Who Would Like This Book:
This book is a delightfully weird blend of cosmic horror, dark humor, and quirky characters. If you love stories where everyday folks stumble into unnerving, otherworldly mysteries with a dash of snark and genuine friendship, you'll enjoy this ride. The Wonder Museum setting, unforgettable alternate world, and the dynamic between Kara and Simon make it perfect for fans of Stranger Things, cosmic horror, or anyone who likes their scares with a side of banter. If you prefer your horror to be more atmospheric and unsettling than gory, and appreciate strong, relatable leads, this one’s for you.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the humor and casual tone a bit too heavy, feeling it diluted the tension and horror. If you’re looking for relentless scares, high-concept terror, or a super-tight plot with no obvious twists, you might be disappointed. Others mentioned that the pacing drags in parts, or that certain character reactions felt unrealistic or repetitive, especially if you’ve read other T. Kingfisher books and notice recurring tropes. If quirky dialog and genre-savvy characters aren’t your thing, or if you prefer pure horror without comic relief, this may not hit the mark.
About:
Kara discovers a hole in the wall of her uncle's museum that leads to a terrifying alternate dimension full of monsters and dangers. With her friend Simon, they navigate through different worlds while trying to find their way back home, encountering cosmic horror, body horror, and a mix of humor and weirdness along the way. The story combines elements of horror, supernatural, and humor, providing a unique and creepy reading experience with well-developed characters and a detailed world-building.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include body horror, intense psychological distress, and themes of existential dread.
From The Publisher:
A young woman discovers a strange portal in her uncle's house, leading to madness and terror in this gripping new novel from the author of the "innovative, unexpected, and absolutely chilling" (Mira Grant, Nebula Award-winning author) The Twisted Ones.
Pray they are hungry.
Kara finds the words in the mysterious bunker that she's discovered behind a hole in the wall of her uncle's house. Freshly divorced and living back at home, Kara now becomes obsessed with these cryptic words and starts exploring this peculiar area-only to discover that it holds portals to countless alternate realities. But these places are haunted by creatures that seem to hear thoughts…and the more one fears them, the stronger they become.
With her distinctive "delightfully fresh and subversive" (SF Bluestocking) prose and the strange, sinister wonder found in Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth, The Hollow Places is another compelling and white-knuckled horror novel that you won't be able to put down.
Ratings (141)
Incredible (23) | |
Loved It (52) | |
Liked It (37) | |
It Was OK (15) | |
Did Not Like (9) | |
Hated It (5) |
Reader Stats (432):
Read It (147) | |
Want To Read (235) | |
Did Not Finish (11) | |
Not Interested (39) |
3 comment(s)
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.
I loved this book. It was the right amount of creepy and comical and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I spent most of my time the past three days reading because I HAD to know what was going on. The main characters were likable, believable and relatable even in this world of pure confusion and horror. Beau was a good boy and he deserves all of the the pork from some pork fried rice.
T. Kingfisher's The Hollow Places is an absolute triumph, perfectly blending the thrill of alternate dimensions with genuinely unsettling horror and a cast of characters you'll genuinely root for. If you've ever dreamt of stepping through a mundane doorway into another reality, this book will both satisfy that fantasy and then thoroughly warp it into a nightmare.
Imagine this: you stumble upon a hidden portal, perhaps in something as innocuous as a closet, and suddenly you're in a strange, new world. At first, it's all wonder and exploration, a delightful escape from the ordinary. But as Kingfisher masterfully unravels the narrative, that initial wonder curdles into something far more sinister. The "fun and games" quickly dissipate, replaced by a creeping dread that will have you gripping the pages and desperately hoping the protagonists find their way back home.
Kingfisher excels at building a pervasive sense of unease, letting the horror seep in slowly rather than relying on cheap jump scares. The alternate dimension she crafts is both fascinating and deeply disturbing, a testament to her inventive imagination. But it's not just the terrifying setting that makes this book so compelling; it's the characters themselves. They're relatable, flawed, and utterly human, making their terrifying predicament all the more impactful. You'll feel their fear, their desperation, and their unwavering desire to return to the familiar.
If you're a fan of atmospheric horror, mind-bending alternate realities, and stories with heart, The Hollow Places is an absolute must-read. Just be warned: you might think twice before opening any mysterious doors after you finish it.
What can you read after
The Hollow Places?
About the Author:
T. Kingfisher, also known as Ursula Vernon, is the author and illustrator of many projects, including the webcomic "Digger," which won the Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story and the Mythopoeic Award. Her novelette "The Tomato Thief" won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette, and her short story "Jackalope Wives" won the Nebula Award for Best Story. She is also the author of the bestselling Dragonbreath, and the Hamster Princess series of books for children. Find her online at RedWombatStudio.com.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
