What in the fresh hell did I just read? And how can I read it again with fresh eyes?

I am not much one for fantasies that don't involve romance but for some reason I was just drawn to this description, also....have you seen this book cover? I really did judge this book by its gorgeous cover.

Turns out this twisted dark fairytale of sorts was a total win for me. I kept asking myself what in the hell was I reading and when could I get more.

I love the epic twists and turns that we endured. The setting was oddly beautiful. And that ending.... does this mean we get a sequel? I surely hope so!

Thank you Penguin Teen and Netgalley for this advanced review copy. It was a super win for me.

"𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬, 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴."⁣
⁣
House Of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland is one of those few books you read in a lifetime where you can't help but think "how on earth did the author come up with this idea?" It's so creepy yet so thought-provokingly brilliant. I was completely hooked on this book by the first few pages. I just had to know what happened to the Hollow sisters and I could feel their intoxicating traits jumping off the page. Sutherland writes in a way where the book just flies by, I'd look up and hadn't realized I had been reading for an hour as it only felt like minutes. If you like intriguing horror/thrillers that can make your stomach turn at times, you'll love this.

Trigger warnings for missing children and some gore but nothing worse than that. ⁣
⁣
𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 PenguinTeen 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

This book has: things that’ll make your skin crawl, runes written in blood, rivers full of dead bodies, very close sisters, ants doing gross stuff under people’s skin, creepy death flowers, gore, and just a general constant feeling of being very ominous while also having characters who I actually liked. It’s also really well paced, it feels like a very quick read and makes you want to keep turning the page. It’s very enjoyable.
The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is that there were two twists and I figured them both out ahead of time.

4.5 // 5
"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."
Let me start this review off by stating WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS THAT TWIST?!
Wow. Incredible. I did not see that coming, and my foreshadowing self is very upset that the truth slipped away from me.
For one thing- this book is intense. It follows Iris as she searches for her oldest sister Grey after a disgruntling disappearance. Though this is certainly not a Hollow sister's first major disappearance. The three sisters were gone off of the face of the earth for a month 10 years ago with no evidence as to where they went. They came back with black eyes instead of blue, dark hair that changed to near white, a lack of memories, and an insatiable hunger. The Hollow Sisters were irrevocably changed, but they seem content with that reality until the truth starts to unravel.
By the start of the novel, the sisters are supposed to meet, but when Grey's a no-show, Iris and Vivi dive into the mysteries of her and even their own past disappearance to get to the answers they need. Mystery is drenched deeply into the plot as it unfolds, and we are taken on the journey of a lifetime with these strange sisters.
House of Hollow is downright terrifying but in an alluringly grotesque way. From carrion flowers growing in places they shouldn't to a murderous man wearing a bull's mask, readers will be left with more questions than answers until the illuminative end.
The standout aspect, besides the luscious descriptors and imagery, is by far the relationship between the three sisters. I only have a brother, so while I cannot truly compare my relationship to the Hollow Sisters, I know for certain that I would fight for him just as hard as Iris does for Grey or Vivi. Their love for one another was powerful and pure, relatable and never-ending.
I highly recommend readers go into this novel blind, which is basically my catchphrase at this point for most books. I knew little to nothing about this world before stepping into its depths, and it only added to my intrigue and wonder. Krystal Sutherland does an excellent job crafting a fantasy of death and destruction in the midst of suburbia.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Trigger Warnings: PTSD, death, suicide, violence

I received an e-arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so creepy and atmospheric and beautiful (in the way a Venus fly trap is beautiful!) I got such Wilder Girls mixed with Gone Girl vibes and I LOVED it.

The way the author describes everything, even the most disturbing things, was so lyrical and beautiful. I really loved her writing style!

The story was also really interesting. I enjoyed Iris’ growth and her relationships with her sisters. She was such a strong character, even in times of weakness.

This book is delightfully macabre in the best possible way. Each gruesome description is so brilliantly written that once it pulls you in, it just does not let go. I will be thinking about this book for a long time. There are just very little words I can say to convey how stunningly creepy this book is.

For Libraries: YES!

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

Rating: 4.5

This book was delightfully weird in all the best ways and wonderfully written. This feels like a modern day haunting fairy tale and I definitely recommend picking this up.

The relationship between Iris, Vivi, and Grey is probably one of my favorite sister relationships that I’ve seen. Even though Grey and Vivi have left and have problems with their mother, Iris has no doubts that they would be there for her in a heartbeat. And she’s so secure in that, she knows something is wrong because Grey doesn’t show up to meet them. I just loved them so much.

The creepier elements worked so well in this book. The fairy tale-esque images paired with our modern day setting mixed with a little bit of portal fantasy elements just really did it for me. The descriptions of their surroundings, their powers, how their ordeal has affected them. It was all so captivating.

But underneath the haunting details, there’s a story about the love for your family, your sisters, what you would do for them. And how even when you think it’s right, there’s consequences.

There was some really good twists in this story that I *should* have seen coming, but didn’t up until they happened. And then everything leading up to them clicked and I just went OH. It was a fantastic reading experience.

“The three of us were all born in the middle of storms. Grey was lightning, Vivi was thunder, and I was the sea in a tempest.”

House of Hollow is a dark modern fairy tale about the three ethereally beautiful sisters who, ten years ago went missing and was found a month later - one of the greatest mysteries of their time. Life continued for most of them until, what happened ten years ago happened again with Grey. Now Iris and Vivi plays detective to find Grey but what they unraveled changes everything they know.

My initial and final thoughts on House of Hollow are like from two different books, it went from “I can relate to this story being an elder sister myself to what on earth did I just read?!

Krystal Sutherland’s writing was lush, beautiful and utterly unique. The focus on senses, specially the sense of smell was horrifyingly effective in creating this imagery in the reader’s mind. I was hiding under the blanket with only one eye peeled open, too scared to read, too scared to look at my surroundings, too scared to do anything. I couldn’t believe I was reading this but I couldn’t stop, won’t stop. Sutherland’s writing was like a drug.

Each of The Hollow sister stood out with their unique personalities, Grey was high fashion, Vivi was pure rock n’roll and Iris fell in between who is the narrator of the story. The addition of Tyler Yang was also refreshing as he provided the humor that was like a break from all the gruesome story of the sisters. Their relationship with each other was fascinating.

This blend of folklore, family tragedy and mystery is all kinds of horror and creeps: the kind of someone’s-standing-at-the-edge-of-your-bed-staring-at-you-while-you-were-sleeping-with-a-weapon-in-hand kind of creep. Reading House of Hollow made me question my sanity while also constantly questioning what is going on, I couldn’t have predicted the plot and that ending! It left me with so many questions. Questions that might not get an answer which is both a blessing and a curse.

I don’t read thrillers and horrors but seeing the stunning cover of House of Hollow, I knew I just had to as it was too compelling to pass and I don’t regret it at all. It was terrifying and it would take a while before the fear leaves my soul but every goosebump was worth it. For fans of the dark and twisted fairy tale and folk lore, you are going to love this!

TW: suicide, self-harm, stalking, kidnapping, mental health struggle, addiction, trauma, sexual assault.


Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for providing me an E-ARC to review.

House of Hollow is one of those books that once it sinks it’s teeth in you, you cannot stop reading. Which is exactly how I came to binge this book in an afternoon when I should have been doing far more productive things.

This is also one of those books that makes me question the label ‘YA’. What parameters does a book need in order to be classified as a Young Adult book, because while this does follow 17 year old Iris Hollow, it’s dark and twisted enough for even some adults to shudder at.

This modern day Grimm’s fairly tale is both fascinating and haunting. The sinister atmosphere that Sutherland has engrained into the story, really reached out and holds you in it’s embrace throughout the entirety of the story. I for one could not put this book down once I got into it. Unlike some horror books that relay entirely on an atmospheric presence in the book to keep you sufficiently creeped out, Sutherland instead lures you in with a mystery. When combined with her excellent writing and vivid imaginary, this book has zero problems hold your attention.

Without getting to much into the plot, because I would hate to ruin the story, this book relies heavily on Grimm fairytales and folklore about missing children. Ten years ago Iris and her two sisters disappear completely without a trace. A month later they return, with zero recollection of where they were. They come back physically changed, their eyes are now black and their hair turns while. They also have a scar on their chest that could easily signify violence. When the oldest sister, Grey, goes missing again. Iris is determined to get her back. But in order to find Grey, Iris is going to have to start remembering what happened to her and her sisters a decade ago.

Rich in detail, I don’t recommend eating while reading this story. Sutherland has done a phenomenal job of making this story jump out of the pages. She also does an excellent job of capturing of proving just enough suspense to keep the reader on their toes. I highly recommend this book especially if you are a fan of Rory Powers, dark fairytales, or even Alice in Wonderland.


House of Hollow comes out April 6, 2021. Huge thank you to Penguin Random House for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof_books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! This book was deliciously dark and twisted and totally blew me away! The Hollow Sisters are such wild and intriguing characters that make you want more of them. This dark tale was original and unlike ANYTHING I've ever read. It takes you through twists and turns and cringe worthy settings filled with eerie creatures. I couldn't get enough of this book and it's earthy horror. The descriptions and emotions were so vivid I felt like I was in the book and seeing everything through Iris's eyes. Horror fans you DO NOT want to miss out on this one when it comes out on April 6th! Prepare yourself to step through an abandoned door for one dark and twisted horror ride! 😈

I don’t pick up fantasy titles as often as the other genres I do because I often find the immersive worlds too much to get caught up in for a single title, but in House of Hollow, Sutherland has done the complete opposite.

I was immersed in the Hollow sisters, and the mystery of their childhood disappearance that not only shapes the story, but each of the sisters in the current narrative.

Dark and provocative, these three sisters are immediately captivating, luring you into their creepy world. I LOVED it, and how invested I was into knowing more about the sisters as individuals, as sisters, and what happened to them in the past that seems to be coming after them now.

I couldn’t get over how eloquently lyrical Sutherland manages to make this contemporary YA thriller. Each of the sisters is so uniquely written, while remaining steadfast and true to their sisterhood that was the core of the book. So many strangely beautiful while simultaneously gross & disgusting moments that just made this book a must read, I really enjoyed how STRANGE and wonderful it was.

"She was fourteen then, and already the most beautiful creature I could imagine. I wanted to peel the skin from her body and wear it draped over mine."

UGH, just so good! Plan to devour this book, because you’ll have a hard time setting it down once you start…. almost as if the sisters were enchanting you….

A huge thank you to Penguin Teen + NetGalley for the eARC of this incredible title in exchange for my personal review! This is one I know I will be raving about for months to come & I’m looking forward to the Penguin Teen Book Fest event with Krystal even more now!

I first heard about House of Hollow back in October/November at an influencer meeting with Penguin Teen. When they gave the elevator pitch for this book, I was immediately hooked and I knew I had to get my hands on a copy because this was everything I could have wanted in a book and more. 

And wow, this did not disappoint. 

To start off, I loved the mystery surrounding the sisters and their disappearance. The prologue effectively lets us know what happened to the Hollow sisters and how they suddenly disappeared for a month on the streets of Edinburgh. Their parents looking away for no more than two seconds to kiss at midnight on New Years Eve before their three children were gone. How they suddenly appeared exactly one month later, naked, cold, and somehow changed.

As we move forward in the story and finally get to know more about the Hollow sisters, it was clear that all three were very different. One thing I liked a lot, being one of three sisters myself, is the fact that there are some big differences between them but Iris doesn't shame her sisters for being different - she states it more like a fact. There's no judgement that Vivi is more punk and intense than Grey, who tries to be ethereally beautiful. And Iris, who just wishes to blend in and be comfortable. The dichotomy between the three just works so well and it reminded me a lot of my own sisters. 

Once the plot started moving though, I was done for. I picked up this book after work (around 4pm) and even with an hour and a half break to walk, cook dinner, eat, etc I still finished at 8pm. I devoured this book. The need to know more felt like an endless maw, much like the sister's endless hunger - insatiable until the very end and still wanting more. I could not tear my eyes away from the page and when I had to, my mind was spinning with thoughts and questions as I wondered, what happened to Grey? And who are the Hollow sisters?

Once it's been realized that Grey is missing, Vivi and Iris are quick to start looking for her. As they go to the last person she was seen with, Tyler Yang, it's clear we have found another addition to the group and Tyler was such a good choice. I will admit that while he was annoying at first, and I definitely thought him empty headed and shallow, he ended up being a character that I grew to love. His witty banter between Iris and Vivi helped break up the macabe undertones of the book, bringing in some lightness and humor to the story. 

Honestly, bringing Tyler in just helped solidified what I already knew: Grey is just an awful person. She's the person you love to hate. You're envious of her beauty and grace, even as she actively works to destroy you, but once you're out of her spell it's clear who she really is. On the other hand, Vivi is a queen, and while she has her own issues, it's clear she is such a genuine person that I wouldn't mind getting sniped or barked at if it meant being able to hang around someone so badass. And while Iris starts off pretty plain, she quickly begins to shine as she comes into her own, no longer depending on her sisters to tell her what to do and who to be. 

Even with the fantastic characters, including Iris who's transformation is unparalleled, the plot is unmatched. Every spine tingling or creepy moment of this book was too good to look away from. I was absolutely addicted to it and maybe that's why I couldn't stop reading. Even with the horrific imagery, this book was still binge worthy, and the mystery was laid out so well. Overall, I just really adore this story and everyone needs to read this masterpiece!

A story as enticing and beautiful as its cover. YOU WANT TO READ THIS BOOK. This belongs in its own genre - it encompasses fantasy, horror, paranormal, magical realism, paganism? Maybe? I don't even know how to classify it. What I DO know, is that this is the PERFECT read for a reader like me.
Remember that scene in The Ruins where you see the wiggle underneath her skin as the plant underneath moves across her forehead? Where you want to look away, BUT YOU JUST CANNOT? This. This is this book. Grey, Vivi and Iris, the Hollow girls, disappeared on their parents watch. Gone in a blip and not a single sighting until they showed up on the street a month later. Their father making claims that these are not his daughters. Their mother who clings to the youngest as the older two left home in their teens. The oldest, Grey, disappearing.... AGAIN. Of course they're going to go searching for her. All while being chased by a man who smells of death and looks like a minotaur. YES PLEASE. MORE MORE MORE!

I didn't expect this read to get as dark as it did. Those who may look away due to the fact it's also in a Young Adult category, fear not - this gets creepily delicious and you'll want to stay and eat up every bloody morsel.. surely to be dotted by carrion flowers. I got sucked in from the very beginning and absolutely did not want to put this down. I expected a family story and while it does touch on family, death, letting go AND the basic need of survival, it is SO much more.

Come come come, dear readers. Let's go journey where the Hollow sisters have gone. I promise to bring you back... maybe even in one whole piece. 😈

Krystal Sutherland knows how to pull at my heart strings.

When I first heard about this book, I was insanely intrigued. This was the kind of dark fantasy that I had been secretly hoping for. Sutherland did an amazing job at crafting an original story filled with intrigue and mystery, however, the conclusion of the story wasn't as impactful as I would have hoped. I really appreciated that we did find out what actually happened, but I think I had built up a different idea in my head, and so when the truth was not what I expected, I was a little let down. I really hope that Sutherland writes a sequel to this story because the ending perfectly sets up the opportunity for one, and I would LOVE to see how the relationship between the Hollow sisters changes after the events of this book. So, overall, Sutherland never fails to make me cry, but I was hoping for just a little something more when it came to the ending of this book.

3.75/5 stars

This is not a fairytale of happy endings and princesses. This is not a fairytale of magic and talking animals. This is a fairytale of death. A grim story of three sisters and a door that once led somewhere and now leads somewhere else. House of Hollow is a fairytale that can only be described as hauntingly beautiful.
From page one I was enraptured by this story. The plot was fast-paced and never let off, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. All the plot twists revealed were so unexpected and shocking. I feel that the plot was well thought out and was able to reveal the twists at points in the story that seemed right. I am amazed by how well it was built up to the unexpected turns and all the little hints left along the way!
The writing style and world-building was so beautiful and atmospheric, every time I sat down to read this book, I was submerged in this world of darkness and horror. I could vividly picture the settings with the descriptions incorporated into the text. The whole aura of the book was dark and creepy. I really appreciated the unflinching tone of the novel. The narrator didn’t avoid the dark thoughts and realities of this world. The internal monologues about sexism and the mistreatment of women (catcalls, discrimination, sexual assault, etc.) were such a good addition to the story. They gave insight into the mind of the main character, Iris, and built out her views. It is one of the only stories I’ve read that doesn’t avoid those topics.
The small cast of characters made the novel seem even more secluded and creepy. Although we had the main three sisters, all of them had distinct personalities. Krystal Sutherland did an amazing job of making all the characters unique. The descriptions of people and monsters were so vivid that I should not have been reading it at night (but I did anyway because I couldn’t put it down)! I highly recommend reading this book and discovering for yourself what happened to the Hollow sisters.

House of Hollow was dark, morbid, creepy yet hauntingly beautiful.

I was initially interested in this book because of the cover. It is gorgeous and perfect for the story.

I don’t usually read a lot of YA horror but this one was incredibly captivating from the start. This novel is like nothing I’ve ever read and I need more!

This story follows the Hollow sisters Iris, Vivi and Grey who disappeared as kids only to be found a month later. Nothing is the same after that, 10 years later Grey disappears again.

You will spend most of the book wondering what happened to the Hollow sisters?
The mystery is what kept me completely engrossed in the story.

The writing in this book is fantastic and full of dark imagery, I felt everything you’d normally feel with a horror movie. I honestly couldn’t put this book down.

Also I should add that I was not ready for that ending. I need more and I hope we don’t have to wait too long!

House of Hollow gave me all the dark chills and thrills I look for in YA horror and then added in a dash of modern-day fairytale, Grimm style, for good measure. It is eerie and haunting, creepy and fantastical and left me wanting more. I had an overwhelming feeling throughout that I can only describe as sinister and foreboding but in the most delicious way possible.

Iris knows there’s something different about herself and her two older sisters, Vivi and Grey. Since the Hollow sisters returned from a month-long absence when they were children, an absence they don’t remember, there’s been certain changes. Black eyes and hair that changed color from dark to white and each girl with a hook shaped scar on their chest and …. a few other things that I’ll leave for the reader to discover. When Grey disappears again, Iris and Vivi set out to find her using an odd set of clues that only the sisters can decipher. Following Greys clues just may get them more than they bargained for and a past they may have to reckon with.

There was a time during the book that I had to question just where exactly my own moral compass lay but to uncover this would be to spoil and I won’t do that! I think that going in to this book with the synopsis alone is the chefs kiss to experiencing the pure horror of this tale to its full extent.

Ms. Sutherland wrote a spectacular tale, rich in detail and world building with enigmatic characters that were easy to invest in. House of Hollow is a spell-binding page-turner, twisty and bendy in all the right places and I. Could. Not. Stop. Reading.

My thanks to Penguin Teen and the author for gifting me a DRC in exchange for my review.

“𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲. 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲.”—Krystal Southerland

The Hollow Sisters are something of a legend, speculated over across social media for their disappearance ten years ago. Iris has always struggled with the weirdness surrounding her. But when Grey Hollow goes missing again, she and Vivi go looking. A horned man follows, a dead man falls from her sister’s ceiling, and flowers start growing out of her skin. Something isn’t right. Iris has known for a long time, and when memories start breaking through, she will learn just how dark her past is.

Dark. Morbid. Creepy. The Hollow Sisters are not what they seem. Grey Hollow is a famous model and clothing designer. Vivi is a punk-rock star. And Iris is just...Iris. Trying to get through prep school to get into a good university. But these sisters are twisted together. They can feel each other in ways normal people can’t. Their bond is deeper than roots burrowing beneath damp earth. And their secrets? Their secret will shock you. This story was impossible to put down. It’s a mixture of urban fantasy bloodied with darkness. I had no idea what to expect going in. Certainly not what I got. It was BETTER.

I loved the writing, the prose, the mystery. I couldn’t stop reading because I had a desperate need to know what happened to Grey just as badly as Vivi and Iris. The story is told from Iris’s point of view, so we know as much as she does. But little by little, we learn more, get clues, and begin piecing together what happened ten years ago when she and her sisters disappeared.

“𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵.”

The magic was morbid. A liminal world exists between the living and the dead. It is around this middle ground that the story revolves. I was fascinated. It’s clear that Grey knows way more than her two younger sisters. But they begin piecing it together. Enough to know where to look when it’s time to go find her. And when they do finally slip through, the secrets come tumbling out. Each one more shocking than the next. It wasn’t at all what I expected, but I loved it.

“𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗜 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻. 𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲.”

I think this will be perfect for those who like morbid reads on the lighter side. Think Horrid and What Big Teeth. The creep factor was perfect for me, because I hate scary movies. I was more intrigued than afraid. Curious. Entertained. Weirded-out. I enjoyed this book enough to order a special edition of it. 𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 𝟰/𝟱⭐️

A big thank you to Penguin Teen for giving me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

House of Hollow is an eerie book that lingers long after the last page. It sinks under your skin and stays with you until the haunting end. From the very first page I was drawn into this unsettling world of missing children and rotted flowers. The story went in so many directions, but still was constant in the sometimes unsettling and even disgusting storyline and look at the relationships of sisters.
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I loved the writing in this book. Once it got going, the story moved quickly at a good pace. Many of the characters were morally questionable, but they each had their own distinct personality. My heart broke at many points for some of the side characters.
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The ending opens itself to a sequel, which I would love to see! The world has so many other places it could be explored, and it would be amazing to learn more about it.
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Overall, I recommend this to fantasy lovers and fans of The Electric Kingdom and Wilder Girls.
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TWs- body horror, self harm, suicide, vomit, murder, death, stalking, sexual assault, drug abuse
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion,

“She slammed through the world, a tornado in the form of a girl, and left a trail of destruction behind her.”

House of Hollow is an enchanting read that sucks you in from the first page. Have fun trying not to read this book in one sitting. Sutherland takes you on the journey of unraveling a mystery you didn’t even know you were trying to solve. Who are the Hollow sisters? I thought I knew, but I didn’t at all.

One of the best features of the book is how Sutherland completely immerses the reader in the atmosphere. Her descriptions touch on all the 5 senses so profoundly that you’ll feel like you’re seeing the corpses, smelling the wood and rot, tasting blood, hearing the whispers, and feeling the flowers blooming under your fingertips. I felt dropped right into the center of this book like I was an actual character.

It felt like there was no time to mourn in this book because my mind was constantly just filled with question marks. But, I actually enjoyed how the plot was constantly moving, and you couldn’t sit with just one emotion at a time. It was unsettling and provocative. I even started tearing up at the end cause my adrenaline was high, and I felt like everything I knew was a lie haha. I also love books that make me conflicted about the characters. Vivi was easily my favorite sister, but Grey confused me the most to the point I was sympathetic. There were also little things I loved in this book like how easily the sexuality of the characters was mentioned and how aware the girls were of how they’re treated in this world.

Sutherland layered this book so deeply that I honestly wish I could read this book for the first time again. For people who love to reread, this is a great addition to your shelves because there’s so much you could pick up on during another read, and you would probably still miss some clues.

I couldn’t recommend this book enough. This dark fairytale was everything I needed.