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The Hollow Garden
Seventeen years ago, Kyra Masters fled the Hollow Garden and never looked back.
Haunted by fragmented memories of her friend Eleanor's death and the events that followed, she has spent years trying to build a life far from the estate that shattered her family and left her questioning her own mind.
Following her aunt's death, Kyra unexpectedly inherits the Hollow Garden. A sprawling Victorian graveyard of crumbling mausoleums, ruined monuments, and paths tangled with the rare Night Ivy that has grown there for generations.
The place she returns to is not the one she remembers. Time has transformed it into something stranger, its shadows heavy with secrets long hidden behind graves and mausoleum. Family resentments linger, and an old flame is unwilling to let the past remain buried.
As old memories begin to surface, Kyra is forced to confront the tragedy she has spent years trying to forget. What really happened on the night Eleanor died? And why have those around her worked so hard to bury the truth?
The estate was never meant to be hers.
And the Hollow Garden has a will of its own.
Nostalgia is for those who sleep well.
Haunted by fragmented memories of her friend Eleanor's death and the events that followed, she has spent years trying to build a life far from the estate that shattered her family and left her questioning her own mind.
Following her aunt's death, Kyra unexpectedly inherits the Hollow Garden. A sprawling Victorian graveyard of crumbling mausoleums, ruined monuments, and paths tangled with the rare Night Ivy that has grown there for generations.
The place she returns to is not the one she remembers. Time has transformed it into something stranger, its shadows heavy with secrets long hidden behind graves and mausoleum. Family resentments linger, and an old flame is unwilling to let the past remain buried.
As old memories begin to surface, Kyra is forced to confront the tragedy she has spent years trying to forget. What really happened on the night Eleanor died? And why have those around her worked so hard to bury the truth?
The estate was never meant to be hers.
And the Hollow Garden has a will of its own.
Nostalgia is for those who sleep well.
- GenresHorror
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Hollow Garden is a beautifully eerie contemporary gothic mystery, steeped in inheritance, buried secrets, and the unsettling sense that some places remember far more than they should. Kyra Masters’ return to the estate she fled seventeen years ago is immediately charged with tension — not just because of the tragedy she left behind, but because the Hollow Garden itself feels changed, as though time has twisted it into something stranger and more watchful.
The setting is wonderfully atmospheric. A sprawling Victorian graveyard of crumbling mausoleums, ruined monuments, and paths choked with Night Ivy gives the novel a haunting, almost otherworldly texture. The author uses the landscape to mirror Kyra’s fractured memories, letting the estate’s silence press in around her as old resentments, family secrets, and an unresolved past begin to stir. The Hollow Garden feels alive in a way that’s subtle but deeply unsettling — not a place that simply holds history, but one that shapes it.
Kyra is a compelling protagonist, caught between the life she’s built and the one she tried to forget. Her fragmented recollections of Eleanor’s death and the events that followed create a slow, creeping tension as she begins to question not just what happened, but why those around her worked so hard to bury the truth. The return of an old flame adds emotional complexity, and the family dynamics are handled with a sharp, simmering edge that suits the story’s gothic roots.
The mystery unfolds with deliberate patience, allowing dread to accumulate in quiet moments — a shadow where it shouldn’t be, a memory that doesn’t align, a path that seems to lead somewhere new. The idea that the estate was never meant to be hers, and that the Hollow Garden has a will of its own, gives the novel a chilling thematic thread. It’s a story about legacy, trauma, and the dangerous weight of a past that refuses to stay buried.
Atmospheric, haunting, and elegantly paced, The Hollow Garden is a captivating gothic mystery that lingers long after the final page. A beautifully crafted tale for readers who love slow‑burn secrets, uncanny estates, and stories where the past whispers louder than the present.
With thanks to Natalie Grace Lewis, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The setting is wonderfully atmospheric. A sprawling Victorian graveyard of crumbling mausoleums, ruined monuments, and paths choked with Night Ivy gives the novel a haunting, almost otherworldly texture. The author uses the landscape to mirror Kyra’s fractured memories, letting the estate’s silence press in around her as old resentments, family secrets, and an unresolved past begin to stir. The Hollow Garden feels alive in a way that’s subtle but deeply unsettling — not a place that simply holds history, but one that shapes it.
Kyra is a compelling protagonist, caught between the life she’s built and the one she tried to forget. Her fragmented recollections of Eleanor’s death and the events that followed create a slow, creeping tension as she begins to question not just what happened, but why those around her worked so hard to bury the truth. The return of an old flame adds emotional complexity, and the family dynamics are handled with a sharp, simmering edge that suits the story’s gothic roots.
The mystery unfolds with deliberate patience, allowing dread to accumulate in quiet moments — a shadow where it shouldn’t be, a memory that doesn’t align, a path that seems to lead somewhere new. The idea that the estate was never meant to be hers, and that the Hollow Garden has a will of its own, gives the novel a chilling thematic thread. It’s a story about legacy, trauma, and the dangerous weight of a past that refuses to stay buried.
Atmospheric, haunting, and elegantly paced, The Hollow Garden is a captivating gothic mystery that lingers long after the final page. A beautifully crafted tale for readers who love slow‑burn secrets, uncanny estates, and stories where the past whispers louder than the present.
With thanks to Natalie Grace Lewis, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First, I'd like to thank Netgalley for an eARC of this book. This is a debut novel by the author. Kyra's Aunt Magda has passed away. It has been 17 years since Kyra has stepped foot on the estate her aunt owns, due to unspecified events that occured when she was a teenager that were traumatic and caused her to be placed in an asylum (and appears to have given her an amnesia of some type). Now, unbeknownst to Kyra, her aunt left the estate to her, even though, by rights, it should go to her older half sister, Dana. Essentially throughout the rest of the book, we slowly find out the tragic events of the past and other secrets that Kyra's mind had hidden from her.
I was interested at first by the description of it; secrets hidden, a cemetery, a sketchy past about the main character. All very intriguing to me. However, while the story was interesting, I felt that, the writing wasn't overly cohesive and was a bit clunky. When first starting the book, I felt very disoriented with all the names thrown at you that you have no idea who they are or how they relate to the main character. Overall, a decent debut novel.
I was interested at first by the description of it; secrets hidden, a cemetery, a sketchy past about the main character. All very intriguing to me. However, while the story was interesting, I felt that, the writing wasn't overly cohesive and was a bit clunky. When first starting the book, I felt very disoriented with all the names thrown at you that you have no idea who they are or how they relate to the main character. Overall, a decent debut novel.
October 12, 2026
Seventeen years ago, Kyra Masters fled the Hollow Garden and never looked back.
Following her aunt's death, Kyra unexpectedly inherits the Hollow Garden. A sprawling Victorian graveyard of crumbling mausoleums, ruined monuments, and paths tangled with the rare Night Ivy that has grown there for generations.
The estate was never meant to be hers.
And the Hollow Garden has a will of its own.
Nostalgia is for those who sleep well.
🖤🖤🖤
A brilliant book about madness, betrayal, yearning to belong, lost family, grief, magic, and so much more. For me it was a perfect autumnal read.
The story was beautifully written and well plotted. I loved how so many twisted things happened throughout and even when some parts didn't seem to make sense at first, everything came together so nicely by the end.
Along with well developed characters, this book had an unforgettable atmosphere. It was dark, gloomy, and claustrophobic, almost suffocating . It felt as though the house and the graveyard were characters in their own right, which gave the story an even darker feel.
Following her aunt's death, Kyra unexpectedly inherits the Hollow Garden. A sprawling Victorian graveyard of crumbling mausoleums, ruined monuments, and paths tangled with the rare Night Ivy that has grown there for generations.
The estate was never meant to be hers.
And the Hollow Garden has a will of its own.
Nostalgia is for those who sleep well.
🖤🖤🖤
A brilliant book about madness, betrayal, yearning to belong, lost family, grief, magic, and so much more. For me it was a perfect autumnal read.
The story was beautifully written and well plotted. I loved how so many twisted things happened throughout and even when some parts didn't seem to make sense at first, everything came together so nicely by the end.
Along with well developed characters, this book had an unforgettable atmosphere. It was dark, gloomy, and claustrophobic, almost suffocating . It felt as though the house and the graveyard were characters in their own right, which gave the story an even darker feel.
October 7, 2026
They say that the first book you write, is the worst book that you'll ever write.
So let this be the best worst book, as it took twenty years to become what it is now.
So let this be the best worst book, as it took twenty years to become what it is now.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For Kyra Masters, she can try to run from and avoid her family estate, but she was always meant to come back. Her Aunt Magda's death brings her back to the estate and her sister, Dana. Kyra and Dana are both hopeful that Kyra will realize after her mandatory three day stay in the estate that Kyra will sign over the estate to Dana who will sell it off. However, when Kyra arrives, she finds that something in the environment is amiss. The clean-cut stories being told do not match the perception of the aged estate. Plus, the estate seems unsettled.
I loved the opening of the book. While I was reading the first four chapters, I was thinking of other books in the gothic space. It had the tone and depth of If We Were Villains and That Night at the Library, except I think this was more relatable and modern in it's tone in some aspects but had the poetry of a time passed.
The book starts "Kyra was an expert in not remembering. Memories of home bruised when pressed; she would never admit the library reminded her a little of the manor house she grew up in." From these first lines, I was ready for a dark academia, gothic feast and throughout the first four chapter that is what this book was seeming to be. However, as the book went along, it was clear that this was kind of a haunted gothic estate around a group of very flawed individuals who kept a lot of life-altering secrets from one another.
Once the tone changed, it seemed the pace slowed and the prose seemed like it was trying to be poetic but became a bit patronizing and silly. Throughout the middle of this book, I struggled to finish reading it.
One odd thing about the book was I fought with knowing whether this was a modern story or a historical story. The initial tone and references like "the electric light" made me think this was early 1900s but then there were cell phones. I definitely stayed a bit confused and would lose myself in the book and be in the wrong time period, especially with the references to Oxford. Like, when she was at the estate, Kyra would call for a rotary phone, but grab her cellphone as she is leaving.
I was definitely determined to finish the book and I am so glad that I kept going. The ending of this book was very well written and weaved together really well. I was highly engaged and I am curious for more of Kyra's stories, especially since we the reader found out things that are buried in Kyra's member that she has still repressed.
I am looking forward to my return to The Hollow Gardens...
Thank you #NetGalley for providing the #TheHollowGarden
I loved the opening of the book. While I was reading the first four chapters, I was thinking of other books in the gothic space. It had the tone and depth of If We Were Villains and That Night at the Library, except I think this was more relatable and modern in it's tone in some aspects but had the poetry of a time passed.
The book starts "Kyra was an expert in not remembering. Memories of home bruised when pressed; she would never admit the library reminded her a little of the manor house she grew up in." From these first lines, I was ready for a dark academia, gothic feast and throughout the first four chapter that is what this book was seeming to be. However, as the book went along, it was clear that this was kind of a haunted gothic estate around a group of very flawed individuals who kept a lot of life-altering secrets from one another.
Once the tone changed, it seemed the pace slowed and the prose seemed like it was trying to be poetic but became a bit patronizing and silly. Throughout the middle of this book, I struggled to finish reading it.
One odd thing about the book was I fought with knowing whether this was a modern story or a historical story. The initial tone and references like "the electric light" made me think this was early 1900s but then there were cell phones. I definitely stayed a bit confused and would lose myself in the book and be in the wrong time period, especially with the references to Oxford. Like, when she was at the estate, Kyra would call for a rotary phone, but grab her cellphone as she is leaving.
I was definitely determined to finish the book and I am so glad that I kept going. The ending of this book was very well written and weaved together really well. I was highly engaged and I am curious for more of Kyra's stories, especially since we the reader found out things that are buried in Kyra's member that she has still repressed.
I am looking forward to my return to The Hollow Gardens...
Thank you #NetGalley for providing the #TheHollowGarden
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
In The Hollow Garden, by Natalie Grace Lewis, thirtysomething Kyra is living a small, quiet life in Oxford, working as a library assistant and looking after her “Uncle Roo” following his stroke. Then she receives a letter informing her that her Aunt Magda has died, leaving her the Hollow Garden: the Midlands estate comprising a manor house and graveyard where she grew up, and fled 13 years previously.
Seventeen years ago, when Kyra was a teenager, her friend Eleanor died after falling from a church tower on the estate. Catatonic with grief, and led to believe it was her fault Eleanor fell, Kyra was committed to an old-fashioned asylum – also on her family’s land – where she spent four years restrained and doped up until she managed to escape.
Kyra reluctantly returns to the Hollow Garden with every intention of relinquishing it – and the accompanying eye-watering inheritance tax bill – to her older half-sister Dana, who’s been running the estate and associated funeral business in her absence. But the obligation to stay for three nights, during which Kyra sees shadowy figures, uncovers long-lost memories, and starts to suspect Magda’s death wasn’t entirely natural, renews her attachment to her old home and motivates her to dig for the truth.
I liked The Hollow Garden a lot! The quality of the writing and the dark, Gothic atmosphere the author spins up meant I was more than willing to suspend my disbelief and go along with the particularly out-there events and revelations of the book (let’s just say the asylum and the in-universe version of the Bodleian really need to rethink their security practices!).
Befitting the genre, the estate feels like a character in itself, with its unique features such as the Black Ivy, and the way the characters who care for the place think and speak about it. For Kyra, coming back after such a long period is akin to reuniting with a person she was very close to: despite her attempts to harden her heart, she’s reminded of all the quirks she once knew so well, and can feel the land – full of dead bodies as it is – urging her to uncover and repair the injustices committed on and against it.
The notion of a big old chunk of land devoted to honouring the dead (and attracting the death industry to the area), as well as the flora Magda cultivated for healing purposes: be still my Gothic heart! Magda, for the mistakes she made keeping information from Kyra, was very much a “good witch”, minding children who’d lost parents (Kyra was the result of an affair, and her mother – Magda’s sister – died during childbirth), offering succour to the bereaved, and brewing up concoctions. Kyra has some supernatural-seeming experiences during her stay, and we have to wait to find out what’s behind them.
For the most part, I felt sympathy for Kyra (I just hope the rare books she stole from her workplace in the name of research were returned in the end!). Purely through accident of birth, she’s been manipulated and scapegoated, even by people who had her best interests at heart, her entire life. Dana goads her for running away, even though Kyra has indicated she’ll be signing the estate over to her, and how could anyone blame her for wanting to get away from a place where she was forcibly imprisoned and mistreated for years?
A secondary family, who live in the gatehouse, are siblings Priory and Hurley – contemporaries of Dana and Kyra who grew up alongside them – and Celine, who’s much younger and being raised by her brother and sister following the death of their parents. Kyra was especially close to Priory as a teenager, and seeing him again puts an additional strain on her.
As is gradually revealed over the course of the novel, the two families’ histories are very intertwined – and the business-minded Dana pays no heed to this, planning to evict the trio and demolish the gatehouse once Kyra signs over the land. Saying that, Priory and Hurley could probably use a bit of psychic distance from the Hollow Garden, as their attachment to the past leads them to self-sabotage in ways that are almost painful to read about.
I guessed what the biggest twist would be quite early on, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story – I wanted to see when and how it would come out (or, alternatively, if I was wrong!), and I think it’s actually an expected trope of the modern Gothic genre anyway.
The Hollow Garden is a compelling and atmospheric Gothic yarn.
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Seventeen years ago, when Kyra was a teenager, her friend Eleanor died after falling from a church tower on the estate. Catatonic with grief, and led to believe it was her fault Eleanor fell, Kyra was committed to an old-fashioned asylum – also on her family’s land – where she spent four years restrained and doped up until she managed to escape.
Kyra reluctantly returns to the Hollow Garden with every intention of relinquishing it – and the accompanying eye-watering inheritance tax bill – to her older half-sister Dana, who’s been running the estate and associated funeral business in her absence. But the obligation to stay for three nights, during which Kyra sees shadowy figures, uncovers long-lost memories, and starts to suspect Magda’s death wasn’t entirely natural, renews her attachment to her old home and motivates her to dig for the truth.
I liked The Hollow Garden a lot! The quality of the writing and the dark, Gothic atmosphere the author spins up meant I was more than willing to suspend my disbelief and go along with the particularly out-there events and revelations of the book (let’s just say the asylum and the in-universe version of the Bodleian really need to rethink their security practices!).
Befitting the genre, the estate feels like a character in itself, with its unique features such as the Black Ivy, and the way the characters who care for the place think and speak about it. For Kyra, coming back after such a long period is akin to reuniting with a person she was very close to: despite her attempts to harden her heart, she’s reminded of all the quirks she once knew so well, and can feel the land – full of dead bodies as it is – urging her to uncover and repair the injustices committed on and against it.
The notion of a big old chunk of land devoted to honouring the dead (and attracting the death industry to the area), as well as the flora Magda cultivated for healing purposes: be still my Gothic heart! Magda, for the mistakes she made keeping information from Kyra, was very much a “good witch”, minding children who’d lost parents (Kyra was the result of an affair, and her mother – Magda’s sister – died during childbirth), offering succour to the bereaved, and brewing up concoctions. Kyra has some supernatural-seeming experiences during her stay, and we have to wait to find out what’s behind them.
For the most part, I felt sympathy for Kyra (I just hope the rare books she stole from her workplace in the name of research were returned in the end!). Purely through accident of birth, she’s been manipulated and scapegoated, even by people who had her best interests at heart, her entire life. Dana goads her for running away, even though Kyra has indicated she’ll be signing the estate over to her, and how could anyone blame her for wanting to get away from a place where she was forcibly imprisoned and mistreated for years?
A secondary family, who live in the gatehouse, are siblings Priory and Hurley – contemporaries of Dana and Kyra who grew up alongside them – and Celine, who’s much younger and being raised by her brother and sister following the death of their parents. Kyra was especially close to Priory as a teenager, and seeing him again puts an additional strain on her.
As is gradually revealed over the course of the novel, the two families’ histories are very intertwined – and the business-minded Dana pays no heed to this, planning to evict the trio and demolish the gatehouse once Kyra signs over the land. Saying that, Priory and Hurley could probably use a bit of psychic distance from the Hollow Garden, as their attachment to the past leads them to self-sabotage in ways that are almost painful to read about.
I guessed what the biggest twist would be quite early on, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story – I wanted to see when and how it would come out (or, alternatively, if I was wrong!), and I think it’s actually an expected trope of the modern Gothic genre anyway.
The Hollow Garden is a compelling and atmospheric Gothic yarn.
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Kyra lives in Oxford with her uncle Roo, working in the library and trying firmly to never think of her past. Her peace is disrupted when she receives a letter from her half sister Dana, telling Kyra that the aunt who raised her has passed away, and has left their childhood home to her.
Nicknamed The Hollow Garden, the manor house sits in the midst of a graveyard, it is shrouded in a mysterious plant known as Night Ivy. Having free reign over the land the house sat on, Kyra, Dana and their friends spent many happy times together, until tragedy struck and their friend Eleanor fell from the church tower and died. A witness claimed they saw Kyra push her. Institutionalised in an asylum, Kyra’s memories are vague, and she hoped never to return to the place that caused her so much trauma.
Returning to the estate forces Kyra back into a world she thought she'd escaped. Nothing is quite as she remembers and the once grand house has fallen into disrepair. Her aunts beloved plants are all gone and the house is now smothered in the night ivy. She starts to feel as though this strange plant is alive and when old family resentments start to surface, the past and the ivy start forcing their way into Kyra’s present.
With the appearance of an old flame, Kyra’s memories start to return and she begins to question the circumstances surrounding both her aunts death, and Eleanor's.
This was such a beautifully written and incredibly well crafted novel. The setting of this once grand house sat inside a decaying cemetery, shrouded in this weird night ivy, mixed with the protagonists missing memories and trauma, makes for an incredibly gripping story.
This was not your bog standard “Someone was murdered, who did it” either. There are so many secrets amongst all of the characters, and things they are all hiding from, that makes it so much more. We have this incredibly damaged main character who thinks she is simply returning to deal with her aunts estate, only to find herself dragged back into a past she has spent seventeen years trying to escape, surrounded by people who all seem to know more than they're letting on. And then we start getting these little snippets of her memory returning, which makes you realise along with her there is more what is going on than just simply tying up her elderly aunts affairs.
It was a deliciously slow burn too, with some of the secrets being kept from you right until the last page. The way the author deliberately drip feeds you information means you are constantly questioning what you think you know, with every new little revelation making you rethink something that came before. Just when you think you've finally got it all worked out, one of the characters drops in another snippet of information and you're back to square one.
I was absolutely hooked on this from start to finish, and would love to see more from this author and what else The Hollow Garden has in store.
Nicknamed The Hollow Garden, the manor house sits in the midst of a graveyard, it is shrouded in a mysterious plant known as Night Ivy. Having free reign over the land the house sat on, Kyra, Dana and their friends spent many happy times together, until tragedy struck and their friend Eleanor fell from the church tower and died. A witness claimed they saw Kyra push her. Institutionalised in an asylum, Kyra’s memories are vague, and she hoped never to return to the place that caused her so much trauma.
Returning to the estate forces Kyra back into a world she thought she'd escaped. Nothing is quite as she remembers and the once grand house has fallen into disrepair. Her aunts beloved plants are all gone and the house is now smothered in the night ivy. She starts to feel as though this strange plant is alive and when old family resentments start to surface, the past and the ivy start forcing their way into Kyra’s present.
With the appearance of an old flame, Kyra’s memories start to return and she begins to question the circumstances surrounding both her aunts death, and Eleanor's.
This was such a beautifully written and incredibly well crafted novel. The setting of this once grand house sat inside a decaying cemetery, shrouded in this weird night ivy, mixed with the protagonists missing memories and trauma, makes for an incredibly gripping story.
This was not your bog standard “Someone was murdered, who did it” either. There are so many secrets amongst all of the characters, and things they are all hiding from, that makes it so much more. We have this incredibly damaged main character who thinks she is simply returning to deal with her aunts estate, only to find herself dragged back into a past she has spent seventeen years trying to escape, surrounded by people who all seem to know more than they're letting on. And then we start getting these little snippets of her memory returning, which makes you realise along with her there is more what is going on than just simply tying up her elderly aunts affairs.
It was a deliciously slow burn too, with some of the secrets being kept from you right until the last page. The way the author deliberately drip feeds you information means you are constantly questioning what you think you know, with every new little revelation making you rethink something that came before. Just when you think you've finally got it all worked out, one of the characters drops in another snippet of information and you're back to square one.
I was absolutely hooked on this from start to finish, and would love to see more from this author and what else The Hollow Garden has in store.
October 8, 2026
I am a sucker for books that have to do with old crumbling estates haunted by family trauma. Childhood loves reconnecting after pining for each other. Family rivalry that can destroy, oh and don’t forget the haunting landscape and plants that seem to be somewhat sentient.
The Hollow Garden contains all of these things and more, which is great for this time of the year!
After running from the Asylum and taking refuge with her Uncle Roo, Kyra receives news that her Aunt Magda has died and passed the Estate and everything she had left including her shares in the family cemetery business. Kyra wants none of these things, the only memories that The Estate holds for her are horrible.
Flashes of a broken body on a dark stormy night, friends playing a game that ends in tragedy for so many, being forcibly removed kicking and screaming from her home and being placed in the Asylum where the world faded to black. Here and there a glimpse of a lost love with stormy blue eyes and the feeling of safety she felt in his arms.
So much is waiting for her back home where she never thought she would return. However family and unfinished business always has a way of bringing you to heel and it's time Kyra remembers her past, the things she did, the things she didn’t do and what her family is capable of. It's time for the past to be known and a price to be paid.
Thank you to much to #Netgalley for the chance to read #TheHollowGarden by #NatalieGraceLewis in return for a fair and honest review.
The Hollow Garden contains all of these things and more, which is great for this time of the year!
After running from the Asylum and taking refuge with her Uncle Roo, Kyra receives news that her Aunt Magda has died and passed the Estate and everything she had left including her shares in the family cemetery business. Kyra wants none of these things, the only memories that The Estate holds for her are horrible.
Flashes of a broken body on a dark stormy night, friends playing a game that ends in tragedy for so many, being forcibly removed kicking and screaming from her home and being placed in the Asylum where the world faded to black. Here and there a glimpse of a lost love with stormy blue eyes and the feeling of safety she felt in his arms.
So much is waiting for her back home where she never thought she would return. However family and unfinished business always has a way of bringing you to heel and it's time Kyra remembers her past, the things she did, the things she didn’t do and what her family is capable of. It's time for the past to be known and a price to be paid.
Thank you to much to #Netgalley for the chance to read #TheHollowGarden by #NatalieGraceLewis in return for a fair and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a copy of this book as part of an Instagram book tour… all thoughts are my own.
I absolutely loved this book. It was brilliant! It was so creative and atmospheric and I was completely drawn into the story.
I really loved Kyra as a character, and her connection to Aunt Magda was one of my favourite parts. Although they never meet in the story, as Kyra inherits the manor after her aunt has passed away, you get such a clear sense of the understanding between them through the things Aunt Magda left behind and I loved discovering more about aunt Magda through their relationship.
I also really liked the chemistry between Kyra and Priory, it was palpable from the moment they met, and I loved watching them find their way back to each other through the story and their shared history.
Celine was such an intriguing character too, especially with her ability to sense things that others couldn’t. There are so many secrets and unanswered questions surrounding her, and I really enjoyed watching those slowly unravel as the story went on.
I also really liked the setting. The manor, the graveyard and the way the story honours the dead all gave it such a beautiful but haunting backdrop, which I thought worked so well.
There are so many secrets and connections woven through this story and I really enjoyed seeing how they all came together or fall apart. My only complaint is that I wanted more!
Highly recommend this book and it’s one of my favourites of this year so far.
I really loved Kyra as a character, and her connection to Aunt Magda was one of my favourite parts. Although they never meet in the story, as Kyra inherits the manor after her aunt has passed away, you get such a clear sense of the understanding between them through the things Aunt Magda left behind and I loved discovering more about aunt Magda through their relationship.
I also really liked the chemistry between Kyra and Priory, it was palpable from the moment they met, and I loved watching them find their way back to each other through the story and their shared history.
Celine was such an intriguing character too, especially with her ability to sense things that others couldn’t. There are so many secrets and unanswered questions surrounding her, and I really enjoyed watching those slowly unravel as the story went on.
I also really liked the setting. The manor, the graveyard and the way the story honours the dead all gave it such a beautiful but haunting backdrop, which I thought worked so well.
There are so many secrets and connections woven through this story and I really enjoyed seeing how they all came together or fall apart. My only complaint is that I wanted more!
Highly recommend this book and it’s one of my favourites of this year so far.
October 7, 2026
Seventeen years ago, Kyra Masters fled the Hollow Garden and never looked back.
Haunted by fragmented memories of her friend Eleanor's death and the events that followed, she has spent years trying to build a life far from the estate that shattered her family and left her questioning her own mind.
Following her aunt's death, Kyra unexpectedly inherits the Hollow Garden. A sprawling Victorian graveyard of crumbling mausoleums, ruined monuments, and paths tangled with the rare Night Ivy that has grown there for generations.
The place she returns to is not the one she remembers. Time has transformed it into something stranger, its shadows heavy with secrets long hidden behind graves and mausoleum. Family resentments linger, and an old flame is unwilling to let the past remain buried.
As old memories begin to surface, Kyra is forced to confront the tragedy she has spent years trying to forget. What really happened on the night Eleanor died? And why have those around her worked so hard to bury the truth?
The estate was never meant to be hers.
And the Hollow Garden has a will of its own.
Haunted by fragmented memories of her friend Eleanor's death and the events that followed, she has spent years trying to build a life far from the estate that shattered her family and left her questioning her own mind.
Following her aunt's death, Kyra unexpectedly inherits the Hollow Garden. A sprawling Victorian graveyard of crumbling mausoleums, ruined monuments, and paths tangled with the rare Night Ivy that has grown there for generations.
The place she returns to is not the one she remembers. Time has transformed it into something stranger, its shadows heavy with secrets long hidden behind graves and mausoleum. Family resentments linger, and an old flame is unwilling to let the past remain buried.
As old memories begin to surface, Kyra is forced to confront the tragedy she has spent years trying to forget. What really happened on the night Eleanor died? And why have those around her worked so hard to bury the truth?
The estate was never meant to be hers.
And the Hollow Garden has a will of its own.
October 11, 2026
You know the phrase, a picture is worth a thousand words? Well, this a book with several thousand words and it paints a beautiful picture.
Hollow Garden tells the story of Kyra, a woman who inherits a graveyard that starts a series of events to force her to confront what happened when her best friend died almost two decades ago
And the one thing that really stood out was the sheer beauty of the imagery — it’s immersive, botanical horror that is just brimming with personality.
The first page was a masterclass in setting a scene; all rare books, dusty libraries and something that’s just a little bit off, crafting a wonderfully anxious atmosphere.
The story itself was wonderfully twisty, full of tension — it throws a lot of characters at you at one point which could be disorienting compared to the slow, creepy pace of the first half, but fans of horror that has that creeping dread feel will love this.
Thank you to the author, Natalie for sending me a copy of The Hollow Garden, me and my friends in the random things tours crew are currently taking this book on a virtual tour so be sure to check out the other creators to hear more because they are just wonderful too.
Hollow Garden tells the story of Kyra, a woman who inherits a graveyard that starts a series of events to force her to confront what happened when her best friend died almost two decades ago
And the one thing that really stood out was the sheer beauty of the imagery — it’s immersive, botanical horror that is just brimming with personality.
The first page was a masterclass in setting a scene; all rare books, dusty libraries and something that’s just a little bit off, crafting a wonderfully anxious atmosphere.
The story itself was wonderfully twisty, full of tension — it throws a lot of characters at you at one point which could be disorienting compared to the slow, creepy pace of the first half, but fans of horror that has that creeping dread feel will love this.
Thank you to the author, Natalie for sending me a copy of The Hollow Garden, me and my friends in the random things tours crew are currently taking this book on a virtual tour so be sure to check out the other creators to hear more because they are just wonderful too.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
When I began reading, nothing much seemed to be happening. Kyra has had to return to the home she fled after her friend Eleanor died seventeen years ago and Krya was locked up in a mental hospital. This was a slow burn for sure. No problem, because I knew it was going to be good. Atmospheric. Gothic.
Kyra has had to return to discover why her Aunt Magda, who had recently died, has left everything to her. Kyra’s sister Dana is hostile. As the eldest she believes the estate – the crumbling old house, the Hollow Garden, the cemetery and everything that goes with it – should be hers. Her father (Kyra’s step-father) is even worse. He wants everyone to believe that Kyra is mad.
In the gatehouse Kyra’s ex-boyfriend Priory lives with his two sisters, the youngest of which is nine-year-old Celine, an interesting child, wilful and almost feral. She was my favourite character.
And now it was starting get interesting. Krya doesn’t believe Magda died of natural causes, and others seem to be getting sick. But no-one wants to believe her. The pace began to accelerate and by the end I was breathless trying to keep up. An excellent story once it got going, with lost of twists, turns and some well-written, unlikable characters as well as likeable ones including Kyra, Priory and of course, Celine.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #TheHollowGarden #blogtour
Kyra has had to return to discover why her Aunt Magda, who had recently died, has left everything to her. Kyra’s sister Dana is hostile. As the eldest she believes the estate – the crumbling old house, the Hollow Garden, the cemetery and everything that goes with it – should be hers. Her father (Kyra’s step-father) is even worse. He wants everyone to believe that Kyra is mad.
In the gatehouse Kyra’s ex-boyfriend Priory lives with his two sisters, the youngest of which is nine-year-old Celine, an interesting child, wilful and almost feral. She was my favourite character.
And now it was starting get interesting. Krya doesn’t believe Magda died of natural causes, and others seem to be getting sick. But no-one wants to believe her. The pace began to accelerate and by the end I was breathless trying to keep up. An excellent story once it got going, with lost of twists, turns and some well-written, unlikable characters as well as likeable ones including Kyra, Priory and of course, Celine.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #TheHollowGarden #blogtour
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved this book!
It's a dark gothic story that kept me hooked from the start. Kyra returns to her family estate after years away, stepping back into the mystery surrounding her friend’s death and all the secrets she tried to leave behind. The whole setup works really well and gives the book a strong, atmospheric feel.
The writing is rich without being heavy. The descriptions make the estate and the graveyard feel vivid, and the setting becomes one of the most engaging parts of the story. Kyra is a grounded and flawed character, and following her through each reveal kept the pace moving.
There are plenty of twists and the ending is fantastic. It is a confident debut and shows real promise for what the author will do next. I was kindly given this as an ARC and I am happy to recommend it to anyone who enjoys gothic fiction with a vivid and immersive backdrop.
It's a dark gothic story that kept me hooked from the start. Kyra returns to her family estate after years away, stepping back into the mystery surrounding her friend’s death and all the secrets she tried to leave behind. The whole setup works really well and gives the book a strong, atmospheric feel.
The writing is rich without being heavy. The descriptions make the estate and the graveyard feel vivid, and the setting becomes one of the most engaging parts of the story. Kyra is a grounded and flawed character, and following her through each reveal kept the pace moving.
There are plenty of twists and the ending is fantastic. It is a confident debut and shows real promise for what the author will do next. I was kindly given this as an ARC and I am happy to recommend it to anyone who enjoys gothic fiction with a vivid and immersive backdrop.
Did Not Finish
August 15, 2026Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for approving me for this ARC! I was really intrigued by the description because I love a gothic mystery, but unfortunately I had to DNF this because it was just *so* slow. I got about a quarter of the way in and barely anything had happened yet, other than people having awkward conversations where they were clearly skirting around some dark past that I still knew basically nothing about.
Maybe it gets more interesting later on, but I just couldn’t bring myself to keep picking it up when I wasn’t really invested in what was happening. The writing is very descriptive and I did really like the atmosphere and the vibe of the house, but unfortunately there just wasn’t enough happening to keep me interested. I think this might work better for someone who enjoys a very slow-burn gothic mystery, but it just wasn’t for me.
Maybe it gets more interesting later on, but I just couldn’t bring myself to keep picking it up when I wasn’t really invested in what was happening. The writing is very descriptive and I did really like the atmosphere and the vibe of the house, but unfortunately there just wasn’t enough happening to keep me interested. I think this might work better for someone who enjoys a very slow-burn gothic mystery, but it just wasn’t for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was really lucky to receive an ARC copy and it did not disappoint.
The book is a beautifully atmospheric gothic mystery. The decaying estate feels like a character in its own right, and the rot of family secrets kept me turning the pages.
I was surprised that it had a modern setting, but the graveyard was creepier knowing it was decaying around the house.
I can't work out if I like Priory or not, and if I would make the same decisions as Kyra.
I also want to know what happens next...
The book is a beautifully atmospheric gothic mystery. The decaying estate feels like a character in its own right, and the rot of family secrets kept me turning the pages.
I was surprised that it had a modern setting, but the graveyard was creepier knowing it was decaying around the house.
I can't work out if I like Priory or not, and if I would make the same decisions as Kyra.
I also want to know what happens next...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Croft, Lewis & Pearce for the ARC! After the author updated the ARC, I was LOCKED IN. The characters felt deeper, the setting was richer, and it felt like the gothic story I was expecting. I won't give anything away, but it did seem a little obvious from the start that the villain in this story was the person it ended up being. There were a few turns that I did not see coming, but overall, not terribly predictable, but also not terribly unpredictable. Not sure that I'd read this one again, but I'm glad I ended up finishing it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The atmosphere and the family drama were very nicely gothic in this book. The description, however, felt somewhat inconsistent like the writer couldn't decide if the story was going to be set in modern day or back around the 1900s and keep mixing them up. Also, this could be just me problem, but it felt like a lot of characters got thrown in without proper introduction to the reader, so much that at first I had to recheck if I accidentally pick up a second book of a series.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
October 23, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read The hollow garden by Natalie Grace Lewis. This debut novel was a great October read as it had the gothic vibe and included a crumbling house, creepy graveyard and an eerie garden. The start was a bit slow, but once the story started to rev up I was hooked. It reminded me of the gothic mystery books I used to read...you know the ones with the cover of a girl in a white nightgown running away from something, or someone! While I had some issues with the pacing I liked it enough that I will check out the author's next book.
Read
September 27, 2026review to follow
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