that ending….rtc

<b>8/22/24</b>

whew!!! i had to take a month off and come back to review this one! buckle up because i usually don’t believe blurbs that say “perfect for fan who enjoy….” but this book? this book right here? they aren’t lying in the blurbs.

i must confess, i’m a little bitter by the ending. i’m still am. which just makes me 10x more excited to (hopefully) continue reading miles & gabriel’s adventures in another book!

one thing i personally loved about this book is the differences in miles & gabriel’s family—not just economically, but the way their families treat them. family themes are ones i adore and relate too, so i especially enjoy reading them in books.

the mystery and plot itself is super compelling, and it’s definitely a spooky book to read while warming yourself up new a fireplace this october. super excited to grab this book for myself this spooky season!

<b>👻 5 stars!!!! 👻</b>

★ ★ ★ ★ ★/☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

<b><i>thank you netgalley & titan books for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!</b></i>

On rare occasions, we find books where the author has an engaging style, writes endearing and charming characters with a fun and entertaining plot... and Camilla Raines has managed it with The Hollow and the Haunted.

Sixteen-year-old empath Miles is struggling to juggle school, the family business (which often includes gravedigging and being assaulted by the odd ghost) and being a closeted gay teen, when his life is complicated further when he has a premonition of the murder of Gabriel Hawthorne. Miles is of course the type of person who wants to step up and help someone in trouble, but what happens when that someone just happens to be the son of his family's enemy? When a feud goes back decades, how do you manage to save a life?

Miles is a thoroughly likeable protagonist, and it really made reading the book a pleasure. He was adorable and charismatic, and he was popped perfectly into engaging narrative.

I really loved the relationships in the books, especially between Miles and Gabriel, and Miles and his cousin. Miles and Gabriel are obviously heading towards enemies to lovers, but it was actually more rewarding seeing their friendship blossom and seeing the effects it has on them as people. Importantly, conversations seemed very natural and felt realistic. The supporting characters were also interesting and likeable, which really helped strengthen the novel overall.

There's a really lovely mix of humour and adventure, and reading it was just a lot of fun. Raines has clearly managed to balance realistic characters with a paranormal plot, and it really works without anything feeling forced at all.

The only thing that upset me was the cliffhanger ending because I need book two now, please!

What a cracking read this was.

An atmospheric and haunting debut, The Hollow And The Haunted is a queer dark fantasy with a romantic core perfect for fans of the Raven Cycle or Cemetery Boys.

““You don’t have to be so rude all the time,” he snapped, trying to will away the heat creeping up his neck. “I know, but I find insulting you rather therapeutic, if I’m being honest.”

The Hollow and the Haunted is a bundle of fun; full of witty banter, an engaging cast and fulfilling relationships. Book 1 in a duology, this is a melting pot of awkward teen shenanigans and spooky paranormalities, Miles making for an endearing protagonist you can’t help but root for, and Gabe his endearing narrative foil. Strong Stranger Things vibes from this one - the atmosphere in this ghostly queer romance is absolutely to die for ;D Oh, and that cliffhanger!!! So excited for a sequel!

Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

Thank you Titan Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. A thrilling take on magic! Miles family is gifted, or so they believe. Miles would rather be able to pursue art then go into the family business of working with ghosts and spirits. But with his empathy gifts he’s always felt everything so strongly that he just wants to make his parents proud. He’s also keeping the fact that he’s gay to himself, he’s just not ready to tell anyone (except his cousin Charlee). Then he starts seeing a gentleman in the mirror, he has blood dripping down his face and tells Miles to find him. To Miles surprise his visitor is non other then Gabriel Hawthorne. The Hawthorne’s do not get along with Miles’s family. They are a cold bunch who everyone knows has unnatural gifts. Miles warns Gabriel thinking that will be the end of it. But then Gabriel shows up at his school. This time Miles has a premonition of Gabriel dying. Miles shouldn’t see premonitions, he’s not a Seer, and they are supposed to only have one gift. Together the two will work, secretly, on stopping Gabriel’s death. But the Hawthorne’s have a darker history then even Gabriel knew. Also the two are getting closer but with their families hating each other things become even more complicated. Can they save Gabriel? Or with the darkness win? I enjoyed this so much! I was captivated from start to finish! I loved the magic gifts and the darkness, I cannot wait to see what happens next! It does end it a crazy cliffhanger! Exciting, mysterious, and magical! Highly recommend!

The Hollow and the Haunted

In this darkly magical fantasy debut set in Washington State, a closeted teenage psychic foresees the death of his sworn enemy, and is forced to work with him to save his life. Sparks fly, but some ghosts don't want to stay buried...

I loved this book it was like being swept up in a big scary blanket. I always enjoy characters that start off cold and then thaw out. My only complaint is now I have to wait for the next instalment.

Amazing book . Love the plot line and character development. Will definitely recommend to friends and family

I screamed when the book ended on a cliff hanger because now I have to wait to find out what happens!

I absolutely loved this book. It's a great YA paranormal mystery with a developing romantic subplot.

I was thoroughly engaged in the mystery. There were several different elements to it, each one interesting. I liked how the characters would draw conclusions based on the information they had and then had to revise it when they learned more. It was very realistic and kept me invested.

The romance was a slow burn and came about very organically. The author managed to capture the awkwardness of teenagers developing feelings and not knowing what to do with it. It was very relatable.

I loved the banter and relationship between the characters. The focus wasn't just on the romantic relationship which I liked, the relationships with other characters were also developed.

The world felt very vibrant and real. I can't wait to revisit it in the second book.

This is so well written - elegant prose, but also a grounded and authentically teenaged voice. Miles is a wonderful main character, with a wry sense of humour that masks deep vulnerabilities, and the supporting cast of other characters are equally well-rounded and intriguing. The plot is fun and engaging - the only thing I didn't like was its major cliffhanger ending! The next book had better hurry up.

This book was difficult to put down, I read it in one sitting. It's relatable and humorously written, and the ending left me wanting more. The most relatable part of the book is how the main character deals with anxiety. A well-written and enjoyable read!

This book had everything that I love about a supernatural ghost-y YA style novel. And on top of that, the cutest mlm couple with a bit of slow burn style pining. I was very invested in the mystery in this book and had a hard time putting this down. It ends on a cliff hanger, so of course I can't wait for the next book already!

I loved this book! i thought the mystery was compelling and I’m such a sucker for a good dynamic and good banter. I thought the character development was phenomenal and I can’t wait to recommend this when it gets to my library!

Pitched for fans of Raven Boys and Cemetery Boys, but in my opinion closest to F.T. Lukens’ Spell Bound and their The Rules series.

I love the rival-to-lovers trope, but I like the grumpy-sunshine trope even more, and I loved that one the most in The Hollow and the Haunted. Miles is an empath who is always helpful and thinking about others. Gabriel is the brooding one, distant and cold. But when a friendship grows, Gabriel opens up, and Miles finds out that a sweet boy is hiding underneath all those layers of coldness. Be aware this is a slow, slow, slow-burn and that the romance isn’t the central theme. This story is about two rival families, and Miles and Gabriel find themselves in the middle of the feud.
 
Camilla Raines' writing is incredibly vivid, making this story such a pleasure to read. Miles and Gabriel, including the side characters, splashed off the pages, and I smiled so many times—at Miles’ and Gabriel’s banter and at Miles’ car because Camilla managed to make Blanche almost human.
 
To be honest, while reading that ending, I was like, ‘WHAT?’ but now I can’t wait to read the sequel! I’d love to be back with Miles and Gabriel again.

I LOVED THIS READ. From the underlying queer romance to the mystery of the death premonitions every page had me so engaged.

Coming from different classes but both having family history in their town and practicing around the paranormal, our two MC's find themselves on a mission to prevent a death vision from coming true. Unravelling an unexpected connected history between their families we find truths being murder and missing persons while coming across paranormal experiences and skills never seen before.

With how it ends i would love to see the pair continue as i loved both the story and the authors writing throughout.

The Hollow and the Haunted by Camilla Raines is a mesmerizing gothic fantasy that enchants with its atmospheric setting and eerie charm. The story delves into the dark secrets of an old, haunted estate, where the boundary between the living and the supernatural blurs.

Raines' evocative prose and richly detailed descriptions create a compellingly spooky atmosphere that draws readers into a world of mystery and suspense. The characters are well-developed, and their personal journeys are intertwined with the novel’s haunting elements, adding depth to the narrative. The Hollow and the Haunted is a captivating read for fans of gothic fiction and supernatural intrigue.

Thank you for this eARC! This review will be posted on Goodreads in October.

Miles starts seeing visions of a dying boy—only to find out the boy is Gabriel Hawthorne, son of a family that Miles’ family have been feuding with for generations. But Miles can’t just ignore the visions, and has to at least try to stop Gabriel’s death. The two boys reluctantly team up in an effort to save Gabriel’s life, and get to the dark root of their families’ pasts.

The voice was perfect for YA—self-deprecating and sarcastic, it meant that our protagonist, Miles, was instantly likeable. The relationship between him and Gabriel felt genuinely believable, and was a pleasure to read—the initial frostiness giving way to reluctant cooperation giving way to… well, you know. At points it felt like I was reading fanfiction, but I don’t mean that in a negative way at all! The relationship bests were perfectly placed and the payoff was *chef’s kiss*.

I loved the magic worldbuilding—especially the feuding/rival magic families, at once powerful and petty. The plot was relatively simple, but it kept me intrigued, and surprised me in a few places.

Overall, I really enjoyed this— the perfect book for people who were queerbaited by Supernatural as a teenager and want actual queer love stories mixed in with magic and ghosts.

I really enjoyed this. Miles and Gabriel are from two enemy magic families. They're quite different from one another and unlikely to end up meeting... until Miles sees a vision of something happening to Gabriel. The two young men have to work together to unravel a complicated mystery that may end up with one of them being harmed... or worse.

I really liked the dynamic between the two main characters. Miles is charming and wears his heart on his sleeve, while Gabriel is reserved and withdrawn with a nice dash of snarky. The friction between the two of them was enjoyable in a realistic way.

Gabriel won my over with this: "Pineapple on pizza," Gabriel said imperiously, "is for masochists and children." - loved it :)

One thing... be aware this book ends on a cliffhanger. Quite a BIG cliffhanger. I may not have wanted to read it had I known that ... just because I like to wait until a series is finished. I couldn't find any note that said this was a series .. but I'm going to assume it is!

An amazing heartfelt story about two very different individuals that find solace and love in the most bizarre places. I absolutely loved the spooky, Supernatural vibes accompanied with great lore. I particularly liked the subtle references to pop culture because this is one of my pet peeves in the recent books but here it was not annoying at all. Miles and Gabriel were written with exceptional care and love and detail and I loved both of them. Cannot wait for the next book!

This was a super sweet and adorable queer YA love story in a dark academia setting. This will be a perfect fall read, with great writing and just the right amount of creepiness.

Brilliant writing from an author to watch!

I loved everything about this book (from the moody setting to the creepy encounters), but the standout was definitely the characters. I felt like I was watching Supernatural mixed with Wednesday, but if Sam and Dean weren't brothers and Wednesday and Enid were a couple. The chemistry between Miles and Gabriel was so naturally crafted as the story progressed that I found myself kicking my feet every time they were on page together.

Can't wait for the next one! Definitely an auto-buy for me in the future.