The Hollow Girl by Hillary Monahan is a young adult horror story. It is both horribly ugly and beautiful. It's also very gory. If you can't handle gore and much deserved revenge, this book isn't for you. It's very creepy and would be a perfect Halloween read.

After not caring for the other Hillary Monahan book I read, I'm not sure why I expected much differently of this one, but I DNFed it fairly quickly because I just don't enjoy her writing style, sadly.

I really struggled to get into this book and I did not think that the topic of sexual assault/rape was that well managed in this novel. The plot and storyline felt all over the place and I didn't have much of an emotional connection to the main character, which is strange given the issues it brings forth. However, it was indeed dark and spooky, so i recommend it if you like that sort of thing - it simply wasn't for me.

A book that bases itself on a revenge plot for a survivor of sexual assault, The Hollow Girl presents a girl who goes through violence to heal herself. Bethan, the drabarni's apprentice, has always been a bit aloof from her people, due to her status as the next drabarni. She sells cures and charms in the market next to a handsome farmer boy, Martyn, who she strikes a friendship with, but this draws the ire of the cheftain's son, Silas, who has been bullying her for a long time, and attacks her to besmirch her (and thus, force her to marry him) and kills Martyn with the help of his friends. In the aftermath, the drabarni, her Gran, helps her get revenge as well as the magic required to resurrect Martyn back. Bethan, who was always sure she wanted to be a witch, finally gets to use magic, and know the price of working it.

First of all, I gotta say, I FELT the rage in the book. Was it immensely satisfying to see the boys get punished in different ways, to disarm them, to render them powerless, for their hand in the attack? Sure! It's the rage of every woman, her fear and frustration embedded into the plot. The author describes Bethan's inner turmoil so well, the numbness at the start, the intermittent rage, the beginnings of doubt, the self-reflection and the path to when she begins to heal. I mean, I was prepared for this just to be a horror novel where she exacts her revenge (I'm gonna freely admit I love a good revenge plot), but this is about her family supporting her in every way possible, helping her get justice, even in a patriarchal system that puts her at a disadvantage. The culture of virginal purity and notions of uncleanliness makes it like it is about punishing them for disrespecting her and underestimating the power of her Gran, but in subtle ways, you realize that her Gran is doing it more so that she can get through this, and come to a place where she can feel somewhat safer about her life.

Overall, it is a dark book, with a lot of pain involved, but it is also satisfactory is seeing a girl get her justice.

This book is amazing. Dark, brutal, and unflinching, this tale of revenge by a Roma girl who was sexually assaulted is pitch perfect. One of my favorites.

I received this book via Netgalley (but then bought it because I wanted a finalized copy).

I'm not usually a fan of horror or YA, but I adore the author's work, so I took a risk and I'm glad I did. It took me a long time to read this, because I had to keep putting it down, to pick it up later. That's nothing but a *me* thing, and only because Ms. Monahan is so FREAKING GOOD AT WRITING HORROR.

Holy gods. I had to sleep with a light on, and the main character is still stuck in my head.

Well worth the time to read this one, the author's skill with words, descriptions and characterizations were as wonderful as in any of the Adult titles I've read by her. The Welsh Romany information was so good and it reminded me of things my great grandma used to do and say, it was wonderful to see these things in a YA book.

I'm going to give it to my daughter, who adores YA horror. She'll probably tear through it so fast!

Thanks for another great book!

I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I was apprehensive as far as the sexual abuse, I often find this theme used superficially, but I felt Monahan deftly portrayed Bethan's rage and disassociation. I do wish that the relationship reveal with Bethan and her grandmother would have been addressed differently though. As far as being a horror book, it delivered. It was gruesome and creepy in all the right ways. I found myself rooting for bloodshed and devoured this in one sitting.

Trigger warnings: rape, sexual abuse

So worst coincidence of my year so far: while I was reading The Hollow Girl, the piece of crap who sexually abused me happened to be in town for two days because his Navy ship was docked in a nearby port for repairs. My parents informed me that he wanted to visit with them the evening of the first day. I’ve made it clear I will never be in the same house as him, so I got the message: they wanted me to leave for a while so he could visit.

At least for kicking myself out, I got a delicious dinner, two books, a boatload of Sailor Moon goodies, and a very clear message to my parents via the money I spent that I still do not appreciate having to leave my own home just to avoid sharing space with the pile of human garbage they still consider a second son despite knowing what he did to me. And they can’t say a thing to me about it because they know exactly how wrong they are. :)

ANYWAY. If you’ve been abused in any manner by men in the past, The Hollow Girl is a deeply cathartic experience to go through. The entirety of the novel shows an incredible respect for survivors of sexual assault and the different ways they respond to their trauma. Wish you could make your abuser suffer? Oooh, you’ll live vicariously through Bethan and her grandmother Drina.

Monahan’s #ownvoices Roma representation is wonderful, nuanced, and directly fights some of the myths that exist even today. It also does what I do every time I have the opportunity: tell people no, you do not get to use the word “gypsy” if you’re not Roma, it’s racist and it’s their word to reclaim, not yours. And if you’re about to ask me: no, you don’t get to use it in that situation either. Even before you ask the question of me, I’m pretty sure the answer is no.

Admittedly, it’s a little heavy-handed with the details of Romani life and customs, but you know what? It’s necessary. With so many people still using the g-word inappropriately and so many myths about Roma life viewed as truths, it’s the anvil that you need to have dropped on your head. Can’t even fault the book for that. For everything else it’s doing, it’s even hard for me to fault the shallow, rather quick romance between Bethan and Martyn, who’s a half-Roma boy just like her. She lives with her people, he lives with his father and the other gadjos (non-Roma people).

Quite kindly, Bethan’s rape by Silas is kept off-page. We know what happens and the word is used, but they don’t need to read an explicit play-by-play of the violent act against her. Instead, the terrifying stuff we get on-page is what happens to Silas and his four friends who beat her up and nearly killed Martyn! One gets his eye gouged out by Drina and another is tormented by the illusion of a scarecrow so Bethan can trap him and take what she needs from him for both Martyn and her own sense of avenging herself.

Even so, Bethan isn’t entirely on board with what she’s doing. Before she met Martyn and went through her trauma, she was a girl impatient to learn magic and curses as an apprentice. It’s only after she suffers that she gets those long-desired lessons as a tool she can use to get justice. But is it really justice to kill some of the five and force one into a life of servitude to her? Bethan’s mental conflict regarding her vengeance is the focal point of her growth as a character.

Her conflict also serves as a contrast to Drina, who is perfectly fine making those who hurt her in the past and made Bethan suffer. Some survivors want to get their justice and move on; others need more than that and would like to make their abusers hurt. Both are perfectly valid responses and neither character judges the other’s feelings as wrong. As Drina says, it takes a certain kind of person to do the bloody, awful work they do. Drina is that kind of person; as the novel goes on, Bethan inches closer and closer to not being that kind of person.

I’d say I’m more like Drina.

The Hollow Girl is a cathartic novel about the different ways we respond to trauma, finding our moral centers, and sweet vengeance. Because even when Bethan decides that punishing the five boys isn’t helping her, I’m sure being helped by living vicariously through her.

Did I just win an award for Most Subjective Review of a Book? Possibly.

After being assaulted and her friend Martyn beaten near to death on her way back to her home from the market, Bethan begins the gruesome task of collecting the tithes that will save Martyn's life, aided by her grandmother, a witch.

This book was dark and captivating. The fear and anguish was palpable to the point where I ached for Bethan. The characters were fully fleshed and developed even more as the story progressed, especially Bethan. Her strength, even when she did not see or feel that strength, was something to be admired.

This was a hard read, but an important one. I knew it was gonna be hard going into it, probably would've known even if I hadn't read the synopsis because the foreshadowing is strong enough that you can clearly feel that something bad is coming. I felt so much for Bethan, trying to figure out her place in her community, longing to learn more about her grandmother's work and what she will have to do in the future, and generally growing up while dealing with some fairly big issues (an entitled $%#$%#$% stalking and harassing her, trying not to get harassed by people because of her birthmark, etc.). And then the darkness came crashing in like a thunderstorm. Hoo-boy was that sad/scary/heartbreaking/anger-inducing/terribleness that Bethan and Martyn went through. And then the aftermath :-O I don't want to say anything too extensive for spoilers sake, but I appreciated that Bethan was able to get a measure of revenge and yet felt conflicted about it and was obviously dealing with some PTSD from the fallout of what Silas and the other boys did to her. I also appreciated that everything Bethan went through changed her outlook on what she wanted for her life, hopefully in ways that will help her heal in the future.
I enjoyed this book, but in that heartbreaking, harrowing way of reading something that deals with hard, heavy, dark issues. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more books by Monahan in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this book in exchange for a honest review.

Five boys attacked her.
Now they must repay her with their blood and flesh.

Bethan is the apprentice to a green healer named Drina in a clan of Welsh Romanies. Her life is happy and ordered and modest, as required by Roma custom, except for one thing: Silas, the son of the chieftain, has been secretly harassing her.

One night, Silas and his friends brutally assault Bethan and a half-Roma friend, Martyn. As empty and hopeless as she feels from the attack, she asks Drina to bring Martyn back from death’s door. “There is always a price for this kind of magic,” Drina warns. The way to save him is gruesome. Bethan must collect grisly pieces to fuel the spell: an ear, some hair, an eye, a nose, and fingers.

She gives the boys who assaulted her a chance to come forward and apologize. And when they don’t, she knows exactly where to collect her ingredients to save Martyn.- Goodreads

It has been some time since I read a book that emotionally damaged me to the point that once I finished it, I sat in silence. This book has triggers. It has things in here that some women have experienced. If you are a sensitive reader, this book is not for you. 

I am not a sensitive reader but this book definitely made me rethink that for a moment. 

Bethan is attacked and in the worst way possible. Not only does the boy who tries to protect her gets hurt, she is hurt on a physical, spiritual and emotional level. I am hurt on that level for her. The author doesn't shy away from what happens. You know what happens, you see what happens and man do you feel so horrible about it. But what I appreciate what the author did about making that the focus was she didn't create Bethan to submit. 

Bethan doesn't fully allow her anger to take over. As angry as she is, she doesn't try to let things get too far. She is fairly rational with her punishment. I call it punishment because its not revenge. Bethan seeks not only justice but to right a wrong to something done to someone trying to save her. 

Beyond all of this, the author added a twist to the story, which was unexpected and well placed. However, it doesn't really change the story or even the flow. It was a filler. A good one but a filler none the less. If the author did not add it in there, it would not have been missed. 

The story moved along very well and although this was my first read by this author, the talent was there. To take a very sensitive topic and give readers the whirlwind emotions in a emotional and deep reading, is impressive. 

The only fault or issue, I had with this read, is I was desperate for an affectionate relationship. Bethan has a relationship with her grandmother but I didn't feel love between them. I felt that it was more of a obligation. I wanted there to be love and its kind of put in there but it isn't there enough for me. 

Overall, I was surprised about this read. I liked it but as previously mentioned it is not for sensitive readers. 

4 Pickles.

Forgive the lateness of this review and I hope that it does not give the impression that it’s because I hate the book. As a matter of fact, the Hollow Girl is the best book that I’ve read in 2017. If you know me, I don’t normally read horror stories because it’s not just my genre and you know, nightmares. But after reading the synopsis, I knew that I had to pick it up and told myself that “Let’s try this for once.” And so I did.
Oh boy, no regrets so far because after page 1, there was no turning back. The story consumed me, the characters captivated me and the twists shook me. Hillary Monahan really took her time in fleshing out the characters and in weaving the story that it wasn’t cumbersome or convoluted but not simple either.
The story centers on a Romani Gypsy, Bethan, who’s being groomed by her grandmother to succeed the latter as the tribe’s green healer. Her life is pretty much alright except for one thing: the tribal leader’s son, Silas, is trying his damnedest to harass Bethan. And then, one night, what Drina (Bethan’s grandmother) and Bethan dreaded happened. Bethan got raped and her friend died protecting her.
The incident was the turning point for Bethan. Though she and her grandmother were peace loving individuals, they did not hesitate in deciding that Silas and the boys who played accomplices must pay. So the tale of darkness and revenge began. And it was damn satisfying seeing Bethan and her grandma made corpses out of the boys. Cue evil laugh.
Kidding aside, there was more to this book than the killings. Rape is such a delicate subject, even more so the aftermath. The victim traumatized and stigmatized while the suspects go seemingly underpunished. With the Hollow Girl, my heart really cried for Bethan and her grandmother but I literally rejoiced as they sought retribution from Silas and his friends. Happiness that turned into awe and sadness again when the twist was revealed.
This book, essentially, has all the things that I love in a story despite it being horror. There’s heart, darkness, revenge, and nuanced characters that will surely make your reading experience a memorable one. Cheers to you, Hillary Monahan.

<I>The Hollow Girl</I> by Hillary Monahan

<b>Star Rating</b>: ★★★★★ 5/5 stars

<b>Format</b>: ebook galley

<b>Summary</b>: Bethan is a Welsh Romani girl, her Gran is a green healer and Bethan is her apprentice. When she is attacked, she begins her training in magic to take revenge.

<b>Review</b>: I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley.

There was a lot to this book that I really enjoyed, and I was unsure how much I'd end up liking this after I found out there is a rape involved. I've been over how I hate rape as a plot device but... Rape revenge stories? I just-- love that. Especially when they are done well and I think this one was. First of all, the rape itself takes place "off-screen", there's no overly fetishized detailed rape scene (Diana Gabaldon, anyone?). The author also lists you know in her foreword that this will happen so you're not taken by surprise. I really appreciate that.

This story comes from inspiration of a story Monahan's grandmother used to talk about writing about two Romani sisters. From talking with her grandmother, she learned her grandmother was Romani. After her grandmother died Monahan decided to take on this story and bring it to life for her grandmother, she changed it from a story of two sisters to one girl, making it her own. I thought her whole foreword on this was very thoughtful and it gave me the impression that she was trying her best to write this from a place of respect rather than "ooh g*psies are exotic lol".

The time period for this book is fuzzy for me. It wasn't really clear to me at all when this is supposed to be set. I originally thought this was set in like then nineteenth century but at one point Martyn is described as wearing a t-shirt, I don't know if this is corrected in the final version but at least that was what I read in the ARC. I wish Monahan could have given us better hints as to when this is set.

I liked how at the end Bethan is still healing and probably has a long way to go. She isn't magically okay after her revenge is fulfilled or cured by love. There is a chance for love, but she's not quite there yet. Martyn really impressed me with how caring and cautious he was with Bethan after he discovered what she went through. He respected her boundaries and did not try to push her in any way.

I liked the characters. Bethan is a great protagonist, she really made me invested in the book. Martyn is super adorable and such a sweet soft boy, but will take on anyone if they try to mess with Bethan. Even if the odds are stacked against him. Gran is a super interesting character, I loved the revelations we got with her.

The book's handling of magic was really cool. I liked how eager Bethan was to learn magic but as she learns more and more she begins to question if that's what she wants. That seems pretty unique for a story involving learning magic. To learn magic but in the end reject it? I love that. It was so fresh and new to me.

This book is violent and bloody, some of the scenes with her taking her revenge were pretty intense. I liked it a lot though. It didn't seem too much ever, just what the story required of it.

<b>Recommendation</b>: I really enjoyed this book. I think that with the rape revenge plot it could be a bit too much for some people but I think if you're okay with it then it's a good read.

I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it to older teen children as many who are interested in horror may find this book interesting. Teens interested in fantasy and the paranormal may find this book entertaining as well. I found it to be a quick read, and entertaining most of the time.

I love books that have a bit of a creepy air going on with them, and this book definitely did not disappoint. Perfect for a scary late night read or an edge of your seat daytime thriller, this is a book that really has plenty of excitement going on. The characters flawlessly written and the story is unique. I highly recommend this book!

Ugh.
Where do I even start?

Setting
This book is set at an indeterminate time... maybe in the late 1800's? Our lead gal is being raised by her gypsy caravan's 'witch'. The lady that everyone goes to for healing, charms, etc. At first we are not sure that any magic is real; that quickly changes. I'm going to use the common words for gypsy, herbal woman/witch, and what not. The book uses (what I assume) are the correct words to describe these groups but let's face it you won't know these words if I use them. So for simplicity sake I'll be generic below.

Horror that isn't horror
If gruesome, gross and immorale is what you think defines a horror YA book then perhaps The Hollow Girl is for you. For me the only thing scary about this book was that it was:
A) making excuses for why it's morale and okay (in some ways) to act on vengeance and take revenge;
B) how bad the writing was.
A good horror book, like a good sword wielding fantasy story will have elements of gore in it; but there is a lot more to the story in that. It should give build slowly, give you shivers at times and make you question the thoughts and beliefs of the main character. And likely have empathy for some of the characters involved (because it's not their fault).
And yes horrific things happen in The Hollow Girl such as rape, murder, torture, lose of appendages, etc. But none of these events are what I found to be the hardest to accept. Instead I cannot believe that anyone would think it appropriate to torture, murder and maim others in order to save one person.
There are very few situations in which I am convinced that someone deserves to be physically punished. Now that's not to say that the occasional smack to a small child is wrong. I believe that at certain moments and levels that can be an appropriate parental response. BUT you would always react in an appropriate way and not out of a spiteful revenge filled place. Too bad our lead gal isn't taught this lesson. Instead she is taught the dark magic of her people by the existing herbal doctor she lives and grew up with.

It doesn't really bother me that our lead gal wants vengeance but it does bother me that she enacts her revenge on five of her peers (boys) at the consistent encouragement from the herbal doctor she calls grandmother. I don't want to teach children to be like Stephen King's Carrie and that getting revenge in bloody and awful ways is the right course of action.
If we all took an eye for an eye each time we were wronged then we would be a society of blind people.

Between the unnecessary blood and gore, questionable moral compass and the attempt (with the authors note at the beginning of the book) to make readers feel compassion towards the story without even starting it; I just can't give The Hollow Girl anything more than 2 stars. I only finished it because I was very close to the end (less than 50 pages) and wanted to see if there was some resolution of the morale issues. I was sorely disappointed.

I would not recommend this book to any one. Even a half-smart teen would see through the typical 'gore' tropes quickly and find it over the top and morally questionable. I love anti-heros and characters you love to hate; but here we are shown a lovely girl that is turned evil in a very unproductive way.

Such a fascinating premise!! One night, Silas and his friends brutally assault Bethan and a half-Roma friend, Martyn. As empty and hopeless as she feels from the attack, she asks Drina to bring Martyn back from death’s door. “There is always a price for this kind of magic,” Drina warns. The way to save him is gruesome. Bethan must collect grisly pieces to fuel the spell: an ear, some hair, an eye, a nose, and fingers.
She gives the boys who assaulted her a chance to come forward and apologize. And when they don’t, she knows exactly where to collect her ingredients to save Martyn.

Very dark and disturbing book, but I think teen readers enjoy!

This book....it...wow. I don’t even know where to start with it. I knew I would like it based on the description alone but didn’t expect to be so blown away. It was a dark (very, very dark) story about a Romani girl who becomes a victim of rape and embarks on a journey of revenge.

Now, with such an important and sensitive topic, the author could have totally messed it up, but Hillary Monahan handled everything with great care. The writing style plunges the reader into the inner thoughts, emotion and complete turmoil felt by the main character, Bethan. Here rape is not just treated as a physical assault, but an emotional one as well. To be completely honest, some parts were very difficult to read. Breaks were necessary, as the book can be very graphic and violent. The entire rape isn’t described in the book, but enough of it is. So, it can be very difficult for some people to read. I also appreciated how the author discussed the issues and gave warnings about it the author’s note section.

As much as I loved this book, it felt uneven in some sections, like the pacing was off. Some parts were just too slow and broke my emotional connection with what was happening in the story. Some chapters could have easily been cut in half.

This is a book that you need to check out! It’s dark, violent and emotional. Of course, it isn’t for everyone and I would tread with caution if you are triggered by violence and sexual assault. However, I applaud the author for handling difficult situations in a very sensitive manner. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

This book shook me. It made me feel things that were uncomfortable and raw and that I needed to feel. The author obviously speaks from a place of deep respect and experience for survivors of sexual assault and of the Roma community. I didn't see it as a revenge story but a book about seeking justice when all else fails. In this case, the outside world failed Bethan, leaving her to use her clan and culture to make things right. His is a book that cuts to the bone and splits it open, dripping marrow.

This book blew me away!

See this is what happens when you barely read synopses. You can get completely blown away by what the book actually turns out to be like.

Before I get too into the review, I want to make sure that you are aware of the trigger warning with this book. If you are sensitive to rape, this may be the book to pass up. The writing can get intense at some moments which can lead to strong emotions, so please read with caution.

With that said, I highly recommend this book! Coming into it, I thought it was just going to be a typical YA horror novel. It was not. It was more than that. The writing in this book blends rape culture into a fantasy AND paranormal AND horror setting. I felt like The Hollow Girl really embraced each of these genres.

The writing expresses very intense emotion that just leaves you with a sense of really taking something away from the story. And this isn't just something that is embraced with the actions of the five boys. This book is probably the BEST revenge story I've read in my life. The rage just takes you whole and you feel like you are there.

But this book isn't just about the rage. There are moments where you feel the slow-burning relationship that is brought out in the book. The differences in the main characters interactions is like a total 360 and is expressed beautifully in the writing.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars and has become one of my favorite books of all time. Nothing in this book seemed to be overbearing in that there was a balance between all the elements of romance, fantasy, horror, paranormal, and rape-culture.

I read this book in a manner of hours. There may be harsh, traumatic content explored, but it was overall captivating.

---Review is scheduled on my blog for Tuesday 11/21/17 @ 10;30am CT---