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A Fable for Hollow Creatures
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Expected 27 Oct 26Win a free print copy of this book!
9 days and 22:08:56
10 copies available
U.S. only
A vengeful monster hunter is forced to work with a charming monster in this addictive blend of horror and fantasy from R.R. Schaeffer.
In a world teeming with monsters and even more monstrous gods, Jierz lost everything to a creature that ate the minds of her family and friends and then puppeted their corpses for its own purpose. After three years working as a monster hunter, now she's ready to get her vengeance. But to hunt the creature down and kill it, she'll need to team up with the only other survivor from her home—a man who used to be her best friend, until she found out that he was a type of monster who'd been stealing and manipulating emotions, including hers. He's desperate to rekindle their friendship, and even if she's still angry at him, she believes she can use him to get revenge. Together, they're going to hunt down the creature that killed everyone from their home. But it's very easy for the hunter to become the hunted....
In a world teeming with monsters and even more monstrous gods, Jierz lost everything to a creature that ate the minds of her family and friends and then puppeted their corpses for its own purpose. After three years working as a monster hunter, now she's ready to get her vengeance. But to hunt the creature down and kill it, she'll need to team up with the only other survivor from her home—a man who used to be her best friend, until she found out that he was a type of monster who'd been stealing and manipulating emotions, including hers. He's desperate to rekindle their friendship, and even if she's still angry at him, she believes she can use him to get revenge. Together, they're going to hunt down the creature that killed everyone from their home. But it's very easy for the hunter to become the hunted....
- GenresFantasy
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 27, 2026
About the author
R.R. Schaeffer
1 book12 followersThis author also writes under the name Rebecca Schaeffer
RR Schaeffer is the critically acclaimed author of Not Even Bones, Only Ashes Remain, and When Villains Rise. The Webtoon adaptation of the trilogy has garnered over a hundred million reads and 2 million subscribers. Her duology, City of Nightmares, was one of the BBC's most anticipated books of 2023, and her original comic, Dead But Not Gone, airs weekly on Webtoon.
RR Schaeffer is the critically acclaimed author of Not Even Bones, Only Ashes Remain, and When Villains Rise. The Webtoon adaptation of the trilogy has garnered over a hundred million reads and 2 million subscribers. Her duology, City of Nightmares, was one of the BBC's most anticipated books of 2023, and her original comic, Dead But Not Gone, airs weekly on Webtoon.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of its publication. I’ve loved Rebecca Schaeffer’s previous works, so I was very excited to dive into her latest release.
A Fable to Hollow Creatures follows Jierz, a monster hunter who’s out for revenge after a creature destroyed her home by literally eating people’s minds and puppeteering their bodies. To track it down, she ends up teaming up with the only other survivor, Halesz, her former best friend who she later discovered is actually a monster himself, one who can manipulate emotions… including hers.
As they hunt the creature together, lingering resentment, complicated feelings, and the dangers of their world blur the line between ally and enemy, raising the question of whether they’ll succeed in their revenge, or become the next victims.
Rebecca Schaeffer comes back with a completely original world, rich, immersive, and truly captivating. She never stops surprising me. Even though she often writes about monsters, each of her stories feels completely different, exploring the idea of “monstrosity” from a new angle every time
I really loved how the novel opens, throwing us straight into the darkness and the harsh reality of the world we’re about to live in for the next 400 pages. The writing is simple, never overdone, but it conveys emotion effortlessly (like making me shiver during scenes where wounds have to be cauterized with a blade heated in fire…).
It also knows exactly how to drip-feed information to keep us hooked. There isn’t a ton of action, but it never feels slow, because there’s enough tension and mystery to keep you fully invested.
I also really enjoyed the fables that appear at the end of certain chapters, centered on the legends of the creatures in the book. It fits the story perfectly, since these oral tales are such an important part of this world.
The plot stays surprising overall, even if a couple of elements are fairly predictable, but honestly that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all, since I was completely invested. There’s also this recurring thread about a character who’s constantly mentioned but never actually appears, and it comes up several times throughout the book. I’m really excited to read the sequel and finally get answers to all my questions about that subplot. It’s not central, but it’s definitely intriguing...
I absolutely loved the world Rebecca Schaeffer created : it’s a complete reinvention of our own, both in terms of history and everything that comes with it. She builds an entirely new mythology that’s really well explained, yet still leaves you wanting to explore it even more.
The synopsis doesn’t hint at what you end up discovering, so I’d rather not say too much to avoid spoilers, it’s genuinely a great surprise.
There’s one element in particular that really caught me off guard. It’s only briefly mentioned, and I’m really hoping it will be explored more in the sequel!!
The novel explores themes of grief, self-trust, and learning to trust others, especially in the aftermath of deep trauma. It also deconstructs the idea of monstrosity, touching on tolerance and acceptance of difference, and suggesting that humans can be far more monstrous than a creature with eight arms and shark-like teeth
The characters are all compelling and easy to get attached to, well-developed with distinct personalities and solid backstories—even if some of them remain a bit mysterious. I really enjoyed following them and genuinely worried about what might happen to them.
Special mention to Haleszs, who really moved me, a little ray of sunshine in the storm.
A Fable to Hollow Creatures follows Jierz, a monster hunter who’s out for revenge after a creature destroyed her home by literally eating people’s minds and puppeteering their bodies. To track it down, she ends up teaming up with the only other survivor, Halesz, her former best friend who she later discovered is actually a monster himself, one who can manipulate emotions… including hers.
As they hunt the creature together, lingering resentment, complicated feelings, and the dangers of their world blur the line between ally and enemy, raising the question of whether they’ll succeed in their revenge, or become the next victims.
Rebecca Schaeffer comes back with a completely original world, rich, immersive, and truly captivating. She never stops surprising me. Even though she often writes about monsters, each of her stories feels completely different, exploring the idea of “monstrosity” from a new angle every time
I really loved how the novel opens, throwing us straight into the darkness and the harsh reality of the world we’re about to live in for the next 400 pages. The writing is simple, never overdone, but it conveys emotion effortlessly (like making me shiver during scenes where wounds have to be cauterized with a blade heated in fire…).
It also knows exactly how to drip-feed information to keep us hooked. There isn’t a ton of action, but it never feels slow, because there’s enough tension and mystery to keep you fully invested.
I also really enjoyed the fables that appear at the end of certain chapters, centered on the legends of the creatures in the book. It fits the story perfectly, since these oral tales are such an important part of this world.
The plot stays surprising overall, even if a couple of elements are fairly predictable, but honestly that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all, since I was completely invested. There’s also this recurring thread about a character who’s constantly mentioned but never actually appears, and it comes up several times throughout the book. I’m really excited to read the sequel and finally get answers to all my questions about that subplot. It’s not central, but it’s definitely intriguing...
I absolutely loved the world Rebecca Schaeffer created : it’s a complete reinvention of our own, both in terms of history and everything that comes with it. She builds an entirely new mythology that’s really well explained, yet still leaves you wanting to explore it even more.
The synopsis doesn’t hint at what you end up discovering, so I’d rather not say too much to avoid spoilers, it’s genuinely a great surprise.
There’s one element in particular that really caught me off guard. It’s only briefly mentioned, and I’m really hoping it will be explored more in the sequel!!
The novel explores themes of grief, self-trust, and learning to trust others, especially in the aftermath of deep trauma. It also deconstructs the idea of monstrosity, touching on tolerance and acceptance of difference, and suggesting that humans can be far more monstrous than a creature with eight arms and shark-like teeth
The characters are all compelling and easy to get attached to, well-developed with distinct personalities and solid backstories—even if some of them remain a bit mysterious. I really enjoyed following them and genuinely worried about what might happen to them.
Special mention to Haleszs, who really moved me, a little ray of sunshine in the storm.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In a world full of cautionary tales, terrifying creatures, and vengeful gods, humans do their best to survive. Monster hunters travel together to defend those willing to pay for their services. The lucky few who survive deadly encounters share their grim tales in hopes that it’ll save someone. Jierz loses all that is dear to her when a rare monster suddenly appears and consumes her town. Her best friend Halesz helps her stay alive during the siege, but soon reveals himself to be a monster too. The gentle, charming person she thought she knew reveals himself to be a monster capable of stealing and manipulating emotions. Years later, Jierz becomes a monster hunter determined to find the creature that still haunts her dreams. When she unexpectedly reconnects with Halesz she finds herself unable to move past their history, even as she can’t help but want to be near him. Eager to stay by her side and prove he’s changed, Halesz joins Jierz on her journey to find and kill the monster from their past.
The Witcher meets Grimm in this epic story. For fans who enjoy twisted fables, monsters, hunters, and tricky gods who live to cause mischief, you won’t be able to put this book down! This book was a page-turner from chapter one and didn’t stop. It’s set in a world that is full of interesting creatures, some more deadly than others. There is much lore left to explore beyond the first book, and it leaves the reader itching for more. The characters make complex, questionable decisions throughout their journey, which often feel ambiguous. In this dangerous world, it’s hard to land on one right decision for everyone. You can’t help but want to root for the main male character even though he isn’t human. The main female character is haunted by her past. She has a strong moral compass and often clashes with others when her stubbornness gets the better of her. The world is rich in lore and has a dark atmosphere that readers will enjoy.
Overall, this was a fantastic fantasy story! It had some nail-biting moments, raw conversations, and a bit of mystery as they go monster hunting. It was incredibly entertaining and fun.
For readers who enjoy twisted fairy tale creatures and monster hunters…
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is an advance reader copy (ARC) and may contain errors or changes before final publication. My review is voluntary and reflects my personal thoughts.
The Witcher meets Grimm in this epic story. For fans who enjoy twisted fables, monsters, hunters, and tricky gods who live to cause mischief, you won’t be able to put this book down! This book was a page-turner from chapter one and didn’t stop. It’s set in a world that is full of interesting creatures, some more deadly than others. There is much lore left to explore beyond the first book, and it leaves the reader itching for more. The characters make complex, questionable decisions throughout their journey, which often feel ambiguous. In this dangerous world, it’s hard to land on one right decision for everyone. You can’t help but want to root for the main male character even though he isn’t human. The main female character is haunted by her past. She has a strong moral compass and often clashes with others when her stubbornness gets the better of her. The world is rich in lore and has a dark atmosphere that readers will enjoy.
Overall, this was a fantastic fantasy story! It had some nail-biting moments, raw conversations, and a bit of mystery as they go monster hunting. It was incredibly entertaining and fun.
For readers who enjoy twisted fairy tale creatures and monster hunters…
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is an advance reader copy (ARC) and may contain errors or changes before final publication. My review is voluntary and reflects my personal thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have not previously read any books by this author but this was excellent. Her writing style flows so easily creating beautiful and horrific scenes. She writes without any extra fluff which I appreciate. She thoroughly explores concepts of grief, trauma, trust issues, and monstrosity. The monsters in this tale are absolutely terrifying, however the gods and humans who appear less monstrous are equally if not more deadly and twisted.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
DNF. Almost everyone in this book has a name that ends with the letter 'z'. Interesting concept, potential world building, but the execution was just not it. I found it hard to follow when the monsters' names were just thrown here and there (mostly) in dialogues without explanation.
I figured that so maybe that's why her narration felt so flat and very boring. But it completely didn't work for me. I found this book annoying, and I have no desire to continue reading it. This book just isn't for me.
I figured that so maybe that's why her narration felt so flat and very boring. But it completely didn't work for me. I found this book annoying, and I have no desire to continue reading it. This book just isn't for me.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews