Hollows started well enough. The setting felt real, the weather felt a major part of the story and worked well. The characters were good, I like the touch of having a POV of the ‘family'.

I just didn't want to keep picking The Hollows up. I don't know if it was the pacing, the story, or the lack of horror. I did manage to reach the end and the author landed the ending nicely. I may not be who this story was intended for, as the high ratings it has received possibly proves that.

Overall I can see this story being received well, so it feels a shame to give 2 stars, however I need to be true to myself. Did not hate it, just didn't click with me as it has with others.

You can catch me on Twitter @ReadsGavin

This one has all my favourite elements, legends of rural folk horror passed down the ages, the threat of Lovecraftian Old Gods, and unstoppable marauding inhuman monsters. Couple that with some well-drawn, believable and sympathetic characters, a sharp sense of location and a knack fro conveying atmosphere and you've got a really strong horror novel, the best I've read since Will McLean's Apparition Phase.