What do you think?
Rate this book
The Hole in the World
Magic is, and always has been, all around us. At least, Innes has always believed so. Kahrin? She’s more skeptical. After all, she’s never seen proof. That doesn’t stop her from supporting her best friend in his belief, as in all things in their lives.
One accident and a near-miss later, the pair are forced to grapple with the realities of the world of magic, whether they believe in it or not. Innes is sure that the mysterious Yelena is more than just a beautiful girl with amnesia and a prickly brother. Kahrin is sure she’s going to regret going along with it. Still, she does, because she trusts him, and that has always been the foundation upon which their love and friendship is built.
The Hole in the World is a story of love, friendship, and knowing that sometimes that is all you need to have trust.
One accident and a near-miss later, the pair are forced to grapple with the realities of the world of magic, whether they believe in it or not. Innes is sure that the mysterious Yelena is more than just a beautiful girl with amnesia and a prickly brother. Kahrin is sure she’s going to regret going along with it. Still, she does, because she trusts him, and that has always been the foundation upon which their love and friendship is built.
The Hole in the World is a story of love, friendship, and knowing that sometimes that is all you need to have trust.
- GenresFictionYoung Adult
152 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2019
1 person is currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Brandann R. Hill-Mann
3 books83 followersCitizen of the Sault Sainte Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and a Yooper by birth, Brandann has called Michigan, Hawaiʻi, The Republic of Korea, and now Washington home.
A graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Department of Theatre and Dance, Brandann has stage managed a variety of performing arts, including theatre, dance, and most recently opera.
Brandann's fiction has appeared in places such as Devilfish Review, Page & Spine, and Anathema: Spec from the Margins. She has also written for the Skyjacks podcast. She has published three novels in The Hole in the World series through Atmosphere Press and Maybe Unicorns Press.
A graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Department of Theatre and Dance, Brandann has stage managed a variety of performing arts, including theatre, dance, and most recently opera.
Brandann's fiction has appeared in places such as Devilfish Review, Page & Spine, and Anathema: Spec from the Margins. She has also written for the Skyjacks podcast. She has published three novels in The Hole in the World series through Atmosphere Press and Maybe Unicorns Press.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 11, 2020
A little page-turner I couldn't set down.
When Kahrin and her best friend/boyfriend Innes end up crashing their car straight into a tree because of a beautiful girl with amnesia, their whole world suddenly starts turning topsy-turvy.
Innes seems to be convinced there's just something about the girl and they need to keep her safe.
"You don't even know her. Or her name. The beginning and end of your relationship is you not hitting her with your car." That's how Kahrin tries to argue but she can't sway Innes in his belief. And if that mattered to him, it mattered to her. That was just the way their bizarre little friendship worked.
And yet, Kahrin can't help wondering if Innes hasn't read one too many books because he seems absolutely convinced the beautiful girl with amnesia is not only magic, but also 'not human'. What exactly? You'll have to read this to find out. :)
For a skeptic like Kahrin, the whole tale is a little difficult to swallow. But that doesn’t stop her from supporting her best friend in his belief. After all, that's exactly what they both do. Support each other in all things.
Fast-paces and beautifully written, this little tale had me hooked from the first chapter and kept me at the edge of the seat till the very end.
The magic is great and the mystery intriguing while the action is edge-of-the-seat and the characters leap from the page.
The dynamic between Kahrin and Innes, their banter and emotions and care for each other were absolutely fabulous! And don't even let me get started on the family relationship! Awesome with capital A!
Add to all that a nicely established setting, despite the shorter page count, absolutely believable teenager behavior and even a great and relatable secondary cast..
Top it off with a guaranteed 'won't see that coming' twist...
and there you go! The perfect recipe for an unputdownable read!
The Hole in the World is a story of love, friendship, and knowing that sometimes that is all you need to have trust.
I absolute adored it and highly recommend it to anyone in search of a quick fantasy read that both unique and awesome!
Hugs and light everyone
and remember
'Sometimes all you need is to have trust.'
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
When Kahrin and her best friend/boyfriend Innes end up crashing their car straight into a tree because of a beautiful girl with amnesia, their whole world suddenly starts turning topsy-turvy.
Innes seems to be convinced there's just something about the girl and they need to keep her safe.
"You don't even know her. Or her name. The beginning and end of your relationship is you not hitting her with your car." That's how Kahrin tries to argue but she can't sway Innes in his belief. And if that mattered to him, it mattered to her. That was just the way their bizarre little friendship worked.
And yet, Kahrin can't help wondering if Innes hasn't read one too many books because he seems absolutely convinced the beautiful girl with amnesia is not only magic, but also 'not human'. What exactly? You'll have to read this to find out. :)
For a skeptic like Kahrin, the whole tale is a little difficult to swallow. But that doesn’t stop her from supporting her best friend in his belief. After all, that's exactly what they both do. Support each other in all things.
Fast-paces and beautifully written, this little tale had me hooked from the first chapter and kept me at the edge of the seat till the very end.
The magic is great and the mystery intriguing while the action is edge-of-the-seat and the characters leap from the page.
The dynamic between Kahrin and Innes, their banter and emotions and care for each other were absolutely fabulous! And don't even let me get started on the family relationship! Awesome with capital A!
Add to all that a nicely established setting, despite the shorter page count, absolutely believable teenager behavior and even a great and relatable secondary cast..
Top it off with a guaranteed 'won't see that coming' twist...
and there you go! The perfect recipe for an unputdownable read!
The Hole in the World is a story of love, friendship, and knowing that sometimes that is all you need to have trust.
I absolute adored it and highly recommend it to anyone in search of a quick fantasy read that both unique and awesome!
Hugs and light everyone
and remember
'Sometimes all you need is to have trust.'
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
January 3, 2021
Kahrin & her best friend Innes are your average high school students. They have been best friends for almost their whole lives & spend most of their time together. But one wintry day on their way home from school, Innes narrowly avoids hitting an unknown girl who was standing in the middle of the road seeking help. Unfortunately, the accident winds up sending all 3 of them to the hospital with varying severity of injuries./
But there is something more than slightly unusual about the girl, Yelena, as well as the main claiming she is his sister. Innes takes an instant dislike to him, though Kharin isn't entirely sure what to make of him.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was very well written & quite entertaining. Kharin and Innes are definitely your typical small town, high school teenagers. Their interactions with each other, as well as with their family & friends, is exactly what one would expect from a teenager.
The storyline was an original idea, though some aspects of it had me thinking of Peter S Beagle's "The Last Unicorn" and like that story did, this one managed to bring tears to my eyes towards the end of the book, though for completely different reasons. And it also left me feeling the way I did after finishing Peter S Beagle’s book as well as the movie that was based on his book.
All in all, I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys tales involving unicorns and magic, especially to anyone who, like me, remembers and enjoyed "The Last Unicorn" (either the book or the animated movie.) I really think you will enjoy it. I know that I did and am looking forward to reading more books by this author.
But there is something more than slightly unusual about the girl, Yelena, as well as the main claiming she is his sister. Innes takes an instant dislike to him, though Kharin isn't entirely sure what to make of him.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was very well written & quite entertaining. Kharin and Innes are definitely your typical small town, high school teenagers. Their interactions with each other, as well as with their family & friends, is exactly what one would expect from a teenager.
The storyline was an original idea, though some aspects of it had me thinking of Peter S Beagle's "The Last Unicorn" and like that story did, this one managed to bring tears to my eyes towards the end of the book, though for completely different reasons. And it also left me feeling the way I did after finishing Peter S Beagle’s book as well as the movie that was based on his book.
All in all, I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys tales involving unicorns and magic, especially to anyone who, like me, remembers and enjoyed "The Last Unicorn" (either the book or the animated movie.) I really think you will enjoy it. I know that I did and am looking forward to reading more books by this author.
March 11, 2020
Lovely Debut & Unexpected Plot Twists
I am always wary of debut novels; not because I dislike reading them, but rather because I am very easily taken out of the moment by writing styles that change and fluctuate as a story progresses. While this can happen in any novel, I find it more likely in debut novels as authors tend to still be trying to find their own definitive voice.
I needn't have worried about that with 'The Hole in the World'.
From the rip, Hill-Mann's voice is strong. She quickly establishes season and setting, peppering in regional colloquialisms that add depth and imply a world larger than our two protagonists' point of view. Her treatment of tertiary characters (the Quirke and Cameron families, as an example) further contribute to this depth: there is just enough information about these characters to let you know there is more to what's happening to our protagonists than they experience.
A particularly stand out quality to Hill-Mann's writing is the believability of the protagonists' ages. Kahrin and Innes are both undeniably teenagers. They are the best of friends and love each other so very much, but still have the communication skills of children who are trying to navigate the shift of growing up, moving apart, and their lives changing even before the story's catalyst. This carries through to the end; Kahrin and Innes are not perfect heroes just needing a little bit of pressure to bring out the diamonds in the rough, they're still just kids suddenly thrown into a weird, magical, and dangerous world.
The plot of 'The Hole in the World' is definitely interesting. I won't give it away, but having been an avid consumer of YA fantasy for most of my life, I have never seen a premise like the one offered here. It is for sure a fresh take on "girl finds herself in a world of magic" and combining Kahrin and Innes together gives you such a tease of the world at large you'll find yourself turning page after page. Hill-Mann plays with YA tropes in unexpected (and quite frankly, refreshing) ways that leaves you suddenly bereft and wanting more as the novel ends. The pacing is surprisingly well done, quick and driving urgency but not so much that time passes too quickly.
If I had to offer a criticism for the author, it would be to utilise more descriptions of her star characters. Da Quirke and a few others can be clearly pictured through vivid descriptions but Kahrin and Innes sort of fade into the background in my imaginings. I know what they look like from the cover, but painting the picture in my head as I read gives me a rough idea of the stars in comparison to the much clearer picture of Da and others.
All in all, this is a promising debut—I may have screeched out loud during the climax, startling my sleeping cat—and I am excited for the next installment. With time and a few more novels to expand on this world, I could easily picture Hill-Mann becoming a must-read YA author.
I am always wary of debut novels; not because I dislike reading them, but rather because I am very easily taken out of the moment by writing styles that change and fluctuate as a story progresses. While this can happen in any novel, I find it more likely in debut novels as authors tend to still be trying to find their own definitive voice.
I needn't have worried about that with 'The Hole in the World'.
From the rip, Hill-Mann's voice is strong. She quickly establishes season and setting, peppering in regional colloquialisms that add depth and imply a world larger than our two protagonists' point of view. Her treatment of tertiary characters (the Quirke and Cameron families, as an example) further contribute to this depth: there is just enough information about these characters to let you know there is more to what's happening to our protagonists than they experience.
A particularly stand out quality to Hill-Mann's writing is the believability of the protagonists' ages. Kahrin and Innes are both undeniably teenagers. They are the best of friends and love each other so very much, but still have the communication skills of children who are trying to navigate the shift of growing up, moving apart, and their lives changing even before the story's catalyst. This carries through to the end; Kahrin and Innes are not perfect heroes just needing a little bit of pressure to bring out the diamonds in the rough, they're still just kids suddenly thrown into a weird, magical, and dangerous world.
The plot of 'The Hole in the World' is definitely interesting. I won't give it away, but having been an avid consumer of YA fantasy for most of my life, I have never seen a premise like the one offered here. It is for sure a fresh take on "girl finds herself in a world of magic" and combining Kahrin and Innes together gives you such a tease of the world at large you'll find yourself turning page after page. Hill-Mann plays with YA tropes in unexpected (and quite frankly, refreshing) ways that leaves you suddenly bereft and wanting more as the novel ends. The pacing is surprisingly well done, quick and driving urgency but not so much that time passes too quickly.
If I had to offer a criticism for the author, it would be to utilise more descriptions of her star characters. Da Quirke and a few others can be clearly pictured through vivid descriptions but Kahrin and Innes sort of fade into the background in my imaginings. I know what they look like from the cover, but painting the picture in my head as I read gives me a rough idea of the stars in comparison to the much clearer picture of Da and others.
All in all, this is a promising debut—I may have screeched out loud during the climax, startling my sleeping cat—and I am excited for the next installment. With time and a few more novels to expand on this world, I could easily picture Hill-Mann becoming a must-read YA author.
November 18, 2019
So, having received my copy of The Hole in the World, (signed) i started reading in earnest. I already know the character of Innes and i have to say it was a little weird seeing Innes as an American youth but, it worked. I know this is someone else interpretation but hell it really worked, admittedly because i know who created the original Innes i had a Scottish accent in my head, but it still worked.
I know the Character of Kahrin and she was still as sassy as i had read before.
Brandann has managed to pull off something very few authors do to me, pull me in and keep me in. The story starts off slow to begin with but thats OK because its like being on a roller coaster, slow to start, to ease you in then over the top you go and boom you are in a world of excitement mixed with a good deal of angst and comedy.
It took me a little while to work out that Innes and Kahrin are not only best friends but besties with benefits. That in turn explained Kahrins reluctance to accept that Innes would be leaving their hometown and leaving her behind when he graduated. The back and forth between the two of them never changed and never altered, it was a constant and natural, as natural as any teenager about to walk into a world of adults. Not quite adults and yet not kids anymore.
Then you have the thing that Innes believed in magic and Unicorns and Kahrin did not, the way she would humour him was funny at times, and on occasions i had to ask myself who the older one was.
The mysterious Yelena added a sense of late teen jealousy to the mix and Evan.....don't even get me started on how creepy the guy was, i don't mean in the sense of hackles on back of your neck, but i mean creepy in the Jason Vorhees stroke Michael Myers sense.
I totally enjoyed The Hole in the World, it was well written, painted a picture of innocence even though neither Innes or Kahrin were innocent, except in the way the mysteries of the world worked.
Look forward to seeing what she does with the sequel...and there had better be a sequel!!!
I know the Character of Kahrin and she was still as sassy as i had read before.
Brandann has managed to pull off something very few authors do to me, pull me in and keep me in. The story starts off slow to begin with but thats OK because its like being on a roller coaster, slow to start, to ease you in then over the top you go and boom you are in a world of excitement mixed with a good deal of angst and comedy.
It took me a little while to work out that Innes and Kahrin are not only best friends but besties with benefits. That in turn explained Kahrins reluctance to accept that Innes would be leaving their hometown and leaving her behind when he graduated. The back and forth between the two of them never changed and never altered, it was a constant and natural, as natural as any teenager about to walk into a world of adults. Not quite adults and yet not kids anymore.
Then you have the thing that Innes believed in magic and Unicorns and Kahrin did not, the way she would humour him was funny at times, and on occasions i had to ask myself who the older one was.
The mysterious Yelena added a sense of late teen jealousy to the mix and Evan.....don't even get me started on how creepy the guy was, i don't mean in the sense of hackles on back of your neck, but i mean creepy in the Jason Vorhees stroke Michael Myers sense.
I totally enjoyed The Hole in the World, it was well written, painted a picture of innocence even though neither Innes or Kahrin were innocent, except in the way the mysteries of the world worked.
Look forward to seeing what she does with the sequel...and there had better be a sequel!!!
January 1, 2020
I adore low fantasy and magical realism stories. I love the way these elements blend into the accessible world of what I know. With that in mind, I took the opportunity to read indie author Brandann R. Hill-Mann’s novella THE HOLE IN THE WORLD which is low fantasy.
BLURB: Best friends (with benefits) Innes and Kahrin couldn’t be more opposite. Innes is a nerd who’s headed to college soon who despite these rational things about him believes in magic and the stories that go with them. Kahrin, on the other hand, keeps her two feet grounded (and running) and doesn’t care two wits about books. She does adore Innes and everything about him, however. When they are in a car accident narrowly missing a mysterious woman, Innes insists magic is involved, and Kahrin is confronted with trusting her best friend or turning her back on his faith. “It’s a feeling,” he says. Kahrin is skeptical, but her faith and love in him means she will follow. As their story aligns with the mystery woman, Yelena, and her strange brother, Evan, strange events unravel revealing new knowledge that could change the course of the world as Innes and Kahrin understand it. With the hope to do the right thing, the friends may lose everything they love.
This was a quick, enjoyable and unique read. The title - A HOLE IN THE WORLD - hints at a portal fantasy which it isn’t (that’s a twist people and I won’t spoil it). At 143 pages, the story moved, never lingering too long in one place. The plot was clear and directional, the characters clear and consistent. I liked the quick banter between Innes and Kahrin which made me smile quite a few times. There were moments when I would have appreciated a bit more development, and I still had some questions that I want answers to, but overall, I enjoyed this fun, engaging and creative story. Hill-Mann is definitely an indie author to keep an eye on.
BLURB: Best friends (with benefits) Innes and Kahrin couldn’t be more opposite. Innes is a nerd who’s headed to college soon who despite these rational things about him believes in magic and the stories that go with them. Kahrin, on the other hand, keeps her two feet grounded (and running) and doesn’t care two wits about books. She does adore Innes and everything about him, however. When they are in a car accident narrowly missing a mysterious woman, Innes insists magic is involved, and Kahrin is confronted with trusting her best friend or turning her back on his faith. “It’s a feeling,” he says. Kahrin is skeptical, but her faith and love in him means she will follow. As their story aligns with the mystery woman, Yelena, and her strange brother, Evan, strange events unravel revealing new knowledge that could change the course of the world as Innes and Kahrin understand it. With the hope to do the right thing, the friends may lose everything they love.
This was a quick, enjoyable and unique read. The title - A HOLE IN THE WORLD - hints at a portal fantasy which it isn’t (that’s a twist people and I won’t spoil it). At 143 pages, the story moved, never lingering too long in one place. The plot was clear and directional, the characters clear and consistent. I liked the quick banter between Innes and Kahrin which made me smile quite a few times. There were moments when I would have appreciated a bit more development, and I still had some questions that I want answers to, but overall, I enjoyed this fun, engaging and creative story. Hill-Mann is definitely an indie author to keep an eye on.
October 20, 2019
Brandann R. Hill-Mann's "The Hole in the World" is a captivating debut novel that will make even the skeptics among us start to feel a little bit of a magic in the air.
Kahrin and Innes are best friends with wildly different ideas about what's real and what's just make believe. In this case, what may or may not be real is magic and unicorns. Hill-Mann writes from these two perspectives beautifully, giving each character their own unique voice in a quick moving and engaging story that you won't want to put down.
There's a twist that will have you begging for more. I can't wait to see what Hill-Mann does next!
Kahrin and Innes are best friends with wildly different ideas about what's real and what's just make believe. In this case, what may or may not be real is magic and unicorns. Hill-Mann writes from these two perspectives beautifully, giving each character their own unique voice in a quick moving and engaging story that you won't want to put down.
There's a twist that will have you begging for more. I can't wait to see what Hill-Mann does next!
December 19, 2019
In a time where current magic is thrown in your face and on the forefront of every plot line, The Hold In The World uses a new brush to paint the rules of what Magic is. Interesting and instantly likable characters combined with a plot line that leaves you guessing until the last minute, this book was hard to put down! Even through the second read I found myself questioning every single character. From their motives to their sanity, I was left guessing and analyzing until finally the plot comes to the crescendo that left me oh-so satisfied. Definitely my favorite book I've read of 2019 and I cannot wait until she puts out more!
June 30, 2020
My only complaint is that I wish it had been longer! I really enjoyed it, the writing was descriptive enough that it painted a clear picture without being too wordy. The wit, sarcasm, and humor, really made it a fun read. It's a lovely introduction to some interesting characters, whose growth and place in this world she has created I cannot wait to explore more in future installments.
October 5, 2020
This novel is packed with action and amazing relationship description between the two characters. They are so believable, as is the world around them. The plot isn't predictable, it kept me on edge and the finale was a real surprise. It's very emotional and leaves a good aftertaste that makes you want to have more.
October 12, 2019
I couldn't put this book down! I'm a fairly slow reader of books, but I finished it in a week. The characters were interesting and fun, the story had me transfixed, and just when i thought I had figured out where it was going it would take a left turn into something unexpected. Loved every minute!
October 15, 2020
I usually enjoy reading vampires, but this hands down made me want to keep reading. Magic, suspense, and having to keep my patience because when it's a good book I want to rush through it to know what happens. I loved it!!
November 11, 2019
An incredible debut novel! Witty dialogue, likable main characters and an intriguing story line. I was pulled in and didn't want to put it down. I look forward to further works by the author!
January 14, 2021
Thank you to Brandann R. Hill-Mann for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The Hole In The World is an interesting read, to say the least. I don't read a lot of this type of fantasy but I have to say I enjoyed it.
I found it to be a slow but comfortable burn. While the book seemed slightly longer than it actually was, it was still entertaining enough to hold my interest.
The characters were interesting enough. Innes and Kahrin are best friends, lovers and the main characters of this book. I found their relationship to be average. There wasn't anything extra special about them for me. My favorite characters were Yelena and her brother Evan. I love the creepy dynamic between them. The author did a great job at creating tension surrounding these two characters.
Overall, I thought this was a good book. I'm looking forward to read the second book Bloof of the True Believer within the next few days.
You can find this and all my other reviews at https://fourmoonreviews.blogspot.com
October 2, 2021
The Hole In The World!!
🌎First off this cover is beautiful! Totally stunning!
I started reading this book yesterday afternoon and I loved it from the very beginning…
🌎The beautiful chemistry between the two main characters had me feeling all kinds of feels 🥰 they where well described and both had good strong rolls and neither outshone the other…The connection between Kahrin and her family is heartwarming and how they treat Innes as one of there own is lovely…
🌎The whole story was amazing from start to finish…I would recommend this if you love magic, a little bit of romance, and a bit of a thrill…I can’t wait to start book two and see where Kahrins and Innes’s next adventure takes them, all in all it was a magical little book and would definitely once again recommend for a nice easy read
🌎First off this cover is beautiful! Totally stunning!
I started reading this book yesterday afternoon and I loved it from the very beginning…
🌎The beautiful chemistry between the two main characters had me feeling all kinds of feels 🥰 they where well described and both had good strong rolls and neither outshone the other…The connection between Kahrin and her family is heartwarming and how they treat Innes as one of there own is lovely…
🌎The whole story was amazing from start to finish…I would recommend this if you love magic, a little bit of romance, and a bit of a thrill…I can’t wait to start book two and see where Kahrins and Innes’s next adventure takes them, all in all it was a magical little book and would definitely once again recommend for a nice easy read
April 27, 2020
I loved the idea behind the story. But to be honest, the book didn't start getting interesting until Chapter 9. Then, it was quickly over. I think the author spent too much time on unneccesary details. Including, repeated communication and relationship building between Innes and Kahrin. More time should have been spent on the plot and the two other characters - Yelena and Evan. A good editor would have caught this and helped her with a rewrite. And no, I'm not an editor; but use one.
June 5, 2020
I really enjoyed in this book! I thought the premise was very unique, and the relationship between the two MC’s was so sweet. I wasn’t sure about the first couple chapters, but it picks up once you meet the other characters, and the last half was great—I finished in one afternoon. I really liked the antagonist and the character Yelena, and I really just wanted to see more of them! Overall, very well written and would recommend for lovers of low fantasy and unicorns. :)
February 28, 2021
This book is quite chaotic. It starts with adolescent dialog between two of the main characters, which does little to develop anything favorable about the two. Things crash into the plot like grenades at about the 9th chapter, almost comically so. If it weren't for the casual mentioning of sexual activity I would think I would categorize this more as a middle grade, not YA.
September 23, 2021
I loved it, elements of magic and budding romances!
October 13, 2019
I read this book as research on the skill of world building so my eye may be more critical than another reader’s. I found the first couple of chapters difficult but hold on because it is worth the wait. This author has a story to tell that will keep you hooked. I hope to see this become a series of books about these characters. Great job on your debut novel Brandann!
November 1, 2020
As someone who doesn't read very much fantasy, I enjoyed author Brandann R. Hill-Mann's The Whole in the World. I found myself swept up in the relationship and tension between main characters Kahrin and Innes, and felt as though I was discovering the magical undercurrent of their world along with them. I liked the pacing and the way the ending satisfied my questions but left me with more.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews