If I could describe this book in one word, it would be pretty. Pretty cover, pretty characters, pretty words and some pretty settings. I am quite the skeptic when it comes to all things pretty, but for once a pretty book did not disappoint. It’s a mix of The Stranger Things and the Chronicles of Narnia with doors that lead to an ethereal halfway that is home to souls of the departed. Some of the characters have super powers like that of Elle, and some just don’t understand what’s going on.

The House of Hollow follows the story of the three Hollow sisters who mysteriously disappeared in the streets of Edinburgh at the stroke of midnight and appear just as mysteriously a month later.

There’s a catch – the girls who returned are not the same. They do look identical to the girls who disappeared; however their dark hair had turned white, blue eyes had turned black and they each had a hook-shaped scar on their necks. And why is it that they can’t remember anything that happened? The father, Gabe Hollow is certain that these aren’t his daughters. It drives him mad to the point of suicide. So are they or aren’t they the girls who disappeared? This is what the story explores.

Told from the point of view of the youngest Hollow sister, the story starts 10 years after their disappearance. Grey Hollow is a world renowned model and founder of the fashion powerhouse, House of Hollow. Vivi, the second is a bit of rebel, travelling around the world in a haze of drugs and alcohol. While both sisters power their way through the world leaving behind a trail of destruction, Iris is the only sister who is reluctant to use her powers. The power to intoxicate those around them and make them do whatever they want.

Things take a drastic turn when Grey Hollow disappears leaving behind a trail of bread crumbs for her sisters to find her. As they dive headfirst into the world of the enigmatic Grey Hollow, strange things start happening around them. A murderous man with a horned bull’s mask is intent on killing them. There are white flowers blooming in all of Grey’s apartments- stinking of rot and decay. And as their search reaches a newfound urgency, the sisters come to realize that Grey may actually remember all that happened 10 years ago. With some luck and the help of Grey’s boyfriend Tyler, both sisters bring back Grey who is unfortunately pulled again to the halfway by the murderous man along with Vivi.

The story comes to a close with all three sisters in the halfway with the man in the bull horn mask who turns out to be Gabe Hollow. It is then revealed that the three girls who disappeared 10 years are actually dead. Killed by the soul that inhibits Grey Hollow. A soul that lives on in the skins of others.

Final thoughts

I don’t know if I liked the conclusion of the story. It seemed a bit predictable I think? I was hoping for more of a twist. That being said I did like the many elements of the story. The characters were enigmatic and whole, the setting was in both modern London and Edinburgh and it was the right amount of spooky for me. Enough to keep me hooked but not too much to give me nightmares.

It may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Rotting bodies, flowers that smell of rot and ruin and dead people that don’t stay dead. It can be a bit too much for the faint hearted. But if you’ve got the guts go ahead and dive right in – you will be blown away by the embellishments.

I would like to wrap this up with a quote that resonated with me. One, I think may resonate with many of you.

Some people go missing because they want to; some go missing because they’re taken. And then there are the others—those who go missing because they fall through a gap somewhere and can’t claw their way back.

Overall rating: 4/5

Fact box
Author: Krystal Sutherland
Release date: 30th March, 2021
Genre: Horror, dark fantasy, thriller

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