DNF at 20%. The write up of this book versus the reading experience of it is wildly differing. I expected a fun, creepy read...but it was like a slapstick horror-comedy full of camp, instead. The tone was way off from what I was hoping for, and because of that, I couldn't get into it. This might be for other people, but it definitely wasn't for me.

The Hollow Places is the latest remixed horror offering by Ursula Vernon, noted children’s author and graphic novelist who writes as T. Kingfisher for older audiences. After reading her fantastic first horror novel, The Twisted Ones, which was inspired by Arthur Machen’s 1904 horror short story The White People, I fervently hoped she would return to that well and was delighted to discover she had a new horror release due out later in 2020.

This time around, the inspiration is the 1907 novella by Algernon Blackwood, The Willows, which was regarded by HP Lovecraft as the greatest supernatural story ever written and its chilling description of “the frontier of another world, an alien world, a world tenanted by willows only and the souls of willows” strongly influences this story.

Our protagonist is the down-on-her-luck, newly divorced Kara who is nearly forced to confront the mundane horror of moving back in with her parents before gladly taking up her genial Uncle Earl’s offers of a spare room at his museum. Of course this leads to the terrifying ordeal that unfolds later, but it was a godsend at the time! Kara assists her uncle with running the Glory to God Museum of Natural Wonders, Curiosities and Taxidermy, and eventually ends up in charge while he’s recovering from surgery. This is when things take a turn for the weird as she and barista Simon from the café next door discover an impossible hallway in their building that defies the laws of physics and their curiosity prompts them to explore where it leads... Spoiler alert: it’s not Narnia. What Kara and Simon have inadvertently stumbled into is a realm filled with terrifying beings beyond comprehension and they’ll need all their wits and a healthy dose of luck to survive.

T Kingfisher is a master when it comes to creating characters that endear themselves immediately to the reader and feel like life-long friends just one chapter in, and The Hollow Places is no exception. This book only has two major characters, but they’re given an impressive level of development to the point where they feel like they could step off the page, fully formed. Some readers may find the plot slow-going at the start, but Kara is such a charming and entertaining narrator that spending time in her head as she adjusts to living at the museum feels rewarding; it’s easy to invest in her fledgling attempts at starting a new life while resisting the urge to cyber-stalk her ex!

At times I find that the heroes in various books feel interchangeable and they fail to make an impression, but this author is blessed with an incredible imagination and morbid sense of humour that results in the creation of unique and unforgettable characters like Simon, a man who supposedly devoured his twin in the womb and has her left eye (which he claims allows him to see strange phenomena) and dresses like a thrift-shop Mad Hatter. If you’re new to T Kingfisher’s style, that should give you an indication of her darkly whimsical style!

The foes which target our heroes are genuinely horrifying, but hardcore genre fans may be left wanting as the real impact of the story is felt in the awful anxiety and build-up of apprehension while in the other realm as opposed to copious amounts of blood and gore in direct encounters with these beings. After reading two horror novels by this author, a common element has emerged in her brand of horror which involves eerie and chilling otherworldly scenarios leavened by bursts of humour to cut through the tension. It makes her books fantastic for those who want to be scared, but also need some relief instead of grim unrelenting terror. I say this as a compliment, these stories are like the comfort food of the horror genre, the kind of books where you don’t ever have to worry that a terrible fate will befall the hero’s cat or dog (a haughty cat named Beau in this one). The main characters are hilariously relatable and freak out like we would in the face of the inexplicably bizarre before deciding to have coffee and “discuss this like people who don’t die in the first five minutes of a horror movie”. It’s witty, irreverent and completely entertaining.

If you like the sound of a suspenseful horror story with a creepy atmosphere narrated by a snarky heroine, do yourself a favour and pick this up once it’s released! With thrills, chills and constant laughs, this is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Wowza, I don’t think I knew what I was going into with this book, but if like me you love dark, demented, and disturbing, then you’ll enjoy this morbid horror book! It’s a bit different, and even hard to explain but is well worth the read if you are a dark horror fan. Has plenty of suspense, chills, thrills, and shocks as well! As I mentioned above it’s quite dark, so if you are not for the darker reads, turn away now. If you are like me and the darker the better, clear your schedule and prepare yourself!

See the beautiful gif below of a willow tree woman all serene and peaceful...THIS AIN’T THAT BOOK!



First off, I had no idea this was the author of THE TWISTED ONES, I loved that book too! I live in my own little bubble. (I wish I could have my own bubble because - nevermind) This particular book went to my favorites list!! I love the hell out of it and I am preordering the paperback!!

I freaking love the characters! Kara (Carrot) moves in with her uncle at his WONDER MUSEUM after her divorce. All of the taxidermy and weird stuff doesn’t bother her as she grew up there. And next door there is the coffee shop that Simon runs. He also lives above the shop and Kara’s uncle owns that building too. Simon is a sweet pea!! He’s gay and he’s hilarious. Oh I can’t wait to get the book to add ALL the quotes.

The Hollow Places is creepy as hell and freaking hilarious! I haven’t laughed out loud this hard in a long time. The scary and humor and quaintness of the museum have a wonderful balance. The friendship between Kara and Simon are spot on...well...if you’re lucky enough to have friends like that!!

Soooooo....uncle goes into surgery and leaves Kara to watch the museum while he gets better at her moms house. Kara finds a hole in the wall and things get cray from there!! I mean scary, whackado and all things in between!



We have creepy willows, shadow things, scary people, other worlds, bizarre bunkers, deranged taxidermist raccoons and the list goes on.

I just want to highly recommend this book if you like a bit of humor with your horror books!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

*Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced, digital copy of this book

This novel was the scariest book I've read since Kingfisher's LAST novel ("The Twisted Ones') came out. Low on violence and high on dread, this book will give you the shivers and make the hair on your arms stand up with fright. It took me a while to read it because I kept having to put it down because it was just so *creepy*. It's the perfect book to read on All Hallow's Eve.

T. Kingfisher is an author to watch! The Hollow Places is a superb book that will keep you turning pages until the end!

The Hollow Places was inspired by H.P. Lovecraft and the author did a good job of reflecting this. I'm from North Carolina so many of the author's initial references hit close to home as they were super easy to envision and only added to the story. These characteristics also heightened the creepiness once Kara "Carrot" starts experiencing strange things at the Wonder Museum. Overall, the story was good and the author did a good job of creating the visual impression of the world(s) that the character experiences.

⚠️𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘⚠️

While I understand that being in the main character's mind allows the reader to lose themselves and feel like they're experiencing what the character is, there were many moments where I got bored because the character's thoughts were mere ramblings (and I'm not referring to any intentional ramblings). Also, I felt like I kept waiting for something major to happen. The suspense was there, but at one point I was hoping someone would be mauled, attacked, ripped apart, etc., by the creatures in the willows. I know we eventually see action and we get to read about the experiences written by someone else, but I was expecting more.

HOLY SMOKES!!!! WHAT A BOOK!!!
CREEPY, GORY, FRIGHTENING
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is an amazing book! So dark and twisted, I jumped when someone in the family spoke to me while I read this. I went out of my reading comfort zone and chose this, and I am so glad I did. T. Kingfisher is truly a brilliant writer! This book had me biting my nails, on the edge of my seat, walking away from the book, and reading with the lights on.

T. Kingfisher has became a favorite other of mine. His unique story lines and his sharp detail to the stories make great works of art. The Hollow Places suck you in (my literally if you imagine yourself as a character of the book). I literally could not put this book down, and when I did, all I thought about was this book.

Fantastic work of art that is about everyday life experiences from divorce to a weird (in a good way) wonder museum with a cute cat named Beau to creepy portals to a 3rd world dimension who has beautiful willows. But even a beautiful world can have hidden secrets! Don't think about them or you may be next. "Pray they are hungry"
Wow, just incredible. I will not forget this book!

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with this ARC!

I received an e-book ARC of The Hollow Places from Netgalley and Saga Press in return for my honest review, which follows below. I thank both for this opportunity.

What struck me about this book and The Twisted Ones, her first novel I read, is how effortless her writing feels. I know that is far from the truth, but while reading both, the stories just flowed so wonderfully I would get towards the end and have to slow myself down, not yet ready for the pages to run out and the stories to end.

The characters created by the author were engaging to read, plus a cat named Beau gave us the animal protector for this novel. I like the sense of humor that she gives her female protagonists, and their ability to handle the unbelievable felt honest.

The museum the protagonists uncle owns becomes her residence and employment after divorcing and leaving her ex-husband the house. Fond memories give her solace, and the coffee shop next door keeps her caffeinated and connected to the world via WiFi. The comfort ends when a hole in one of the walls opens into a concrete hallway that doesn't make sense in relation to the building. The barista next door joins her in searching the anomaly, leading them both to a place that feels different then their world.

They become embroiled in something they cannot control; the things they see and interact with are strange and predatory. They make it back to the museum, but the path to another place is still open, and things are drawing them back to danger. The descriptions of Them and the violence that happens are written beautifully, it puts you on edge and picks at you. The idea of the human body being manipulated by something so alien to us added a somber and heavy feel to the book for me. The idea that things like this could happen, without warning, is prevalent. This is not wandering into Narnia, but someplace more blood thirsty.

In some ways it reminds me of Adam Nevill's worlds, but where his are ancient in a way that is falling to disrepair, derelict, and often times filthy, her worlds are more ethereal and lush but just as dangerous. Where his are firmly set in our world, hers runs parallel to us, leaking through the thin places where they touch. I absolutely love the imagery of her novels.

I give this 5 stars because I thoroughly suggest this to anyone who enjoys dark, fantastical fiction and I could see giving this as a gift for several readers I know. I also intend to buy a hardcover copy of this book when it is released, I know it is one I will re-read.

This was my favorite book by Kingfisher yet. When Kara gets divorced, she moves in with her uncle at his bizarre Wonder Museum full of taxidermy and other oddities. When he has to have surgery on his bad knees, he puts her in charge of the museum. But a strange artifact has opened up a portal to what seems to be another world and a strange bunker in the museum wall. Exploring the world will lead to nightmarish discoveries and creatures she may not be able to escape.

I enjoyed Kara and the other characters. She was easy to root for and sympathize with and her uncle was charming. Simon, the barista at the coffee shop next door who she winds up adventuring with, was fun too. As for the story itself it had a lot of creepy moments and atmosphere I loved. And while some of the bizarre creatures are kept a little mysterious, I think it worked well in making them a little scarier and making them feel more otherworldy.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Hollow Places.

I love anything horror; movies, painting, books, and I'm always on the lookout to be scared and terrified, which is why I was pleased when my request was approved.

The premise of The Hollow Places really drew me in as did the writing.

Kara is a likable and realistic heroine; she's funny, self deprecating and honest.

She is down in the dumps after a divorce and has returned to her uncle's kitschy museum, which she used to love as a girl.

When she discovers a hole in the wall that leads to an alternate world, she and her friend next door, a barista named Simon, step through (who wouldn't?) to discover they should not have (Isn't that always the way?)

Is this creepy? Yes. Is it scary? Ehh....not really. But, if you're easily scared, you would love The Hollow Places.

There were scenes of immense potential (the bus) the author could have had fun with; opportunities for pure terror and horror.

Unlike some reviewers, I liked how the author kept the bad guy(s) vague and mysterious, so readers can let their imagination run wild. But, I wanted to see...more. Something more frightening the bad guy(s) can do.

The Hollow Places reminded me of a manga called Uzumaki when the author referred to the 'funnels in the sand.' That definitely gave me chills, in a good and bad way.

I'm glad the ending was happy, because I like Kara, her uncle and Simon, but it was kind of abrupt, especially when Kara discovers how the hole was opened in the first place, the story could have gone into another direction. So many possibilities of horror in so many directions.

I hope there's a sequel.

Wow. This book was creepy and horrifying and I couldn’t rip my eyes from the pages. I devoured this story and while at times I considered finding something lighter to read before bed I knew I had to finish this before I slept, Kara finds herself divorced and with a dreadful plan of moving home with her mother she feels saved when her uncle invites her to come stay at his museum of oddities. Everything is good until she finds a hole in the wall that leads somewhere that should not exist. Finding it turns out to be the easiest part. The writing was good, the characters were realistic (too much for some) and the story was well done,

Given the satire of the novel, I actually feel guilty to have enjoyed the fun, uncanny horror ride, this book gave me! The Wonders Museum- wow to the imagination and the details. Everything about the story and its setting is delightfully dreadful! The story is fast paced and thrilling, but the ending really disappointed me!! It was not what I expected, especially after the “build-up”. Its still suspenseful and fun to read and reread!

Thank you Netgalley, T.Kingfisher and Gallery Books for the ARC. This review is my own and is not influenced in any way.

Following her divorce, Kara moves back to the small town of Hog Chapel working in her uncle Earl's "Wonders" museum. A hole in a back wall reveals a mysterious bunker leading to a place where alternate realities and unspeakable horrors await. This alternate world is inhabited by creatures that can hear your thoughts and feed off your fears..."pray they are hungry".

The Hollow Places is a fascinating new horror novel by author T. Kingfisher. Although I had not read The Twisted Ones, it quickly moved towards the top of my TBR list after finishing this novel. Our protagonist, Kara, is recently divorced and trying to sort out her life when her uncle Earl offers her the spare room at his "Wonders" museum. The museum houses many unique items which in themselves are a bit creepy yet also fairly interesting. When Kara discovers a hole in the back wall of the museum she enlists the help of Simon, the eccentric barista who works next door, to help her fix it. They discover a "space" behind the wall which can't possibly exist leading to a horrifying alternate world. I loved everything about Simon's character and he added a bit of odd humor to some otherwise horrific events that occur...everyone needs a Simon in their life. The author noted that she was inspired by the 1907 novella The Willows by Algernon Blackwood and those similarities can clearly be observed in both the willows and the creatures that prey upon unsuspecting visitors. At first I was confused by the meaning of “pray they are hungry” but I quickly learned that the alternative is a much more disturbing fate. I really enjoyed this unique blend of sci-fi/horror and look forward to reading future novels from this author.

This is a weird thing to say but despite the atmosphere of dread, this book was very fun. The uncanniness of the horror elements and the setting reminded me of the Strugatskys' Zone of VanderMeer's Area X. I enjoyed the protagonists' bantering, and I thought that the Wonder Museum was delightful. I was pulled into the story and read the whole book in one sitting. It was very similar in tone (and protagonist personality) to Kingfisher's last novel, The Twisted Ones. Although the ending fell a bit flat for me, this was an entertaining and absorbing read that I would recommend based on the interplay between eeriness and humor.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Hollow Places introduces us to Kara who has recently moved into her uncle's Wonder Museum to help him with the workload and help herself begin anew. She shortly discovers a portal in the museum that leads to another plane of existence with horrific prisoners and invisible beings whom hone in on you if you think about them. What adventure awaits Kara in this strange place and what will she do when that plane begins to spill over into her own?

This was a really difficult read for me. The first 30% of this story was great, it sucked me in and the characters were perfectly laid out. It takes quite a nosedive in terms of pacing once Kara finds herself in the other plane. It's overly drawn out and doesn't focus on the points of the plane that were actually interesting. You can only explain a world with trees and water for so long before you lose the reader. The new characters introduced at this point in the story are very rushed and(while they are the most interesting part of this section of the novel) very glossed over. The writer keeps the "big bad" very aloof and I expected that, so that wasn't an issue for me at this point in the novel. When Kara returns to our world the story starts to get back the steam from the beginning, however by the final act it was like pulling teeth to get myself to finish. I understand this is a horror novel, but I don't think attacking the reader with boredom and a failed execution was the authors intent. The Big Bad was such a let down as they never really even appeared or interacted with our heroine.

The Hollow Places just felt like the title, a hollow place devoid of a story worth telling. I felt like it could have been a novella and wrapped up in less than 200 pages. In the end, this story just wasn't for me.

Kingfisher created an amazing multiverse novel in "The Hollow Places". The author was able to draw readers in with excellent character development of Kara (Carrot) and Simon, before venturing into the science fiction aspects of the book. I was emotionally invested in both Kara and Simon, and even Uncle Earl, and that helped propel me through the action in the book. The emotional toll from the experiences Kara and Simon encountered in the willow world was well portrayed. This helped create tension and fear for the reader, making this an excellent choice for horror fans in addition to science fiction readers. The dark comedy and snarky dialogue lightened tense moments and reconnected the reader with the characters during times of intense action. The descriptive style used in creating the willow world was enough to help readers picture to world, but not so much that it took away from the action and plot. I appreciated the tense end scene, which was the scariest thing I have read in a while! This book is highly recommended.

I read the description of this book on NetGalley and knew I had to read the whole thing. A menacing warning about an ambiguous/otherworldly “they”? And why do I want them to be hungry?! Obviously I was enthralled and thrilled when I was approved for the title. Unfortunately, the book didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I’ll start with the good. First, that cover is perfect. PERFECT! Second, I connected easily with the main characters and their humor-filled attitudes. Third, I was anticipating an unsettling atmosphere and the author 100% delivered in that regard. Certain portions of the story were downright disturbing and I ate them all up. My biggest criticism (and the one that bumped my rating from 4 to 3 stars) is that the ending fell flat to me. I was hoping for a big payoff full of world-destroying, fiery revenge but there was absolutely none of that. Maybe this leaves room for a second installment? If so, count me in. I liked the characters enough to give it another try. I will also issue a warning that this book is very “campy” in some ways. If that isn’t your style, I would probably steer clear. Despite these couple criticisms, I did enjoy most of the book and thought it was worth the read!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of the publication date in exchange for an honest review!

Another great book by this author. I have come to look forward to anything she writes. This one kept my attention in one full swoop. Read in one day. Great story. Lots of twists and mystery.

As a child, I longed to find another land at the back of a wardrobe, just like Lucy did in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. But sometimes the other land that you find is not a friendly one and getting caught there might end you ... This book freaked me out. I started reading it at bedtime, which was a huge mistake! The tone is playful, the characters delightfully snarky but then things get really scary, really fast! Images from within this book have stayed with, not in a good way. Which means that Kingfisher did a great job!