This book was absolutely nothing that I expected, which made it just about perfect. If you think there is nothing new under the post-apocalyptic sun, definitely give this one a try..

Such a strange and unique book. I'm still not sure if I fully enjoyed it, but it was definitely not a terrible read.

You know that something is wrong when your mo-fo’s (aka human’s) eye falls out of his head and he isn’t concerned. So begins the totally original post-apocalyptic tale of the Hollow Kingdom.

S.T. is a pet crow. His mo-fo, Big Jim, is sick and won’t stop poking his finger at the wall. Eventually, Big Jim gets hungry for a live dinner forcing S.T. to leave home with Dennis, his none-to-smart bloodhound brother. As S.T. and Dennis search for a cure for Big Jim’s illness, they encounter both domestic animals and zoo escapees.

Filled with both humor and pathos, Hollow Kingdom is a unique post-apocalyptic tale. This must be the only book written from the point of view of a domesticated crow. It is strongly recommended for anyone looking for something different to read. 4 stars!

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The apocalypse has come at last and S.T. the crow tells his survivor's tale. I loved this book! It was hilarious and different and heartwarming.

Hollow Kingdom
Kira Jane Buxton

I requested this book for three reasons. First, the cover is gorgeous and immediately caught my attention. Secondly, it’s written from a myriad of animal’s points of views. I have a novel coming out in April from a dog’s point of view, so I couldn’t wait to finally put my writing cap aside and enjoy a good read. And in my opinion, living/seeing through the eyes of anything non-human makes for the best storytelling. And finally, I used to live in Seattle, Washington, and I saw crows do some crazy and brilliant things.

 They never forget. Remember this: Crows never forget.

Shit Turd, a crow who fancies himself more human than a bird, did not let me down. He is rude, crude, doesn’t hold back, and I loved him. He loves humans (aka Mo-Fos, especially his Pabst beer guzzling man, Big Jim) despite their flaws. I laughed out loud throughout this book, even though I should have been upset because humankind had stopped evolving (too true, right now) and were taken over by the black plague (Good riddance!).

Shit Turd and the crew of friends he collected as he journeyed out of his cozy “mo-fo” home were so hysterical (and humbling) they tricked me into reading my first zombie-esque, apocalyptic fiction book. I'm not kidding. My first zombie book.

And most importantly, this book is about saving the world and the amazing animals in it. I’m all for the message in this book, and I won’t spoil the ending, but Shit Turd’s love of humans and his quest for belonging come to a very satisfying conclusion. Or beginning. Depends on how you look at it.

Well done, Kira Jane Buxton.

I really didn’t like this book. I just couldn’t get into the premise and didn’t enjoy the animal narrators. It was just not for me.

This is a quick read that has a quirky sense of humor that lies borderline between the macabre and satire.
This is not a run of the mill story of the end of days. This gives a reader an insight to think on an introspective level one would not conventionally Choose when approaching the material so casually written.

Amusing and wildly original, with many laugh-out-loud moments. A fresh, fun read--recommended for anyone who is looking for something different and quirky.

I could not put this down. I found S.T (Shit Turd) to be one of the most original and funny narrators I have read. I did enjoy the small vignettes of other animals dealing with the death of humans, I also wanted them to either not connect at all or connect to S.T and his murder of 2. I did tear up a bit at moments.
Worth a read.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the electronic arc in exchange for an honest review!

Kira Jane Buxton presents Hollow Kingdom, where animals are trying to survive and thrive in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. The MC is a snarky and extremely foul mouthed crow named S.T. (Shit Turd), with his sidekick Dennis, a bloodhound. His MoFo best friend and owner's eyeball falls out and the story goes from there.

Honestly if you like a bizarre twist on post apocalyptic books, give it a shot. Some parts were down right amazing (like the perspective of a cat) and others had me skimming. I couldn't tell which direction the plot was going to take and started losing interest at about 60%. At the end I think the message was hope and self acceptance (and getting off your cell phone, obviously😂). Now that I am looking back I guess the arc makes sense.

I would recommend for fans of the above, if language does not offend you. I thought it was over the top at times but still hilarious. I will watch for more books by Ms Buxton!

This was a unique read. I enjoyed it and it was refreshing to read something different.
I especially liked Dennis and the relationship between him and S. T.

Hollow Kingdom was a hilarious and unexpected read. It is perfect for people who love reading apocalypse books. Buxton has created a vivid world featuring S.T. who is a domesticated crow with strong opinions and a love for everything human but most especially Cheetos. S.T. notices that his owner Big Jim has been acting strange but must face the fact that something isn’t right when Big Jim’s eyeball falls out. Alongside Jim’s not so bright bloodhound named Dennis, S.T. must venture into the animal world that he has shunned his entire life and learn to survive in this new apocalyptic world that is overrun by sick humans and wild animals who are now overtaking Seattle. Often apocalypse stories look at how surviving humans deals with the end of the world. It was refreshing to read about how animals would manage under the same circumstances. The book is well written, the characters were interesting and I wouldn’t have thought that I’d enjoy reading a book from the perspective of an animal so much. S.T. is often snarky and has strong opinions but under all the attitude he’s trying to find a place for himself in a complicated world where he doesn’t feel like he belongs.

This was just not for me right now. The writing is a little more kooky than I was hoping for-- more on the Gil's Fright Night side of things. I thought there were elements that were quite funny, though, so I might pick it up later when I'm more in the mood for that.