What do you think?
Hollow Twilight
It's all fun and games until somebody dies. Delve into the unsettling world of Hollow Twilight, a LitRPG where there's no XP to collect and no loot to scavenge, but one wrong move is the difference between life and death.
Reid, a seemingly average high school senior, is bored of his meaningless life. That is, until he and his friends learn about a new mobile game, Hollow Twilight, and decide to give it a shot. But what starts out as a strangely immersive video game turns out to be far more as the teens realize they've literally crossed over into the game world and must now fight the shadowy monsters hunting them with no clear understanding of how to survive.
Reid quickly becomes addicted to mastering the dark power he's been assigned—while ignoring the voice in his head that comes with it—but the initial fun of this new world abruptly vanishes when one of their party members is killed by a vicious monster known as a Pariah, resulting in their real-life death.
Now knowing his mortality is on the line if he chooses to keep playing Hollow Twilight, Reid must find a way to protect his friends and defeat the Pariahs—or return to the mundane, average life of a nobody.
Reid, a seemingly average high school senior, is bored of his meaningless life. That is, until he and his friends learn about a new mobile game, Hollow Twilight, and decide to give it a shot. But what starts out as a strangely immersive video game turns out to be far more as the teens realize they've literally crossed over into the game world and must now fight the shadowy monsters hunting them with no clear understanding of how to survive.
Reid quickly becomes addicted to mastering the dark power he's been assigned—while ignoring the voice in his head that comes with it—but the initial fun of this new world abruptly vanishes when one of their party members is killed by a vicious monster known as a Pariah, resulting in their real-life death.
Now knowing his mortality is on the line if he chooses to keep playing Hollow Twilight, Reid must find a way to protect his friends and defeat the Pariahs—or return to the mundane, average life of a nobody.
- GenresLitrpgYoung Adult
344 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2026
About the author
Kieran Starovsky
1 book5 followersKieran Starovsky works in the Toronto start-up space, has a degree in English literature from York University, and wanders the city with his wife and children. When not writing, he is usually scouring specialty stores for old video games he owned once as a kid.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 4, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Canada for the eARC!
Hollow Twilight is such an oddball book and I say that in a “I love this oddball” way. This book will not appeal to everyone; I actually think it will easily gain a cult following of people like myself who have different tastes. 🤪
The book starts off with Reid who is bored of life. This is important to note because I think it says a a lot about what type of readers will like this. If you’ve never understood the idea that you need “something” to look forward to… you won’t like Reid and subsequently, the novel as a whole. Reid isn’t just “bored” - he feels this NEED to do something. When a new game app called Hollow Twilight comes and he finds out it’s not just a game but an alternate dimension, he is ready to be the navigator, the one who conquers this world and discovers its secrets. He wants to be the most powerful, the leader, the pioneer… He’s kind of a selfish protagonist in that way and it’s fascinating to have someone like him lead our narrative. Think.. Sung Jinwoo from Solo Leveling.
You can easily log out of Hollow Twilight so it differs from other death game / isekai type stories. As long as he’s not in battle, he can go home and live his normal boring life. It’s a unique take on the typical trope because in between dark moments in-game, we get chapters of Reid living a normal school life. It’s like a Shonen school-life manga 😂
Now, Melanie, why are you continually comparing this to anime and manga? Here’s the kicker and why I don’t think that this will appeal to everyone: this reads SO much like a manga. But it’s a novel right? No pictures? Exactly! It’s a novel that reads so much like a manga. The scenes are direct; there’s not much fluff. The scene changes are quick - we get time skips to next day scenes for chapter endings (not always but a good bit.) The internalizing is very blunt. All of these things make the writing style original and unique - something I’ve never really seen in western literature. And I bet readers may decide to skip this one because of that.
But I implore people to try to get used to the style and keep reading. What we get from Hollow Twilight is a unique and engaging story that blends a real world slice-of-life tale with the dark world of an alternate dimension, one with consequences that rock our characters’ lives.
In particular, I’d recommend this book to fans of anime and manga, especially slice-of-life manga and death game manga. I also think fans of other litrpg will enjoy this one.
Hollow Twilight is such an oddball book and I say that in a “I love this oddball” way. This book will not appeal to everyone; I actually think it will easily gain a cult following of people like myself who have different tastes. 🤪
The book starts off with Reid who is bored of life. This is important to note because I think it says a a lot about what type of readers will like this. If you’ve never understood the idea that you need “something” to look forward to… you won’t like Reid and subsequently, the novel as a whole. Reid isn’t just “bored” - he feels this NEED to do something. When a new game app called Hollow Twilight comes and he finds out it’s not just a game but an alternate dimension, he is ready to be the navigator, the one who conquers this world and discovers its secrets. He wants to be the most powerful, the leader, the pioneer… He’s kind of a selfish protagonist in that way and it’s fascinating to have someone like him lead our narrative. Think.. Sung Jinwoo from Solo Leveling.
You can easily log out of Hollow Twilight so it differs from other death game / isekai type stories. As long as he’s not in battle, he can go home and live his normal boring life. It’s a unique take on the typical trope because in between dark moments in-game, we get chapters of Reid living a normal school life. It’s like a Shonen school-life manga 😂
Now, Melanie, why are you continually comparing this to anime and manga? Here’s the kicker and why I don’t think that this will appeal to everyone: this reads SO much like a manga. But it’s a novel right? No pictures? Exactly! It’s a novel that reads so much like a manga. The scenes are direct; there’s not much fluff. The scene changes are quick - we get time skips to next day scenes for chapter endings (not always but a good bit.) The internalizing is very blunt. All of these things make the writing style original and unique - something I’ve never really seen in western literature. And I bet readers may decide to skip this one because of that.
But I implore people to try to get used to the style and keep reading. What we get from Hollow Twilight is a unique and engaging story that blends a real world slice-of-life tale with the dark world of an alternate dimension, one with consequences that rock our characters’ lives.
In particular, I’d recommend this book to fans of anime and manga, especially slice-of-life manga and death game manga. I also think fans of other litrpg will enjoy this one.
September 3, 2026
**Hollow Twilight by Kieran Starovsky**
**Narrated by James Daly**
*I received an ARC of Hollow Twilight from Penguin Random House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I listened to the audiobook edition.*
Going into *Hollow Twilight*, the comparison to *Stranger Things* and *Ready Player One* immediately caught my attention—especially because *Ready Player One* is one of my favorites. At first, that comparison had me expecting something a little different from what I got, but by the end of the book, I completely understood it.
At its center is a trio of friends who discover Hollow Twilight, a virtual game world they decide to explore together. As they venture further into the game, they meet new friends and allies who help them figure out this strange new world. Hollow Twilight itself has a dark, shadowy atmosphere that gave me definite Upside Down vibes, while the virtual-world elements bring in the *Ready Player One* side of the comparison. Our main character even has a little Wade Watts energy—particularly when it comes to having absolutely no idea what to do when women are involved.
While *Hollow Twilight* is classified as LitRPG, it doesn't follow the same formula as many of the more stat- and mechanic-heavy books I've read in the genre. This first installment feels lighter on those traditional LitRPG elements and may lean more GameLit for some readers. One game mechanic I really enjoyed, though, was that each player receives a power when entering Hollow Twilight—but no convenient explanation of exactly what that power is or how to use it. They have to experiment, learn, and figure it out for themselves as they navigate the world.
The action scenes were great, and the horror elements were some of my favorite parts. The creatures and darker moments worked really well with the atmosphere Kieran created. If anything, my reaction to the horror was simply: **give me more.**
James Daly makes his audiobook narration debut with *Hollow Twilight*, and you would never know this was his first audiobook. His characters are distinct and easy to identify, his feminine voices are every bit as convincing as his masculine ones, and his creature voices are especially good. He really digs into what is written on the page and creates voices that feel like they belong to those creatures rather than simply giving everything a generic "monster" sound.
One character's vocal development particularly stood out to me. As she grows and becomes more confident throughout the story, Daly's performance seems to grow with her. After hearing him discuss the recording process, I learned that he was initially still finding that character's voice and became more comfortable with her as the recording progressed. The fact that his own growing confidence in the voice naturally paralleled the character's growth made the resulting performance work beautifully.
For a debut novel paired with a debut audiobook narrator, *Hollow Twilight* is a strong start. I enjoyed the characters, the action, the creepy game world, and discovering its rules alongside the players. I'm especially interested to see where this world goes from here—and I'm still voting for more horror.
**Narrated by James Daly**
*I received an ARC of Hollow Twilight from Penguin Random House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I listened to the audiobook edition.*
Going into *Hollow Twilight*, the comparison to *Stranger Things* and *Ready Player One* immediately caught my attention—especially because *Ready Player One* is one of my favorites. At first, that comparison had me expecting something a little different from what I got, but by the end of the book, I completely understood it.
At its center is a trio of friends who discover Hollow Twilight, a virtual game world they decide to explore together. As they venture further into the game, they meet new friends and allies who help them figure out this strange new world. Hollow Twilight itself has a dark, shadowy atmosphere that gave me definite Upside Down vibes, while the virtual-world elements bring in the *Ready Player One* side of the comparison. Our main character even has a little Wade Watts energy—particularly when it comes to having absolutely no idea what to do when women are involved.
While *Hollow Twilight* is classified as LitRPG, it doesn't follow the same formula as many of the more stat- and mechanic-heavy books I've read in the genre. This first installment feels lighter on those traditional LitRPG elements and may lean more GameLit for some readers. One game mechanic I really enjoyed, though, was that each player receives a power when entering Hollow Twilight—but no convenient explanation of exactly what that power is or how to use it. They have to experiment, learn, and figure it out for themselves as they navigate the world.
The action scenes were great, and the horror elements were some of my favorite parts. The creatures and darker moments worked really well with the atmosphere Kieran created. If anything, my reaction to the horror was simply: **give me more.**
James Daly makes his audiobook narration debut with *Hollow Twilight*, and you would never know this was his first audiobook. His characters are distinct and easy to identify, his feminine voices are every bit as convincing as his masculine ones, and his creature voices are especially good. He really digs into what is written on the page and creates voices that feel like they belong to those creatures rather than simply giving everything a generic "monster" sound.
One character's vocal development particularly stood out to me. As she grows and becomes more confident throughout the story, Daly's performance seems to grow with her. After hearing him discuss the recording process, I learned that he was initially still finding that character's voice and became more comfortable with her as the recording progressed. The fact that his own growing confidence in the voice naturally paralleled the character's growth made the resulting performance work beautifully.
For a debut novel paired with a debut audiobook narrator, *Hollow Twilight* is a strong start. I enjoyed the characters, the action, the creepy game world, and discovering its rules alongside the players. I'm especially interested to see where this world goes from here—and I'm still voting for more horror.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoy reading LitRPG and Ready Player One is one of my favourite books, so the blurb for Hollow Twilight had me excited for the story straight away.
Reid and his friends have downloaded a new game to play – Hollow Twilight. But upon pressing Enter, they find themselves in a strange city full of Hollow monsters with no idea what they should do or how they should progress…
Sadly, this book didn’t really grab me at all – it’s LitFic in the very loosest sense of the word, with the majority of the book actually being a high school, young adult romance with a main character that seems to think girls are from another dimension and has no idea how to talk to them. The female characters are all caricatures – the ‘pick me’ tomboy Maple who goes on and on about how small and cute she is, the abrasive Kari who seems to be angry at everyone for no reason and the seemingly perfect Reilly who has an abusive homelife but no-one cares enough about her as a person to ask her anything further about it. The female characters are all there as a driver for our male protagonist Reid to agonize over, and don’t exist in a realistic or fully formed way outside of that plot device. Reid himself is also incredibly frustrating, putting himself and his friends in danger frequently for no apparent reason.
There are no mechanics to the game as a whole – the level system, which is pretty redundant, is only explored in the first few chapters and then promptly forgotten. They each get one ability which is randomly assigned and don’t know how to use them for most of the book. The thing that confused me the most is that time passes differently in the game – hours and days in the game account for minutes in the real world and yet they only seem to spend 5 minutes at a time actually in the game and then have to make plans days in advance for going back into it. I liked Reid’s shadow ability, which was the only thing I would have liked to find out more about after finishing the story.
This is definitely book one of a series – it ends on a cliffhanger and doesn’t wrap up anything or answer any questions. I think if the majority of the book hadn’t been just about anxious teenagers trying to work out how to navigate normal social situations, it could have left room for more of the gaming and plot and we would perhaps not need a second installment – as it is, I won’t be rushing to pick the next one up.
Overall, Hollow Twilight has some potential, but it’s insistence on the young adult romance plotline, rather than the LitRPG elements that it pushes so hard in its blurb, led it to be a disappointment for me. Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Random House (Canada) for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out Kindig Blog
Reid and his friends have downloaded a new game to play – Hollow Twilight. But upon pressing Enter, they find themselves in a strange city full of Hollow monsters with no idea what they should do or how they should progress…
Sadly, this book didn’t really grab me at all – it’s LitFic in the very loosest sense of the word, with the majority of the book actually being a high school, young adult romance with a main character that seems to think girls are from another dimension and has no idea how to talk to them. The female characters are all caricatures – the ‘pick me’ tomboy Maple who goes on and on about how small and cute she is, the abrasive Kari who seems to be angry at everyone for no reason and the seemingly perfect Reilly who has an abusive homelife but no-one cares enough about her as a person to ask her anything further about it. The female characters are all there as a driver for our male protagonist Reid to agonize over, and don’t exist in a realistic or fully formed way outside of that plot device. Reid himself is also incredibly frustrating, putting himself and his friends in danger frequently for no apparent reason.
There are no mechanics to the game as a whole – the level system, which is pretty redundant, is only explored in the first few chapters and then promptly forgotten. They each get one ability which is randomly assigned and don’t know how to use them for most of the book. The thing that confused me the most is that time passes differently in the game – hours and days in the game account for minutes in the real world and yet they only seem to spend 5 minutes at a time actually in the game and then have to make plans days in advance for going back into it. I liked Reid’s shadow ability, which was the only thing I would have liked to find out more about after finishing the story.
This is definitely book one of a series – it ends on a cliffhanger and doesn’t wrap up anything or answer any questions. I think if the majority of the book hadn’t been just about anxious teenagers trying to work out how to navigate normal social situations, it could have left room for more of the gaming and plot and we would perhaps not need a second installment – as it is, I won’t be rushing to pick the next one up.
Overall, Hollow Twilight has some potential, but it’s insistence on the young adult romance plotline, rather than the LitRPG elements that it pushes so hard in its blurb, led it to be a disappointment for me. Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Random House (Canada) for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out Kindig Blog
August 31, 2026
IM SORRY. BUT WHAT THE HELLY WAS THAT ENDING?!?
This book feels like those webtoons mixed with school bus graveyard dystopian, SAO vibes and a slice of life anime with the dates in the aquarium. You can tell that the author really loves video games.
The main character gets introduced to a game called "Hollow Twilight" and what starts out as immersive dark fantasy RPG turns out to be far more sinister. It takes them a hot minute to realize they've literally crossed over into the game world and must now fight or flee the shadowy monsters hunting them with no clear understanding of how to survive.
However, dying in Hollow twilight by the shadowy monsters means a real-life death not a respawn. This makes it feel like alot of the games we know and love but with a twist. It gave me a really strong feeling like I was reading something like a light novel to a manga or game adaptation. But because of this it also felt like there was some really cliche moments like "I'm not like other girls" and the power of friendship and ofc the MC gets an overpower ability which makes them better than everyone else.
I do wished it explored more about Hollow Twilight and the game vibes as it felt a bit more of a throwaway after you get told about what it really is. But it there a lot of questions like why is it in the app store and how does the story progress from the brutal cliffhanger (SERIOUSLY THE LAST PARAGRAPH). But because of some parts not feeling as fleshed out and the younger setting with the characters being seniors in school. They act as if they are invincible and not always taking it seriously especially when the stakes are really high. Because of this it comes across juvenile and I will admit to finding the main character Reid quite insufferable at times and really bland. Sometimes he came across more like a 12 year old then an 18 year old. Not to mention he doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes.
Thank you to Random House Canada for the Electronic Advance copy
This book feels like those webtoons mixed with school bus graveyard dystopian, SAO vibes and a slice of life anime with the dates in the aquarium. You can tell that the author really loves video games.
The main character gets introduced to a game called "Hollow Twilight" and what starts out as immersive dark fantasy RPG turns out to be far more sinister. It takes them a hot minute to realize they've literally crossed over into the game world and must now fight or flee the shadowy monsters hunting them with no clear understanding of how to survive.
However, dying in Hollow twilight by the shadowy monsters means a real-life death not a respawn. This makes it feel like alot of the games we know and love but with a twist. It gave me a really strong feeling like I was reading something like a light novel to a manga or game adaptation. But because of this it also felt like there was some really cliche moments like "I'm not like other girls" and the power of friendship and ofc the MC gets an overpower ability which makes them better than everyone else.
I do wished it explored more about Hollow Twilight and the game vibes as it felt a bit more of a throwaway after you get told about what it really is. But it there a lot of questions like why is it in the app store and how does the story progress from the brutal cliffhanger (SERIOUSLY THE LAST PARAGRAPH). But because of some parts not feeling as fleshed out and the younger setting with the characters being seniors in school. They act as if they are invincible and not always taking it seriously especially when the stakes are really high. Because of this it comes across juvenile and I will admit to finding the main character Reid quite insufferable at times and really bland. Sometimes he came across more like a 12 year old then an 18 year old. Not to mention he doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes.
Thank you to Random House Canada for the Electronic Advance copy
August 20, 2026
Review: 3.75 stars
Many thanks to Libro.FM for the ALC and the for RandomHouse CA for the physical ARC.
🎧 I was lucky enough that Libro.FM had this on their ALC list and am audio-ing it. I found the narrator clear and was able to differentiate the characters. The intonations definitely give high school teen vibes.
Reid and his friends discovered a new game, downloaded it and somehow found themselves transported into a whole new dimension in a strange city filled with hollow monsters. As Reid is a high school senior, their daily lives scream YA lit starring some high school drama, and teenage crushes. Reid is also bored which makes him curious enough to want to play the game and has a need to prove himself. In doing so, he has a strong desire to continuously enter the game and find strong monsters to battle it out, sometimes disregarding the consequences, where death is the end result of this.
The book's pacing is slow as the characters are introduced, then it picks up as Reid and his friends learn more about the game's mechanics. My only nitpick is that the LitRPG trope is touched upon lightly, and I won’t really call this a true LitRPG book because it does not exactly touch on the gaming elements, such as levelling up, weapons, powers, etc. Instead, the story focuses on a lot of teenage drama and on Reid overthinking things, which bothers him.
Still, the pacing of the story was solid and understanding the games through bits and pieces leaves you wanting more. So, world-building is very minimal to start. Also, THAT ENDING?!!! The author does know how to play us!
Overall, I would recommend it for readers interested in trying out LitRPG elements, as this works as a great introductory book with a nod to Ready Player One and Stranger Things vibes.
Many thanks to Libro.FM for the ALC and the for RandomHouse CA for the physical ARC.
🎧 I was lucky enough that Libro.FM had this on their ALC list and am audio-ing it. I found the narrator clear and was able to differentiate the characters. The intonations definitely give high school teen vibes.
Reid and his friends discovered a new game, downloaded it and somehow found themselves transported into a whole new dimension in a strange city filled with hollow monsters. As Reid is a high school senior, their daily lives scream YA lit starring some high school drama, and teenage crushes. Reid is also bored which makes him curious enough to want to play the game and has a need to prove himself. In doing so, he has a strong desire to continuously enter the game and find strong monsters to battle it out, sometimes disregarding the consequences, where death is the end result of this.
The book's pacing is slow as the characters are introduced, then it picks up as Reid and his friends learn more about the game's mechanics. My only nitpick is that the LitRPG trope is touched upon lightly, and I won’t really call this a true LitRPG book because it does not exactly touch on the gaming elements, such as levelling up, weapons, powers, etc. Instead, the story focuses on a lot of teenage drama and on Reid overthinking things, which bothers him.
Still, the pacing of the story was solid and understanding the games through bits and pieces leaves you wanting more. So, world-building is very minimal to start. Also, THAT ENDING?!!! The author does know how to play us!
Overall, I would recommend it for readers interested in trying out LitRPG elements, as this works as a great introductory book with a nod to Ready Player One and Stranger Things vibes.
August 17, 2026
I want to thank Kieran for sending me an ARC copy of the book. I was hearing a lot about it from a mutual friend Jason so I knew I had to pick it up when he said “Horror + LitRPG” while I don’t think it’s either of those I do think it’s a good book. The book is about a group of kids finding a video game that is actually a portal to another world.
The story although not traditional LitRPG is a fresh take on things. I liked the powers and world building itself. I think Kieran did an amazing job of building both the (Real) HS world and the game world making it super desolate and Erie. It was posed as stranger things adjacent which I can kinda see. The characters were the main point in the book in my opinion. They were developed so well and you really help for all of them during every step. Great overall, setting of building blocks.
Like I said earlier, I do not think this is LitRPG due to not having the stats, powers, crunchiness, equipment. I would consider this more video game lit or Gamelit. I do have a big problem with the dialogue and how the characters interacted with each other. Sometimes they were perfect and other times it seemed like they forgot how to be humans. I know High school kids are awkward and weird but this took it to another level. It was cringy to read at times and honestly took me out of the book several times for that fact.
Overall, the book was pretty good and a fresh take on the genre. Definitely worth reading if you’re into stranger things, eerie, high school vibes. Book releases 18-AUG-2026.
The story although not traditional LitRPG is a fresh take on things. I liked the powers and world building itself. I think Kieran did an amazing job of building both the (Real) HS world and the game world making it super desolate and Erie. It was posed as stranger things adjacent which I can kinda see. The characters were the main point in the book in my opinion. They were developed so well and you really help for all of them during every step. Great overall, setting of building blocks.
Like I said earlier, I do not think this is LitRPG due to not having the stats, powers, crunchiness, equipment. I would consider this more video game lit or Gamelit. I do have a big problem with the dialogue and how the characters interacted with each other. Sometimes they were perfect and other times it seemed like they forgot how to be humans. I know High school kids are awkward and weird but this took it to another level. It was cringy to read at times and honestly took me out of the book several times for that fact.
Overall, the book was pretty good and a fresh take on the genre. Definitely worth reading if you’re into stranger things, eerie, high school vibes. Book releases 18-AUG-2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5
Hollow Twilight was such a fun surprise. It takes the familiar "trapped inside a game" concept and raises the stakes by making every decision feel like it actually matters. Once the characters realize that dying in the game means dying in real life, the story shifts into a tense survival adventure that kept me hooked from start to finish.
One of my favourite parts was Reid's struggle with the power he's given. The temptation to embrace it, despite the consequences, added an interesting psychological layer that went beyond the action. I also really enjoyed the friendships within the group. They felt natural, and seeing them work together while fear and grief slowly crept in made the danger feel even more real.
The pacing kept things moving without sacrificing the mystery, and every encounter with the Pariahs had me wondering who would make it out alive. There were plenty of twists, exciting battles, and enough unanswered questions to keep me theorizing long after I finished.
This was an addictive blend of LitRPG, horror, and survival with characters I genuinely cared about. The ending left me desperate to see where the story goes next, and I am hoping there is a sequel!
Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, Kieran Starovsky & NetGalley, for the #gifted earc. All opinions are my own.
Hollow Twilight was such a fun surprise. It takes the familiar "trapped inside a game" concept and raises the stakes by making every decision feel like it actually matters. Once the characters realize that dying in the game means dying in real life, the story shifts into a tense survival adventure that kept me hooked from start to finish.
One of my favourite parts was Reid's struggle with the power he's given. The temptation to embrace it, despite the consequences, added an interesting psychological layer that went beyond the action. I also really enjoyed the friendships within the group. They felt natural, and seeing them work together while fear and grief slowly crept in made the danger feel even more real.
The pacing kept things moving without sacrificing the mystery, and every encounter with the Pariahs had me wondering who would make it out alive. There were plenty of twists, exciting battles, and enough unanswered questions to keep me theorizing long after I finished.
This was an addictive blend of LitRPG, horror, and survival with characters I genuinely cared about. The ending left me desperate to see where the story goes next, and I am hoping there is a sequel!
Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, Kieran Starovsky & NetGalley, for the #gifted earc. All opinions are my own.
September 1, 2026
Reid finds out about a new phone game that takes you to another world. One where you die in real life if you die in the "game." Even though he's finally getting the attention of a girl, regular life just dims in comparison to the world in the game. The more he plays, the less he wants to be in the real world and he is willing to put his and his friend's lives at risk for the reward he seeks.
I didn't really buy the level of danger in this book. Maybe because the video game parts are interspersed with regular high school drama, but probably because it doesn't seem like the main character or anyone close to him suffers real consequences. The "if you die in the game you die in real life" trope just didn't hit as hard as it does in similar media. The ending also made it seem like this was the beginning of the series. It doesn't seem like it is now but maybe it will be if the first book is received well enough?
I didn't really buy the level of danger in this book. Maybe because the video game parts are interspersed with regular high school drama, but probably because it doesn't seem like the main character or anyone close to him suffers real consequences. The "if you die in the game you die in real life" trope just didn't hit as hard as it does in similar media. The ending also made it seem like this was the beginning of the series. It doesn't seem like it is now but maybe it will be if the first book is received well enough?
September 22, 2026
Thank you so much to the author and Random House Canada for the gifted ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own. 🖤
I’m honestly really torn on Hollow Twilight. The mystery and eeriness surrounding the game world were easily the strongest parts for me. Once we start realizing that this isn’t really just a mobile game and that there’s another dimension involved, I was genuinely intrigued. The problem is…even by the end, we still don’t really know what’s going on. 😂 And of course, we’re left with a cliffhanger!
I also expected there to be a lot more focus on the LitRPG and gaming elements. Instead, a large portion of the story focuses on the YA romance, and the characters felt VERY juvenile at times. There were so many moments where I wanted them to stop worrying about who liked who and start taking this incredibly weird and potentially dangerous situation seriously.
That being said, I do think there’s a really cool concept underneath it all. I’m curious enough about the game world and its mystery that I would read the next book, especially if the story starts digging deeper into what’s actually happening.
I don’t think this is a LitRPG I’d recommend to everyone, but I could see it working much better for a younger YA audience who enjoys romance alongside a creepy game-world mystery.
I’m honestly really torn on Hollow Twilight. The mystery and eeriness surrounding the game world were easily the strongest parts for me. Once we start realizing that this isn’t really just a mobile game and that there’s another dimension involved, I was genuinely intrigued. The problem is…even by the end, we still don’t really know what’s going on. 😂 And of course, we’re left with a cliffhanger!
I also expected there to be a lot more focus on the LitRPG and gaming elements. Instead, a large portion of the story focuses on the YA romance, and the characters felt VERY juvenile at times. There were so many moments where I wanted them to stop worrying about who liked who and start taking this incredibly weird and potentially dangerous situation seriously.
That being said, I do think there’s a really cool concept underneath it all. I’m curious enough about the game world and its mystery that I would read the next book, especially if the story starts digging deeper into what’s actually happening.
I don’t think this is a LitRPG I’d recommend to everyone, but I could see it working much better for a younger YA audience who enjoys romance alongside a creepy game-world mystery.
Review of advance copy
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of Hollow Twilight, and I genuinely cannot stop thinking about it. The way the story unfolds kept me hooked from beginning to end.
The pacing was fantastic, with a constant sense of tension and discovery that made it almost impossible to put down. Every time there was a revelation, I enjoyed coming up with theories on how everything will unfold.
However, in reality, what truly made the novel shine was the cast of characters. Their relations and interactions were so believable, and each one of them had their unique quirks, issues, strengths, and weaknesses. It gave me some nostalgia of high school days haha! Their struggles, friendships, and conflicts were an incredible addition to the already fascinating story
The balance between the excitement and immersion into this dangerous dimension was amazing! I was on the edge of my seat wondering how each fight would play out. The mixture of survival elements, mystery, suspense, and the characters' personal development provided for an exciting reading experience.
If you're a fan of LitRPGs, especially those with intriguing character dynamics, a lot of action, and high stakes, you'll surely love this book! I'm eagerly awaiting book two because I have so many theories!
The pacing was fantastic, with a constant sense of tension and discovery that made it almost impossible to put down. Every time there was a revelation, I enjoyed coming up with theories on how everything will unfold.
However, in reality, what truly made the novel shine was the cast of characters. Their relations and interactions were so believable, and each one of them had their unique quirks, issues, strengths, and weaknesses. It gave me some nostalgia of high school days haha! Their struggles, friendships, and conflicts were an incredible addition to the already fascinating story
The balance between the excitement and immersion into this dangerous dimension was amazing! I was on the edge of my seat wondering how each fight would play out. The mixture of survival elements, mystery, suspense, and the characters' personal development provided for an exciting reading experience.
If you're a fan of LitRPGs, especially those with intriguing character dynamics, a lot of action, and high stakes, you'll surely love this book! I'm eagerly awaiting book two because I have so many theories!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed this book! It was a well written YA book. I liked the video game aspect. It did take some time before Reid understood what Hollow Twilight is. I wish the pace was a bit faster as it took some time to really get the story going, but the second half of the book was a lot better for me. The story did introduce well the characters and there were some interesting teenager side plots, like a little romance. I wish we knew a bit more about Hollow Twilight, but we are learning as Reid learns. Overall, it’s a good story and fans of video games will definitely enjoy this one ! It is YA, so that is something to keep in mind if you prefer more adult books, as the characters are in high school. With the way the book ended, I definitely want to read the sequel!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review. I can definitely see this book being a big hit with a younger demographic. I think the storyline is an interesting idea and was fairly wellbeing executed but for me personally it read very YA. I would recommend this book to ages 12-17 possibly but for me it just didn’t work.
I thought it was a cool concept but the way the characters react to events in the book just felt unrealistic and off to me.
I thought it was a cool concept but the way the characters react to events in the book just felt unrealistic and off to me.
September 14, 2026
I could be wrong, but this one might be more appropriate for a teenager to read. I think they connect to it better than I did.
I did not totally dislike it. I guess it is considered to be LITrpg…..I had to look that up, but it makes sense.
Video game, reality, playing a role in another dimension. I do not mind books like that, but it has to be really well done.
Overall, it was not a terrible read, but it was not bad for those that like these types of books.
I did not totally dislike it. I guess it is considered to be LITrpg…..I had to look that up, but it makes sense.
Video game, reality, playing a role in another dimension. I do not mind books like that, but it has to be really well done.
Overall, it was not a terrible read, but it was not bad for those that like these types of books.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hollow Twilight is an insanely well written book. It has extremely realistically written teenage characters, a hella engaging plot, and the eerie nature of the novel itself makes it a real page turner. This is a book I am going to be suggesting to everyone as it comes out and I honestly am chomping at the bit for the sequel with how this ended!
September 15, 2026
The premise of this book caught my attention, however what felt like more than half the book was a high school romance story which was not mentioned in the summary. The battles were interesting, but without any payoff or explanation of what it all meant it left me wondering what the point of it all was.
September 18, 2026
I was expecting more, but as I got into the story, it turned out to more of a young adult story about the insecurities of high school teens which was well done. The interactions were totally on point. The alt universe was lacking and the “game” was very bland and disappointing. I could recommend to young (teen) readers but not sci fi fans.
August 21, 2026
A Sci-Fi LitRPG novel, probably the first novel in a new series, given the cliffhanger ending. Unfortunately, it has an emphasis on the typical YA high school romance rather than the LitRPG featured in the blurb.
September 1, 2026
3.75 stars*
Thank you Libro fm for the ALC and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC!
I think the premise is a little misleading but overall, I enjoyed the game play even though it took a long time for the set up.
That ending though! I need answers.
Is there going to be book 2?
Thank you Libro fm for the ALC and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC!
I think the premise is a little misleading but overall, I enjoyed the game play even though it took a long time for the set up.
That ending though! I need answers.
Is there going to be book 2?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hollow Twilight is an insanely well written book. It has extremely realistically written teenage characters, a hella engaging plot, and the eerie nature of the novel itself makes it a real page turner. This is a book I am going to be suggesting to everyone as it comes out and I honestly am chomping at the bit for the sequel with how this ended!
August 19, 2026
Review of advanced copy received through NetGalley
Hollow Twilight combines Stranger Things with Ready Player One really well! This system-lite LitRPG has you following the MC Reid through his high school experience as they discover a brand new mobile game called Hollow Twilight. This game is practically a VRMMORPG into a dark, eerie, mysterious world that Reid and his friends get to explore and make their own. The mystery behind this game and the new world was very well written and had me trying to figure out what is going on and how this world came to be. The high school experience was described so well in this story and some parts even reminded me of my high school years. I definitely look forward to getting more answers about Hollow Twilight and why it exists!
Hollow Twilight combines Stranger Things with Ready Player One really well! This system-lite LitRPG has you following the MC Reid through his high school experience as they discover a brand new mobile game called Hollow Twilight. This game is practically a VRMMORPG into a dark, eerie, mysterious world that Reid and his friends get to explore and make their own. The mystery behind this game and the new world was very well written and had me trying to figure out what is going on and how this world came to be. The high school experience was described so well in this story and some parts even reminded me of my high school years. I definitely look forward to getting more answers about Hollow Twilight and why it exists!
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