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HOLLER: An Appalachian Story
471 pages, Paperback
Published March 15, 2026
About the author
Brandy Sue Richardson
2 books4 followersBrandy Richardson is an Appalachian horror writer from the mountains of West Virginia. Her work blends folklore, dark fantasy, grief, mountain superstition, and the strange beauty hidden deep in the hollers of Appalachia.
An Aquarius with a love for cats, tea, sarcastic humor, and giving far too many hugs, Brandy writes stories filled with flawed monsters, lonely people, old magic, and creatures that feel unsettlingly human.
An Aquarius with a love for cats, tea, sarcastic humor, and giving far too many hugs, Brandy writes stories filled with flawed monsters, lonely people, old magic, and creatures that feel unsettlingly human.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 15, 2026
When a new “church group” moves into a small area known as the Holler, a local named Sarah instantly knows that something is off. Sarah herself has a genetic ability to see things that others can’t, and she has a natural sensitivity to the uncanny. What follows is the truth of what this odd church group is and how Sarah remains unsettled by them. This is a novel written as poetry.
One aspect that I really liked while reading this book was how the author used real life events in correlation to the area of the story. For example, the author used the devastating effects of the flooding from Hurricane Helene to paint a picture of how it affected the people of a small Appalachian town; the disaster and its consequences were real, but here it’s used again for a fictional scenario. Richardson also mentions actual superstitions in this area and local’s responses to it (such as the warning that if someone calls to you in the woods at night, you never answer back), and even what people are like in this region in general (i.e: religious, somewhat poor, kind but nosy, helpful to neighbors, slightly skeptical to outsiders.) To me, using qualities and descriptions of what it is actually like living in Appalachia just makes this fictional story seem all the more realistic and I love it!
One minor critique to mention is that it is sometimes confusing who the actual narrator is, especially when new characters are introduced (and they are pretty frequently!) or whose perspective the audience is supposed to be in. However, this really does not take away much from the story itself and it still keeps readers invested. Having said that, one other aspect of the book that is a bit hard to keep up with is what the actual plot is supposed to be. It’s hard to decipher if the story is meant to have one or not, as it is written poetically. Still, Richardson writes with an admirable knack for story-telling.
I would recommend Holler to anyone who enjoys fantasy/horror stories involving witchcraft and demons, but this book will be even more of a cherry on top if one also happens to live in the Appalachia region. The way that it’s written isn’t for everyone though.
One aspect that I really liked while reading this book was how the author used real life events in correlation to the area of the story. For example, the author used the devastating effects of the flooding from Hurricane Helene to paint a picture of how it affected the people of a small Appalachian town; the disaster and its consequences were real, but here it’s used again for a fictional scenario. Richardson also mentions actual superstitions in this area and local’s responses to it (such as the warning that if someone calls to you in the woods at night, you never answer back), and even what people are like in this region in general (i.e: religious, somewhat poor, kind but nosy, helpful to neighbors, slightly skeptical to outsiders.) To me, using qualities and descriptions of what it is actually like living in Appalachia just makes this fictional story seem all the more realistic and I love it!
One minor critique to mention is that it is sometimes confusing who the actual narrator is, especially when new characters are introduced (and they are pretty frequently!) or whose perspective the audience is supposed to be in. However, this really does not take away much from the story itself and it still keeps readers invested. Having said that, one other aspect of the book that is a bit hard to keep up with is what the actual plot is supposed to be. It’s hard to decipher if the story is meant to have one or not, as it is written poetically. Still, Richardson writes with an admirable knack for story-telling.
I would recommend Holler to anyone who enjoys fantasy/horror stories involving witchcraft and demons, but this book will be even more of a cherry on top if one also happens to live in the Appalachia region. The way that it’s written isn’t for everyone though.
March 22, 2026
This was a great read. The way you get the book from all the characters perspectives. The way the county of McDowell was highlighted was great. If you like a little Supernatural aspect of this work was intriguing and made it page turning. Can’t wait for more.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews