House of Hollow

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland is a creepy, gothic fairy tale set in 2021 that is like nothing else in YA fantasy. I have to admit that going into this book, I didn't exactly have high expectations. Even though this book has gotten rave reviews on Goodreads, I was somewhat skeptical. I went into this not expecting much, and I was completely blown away! The book revolves around Iris Hollow, a strange girl that is bullied for being a witch by her classmates. She and her two elder sisters, Vivi and Grey, are famous for having been kidnapped when they were children and returned a month later, unharmed. They are also known for their eccentric white hair, which is natural and unable to be dyed. While Iris is struggling through high school, Vivi and Grey have dropped out to become a model and artist/designer, respectively, becoming famous stars and influencers n their own right. I thought that was an amazing twist that I haven't seen before in other YA fantasy books. After all, if you have magical powers, why not use them to become famous? Here's an excerpt from the Prologue that conveys the haunting, rich descriptions in the author's prose: "I was ten years old the first time I realized I was strange. Around midnight, a woman dressed in white slipped through my bedroom window and cut off a lock of my hair with sewing scissors. I was awake the whole time, tracking her in the dark, so frozen by fear that I couldn’t move, couldn’t scream. I watched as she held the curl of hair to her nose and inhaled deeply. I watched as she put it on her tongue and closed her mouth and savored the taste for a few moments before swallowing. I watched as she bent over me and ran a fingertip along the hook-shaped scar at the base of my throat. It was only when she opened my door—bound for the bedrooms of my older sisters, with the scissors still held at her side— that I finally screamed." While the first half of the book didn't exactly "wow" me, I was hooked by the midway point. When it all came together and all of the hidden secrets were revealed, I was stunned! This book went from being a 3 or 4 star-read to a 5-star read. If you're hesitant to pick up this book, or even if you've started already and you're starting to flounder, don't give up and keep reading! It is totally worth it to make it until the end. Overall, if you are interested in creepy, gothic stories or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, I highly recommend that you check out House of Hollow. You won't regret it!

This was gripping, and despite the fact that I could quickly feel horror creeping over and sinking into my limbs from the first chapter, I could not set it down. The addictive tale follows three sisters, once missing but since returned... that is until the eldest sister, Grey, goes missing once more. What follows is an eerie, fairytale-esque journey to uncover what happened to Grey as circumstances relate to what happened to the sisters in their childhood. Overall, the story’s tone, paired with masterful writing, is sure to captivate readers—hooking them and keeping them reading despite the trepidation of what inevitably is sure to come. Basically, I’m sure I’ll be having nightmares for weeks after reading this one. If you’re a fan of eerie, fairytale horror, this one is definitely for you (though perhaps not so close to bedtime).

The Hollow Sisters are infamous, having mysteriously vanished for a month ten years ago on New Years Eve. The girls have no memory of this time. Social media has sprouted wild conspiracy theories and obsessive speculation. Iris, the youngest sister, has always struggled with her family's weird reputation and her own strangeness. She just wants to be a normal teenager. When her oldest sister, Grey, a famous model and fashion designer vanishes, Iris and the middle sister Vivi, a musician, go looking for her. Their search involves a horned man, a dead body in Grey's apartment, and strange vegetation growing in weird places. As they investigate further the secrets are revealed and the memories start breaking through. It is dark, unsettling, morbid, creepy, shocking, haunting and impossible to stop reading. The writing is descriptive, lush, evocative and compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed reading House of Hollow. It is perfect for those who love dark, horrific, modern fairy tales and is best read going in blind. I am hoping that Krystal Sutherland writes more books in this world and in this genre. Thank you to Putnam books and Penguin Teen for an advanced reading copy. #HouseofHollow @PutnamBooks @PenguinTeen @km_sutherland