Book Review: The Hollow Places

The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher


The good news and the bad news about this book is that it’s very much like The Twisted Ones. A freelancer moves to live in a cluttered relative’s house, and, with the help of a friendly neighbor, explores a supernatural world that can be accessed through seemingly normal terrain. Shit goes south and pretty soon they’re fleeing terrifying monsters. The characters are charming and believable, the setting bizarre yet comprehensible, and the tension ramps up with expertise.

I really loved this book. It’s horror without being a gore-fest. Ordinary, believable people use the tools at their disposal to deal with unbelievably difficult situations. Also, the creativity involved is impressive. I never thought a schoolbus full of children could be a horror trope, or that tree roots could be so menacing. At one point she finds a journal, and even the writer of the journal felt realistic and engaging. Bonus points, the author deals with disability in a believable and empathetic way. I don’t want to give the details of the monsters away, but an unseen monster that can read your thoughts is almost the least scary of them. I highly recommend this book if you want something creepy and tense that eschews tired horror tropes.




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