Hollow

Crown of Hearts and Chaos #1

by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

Don’t listen to the whispers of the woods.
Don’t trust the man cloaked in shadow.
Don’t earn the wrath of the scattered spirits.
Don’t go out after dark.

The Great Hunt begins once every fifty years and only the Champions willing to face death to shatter the curse dare to enter.

The Champions…and me.

I’m no warrior, no swordsmith, and certainly no Fae, but the forest is my only hope. To enter those trees is to walk willingly to my demise. But I need the boon the forest will grant the winner and I’m willing to risk it all for a chance at claiming it.

I just never expected to face him beneath those trees. The beast who strikes fear into the desperate people of all lands. The monster who commands the legion of Hollows and makes our plight a thousand times worse.

The Hollows are empty of all things but none are so heartless as him.

Prince Bane intends to be the death of me. But I have an oath to fulfil before I’ll let him have me. And I’ll do whatever it takes to achieve it.

I am Ferris Creed and I’m going to unite the lost spirits who once bound the wandering trees in place, return the scattered amulets to the core of its corruption, and use the winner’s boon to change my fate. Come wretchedness or torment, through trickery and deception, I will get what I came here for. And no one will stand in my way. Not even Prince Bane.

*** Hollow is a dark Romantasy from the bestselling authors of Zodiac Academy, Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. It is a heady cocktail of Summoners, seduction and spirits, set to get your heart racing and feet kicking. There will be a ruinous, black hearted love interest, a rebellious, ruthless FMC, plot twists, cliff hangers, dark humour and a healthy seasoning of make-you-blush spice. It is not for the faint of heart. All those who enter the forest are bound by its terms – will you walk willingly into the dark? ***

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fae, Fantasy Romance, Dragons, Enemies To Lovers

560 pages, Hardcover

First published November 25, 2025

About the author

I'm a #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Zodiac Academy series. I write all things dark romance, from fantasy to contemporary, high school bully to mafia, there's bound to be a book for you!

Me and my sister Susanne Valenti now write books together and we've built the most amazing, fun, crazy reader group on Facebook which we would LOVE you to join. Be the first to get teasers of upcoming books, plus interact with us daily, asks us questions, make friends with other book junkies and find your reader home.

Join here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/19697...

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For all business inquiries please contact us at>>

mail@kingshollow.co.uk


For more information, special editions, signed books and more, check out my website here >>

www.kingshollow.co.uk

Reviews

[Iqra]

I have a feeling this one is gna be a solid read 🤭🙂‍↕️

BR with Clace

(Let’s ignore the fact I have three twisted sisters books on my cr shelf 😭🤚)

***

Do these women sleep 😭

(I’ll eat up anything they have to give 👹)

[Clace]

It's been such long since I've read a book by the twisted sisters! The cover is soo beautiful and I'm so damn excited for it + who better to read it with than the person who introduced me to them aka Iqra 🤭<

[Bailee Latham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this! The last book of their I read was Never Keep and it just didn’t hit for me, but this one did! Are these characters perfect? Absolutely not. But I do like them a lot regardless. And I’m hooked, will absolutely be continuing the series!

Hendrix is such an emo sad boy and Ferris has more of a backbone than I expected her to have. The next book is going to be GOOOOOOOD.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I somehow was blessed with this arc…?? HELLO? as someone who has been in a romantasy slump for months, and who didn’t even finish the zodiac academy series (I KNOW I’m sorry forgive me), I devoured this book in less than 24 hours like my life depended on it! it might be my favourite read of this entire year so far!!!! easily top 3!!!!!! truly just a masterful enemies to lovers that gave me the feeling I am constantly chasing when I pick up a romantasy. <3 the wait for the next book could honestly put me in a coma but I’ll persevere

**releases on November 18th!!**

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really in my spooky forrest era ✨

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 3 out of 5]

maybe i’ll just always have a soft spot for stories that involve a creeping cursed forest that is slowly taking over the land. oh, and fae! our main character, ferris, made a promise to her sister eight years ago, that she plans on fulfilling on the day of the great hunt, where many warriors, both human and fae, enter the forest to try to take back the land once and for all. basically, there are 13 animal spirits, who have 13 amulets, and the person who is able to retrieve the most will be able to ask the forest for any wish.

i really liked ferris, but she was a little too naive. especially with how predictable the story was at times. i also didn’t love the love interest, yet i am always here for necromancy magic, but i had a lot of fun reading it with my mom. also, i feel like the set up for book two does sound pretty cool, so i’ll probably continue on!

trigger + content warnings: blood, murder, death, gore, violence, torture, grief, captivity, loss of family in past, self harm to get blood for magic, insect imagery

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[Erika Braga · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a start for a series …..

I decided to read this book because it’s from the same authors of Zodiac Academy. It did not disappoint.
The FMC is very strong and feisty. I adore her come backs at the MMC and how infuriating she is towards him, it was even kinda funny to me. Their banter is perfect and the tension between them is hot.
The MMC is obviously broody and mean, secretive and manipulative and most of the times an asshole …. So what’s not to like? Therefore I loved him 😂😂😂😂
The magic system is unique and you don’t have to read the Zodiac Academy nor any of their previous books in order to read this one.
I love how they start as enemies to unlike allies to lovers to enemies again…. Now I will sit and wait for the next book, but it’s all good since the cliffhanger wasn’t brutal, it leaves you wanting more but it’s not awful.

[dak ⋆.˚ ☾ .⭒˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

🗡️ 🐉 🩵 🌬️ 🪾 🍃 ✨ 🏰

“𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙧, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚.”

this book started off literally so insane. the first 100 pages 🫨

dark fantasy vibes, a cursed magical forest with animal spirits, a hunt to collect amulets? yup give me moreeee

this world + magic system 🤌🏻 obsessed
the powers the fmc has UGHHH so fucking cool

speaking of, i loved our fmc and mmc. their banter and tension 🤭 kicking my feet violently
oh ferris!! such a relatable and real character. i admire her never backing down even when the odds are very against her. and hendrix hehe how i love me a broody asshole yes pls 💓
જ⁀➴ “𝖨 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖽𝗈 𝗆𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝖺𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗀𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗆𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍, 𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗐𝗂𝗇𝗀. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖺𝗌𝗄 𝗆𝖾 𝗇𝗂𝖼𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖽𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗆𝗌 𝗆𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝖾.” 🫦

the chokehold this plot had on me🤏🏻 so fucking good. i will be patiently waiting for book 2!!!!!!

[Lucie V.]

Ok, but how am I supposed to resist that cover?! 😲😍😍

I just hope this will not end up to be another 20-something series with spinoffs, because I do not think I have the patience for that. 😅

[kitkat (semi-hiatus ♡︎) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✧
#️┆read 1.16.26

WAIT WAIT WAIT. WHAT?!??! what the fuck!?!? how do the twisted sisters manage to leave me broken after EVERY book? this one started pretty slow at first (slow enough that i had to actually take a break because it was killing me) but oh my god?? that ending? i don't know how i'm supposed to just move on with my life and pretend my heart didn't just shatter into a million pieces 💔

so let's get into this one, shall we? there's no doubt about it that this is another romantasy classic from the twisted sisters, and once again, it leans more heavily into the romance aspect of the book. the TENSION??? out of this world. their relationship? toxic as fuck, and 100% i'm here for it.

now ferris? this woman is strong. i really don't know if i'd run toward this man or away from him. like, don't get me wrong, he's drool worthy, but HELLO? hendrix is this big, muscley, egotistical, broody, feral, man and ferris pushes every single one of his buttons. the chemistry between theme is definitely there... like it IS the third person in the room. it is also a very very slow burn. like, zodiac academy style slow burn.

the plot is... there. mostly. there are a few times when i felt like the romance took over a bit, but who am i kidding, i loved it. the whole dragon thing kind of felt like it was added so they could say "oh! we have dragons in this book! it's like... oh... idk... fourth wing!!" hint: it's not like fourth wing. but it is still good (maybe a little repetitive) but good.

so overall, i really did like this book. it does have it's kinks, but we love it <3

features -
- romantasy
- dual pov
- third person
- one bed
- quest
- enemies to lovers
- morally grey characters

[emelie &#x1065a;]

I wish this was a Tharix book 😔🙏🏼

[Literally Lesia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ukrainian: Ох, з чого б розпочати? Мабуть, з плюсів, нашкребу їх трохи: цікава ідея потрапляння героїні в інший світ і приємна естетика лісу, духів, атмосфера, яку я люблю. На старті мені навіть здалося, що це буде сучасна версія Двору шипів і троянд. Але ні.

Насправді це виглядає як конструктор із найбанальніших кліше романтичного фентезі. Усе передбачувано, написано дуже просто, без глибини. Я читала й думала: чому я взагалі це читаю? І тільки тому, що не могла повірити, що авторки «Академії Зодіак», які вміють писати стосунки, справді створили це. До останнього здавалося, що це жарт, експеримент або що книжку писала якась альтернативна версія авторок.

Продовження читати не буду. Це було не «що буде далі?», а «що це взагалі було?».

English: Someone has to say it. As a fan of Zodiac Academy and also The Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac I should be biased in this book’s favor, right? I wanted to love it. I really did. But honestly, at times it feels like it wasn’t even written by the same authors. Maybe by some alternative-universe versions of them.

I genuinely could not believe that the people who created all that tension, chemistry, and relationship chaos in Zodiac Academy could write a story where the chemistry between the main characters simply does not exist. Not weak. Not subtle. Just… nonexistent.

And this is what kept me reading: pure disbelief. I kept thinking, this has to change, right? This can’t be serious. But it never did.

I adore Zodiac Academy, but this book feels like a joke. And I don’t even want to start talking about the plot, because this review will be ginormous.

[kotah · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 62%

I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, it didn’t work for me.

This was my first read by the Twisted Sisters, and my biggest struggle was the inconsistent writing styles within the same book—it kept pulling me out of the story. The forest setting and the creatures were fascinating, and honestly, that was the highlight for me.

The MMC felt too much like a stereotypical “real guy”—almost arrogant gym bro vibes—which made it hard to connect with him. The FMC was likable, but I never felt truly connected or understood her well enough. So when the intense scenes happened, I wasn’t invested in the outcome. Overall, both main characters felt flat.

The potential was definitely there, but for me, the execution missed the mark.

[shaelinslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

WTF BRO. This whole book was insane, from start to finish.

While I did really enjoy this book, I have qualms.
Qualm 1: the FMC could be SO clueless which drove me nuts.
Qualm 2: the magic system was a little confusing, I am
hoping book 2 clears that up.
Qualm 3: the ending was VERY abrupt, and escalated almost too quickly?? Still liked it but it was FAST!

Things I did like:
- the main characters HATED each other which I love
- the mmc was grumpy af and very broody (that’s my type)
- the plot was a really good plot
- the ending left me textbook agog

Dying for book 2, I am heartbroken lmfao 4.25 ⭐️’s!

[Poppy Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Wow this was fun 😍

Ferris has grown up in a world where a magical forest has slowly been taking over the land and killing everything in its path. Every 50 years, champions can enter the woods, to try and reunite all the spirits (which take the form of certain animals, like a phoenix, wolf, bear, serpent etc there’s 13 of them) and break the curse to save their lands. It’s giving a dark/twisted Mother Nature vibes combined with fantasy which was very different and interesting!

Ferris enters to try and find her sister who was taken by the Fae into the woods, and meets Hendrix, who she becomes tentative allies with, who she doesn’t like to try and win together, because the woods are ruthless and no one ever comes back out. Hendrix is in there for reasons of his own, he is an outcast fae with a dark past.

This was SO fun, and so unique! I loved the magic system in this, with the amulets and the spirit animals and this spooky sentient dangerous woods! I loved the enemies to lovers to enemies, and the slow burn between Ferris and Hendrix!

My ONLY complaint is that it was a little repetitive in parts and more slower paced hence why it didn’t get 5 stars but the ending what super fast paced and I cannot wait to see where the rest of this series goes 😍

Thank you Caroline & Suzanne for the arc 🫶🏽

[Eloise Blaise | Bibliophel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now listen both main characters annoyed me in equal amounts but in opposite ways so a perfect match. I loved this world too and that’s coming from someone who cannot stand trees ‘talking’ lmao

[Ashleigh (a frolic through fiction) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh I do have a love for creepy forests and love/hate relationships. Emphasis on the ‘hate’ part. And what better attitude than utter disdain/annoyance/anger-turn-desire to pair with a gothic setting?

Hollow proved to be such an entertaining read, the intense drama seeming almost comical at times, and a page turner all the time. Ferris spends 90% of this book on the run (with the most pitiful weapon, no less), and so it’s a constant go-go-go situation that continues to spiral out of control - and it makes for a great read. Combined with the constant push and pull of Ferris and Hendrix’s smart mouthed arrogance, this book is pure adrenaline in page form. I can’t wait to see where the sequel leads us!

[Bailey Chadwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

[✨Julie✨]

That cover! 😍 Whoever did the artwork for this knew what they were doing because I immediately bought it on Audible PLUS the physical copy even though I don’t think I’ve ever read anything by either of these authors. 😆 Here’s hoping it’s as good as the ratings would lead me to believe! 🤞🏻

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is really different from any others by caroline peckham & susanne valenti thus far (in terms of vibe, setting, magic system, characters, etc) so i was definitely a bit caught off guard.

i thought that the hunt concept was cool, and i enjoyed the animal spirits a lot. i also appreciated that ferris didn't have to become great at fighting to be powerful in some way.

however, the characters felt extremely flat to me, especially as compared to prior books by them. i didn't latch on to either really, and that took me out of the story quite a bit. i also felt like it was a bit slow.

that being said, im still interested to see where book 2 takes us.

**thank you to the nerd fam + the authors for the ARC copy**

[Caitlin_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

I never thought I’d rate anything from the Twisted Sisters under 4 stars. I mean I LIKED it…but…wasn’t my fav. This FMC had the decision making skills of a box of rocks. And the romance / heat element is…well; just kinda meh. Like I’m just not buying it.

Worth a read; hoping book 2 has a redemption arc.

[LKCREADS · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ingredients to a perfect dark romantasy:

1. A cursed forest
2. A brooding tall mysterious Fae with a dark past
3. A heroine whose world shifts around her as if destiny has been holding its breath, waiting for her to step into the role she was always meant to claim.

Hollow is the latest book in what I believe is god tier dark romantasy. What else would I put in that category? Books like Anathema by Keri Lake.

This was unlike anything I’ve read before. The magic system is insanely cool and unique. If you love the magic system in One Dark Window with the Providence Cards, you will deeply enjoy the magic system here. With scattered amulets that awaken animal spirits that can help or hinder your progress in the cursed woods…. Every step feels like a gamble and you feel that tension coil tighter with each chapter.

Wondering who to trust, wondering where the next betrayal is going to come from. It’s stressful but an absolutely delicious treat at the same time.

Once every 50 years… The Great Hunt begins. A chance for only the Champions willing to face death to enter the woods in hopes of shattering the curse that’s literally creeping through the world and destroying mankind.

This story has plot twists that had my stomach twisting in knots. The spice is good but in a torturous way where there’s just not enough… because… reasons…

The cliffhanger didn’t just leave me dangling… it launched me straight into orbit. I’m still floating. I’m still screaming. I’m sorry. The pain is worth it though.

"I don't fear you," she hissed, the lie so apparent it was almost
laughable.
I smiled beneath my mask, knowing she couldn't see it, but her
face paled all the same.
"Yes, you do. But not nearly enough. Because soon you will have
no greater nightmare than me, Ferris Creed."

As this world unfolds, as we learn more about the characters, it’s hard not to feel absolutely sucked in and absorbed by this place. It was so hard putting this book down and joining the real world again.

“The magic here was ancient, sentient and hauntingly intimidating.” The forest isn’t just cursed… it’s alive, aware, and watching.

This story is emotional, layered, honestly sad at times… And that ending? It flips the entire story on its head in a way that left me breathless and utterly devastated that book two isn’t already in my hands.

Don’t just run to pick this book up… climb onto a spirit dragon and fly to your nearest bookstore…

[Daria Fujino · Rating 2 out of 5]

Побережіть себе і почитайте краще продовження Зодіаку. Бо Холлоу, хоч і дуже красиво оформлена, абсолютно холлоу всередині. Стандартний клішований сюжет, жодної свіжої ідеї, цікавих стосунків, персонажів і так далі. У крабовій паличці можна знайти більше сенсів ніж у цій книзі.
Я вас попередила!

[Remy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNFed at like 20% bc it was a thoughtless regurgitation of literally every other romantasy published this year

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bouncing between 3 and 3.5⭐️
This book was entertaining but not super engaging to me.
I loved the beginning. It had a lot of promise. Then, towards the middle, it was just the FMC and MMC for so long that it was kind of boring. There wasn't much happening and no entertaining side characters to latch onto.
I'm a big lover of side characters and feeling immersed in a book, especially fantasy.
I want to be so intertwined with the story and characters that I'm unsure what world I belong in.
This is the same authors who pulled the most intense emotions from me while reading Zodiac Academy, so I was expecting that with this book.
I know it's the first book in the series and it's most likely going to be a long series, so I have to be patient.

[lenaleest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be blessed with an ARC for this book. 😭
I finished this in 24 hours. Spectacular. Give me 14 of them RIGHT NOW! 😱😱
I don’t know what they put in this book but i’m addicted & will force this down everyone’s throat.

[Ellie J. (semi-hiatus with &#x1f476;&#x1f3fc;&#x1f380;) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️ um, okay, I didn’t hate this, but it was a bit of a disappointment. I certainly didn’t need Hunger Games 2.0 with fae thrown into the mix, but here we are 🤷🏽‍♀️

My main issue was the world-building was extremely surface level, offering nothing fresh to the fantasy genre, and the plot was recycled and bland.

I mean, an FMC decides to join a dangerous game to save her sister and competes alongside a bunch of champions who’ve been training for it their whole lives … now where have I heard this story before?? District 12, is that you??? 🤔

Aside from the Taking Trees (essentially a cursed forest that consumes anything in its path), Rathian is comprised of a Fae kingdom, human cities, and the domain of the necromancer. The world seemed intriguing at first, but we never got much detail on these places after chapter 1.

That brings me to the romance—which, let’s be honest, that’s why we’re all here. 🖤 I did like Hendrix as an MMC, although his “secret” was so blatantly obvious from the outset that I wonder if the authors truly meant for it to be a big reveal.

Sadly, the enemies-to-lovers trope was executed so poorly that it’s hard to believe these are the same sisters that brought us the utter perfection that is Tory & Darius Acrux ❤️‍🔥

I almost laughed when Ferris, the FMC, called Hendrix a “monster of the deadliest design.” I would love to know which part made this hot fae male a monster…the part where he threw you over his massive shoulders and carted you off to an enchanted castle, fed you, clothed you, and then gave you a sexy love bite?? Come on, be serious 😂

Also, I noted others saying the writing in this was more “mature” than Zodiac Academy. If by that they mean it was devoid of all humor and entertainment value, then yeah, I guess that’s right…

This is my second attempt at reading a non-Zodiac Academy series from the twisted sisters, and once again, I’m disappointed and underwhelmed 😐

It’s just hard going from the enchanting magic of Solaria and my beloved BlueLance to this, you know? 🥲

[mileena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book grabbed me by the collar from page one and dragged me straight into its brutal, high-stakes world—and honestly? I loved every second. It has that addictive Hunger Games energy where survival isn’t guaranteed, loyalty is risky, and every chapter ends with you whispering, “Okay… just ONE more.”

And the enemies-to-lovers tension?? EXQUISITE. The glares, the sharp banter, the “we shouldn’t feel this but we absolutely do” moments… it’s the kind of slow-burn that makes you kick your feet because the tension is just that good. Nothing rushed, nothing forced—just two people slowly circling each other like fire and gasoline.

The characters felt real: messy, stubborn, traumatized, and reactive. No flat cardboard tropes here, just people trying to survive a world that clearly hates them. That emotional depth hit hard in all the right ways.

It’s not a perfect 5 stars because the pacing faltered a little in the middle, and a few scenes felt more chaotic than intense, but even then? I was glued to the pages. The atmosphere, the danger, the slow unraveling of trust—it all blended into something dark, addictive, and so satisfying.

The ending?? Both shocking and confusing🫣

[✨Caroline✨]

The twisted sisters never disappoint so my expectations are high!! So obsessed with this cover and the artwork for the book!!😍

[Juliana Carreri · Rating 3 out of 5]

well
i had fun