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Flame in the Hollow
A legend reborn.
Flame in the Hollow is a haunting paranormal romance where The Legend of Sleepy Hollow burns as brightly as a jack-o’-lantern on All Hallows’ Eve.
When the serious and stoic Odette Fournier arrives in Sleepy Hollow to take over the schoolhouse once run by Ichabod Crane, she has no interest in ghost stories. But the tale of the Headless Horseman proves impossible to ignore. Especially when she has an experience she can't explain away.
Drawn by reluctant curiosity, Odette ventures deep into the mist-shrouded woods in search of answers. What she discovers is far more than she ever bargained a man who became the piece of her heart she never knew was missing.
As the truth behind the Horseman’s identity and the echoes of the American Revolution unravel, Odette must confront her own hidden past and decide if she dares to claim a love that burns brighter than fear.
Perfect for fans of gothic romance, eerie legends, and slow-burn passion wrapped in autumn’s chill, Flame in the Hollow will sweep you into a world where every rustle in the trees might be fate calling your name.
Flame in the Hollow is a haunting paranormal romance where The Legend of Sleepy Hollow burns as brightly as a jack-o’-lantern on All Hallows’ Eve.
When the serious and stoic Odette Fournier arrives in Sleepy Hollow to take over the schoolhouse once run by Ichabod Crane, she has no interest in ghost stories. But the tale of the Headless Horseman proves impossible to ignore. Especially when she has an experience she can't explain away.
Drawn by reluctant curiosity, Odette ventures deep into the mist-shrouded woods in search of answers. What she discovers is far more than she ever bargained a man who became the piece of her heart she never knew was missing.
As the truth behind the Horseman’s identity and the echoes of the American Revolution unravel, Odette must confront her own hidden past and decide if she dares to claim a love that burns brighter than fear.
Perfect for fans of gothic romance, eerie legends, and slow-burn passion wrapped in autumn’s chill, Flame in the Hollow will sweep you into a world where every rustle in the trees might be fate calling your name.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2025
13 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 20, 2025
I'd give this 5 starts if it was meant to be funny. But alas, it wasn't intentionally hilarious.
The culprits:
- The scent of sex and ass was everywhere [...]
- He just stood there, looming like a god of dick and death
- [in front of a mob, tense setting] "You idiot of a man,"she hissed, spittle flying. "I am not kidnapped. I am not bewitched. I am standing here...butt-ass naked...by my own deranged volition. I was going to put my clothes on once we got closer to town. The breeze feels nice."
- [again, tense setting] She dropped Steffan's coat and ran. Heart thundering. Legs shaking. Tits bouncing.
- They had no blood, but they burned with a primal, horny flame. They had no hearts, but when they fucked, skin slapped like war drums. It's like the whole Hollow's cunt was wet.
The culprits:
- The scent of sex and ass was everywhere [...]
- He just stood there, looming like a god of dick and death
- [in front of a mob, tense setting] "You idiot of a man,"she hissed, spittle flying. "I am not kidnapped. I am not bewitched. I am standing here...butt-ass naked...by my own deranged volition. I was going to put my clothes on once we got closer to town. The breeze feels nice."
- [again, tense setting] She dropped Steffan's coat and ran. Heart thundering. Legs shaking. Tits bouncing.
- They had no blood, but they burned with a primal, horny flame. They had no hearts, but when they fucked, skin slapped like war drums. It's like the whole Hollow's cunt was wet.
August 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars 🎃
“There's beauty in darkness. You just have to feel around for it. Sometimes the darkest thing we fear about ourselves is the thing that makes us unforgettable."
Thank you to the author for giving me this ARC for my honest review. It definitely got me in the mood for autumn and Halloween! This is a headless horseman retelling love story. Includes fun recipes from the story/time period and cocktails at end of book too!
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️.5
"I was supposed to haunt her," he growled into the dark. "Not crave her."
Overall Thoughts:
Unfortunately this wasn’t what I was hoping for. The idea of it was super fun and entertaining. But the pace felt way too fast, couldn’t get into the characters to feel anything towards them. I wished we got dive more into the characters, I was super confused on our MFC having different sides which kind of felt irrelevant? And the Romani woman should have had more storyline to really get to understand her powers better because the necklace part came out of no where? I definitely think this could be an amazing story with the love triangle vibes and the haunting of a classic spooky character!
“There's beauty in darkness. You just have to feel around for it. Sometimes the darkest thing we fear about ourselves is the thing that makes us unforgettable."
Thank you to the author for giving me this ARC for my honest review. It definitely got me in the mood for autumn and Halloween! This is a headless horseman retelling love story. Includes fun recipes from the story/time period and cocktails at end of book too!
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️.5
"I was supposed to haunt her," he growled into the dark. "Not crave her."
Overall Thoughts:
Unfortunately this wasn’t what I was hoping for. The idea of it was super fun and entertaining. But the pace felt way too fast, couldn’t get into the characters to feel anything towards them. I wished we got dive more into the characters, I was super confused on our MFC having different sides which kind of felt irrelevant? And the Romani woman should have had more storyline to really get to understand her powers better because the necklace part came out of no where? I definitely think this could be an amazing story with the love triangle vibes and the haunting of a classic spooky character!
September 4, 2025
This was Delilah Synns debut novella and it was 🔥! I’ve always been a big fan of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and what better way to start spooky season than with a retelling (did I mention it includes smut 😉). Odette is a school teacher that finds herself lurking the shadows and becomes an obsession for the headless horsemen and man the twist and turns are incredible. I can’t wait to see what adventure Delilah has for us next! 🙌🏼😆
October 29, 2025
Could be better...
Flame in the Hollow contains triggering situations such as graphic violence, beheading, gore and blood splatter, sword combat, burning, death, ectoplasmic jizz, xharacter death, civilian casualties, explicit content, graphic sexual scenes, rough sex, psychological trauma, grief, loss, and betrayal, degradation, religious undertones, blood magic, spirit tethering.
Flame in the Hollow is a haunting paranormal romance where The Legend of Sleepy Hollow burns as brightly as a iack-o'-lantern on All Hallows' Eve.
I rated this book 3* I was really looking forward to this, but unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I loved the idea, but the pace felt too fast and I couldn't connect with the characters. I wish we'd gotten to dive deeper into their backstories. I wish it hadn't felt so rushed, maybe if it was a full-length novel, it would have done the story justice. That being said, it's still a great read for spooky season, especially if you're into retellings and ghostly romances.
The novella format just didn't feel like enough space to develop the characters and story. We got introduced to a bunch of people really quickly and didn't get to know them very well. The time period was also kinda unclear, which made it hard to get fully immersed. I think the supporting cast, especially Michelle, deserved way more page time. She was so fascinating!
This had so much potential, but it felt like it was missing something. The concept was awesome, but the execution was just okay. I loved the writing style - it was super vivid and immersive. The prologue and battle scenes were insane! But after that, everything felt really rushed. We didn't get to know the characters very well, and the time period was kinda all over the place. I think this would've been better as a full-length novel. That way, we could've gotten more backstory and character development. Still, it's a fun, quick read for spooky season.
I'd reccomdend this novella for fans of gothic romance, dark myths, and intense stories set amidst the eerie atmosphere of autumn.
Flame in the Hollow contains triggering situations such as graphic violence, beheading, gore and blood splatter, sword combat, burning, death, ectoplasmic jizz, xharacter death, civilian casualties, explicit content, graphic sexual scenes, rough sex, psychological trauma, grief, loss, and betrayal, degradation, religious undertones, blood magic, spirit tethering.
Flame in the Hollow is a haunting paranormal romance where The Legend of Sleepy Hollow burns as brightly as a iack-o'-lantern on All Hallows' Eve.
I rated this book 3* I was really looking forward to this, but unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I loved the idea, but the pace felt too fast and I couldn't connect with the characters. I wish we'd gotten to dive deeper into their backstories. I wish it hadn't felt so rushed, maybe if it was a full-length novel, it would have done the story justice. That being said, it's still a great read for spooky season, especially if you're into retellings and ghostly romances.
The novella format just didn't feel like enough space to develop the characters and story. We got introduced to a bunch of people really quickly and didn't get to know them very well. The time period was also kinda unclear, which made it hard to get fully immersed. I think the supporting cast, especially Michelle, deserved way more page time. She was so fascinating!
This had so much potential, but it felt like it was missing something. The concept was awesome, but the execution was just okay. I loved the writing style - it was super vivid and immersive. The prologue and battle scenes were insane! But after that, everything felt really rushed. We didn't get to know the characters very well, and the time period was kinda all over the place. I think this would've been better as a full-length novel. That way, we could've gotten more backstory and character development. Still, it's a fun, quick read for spooky season.
I'd reccomdend this novella for fans of gothic romance, dark myths, and intense stories set amidst the eerie atmosphere of autumn.
October 13, 2025
Rating: Liked It (rounded up)
I waited over a month to write this review because I genuinely couldn't figure out how to write it. So, I decided to be as honest as possible.
I feel like the novella format did this story a disservice. The prologue was phenomenal. The battle sequence and Crane’s death were written with such vivid, cinematic detail. The writing flowed effortlessly, and the imagery? Just breathtaking. Easily my favorite part of the entire story.
But because this is a novella, everything after that moved a little too quickly. We’re introduced to several characters in rapid succession and only get to know them on a surface level. The emotional and narrative connections between them felt a bit loose simply because there wasn’t enough room to deepen them.
I also found myself unsure of the time period. Was it the 1700s? The 1800s? Modern Day? Those shifting vibes made it harder to stay fully immersed because my brain kept trying to place the setting.
The supporting cast, especially the Romani woman, deserved more page time. She was one of the most intriguing characters, clearly holding an important role in the story, but she appears suddenly with a major plot-driving necklace that no one seemed to know existed until it was physically introduced. I wanted so much more from her presence and backstory.
I fully understand the limitations of a novella, but I truly believe this could’ve been a solid 5⭐ read if it had been given full-length treatment. The plot is strong, the characters could be compelling, and the spice absolutely delivered--but it felt like the depth of the story was trimmed back to make room for it.
That said, it will get you in the spooky mood, and if you’re into retellings, ghost daddies, and a heavy serving of heat, this could be the quick read you’re looking for.
A huge thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. I hope she writes something full-length next. I’d love to see what she does with more pages to play with.
I waited over a month to write this review because I genuinely couldn't figure out how to write it. So, I decided to be as honest as possible.
I feel like the novella format did this story a disservice. The prologue was phenomenal. The battle sequence and Crane’s death were written with such vivid, cinematic detail. The writing flowed effortlessly, and the imagery? Just breathtaking. Easily my favorite part of the entire story.
But because this is a novella, everything after that moved a little too quickly. We’re introduced to several characters in rapid succession and only get to know them on a surface level. The emotional and narrative connections between them felt a bit loose simply because there wasn’t enough room to deepen them.
I also found myself unsure of the time period. Was it the 1700s? The 1800s? Modern Day? Those shifting vibes made it harder to stay fully immersed because my brain kept trying to place the setting.
The supporting cast, especially the Romani woman, deserved more page time. She was one of the most intriguing characters, clearly holding an important role in the story, but she appears suddenly with a major plot-driving necklace that no one seemed to know existed until it was physically introduced. I wanted so much more from her presence and backstory.
I fully understand the limitations of a novella, but I truly believe this could’ve been a solid 5⭐ read if it had been given full-length treatment. The plot is strong, the characters could be compelling, and the spice absolutely delivered--but it felt like the depth of the story was trimmed back to make room for it.
That said, it will get you in the spooky mood, and if you’re into retellings, ghost daddies, and a heavy serving of heat, this could be the quick read you’re looking for.
A huge thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. I hope she writes something full-length next. I’d love to see what she does with more pages to play with.
September 11, 2025
Actual rating: 2.5
For a debut novella, I had no expectation or reference of the author’s style. The blurb and this being a retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow instantly caught my attention to want to read.
The introduction was great! I loved the way the author beautifully painted a picture to set the story! I felt as if I was actually there in the battlefield. I also enjoyed the nods to the original characters of Sleep Hollow! I was wondering how the author was to incorporate them, if any, and she did a great job with that.
As the story continued, that’s when things start to go disarray and left me confused. The writing is inconsistent. There was dialogue that made me wonder if the story still took place in the 1700’s or did we time traveled to modern day. There were memorable quotes that really hit deep, which I wish there were more of during the MC’s inner dialogues and pivotal moments.
I think had this been written as a novel and allowing the reader the chance to get to know both MCs and supporting characters (e.g. Ellis and Michelle), the story would feel so much more cohesive. The connection between the MCs also felt lacking. I see the attraction but, overall, I felt more lust than love between them.
I know this is a novella, and more likely the reason why the story picked up speed but it just left me feeling it incomplete. I really do hope the author continues to write because I can’t get over how the prologue was written, which shows she has so much potential!
For a debut novella, I had no expectation or reference of the author’s style. The blurb and this being a retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow instantly caught my attention to want to read.
The introduction was great! I loved the way the author beautifully painted a picture to set the story! I felt as if I was actually there in the battlefield. I also enjoyed the nods to the original characters of Sleep Hollow! I was wondering how the author was to incorporate them, if any, and she did a great job with that.
As the story continued, that’s when things start to go disarray and left me confused. The writing is inconsistent. There was dialogue that made me wonder if the story still took place in the 1700’s or did we time traveled to modern day. There were memorable quotes that really hit deep, which I wish there were more of during the MC’s inner dialogues and pivotal moments.
I think had this been written as a novel and allowing the reader the chance to get to know both MCs and supporting characters (e.g. Ellis and Michelle), the story would feel so much more cohesive. The connection between the MCs also felt lacking. I see the attraction but, overall, I felt more lust than love between them.
I know this is a novella, and more likely the reason why the story picked up speed but it just left me feeling it incomplete. I really do hope the author continues to write because I can’t get over how the prologue was written, which shows she has so much potential!
October 26, 2025
Odette is the schoolteacher that replaces Ichabod after he disappears. Story takes place a year after the fact? She’s been working there for a while and now it’s Spooky Season.
She doesn’t believe in ghosts; the Headless horseman can’t be real to her. She goes in the forest at night when she shouldn’t and guess what? He’s there. She decides to help him “move on”.
Ok, I didn’t understand bits of this. My main gripe is if this takes place a year after Crane disappears, we’re circa 1790. She’s dropping f bombs, using the word “cunt” and there’s a damn orgy happening at one point. Were strap-ons a thing back then?
It just took me out. I wanted the prim and proper school teacher. Innocent-ish. I’m not sure people back then referred to themselves as a “bad bitch”.
That and her weird split personality that I didn’t understand the point of.
Single POV, nontrad HEA, OM drama, ectoplasmic jizz.
Also, he
She doesn’t believe in ghosts; the Headless horseman can’t be real to her. She goes in the forest at night when she shouldn’t and guess what? He’s there. She decides to help him “move on”.
Ok, I didn’t understand bits of this. My main gripe is if this takes place a year after Crane disappears, we’re circa 1790. She’s dropping f bombs, using the word “cunt” and there’s a damn orgy happening at one point. Were strap-ons a thing back then?
It just took me out. I wanted the prim and proper school teacher. Innocent-ish. I’m not sure people back then referred to themselves as a “bad bitch”.
That and her weird split personality that I didn’t understand the point of.
Single POV, nontrad HEA, OM drama, ectoplasmic jizz.
Also, he
September 2, 2025
“There's beauty in darkness. You just have to feel around for it. Sometimes the darkest thing we fear about ourselves is the thing that makes us unforgettable."
WOW!! This was an amazing debut novel to start my Halloween reading off just right. It is a retelling of Sleepy Hollow, that was very well done.
The imagery, atmosphere and world building were descriptive, imaginative and well written. I was instantly transported into this incredible world right from the very first page. And once I started, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down.
The storyline was fun, exciting and deliciously smutty. And I loved every second of it. There was lots of spookiness, paranormal moments, and little twists and turns that kept me glued to the story.
I enjoyed every moment and can’t wait to see what this amazing new author comes up with next.
WOW!! This was an amazing debut novel to start my Halloween reading off just right. It is a retelling of Sleepy Hollow, that was very well done.
The imagery, atmosphere and world building were descriptive, imaginative and well written. I was instantly transported into this incredible world right from the very first page. And once I started, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down.
The storyline was fun, exciting and deliciously smutty. And I loved every second of it. There was lots of spookiness, paranormal moments, and little twists and turns that kept me glued to the story.
I enjoyed every moment and can’t wait to see what this amazing new author comes up with next.
Read
September 4, 2025“There's beauty in darkness. You just have to feel around for it. Sometimes the darkest thing we fear about ourselves is the thing that makes us unforgettable."
4.5/5
from the pages of the library | Pillowfort | Bookbub | LibraryThing | The Story Graph | livejournal | Litsy | Booksprouts
4.5/5
from the pages of the library | Pillowfort | Bookbub | LibraryThing | The Story Graph | livejournal | Litsy | Booksprouts
August 28, 2025
Delilah's debut novel is a take on the Sleepy Hollow story and takes place after Ichabod Crane.
This was quite a fun take on the story. Odette has become the new teacher after Ichabod disappeared. She handles the adjustment to the new town well until she is on the wrong side of the bridge late one night.
She sees the horseman and becomes determined to uncover who he is. Consequently she works to free him from his curse. But there is more at work there than just his curse and it may take the town with it as she struggles to help the Horseman.
This was quite a fun take on the story. Odette has become the new teacher after Ichabod disappeared. She handles the adjustment to the new town well until she is on the wrong side of the bridge late one night.
She sees the horseman and becomes determined to uncover who he is. Consequently she works to free him from his curse. But there is more at work there than just his curse and it may take the town with it as she struggles to help the Horseman.
September 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Flame of the Hollow ✨
This debut novella was short, fast-paced, and so captivating.
I’d only ever heard of the legend of Sleepy Hollow 👻, but Delilah Synn’s fresh, magical twist completely hooked me.
The sprinkle of spice 🌶️ was chef’s kiss, and I adored Odette’s supernatural struggle with her Swans (White & Black), especially as a former ballerina who’s always loved Swan Lake. 🦢
Such an excellent take on a classic legend. I can’t wait to read whatever Delilah writes next!
#FlameOfTheHollow #BookReview #SleepyHollowRetelling
This debut novella was short, fast-paced, and so captivating.
I’d only ever heard of the legend of Sleepy Hollow 👻, but Delilah Synn’s fresh, magical twist completely hooked me.
The sprinkle of spice 🌶️ was chef’s kiss, and I adored Odette’s supernatural struggle with her Swans (White & Black), especially as a former ballerina who’s always loved Swan Lake. 🦢
Such an excellent take on a classic legend. I can’t wait to read whatever Delilah writes next!
#FlameOfTheHollow #BookReview #SleepyHollowRetelling
August 17, 2025
This was an amazing spin on the story of the headless horseman and the perfect short story to kickoff spooky season 💜💜 I really enjoyed the fmc, she wasn’t a pushover but she also wasn’t a raging bitch and had the perfect amount of sass. This is a fast paced short read with a couple of twists and turns that ends in an interesting HEA definitely plan on reading again
October 26, 2025
2.5 stars
I really enjoyed the premise of this book, but I feel the story and especially the characters could have been fleshed out more.
I loved the lush gothic atmosphere, and the connection of the MCs, but the writing style was a very jarring blend of poetic and crude, that constantly brought me out of the story.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book, but I feel the story and especially the characters could have been fleshed out more.
I loved the lush gothic atmosphere, and the connection of the MCs, but the writing style was a very jarring blend of poetic and crude, that constantly brought me out of the story.
August 17, 2025
I really enjoyed the book. It was a bit confusing in what time the book was, because they talked like this time, but the buildings and mannerisms where from the past.
The spice was really good, and the story was really good too. I'm excited to read more of this Author.
The spice was really good, and the story was really good too. I'm excited to read more of this Author.
September 3, 2025
this is a bad a** retelling of the headless horseman. I loved the spiciness, the originality, and the overall story. this story had me turning pages like my life depended on it.
what a great start for what I'm sure will be many more amazing books.
what a great start for what I'm sure will be many more amazing books.
September 19, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! I love all spooky legends so of course this Headless Horseman novella was a must read. Yes, it was a fantastic spooky season pick but the heart of this book had me craving more! It was so easy to love both Odette and Steffan. I never wanted it to end!
October 29, 2025
Super spicy, quick read. Loved this little blend of Sleepy Hollow with a Black Swan twist. This was so well done for such a short read. It could honestly do well as a full length novel, I really liked it.
January 8, 2026
Lots of typos and metaphors that either don’t make sense or are so silly. All of it was very predictable but what took me out of it the most was the use of the word Gypsy. We know that’s a slur just stop. The black swan thing was so random and weird too
September 3, 2025
This was an interesting retelling of the Headless Horseman! I loved the originality of it and the spice that was sprinkled in. Fast paced and a quick read!
September 8, 2025
This is a fantastic short read. Fun, funny, sexy and has a twist ending that will surprise you! Great spooky season read!
October 16, 2025
Excellent retelling of the Headless Horseman in Sleepy Hollow. Very adult, spicy storyline, but with a twist to die for.
September 4, 2025
Flame in the Hollow was an absolute thrill to dive into and a great debut novel by Delilah. From the very first chapter, the story pulled me in with its dark, seductive atmosphere and didn't let go until the last page.
The writing is vivid and immersive, which makes it hard to put down. This book is not for the faint of heart. It's extra spicy, brimming with tension, and bold.
Every twist and turn hit at just the right moment, keeping me second-guessing where the story would lead. ESPECIALLY the ending.
If you're looking for a book that's equal parts shadowy, thrilling, and sinfully captivating, Flame in the Hollow is a must-read. I can't wait to see what she gives us next.
The writing is vivid and immersive, which makes it hard to put down. This book is not for the faint of heart. It's extra spicy, brimming with tension, and bold.
Every twist and turn hit at just the right moment, keeping me second-guessing where the story would lead. ESPECIALLY the ending.
If you're looking for a book that's equal parts shadowy, thrilling, and sinfully captivating, Flame in the Hollow is a must-read. I can't wait to see what she gives us next.
August 29, 2025
I'm biased...but this is a fun read!
September 2, 2025
Why am I crying over The Headless Horseman?!
Because Delilah Synn turned this Sleepy Hollow legend into a spicy love triangle! It was a great short paranormal read!
Odette the new Headmistress for the town's school who doesn't believe in ghost stories.
One night while walking home after leaving a party early, Steffan shows himself to her and changes her mind about ghosts, and she decides she is going to help him.
Plot 5/5
Spice 3/5
Tears 1/5
Received this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Because Delilah Synn turned this Sleepy Hollow legend into a spicy love triangle! It was a great short paranormal read!
Odette the new Headmistress for the town's school who doesn't believe in ghost stories.
One night while walking home after leaving a party early, Steffan shows himself to her and changes her mind about ghosts, and she decides she is going to help him.
Plot 5/5
Spice 3/5
Tears 1/5
Received this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews