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Hollow
A car accident shattered sixteen-year-old Morgan's family. Now her brother’s dead, her mom's paralyzed in more ways than one, her dad lives at work and her seven-year-old sister Amy tries too freaking hard to salvage everything. What’s more, high school is its own special kind of hell, where her ex-boyfriend delights in spreading rumors that shred her reputation and make her feel like a loser.
When she finds an old camera in a creepy abandoned hospital, it seems like her luck is finally changing. And it is changing--from bad to worse. Because of course it is. Each time Morgan photographs one of her classmates they become corrupted versions of themselves. It's like the camera steals their goodness, their essence, and leaves them hollow.
Then her sister uses the camera to take a selfie.
No matter what the cost, Morgan will find a way to reverse the effects of the cursed camera and save Amy, before her already-fractured family completely self-destructs.
When she finds an old camera in a creepy abandoned hospital, it seems like her luck is finally changing. And it is changing--from bad to worse. Because of course it is. Each time Morgan photographs one of her classmates they become corrupted versions of themselves. It's like the camera steals their goodness, their essence, and leaves them hollow.
Then her sister uses the camera to take a selfie.
No matter what the cost, Morgan will find a way to reverse the effects of the cursed camera and save Amy, before her already-fractured family completely self-destructs.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2020
9 people are currently reading
524 people want to read
About the author
Rhonda Parrish
106 books243 followersRhonda Parrish has the attention span of a magpie. Not only can she not focus on a single project at a time, but she also fails at sticking to one genre or even one type of writing (she does manage to stay true to one hockey team, though – Let’s go Oilers!). Perhaps best known for her work as an anthology editor – the Ottawa Review of Books called her “Canada’s best-known and most prolific speculative fiction anthologist” – Rhonda also works as a short story writer, novelist, game writer and a poet. She has been honoured to be included in a handful of ‘Best of’ anthologies, earn a coveted starred review from Publisher’s Weekly and be shortlisted for several awards including the Rhysling Award, the Aurora Award, the Dwarf Stars Award and Alberta Book Publishing Awards.
Most of her work falls under the speculative fiction umbrella but she has also penned paranormal non-fiction and non-speculative work.
In an effort to impose some order in her chaos, these days most of her short fiction and poetry is published directly through her Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RhondaParrish .
More information about her, updates and calls for submission are posted on her website http://www.rhondaparrish.com/home/.
Most of her work falls under the speculative fiction umbrella but she has also penned paranormal non-fiction and non-speculative work.
In an effort to impose some order in her chaos, these days most of her short fiction and poetry is published directly through her Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RhondaParrish .
More information about her, updates and calls for submission are posted on her website http://www.rhondaparrish.com/home/.
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March 24, 2020
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It wasn't my fault.
At the center of Hollow is Morgan, our lead and the character through the eyes of which we witness the story unfold. After the death of her little brother, Aric, in a car accident where she, her mother and younger sister were also participants, Morgan copes with not only the deep depression that stems out of this traumatizing experience and the strenuous relationship she now has with her mother. But she also has to deal with the assault that she went through at the hands of her ex-boyfriend not long after said accident.
For those who may feel triggered by stories in which rape is a component, please tread with care before picking up this book.
While Hollow is presented as a horror book, there is very little to define this story as such. Other than the creepy presence of an abandoned hospital near Morgan and Sevren's house (her best friend) and it history, little else happens in this book to portray it as such.
The camera that she finds in this hospital, which begins to negatively affect those photographed, is a rather vague part of this story. We never find out where the camera comes from, why Morgan was meant to find it, or what its origin is. There is a “portal” through which Morgan enters that allows her to travel through the different limbo-like lands that hold the “good” parts of the individuals whose pictures she took, and while these moments are tense, they still don't shed a lot of light.
The book is very short, which makes it a very quick read, but it also means that there is not a lot of room for in-depth development. Not only is the camera one of the things that I wanted to know more about, but I was expecting more suspense in-story as a result of the characters that are photographed with it and how twisted their personalities appeared to become. And I would have liked to know what becomes of them after the camera was destroyed.
Morgan's depression, however, is well portrayed not only internally but in the way that she relates to those around her. Especially with her mom, the person that she seems to have the most rocky of relationships post-accident. Sevren's and her friendship is a nice boon—as usually is the case whenever we have a best friends' dynamic in a novel—and the magpie psychopomp was quite adorable.
I would have loved for there to be more story, more details, more exploration into the hospital and a way to bring that out into the present day of the plot so that it could connect with everyone in it and expand it. It would have certainly added that creepy kick that the premise promised.
It wasn't my fault.
At the center of Hollow is Morgan, our lead and the character through the eyes of which we witness the story unfold. After the death of her little brother, Aric, in a car accident where she, her mother and younger sister were also participants, Morgan copes with not only the deep depression that stems out of this traumatizing experience and the strenuous relationship she now has with her mother. But she also has to deal with the assault that she went through at the hands of her ex-boyfriend not long after said accident.
For those who may feel triggered by stories in which rape is a component, please tread with care before picking up this book.
While Hollow is presented as a horror book, there is very little to define this story as such. Other than the creepy presence of an abandoned hospital near Morgan and Sevren's house (her best friend) and it history, little else happens in this book to portray it as such.
The camera that she finds in this hospital, which begins to negatively affect those photographed, is a rather vague part of this story. We never find out where the camera comes from, why Morgan was meant to find it, or what its origin is. There is a “portal” through which Morgan enters that allows her to travel through the different limbo-like lands that hold the “good” parts of the individuals whose pictures she took, and while these moments are tense, they still don't shed a lot of light.
The book is very short, which makes it a very quick read, but it also means that there is not a lot of room for in-depth development. Not only is the camera one of the things that I wanted to know more about, but I was expecting more suspense in-story as a result of the characters that are photographed with it and how twisted their personalities appeared to become. And I would have liked to know what becomes of them after the camera was destroyed.
Morgan's depression, however, is well portrayed not only internally but in the way that she relates to those around her. Especially with her mom, the person that she seems to have the most rocky of relationships post-accident. Sevren's and her friendship is a nice boon—as usually is the case whenever we have a best friends' dynamic in a novel—and the magpie psychopomp was quite adorable.
I would have loved for there to be more story, more details, more exploration into the hospital and a way to bring that out into the present day of the plot so that it could connect with everyone in it and expand it. It would have certainly added that creepy kick that the premise promised.
March 3, 2023
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tyche Books for a chance to review this book. This is my first from NetGalley and I look forward to many more. Hollow is a YA horror novel which prevails on several fronts. The novel is a well-told tale that provokes reading. Despite its very lyrical quality, it moves at a fast pace with a vocabulary that is organic and poetic. It’s as if the reader is being drawn in by a skilled bard that whispers at a campfire. The narrative is told from the first-person point of view by Morgan, who is a high school student trying to cope with the accidental death of her baby brother named Aric. High school has become an ever more constant trial, where a former boyfriend is spreading rumors about her, a potential new beau suddenly turns on her, and a best friend has resorted to shaming her with the use of the term “slut.” Even her younger sister has turned her back on her, and it seems as if her harsh reality has become harsher. The one bright spot is her best friend Sevren, but they have become distant because she can’t tell him everything. There are some things that have to be held inside. There are some things too shameful to share, things that leave you hollow inside, and you just KNOW that nothing can fill it. This is a very fine psychological, paranormal horror story.
March 7, 2020
I thought that “Hollow” was going to be a horror story, one of those that pulls the main character down and down until the reader wonders if there is a way out. In reality, the story is about Morgan, a girl who is already struggling in her personal version of teenage hell. As Morgan is telling the story, her fears unfold on every page, magnifying to sizes that are impossible for anyone to deal with.
Yes, there is horror involved, a supernatural essence that hangs in the background while dressing up the real story. I am not normally a reader of YA but there are strong elements in Rhonda Parrish’s story that may cause young readers to concentrate more on the light in their lives and less on the shadows. Four stars.
My thanks to the author for a complimentary ARC of this title.
February 9, 2020
Bizarre. It's like "Alice in Wonderland" meets "The Crow." I don't consider this book anywhere close to being a horror story. It was just a peculiar and painfully slow read. The excitement doesn't start until you are a little past the 33% mark; and it's not much.
I didn't get how the camera fit into the story, let alone the magpie. I mean, how did the camera get possessed or imbued with evil? What did the magpie signify?
There were some humorous moments and that broke up the monotony. Overall, a somewhat decent book
Rating it two stars (it was okay.) Thank you to NetGalley for having this book available to read.
I didn't get how the camera fit into the story, let alone the magpie. I mean, how did the camera get possessed or imbued with evil? What did the magpie signify?
There were some humorous moments and that broke up the monotony. Overall, a somewhat decent book
Rating it two stars (it was okay.) Thank you to NetGalley for having this book available to read.
March 27, 2020
I love a good horror read that’s builds suspense as the story evolves. This is one of those stories. Plus more. Brilliantly written, this story increases the tension and the horror chapter by chapter, never allowing the reader one iota of the finale. And what a finale!
Five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars for a chilling read.
Five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars for a chilling read.
January 2, 2020
I picked this book, in the horror category, based on its cover and the description. I failed to notice it was a YA novel. I also failed to notice it while I was reading it. It’s something I only noticed when I started writing this review.
Hollow being a YA novel explains why it’s devoid of violence or, at least, of gore. It explains why it is psychological horror which, as we all know, is the best kind of horror there is.
Morgan is a teenager attending high school. She doesn’t have it easy. Her family is in tatters, following a car accident that cost them her brother’s life and her mother’s legs. Life at school isn’t better, as her ex-boyfriend and his clique makes it their mission to bully her, and spread nasty rumors about her.
For a teenager, high school life can already be psychological horror.
The book is written in the first person, in a very believable manner. Thoughts and feelings are racing through Morgan’s mind as they’re bound to do in a teenager. This makes for a fast paced reading and I was so invested that, having read a quarter of the book, I had already forgotten it was supposed to be an horror novel.
That is, until Morgan enters a Silent Hill-esque abandoned and presumably haunted hospital, all the way to its former psych ward, in which she founds an antique camera (antique for a YA, not for me - a Polaroïd from the 80s).
This camera has the power to suck all good out from people. She unknowingly uses it on some classmates, and her sister takes a selfie with it, thus making an already hard situation effectively turn into a nightmare.
Hollow should, unfortunately, resonate with a lot of young (and less young) adults. high school isn’t always an easy place, and Morgan has to process a lot of angst and guilt. The « cursed » camera serves as a device bringing her face to face with herself, and we’re left to witness if she will overcome her problems ,or drown in them.
This book is more character study than horror, as it should, and a well crafted one too. Would be a shame to restrict its reading to the YA crowd, so indulge yourself however old you are.
Thanks to Tyche Books Ltd and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.
Hollow being a YA novel explains why it’s devoid of violence or, at least, of gore. It explains why it is psychological horror which, as we all know, is the best kind of horror there is.
Morgan is a teenager attending high school. She doesn’t have it easy. Her family is in tatters, following a car accident that cost them her brother’s life and her mother’s legs. Life at school isn’t better, as her ex-boyfriend and his clique makes it their mission to bully her, and spread nasty rumors about her.
For a teenager, high school life can already be psychological horror.
The book is written in the first person, in a very believable manner. Thoughts and feelings are racing through Morgan’s mind as they’re bound to do in a teenager. This makes for a fast paced reading and I was so invested that, having read a quarter of the book, I had already forgotten it was supposed to be an horror novel.
That is, until Morgan enters a Silent Hill-esque abandoned and presumably haunted hospital, all the way to its former psych ward, in which she founds an antique camera (antique for a YA, not for me - a Polaroïd from the 80s).
This camera has the power to suck all good out from people. She unknowingly uses it on some classmates, and her sister takes a selfie with it, thus making an already hard situation effectively turn into a nightmare.
Hollow should, unfortunately, resonate with a lot of young (and less young) adults. high school isn’t always an easy place, and Morgan has to process a lot of angst and guilt. The « cursed » camera serves as a device bringing her face to face with herself, and we’re left to witness if she will overcome her problems ,or drown in them.
This book is more character study than horror, as it should, and a well crafted one too. Would be a shame to restrict its reading to the YA crowd, so indulge yourself however old you are.
Thanks to Tyche Books Ltd and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.
April 9, 2020
This book was pretty interesting and a whole rollercoaster? Like I truly thought something else would happen and it turned out it happened something totally different, I'm not complaining, but I was surprised.
There should be a triggering warning because it deals with sexual abuse, bullying, post accident trauma...but I think all that was important in the plot, so just in case you want to read it keep in mind it deals with some though stuff.
My only complain is that I wish the end was more explained? Like I still don't understand how everything works or what happened with some characters, or even if the protagonist, Morgan, will be ok? It's an open end but the ones I feel pretty bitter because I want to know more.
There should be a triggering warning because it deals with sexual abuse, bullying, post accident trauma...but I think all that was important in the plot, so just in case you want to read it keep in mind it deals with some though stuff.
My only complain is that I wish the end was more explained? Like I still don't understand how everything works or what happened with some characters, or even if the protagonist, Morgan, will be ok? It's an open end but the ones I feel pretty bitter because I want to know more.
June 29, 2020
I'm not sure which is more horrific: high school, or the supernatural horror that manifests from a creepy abandoned hospital. Fortunately, Rhonda Parrish nails both in her young adult novel Hollow. This book is deep. It's scary. It makes me mad at times. IT IS SO GOOD. I first read it years ago as a draft, and it was wonderful to read it again in published form.
The premise is this: Morgan is a teenage girl. Her family has been shattered by a horrible car accident that killed her brother and paralyzed her mother. Morgan is dodging an abusive ex who took more than her heart. She's dealing with high school, and all the gossip and crap there on a daily basis. As if that isn't bad enough, when she hides inside the creepy abandoned hospital in her neighborhood, she finds an old camera. As an avid photographer, she can't help but start using it. When her photographic subjects change in terrible ways, she realizes she's not simply taking people's pictures, but something far more important.
As dark as the book can be, I really appreciated the overall message of empowerment and hope. Life sucks, yes, but you have friends and family, and you can get by. That seems more poignant these days than ever before.
The premise is this: Morgan is a teenage girl. Her family has been shattered by a horrible car accident that killed her brother and paralyzed her mother. Morgan is dodging an abusive ex who took more than her heart. She's dealing with high school, and all the gossip and crap there on a daily basis. As if that isn't bad enough, when she hides inside the creepy abandoned hospital in her neighborhood, she finds an old camera. As an avid photographer, she can't help but start using it. When her photographic subjects change in terrible ways, she realizes she's not simply taking people's pictures, but something far more important.
As dark as the book can be, I really appreciated the overall message of empowerment and hope. Life sucks, yes, but you have friends and family, and you can get by. That seems more poignant these days than ever before.
Read
January 13, 2020“HOLLOW is a haunting, urgent, wonderful book. Be prepared to ugly cry and compulsively turn the pages to get to the end. It’s just that good a read.” -- Carrie Jones, New York Times and International Bestselling author
“A wrenching story of all different kinds of horror. It grabs you by the heart and squeezes until its fingernails turn white.” -- Patrick Weekes, author of Feeder
“A wrenching story of all different kinds of horror. It grabs you by the heart and squeezes until its fingernails turn white.” -- Patrick Weekes, author of Feeder
Want to read
December 14, 2019THIS SOUNDS SO INTERESTING
April 7, 2020
The hollows follows the main character Morgan, she is having a hard time in high school after her brother die in a car accident and her toxic ex boyfriend is spreading horrible rumors about her in school.
Weird things begin to happen after she found out a old camera in a abandoned hospital that apparently suck the good out of people.
It was an original story but I was expecting a more supernatural ending.
2.5 stars
thanks to netgalley and tyche books for the copy
Weird things begin to happen after she found out a old camera in a abandoned hospital that apparently suck the good out of people.
It was an original story but I was expecting a more supernatural ending.
2.5 stars
thanks to netgalley and tyche books for the copy
March 3, 2020
I love books that involve photography in some way, so when I read the blurb, I had to check out Hollow by Rhonda Parrish.
The accident changed her world.
Her only solace was running…and Sevren.
An abandoned hospital. An evil doctor. A camera. A magpie.
Life is full of ups and downs, good times and bad times, good people and some not so good, but we all have a story to tell.
It’s hard to talk about Hollow without giving too much away, but Morgan faces her fears and tragic events.
I enjoyed Hollow by Rhonda Parish and it kept me curious. This is an easy reading story that I finished in one sitting.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Hollow by Rhonda Parish.
See more at fundinmental
The accident changed her world.
Her only solace was running…and Sevren.
An abandoned hospital. An evil doctor. A camera. A magpie.
Life is full of ups and downs, good times and bad times, good people and some not so good, but we all have a story to tell.
It’s hard to talk about Hollow without giving too much away, but Morgan faces her fears and tragic events.
I enjoyed Hollow by Rhonda Parish and it kept me curious. This is an easy reading story that I finished in one sitting.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Hollow by Rhonda Parish.
See more at fundinmental
December 27, 2023
I expected so much more, it had a potential.
But it was lacking a development of characters, the whole story. I am not even going to talk about the ending.
2,25⭐️
—————
2019
It almost sounds like the horror movie Polaroid I saw, so I am here for this
But it was lacking a development of characters, the whole story. I am not even going to talk about the ending.
2,25⭐️
—————
2019
It almost sounds like the horror movie Polaroid I saw, so I am here for this
February 12, 2020
I am not really one to enjoy YA novels, but I will admit, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. If you've watched the movie Polaroid and enjoyed it, you'll love this book. It is along similar lines just without the deaths and the gore.
It was very well written and honestly I was sucked in straight away. I felt quite disappointed when it ended and did want to read more.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this fabulous book.
It was very well written and honestly I was sucked in straight away. I felt quite disappointed when it ended and did want to read more.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this fabulous book.
March 15, 2020
The perfect creepy mystery to read in one rainy day under your bed covers.
After an accident in which Morgan lost her brother, she has been trying to move on but things will never be back to normal. One day she finds herself inside an abandoned hospital where she finds a mysterious camera. There are many creepy and disturbing stories told about this hospital and what really happened there before it was shut down.
Morgan takes the camera home and it is not until she starts taking pictures of people that she realizes, the camera will not only take your photo, but also your soul.
After an accident in which Morgan lost her brother, she has been trying to move on but things will never be back to normal. One day she finds herself inside an abandoned hospital where she finds a mysterious camera. There are many creepy and disturbing stories told about this hospital and what really happened there before it was shut down.
Morgan takes the camera home and it is not until she starts taking pictures of people that she realizes, the camera will not only take your photo, but also your soul.
February 14, 2020
This is the story of Morgan, who had two life altering incidents occur around the same time, and isn’t coping very well. Unfortunately, none of her family are coping either, and the pain has hollowed Morgan out from the inside.
Wow, the depth and sensitivity with which Parrish writes these characters is incredible. It is so true that it made my bones ache. There is a lot crammed into this novel - death, depression, disability, guilt, abuse. Somehow Parrish manages to write it all, touching your heart, without dragging you down into despair.
There is also a paranormal element to the story, and I liked how the author used a haunted hospital and I especially liked the magpie, but this element, enjoyable as it was, felt too much like a device to help Morgan with her problems to be truly satisfactory as a paranormal plot line of its own. It does allow for a totally heart wrenching scene near the end of the book, however.
The ending felt somewhat rushed and I would have loved to have read another couple of hundred pages about what happens to Morgan in the hospital. Despite this, a great book that will keep you reading it in one sitting. Highly recommended.
I received a free copy from Booksprout in return for an honest review.
Wow, the depth and sensitivity with which Parrish writes these characters is incredible. It is so true that it made my bones ache. There is a lot crammed into this novel - death, depression, disability, guilt, abuse. Somehow Parrish manages to write it all, touching your heart, without dragging you down into despair.
There is also a paranormal element to the story, and I liked how the author used a haunted hospital and I especially liked the magpie, but this element, enjoyable as it was, felt too much like a device to help Morgan with her problems to be truly satisfactory as a paranormal plot line of its own. It does allow for a totally heart wrenching scene near the end of the book, however.
The ending felt somewhat rushed and I would have loved to have read another couple of hundred pages about what happens to Morgan in the hospital. Despite this, a great book that will keep you reading it in one sitting. Highly recommended.
I received a free copy from Booksprout in return for an honest review.
January 27, 2020
Many thanks to Net Galley and Tyche Books for a chance to review this book.
Hollow is YA horror fiction that hits all the right notes. Personally, I have not held much stock in the classification of YA and this book kind of reinstates it. Well, for someone who can still read and watch Harry Potter any number of times, YA classification is a moot point for me. Even so, Hollow by Rhonda Parrish is clearly a book that can be read by all fans of horror fiction.
Morgan has lost her brother Aric in an accident. At 16 years, of course high school is a nightmare, her ex-boyfriend, Keith, making her life more miserable, her 7-yr old sister Amy requiring constant support and parenting as her mom is bound to a wheel chair and suffering from depression. When the whole world seems dark and gloomy, the only sunshine in her life is her best friend Sevren who has been with her thru thick and thin. Morgan’s passion for running and her penchant for photography always takes her around an abandoned hospital which is the local haunted and ‘dare you’ spot for the children. Rumors abound the place about Dr.Woods, haunting the hospital after having died in a most horrific and gruesome way. Morgan has always steered clear of the place but during a routine run, trying to avoid confrontation with Keith, she trespasses into the hospital and finds an old antique camera. A very peculiar off-color magpie seems to be following/protecting her but Morgan is not too sure of the bird’s warnings. Before long Morgan realizes that the camera has adverse effects and that the horror in her life has just begun. When Amy leaves a selfie for Morgan to find, she knows, come what may, the cause of the ugliness brought about by the camera has to found and with the help of Sevren sets about for the task.
The story works well as psychological horror as Morgan is left to face her worst nightmares and every obstacle in her path a quest to save her friends and her sister. Rhonda Parrish has written a well-defined horror fiction and being YA, the gore and violence is conveniently absent. It is more of mind involved horror that keeps the reader hooked and turning the pages quickly. But what I absolutely loved about the story is the deep friendship between Morgan and Sevren, that gives a generous feeling of warmth.
Recommended for all fans of horror fiction.
Hollow is YA horror fiction that hits all the right notes. Personally, I have not held much stock in the classification of YA and this book kind of reinstates it. Well, for someone who can still read and watch Harry Potter any number of times, YA classification is a moot point for me. Even so, Hollow by Rhonda Parrish is clearly a book that can be read by all fans of horror fiction.
Morgan has lost her brother Aric in an accident. At 16 years, of course high school is a nightmare, her ex-boyfriend, Keith, making her life more miserable, her 7-yr old sister Amy requiring constant support and parenting as her mom is bound to a wheel chair and suffering from depression. When the whole world seems dark and gloomy, the only sunshine in her life is her best friend Sevren who has been with her thru thick and thin. Morgan’s passion for running and her penchant for photography always takes her around an abandoned hospital which is the local haunted and ‘dare you’ spot for the children. Rumors abound the place about Dr.Woods, haunting the hospital after having died in a most horrific and gruesome way. Morgan has always steered clear of the place but during a routine run, trying to avoid confrontation with Keith, she trespasses into the hospital and finds an old antique camera. A very peculiar off-color magpie seems to be following/protecting her but Morgan is not too sure of the bird’s warnings. Before long Morgan realizes that the camera has adverse effects and that the horror in her life has just begun. When Amy leaves a selfie for Morgan to find, she knows, come what may, the cause of the ugliness brought about by the camera has to found and with the help of Sevren sets about for the task.
The story works well as psychological horror as Morgan is left to face her worst nightmares and every obstacle in her path a quest to save her friends and her sister. Rhonda Parrish has written a well-defined horror fiction and being YA, the gore and violence is conveniently absent. It is more of mind involved horror that keeps the reader hooked and turning the pages quickly. But what I absolutely loved about the story is the deep friendship between Morgan and Sevren, that gives a generous feeling of warmth.
Recommended for all fans of horror fiction.
November 1, 2019
Here's the thing about stuff I've read by Parrish....I love the characters, the writing flows smoothly, there's a spine-tingling pleasant creepiness, and I get invested...and then the story ends. Her stuff always feels too short for me because i want to linger in the story world she's created.
And that's pretty much the case here, too. High Schooler Morgan had a bad encounter with her ex boyfriend, was involved in a car accident that took the life of her little brother, and now is trying to survive high school despite troubles at home and rumors at school.
Her best friend Sevren and his dog are Morgan's main emotional prompts. So when one day Morgan ducks into the nearby abandoned hospital to avoid the ex boyfriend and encounters a magpie and a mysterious camera, Sevren can barely forgive her for exploring the hospital without him.
And now strange things are happening whenever she uses the camera. Can Morgan face her fears and her own guilt and save those she loves?
Morgan and Sevren's relationship is the bomb, the hospital descriptions super creepy, and the magpie the best character ever (although it does do a tail flip a little often).
Whilst starting as an angsty teen contemporary, the story flows into a more horror-esque finale that satisfyingly connects Morgan's inner emotional landscape with her relationship conflicts.
Just wish we had more time with creepy hospital and more time with Morgan wrestling with her guilt stuff before its resolved :)
Parts of this realistically depict Morgan's conflicted teen sexual relationship with her ex, so be warned.
And that's pretty much the case here, too. High Schooler Morgan had a bad encounter with her ex boyfriend, was involved in a car accident that took the life of her little brother, and now is trying to survive high school despite troubles at home and rumors at school.
Her best friend Sevren and his dog are Morgan's main emotional prompts. So when one day Morgan ducks into the nearby abandoned hospital to avoid the ex boyfriend and encounters a magpie and a mysterious camera, Sevren can barely forgive her for exploring the hospital without him.
And now strange things are happening whenever she uses the camera. Can Morgan face her fears and her own guilt and save those she loves?
Morgan and Sevren's relationship is the bomb, the hospital descriptions super creepy, and the magpie the best character ever (although it does do a tail flip a little often).
Whilst starting as an angsty teen contemporary, the story flows into a more horror-esque finale that satisfyingly connects Morgan's inner emotional landscape with her relationship conflicts.
Just wish we had more time with creepy hospital and more time with Morgan wrestling with her guilt stuff before its resolved :)
Parts of this realistically depict Morgan's conflicted teen sexual relationship with her ex, so be warned.
November 7, 2019
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This will be spoiler free.
Hollow tells the story of 16 year old Morgan who is working through the aftermath of a horrific tragedy that has left her family in ruins. She is dealing with some of her own personal trauma which is making her school life just as dreadful as her home life. She has shouldered a lot of responsibility especially for her younger sister Amy. And she shoulders an enormous amount of guilt over everything that has happened. Her best friend Sevren offers what is perhaps the only normalcy she has.
I was impressed with character development. Other than the obvious antagonists, I truly cared for the characters in the book and desperately wanted them to find their way to happiness. I could picture it all so clearly in my head. I thought the story line of Morgan and Keith was handled well; it wasn't gratuitous at all and I didn't feel like it was done for shock value as it often is in other books. Later in the book there is what I think might be one of the best descriptions I have ever read of an accident. As a mother it was crushing to read and sent shivers down my spine - I mean that as a compliment though, the ability to stir my emotions that way.
One of my favorite characters was Ghost. I won't go into too much detail as I am trying to avoid spoilers but I thought it was a wonderful addition to the book.
Creepy and confronting, this is a definite page turner!
Hollow tells the story of 16 year old Morgan who is working through the aftermath of a horrific tragedy that has left her family in ruins. She is dealing with some of her own personal trauma which is making her school life just as dreadful as her home life. She has shouldered a lot of responsibility especially for her younger sister Amy. And she shoulders an enormous amount of guilt over everything that has happened. Her best friend Sevren offers what is perhaps the only normalcy she has.
I was impressed with character development. Other than the obvious antagonists, I truly cared for the characters in the book and desperately wanted them to find their way to happiness. I could picture it all so clearly in my head. I thought the story line of Morgan and Keith was handled well; it wasn't gratuitous at all and I didn't feel like it was done for shock value as it often is in other books. Later in the book there is what I think might be one of the best descriptions I have ever read of an accident. As a mother it was crushing to read and sent shivers down my spine - I mean that as a compliment though, the ability to stir my emotions that way.
One of my favorite characters was Ghost. I won't go into too much detail as I am trying to avoid spoilers but I thought it was a wonderful addition to the book.
Creepy and confronting, this is a definite page turner!
February 9, 2020
Terrific immersive imagery, a believably teenage-voiced narrator, and a powerful cathartic plot that didn't go even slightly where I thought that it would. (I had a couple of cocky 'oh, I totally see where this is going' moments in the first fourth and was completely wrong on all counts, to my delight!) I was cruising along happily with this easy read and then got my socks rocked by the final few chapters that came out of nowhere with some intense, emotional sucker-punches. I really enjoyed the way the author had the magic slowly bleed into the hard realism of the story over time. This was a terrific, surprising novel that I truly enjoyed reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 5, 2020
"Hollow" may be marketed as a YA novel, but I would recommend reading it before you give it to your wee bairns. It definitely deals with some not-exactly-kid-friendly topics (the main character, Morgan, is struggling with both being a victim of a sexual assault and survivor's guilt after her baby brother is killed and her mother crippled in a car accident, both of which happen some months before the story starts).
The story is well-paced, with good characters and clearly-defined relationships; you very early on see who the human villain is, who Morgan's friends are, and how she gets on with her family.
The villain, for lack of a better word, and most of the second half of the book, has a good Steven King-esque vibe to it; and, while the solution to the problem was obvious (at least to me), Rhonda Parrish managed to throw a twist into it that had me swiping from one page to the next. My only question at the end of the book was: what happened to Stacy?
All in all, a very good read, and one I think I'll be reading again.
(Full disclosure: I am a patron of Rhonda Parrish)
The story is well-paced, with good characters and clearly-defined relationships; you very early on see who the human villain is, who Morgan's friends are, and how she gets on with her family.
The villain, for lack of a better word, and most of the second half of the book, has a good Steven King-esque vibe to it; and, while the solution to the problem was obvious (at least to me), Rhonda Parrish managed to throw a twist into it that had me swiping from one page to the next. My only question at the end of the book was: what happened to Stacy?
All in all, a very good read, and one I think I'll be reading again.
(Full disclosure: I am a patron of Rhonda Parrish)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2020
I'm generally not a reader of YA horror but the cover :0 and the premise lured me in. Morgan is a high school teen whose family is still reeling from a terrible tragedy in addition to Morgan's own painful secret kept even from her best friend Sev. Toss in a crumbling haunted hospital, a possibly magic magpie guide, and a camera that literally changes everyone (for the worse, obviously, this isn't Mary Poppins we're reading) whose picture was taken and there's a lot to unpack in this layered, satisfying story. Teenager insecurities, a horrible ex boyfriend, bullies, and anxiety along with strained family and friend relationships were captured well by the author. The creep factor is high in the abandoned hospital and Morgan's realization near the end, I won't spoil it, is dead on. 4 1/2 stars
I read it in one sitting.
I read it in one sitting.
July 12, 2020
The characters in "Hollow" quickly drew me in, being heartfelt, sympathetic and achingly real. Trauma, high school, and the struggles to balance intense pressures at a young age are all depicted with a deft touch. Descriptions both physical and emotional often struck the perfect chord for me, and the story's setup paid off in a believable and satisfying finish. I felt like I was hanging out with good friends as I read, and wanted to spend more time with these lovable characters.
May 16, 2020
I was obsessed with the first half of this book but then things started to go downhill a bit. It was still really good but it just felt like a totally different book to me at that point. Too much magpie and not enough development of the other characters. Normally I feel like books are unnecessarily stretched out but this one could have expanded on a lot.
February 25, 2020
I got an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
3.75 stars
*trigger warning for sexual assault
This book is about Morgan who has a hard time at home since the incident that killed her brother. She now has most of the responsibility for her little sister since her mom is sleeping or grieving in her room most of the time and her dad tries to be at his work all the time by taking extra shifts whenever he can. School isn't much better because she gets bullied by her ex boyfriend and his friends. The only thing that is good is her friendship with Sevren.
When trying to avoid her ex boyfriend she seeks shelter in an abandoned hospital were she finds a camera that changes everything.
It's a quick and easy read, the chapters are short so you just fly through them wanting to know more about the camera and what will happen. I don't know if I'd consider it horror but it still had some scary elements. There are some scenes containing bullying, sexual assault and dealing with grief.
I did enjoy reading this since I finished it in one day and I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a quick thrilling read.
3.75 stars
*trigger warning for sexual assault
This book is about Morgan who has a hard time at home since the incident that killed her brother. She now has most of the responsibility for her little sister since her mom is sleeping or grieving in her room most of the time and her dad tries to be at his work all the time by taking extra shifts whenever he can. School isn't much better because she gets bullied by her ex boyfriend and his friends. The only thing that is good is her friendship with Sevren.
When trying to avoid her ex boyfriend she seeks shelter in an abandoned hospital were she finds a camera that changes everything.
It's a quick and easy read, the chapters are short so you just fly through them wanting to know more about the camera and what will happen. I don't know if I'd consider it horror but it still had some scary elements. There are some scenes containing bullying, sexual assault and dealing with grief.
I did enjoy reading this since I finished it in one day and I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a quick thrilling read.
March 1, 2020
This is something new. The plot are pretty interesting but it just fall flat. If the author explain more then I think it's going to be a good story. I wanted to know how did the camera take people's goodness and left the bad one. The ending doesn't help at all lol it ends without even answering what I wanted to know phewww
Thank you Netgalley, author and publisher for Hollow ARC!
🌟🌟🌟
Thank you Netgalley, author and publisher for Hollow ARC!
🌟🌟🌟
October 1, 2020
Rhonda Parrish’s Hollow tells the story of Morgan, a young girl who stumbles upon a camera with a dark power. With her family still reeling from a tragedy that changed their lives forever, Morgan is struggling with even more dealing with an asshole ex who won’t stop harassing her. One day, to avoid confrontation she ducks into the old abandoned hospital on their block. While inside, she comes across an old Polaroid instant camera. What seems like a sweet score soon turns sour when the subjects of her photos all take a turn for the worse.
The first thing that struck me about Hollow is that it’s written in first person, present tense. This is something that I haven’t personally seen elsewhere, and it took some getting used to. However, it did offer a uniquely intimate narrative and experience, which is one of the best parts of Parrish’s writing. Morgan begins as something of a tragic character, and Parrish seems to perfectly illustrate her anxious, guilt-ridden mind. She gets inside the mind of a teenage girl struggling to deal with her traumas and stay strong and pours it all out on the page. I’m pretty far removed from the mindset and situation of Morgan, but the way Parrish portrays her seems so raw and genuine.
As a horror story, Hollow doesn’t really take flight until the last quarter or so. Up until then, Parrish is setting the scene, lining up the circumstances and crafting the relationships necessary for the big final payoff. This first act might be a bit slow of a burn for some readers. There is a lot of time spent living in Morgan’s head, hearing her thoughts rattle around before the action truly kicks off. However, Parrish’s successfully intimate portrayal of Morgan is certain to make this slow burn bearable to all but the most impatient of readers.
Once the final act begins, Parrish truly kicks it into gear. The final act is haunting, dark and beautiful. Parrish pushes the envelope with scene after suspenseful scene, including some of the most gripping sequences I’ve read this year. She elicits a powerful, emotional response; all without relying on gore or violence. This culmination puts Morgan in some gut-wrenching scenarios that are certain to keep you locked in through the end.
Hollow is an emotional, psychological horror story about a girl confronting her traumas and inner demons. It’s not extreme, nor is it blood-soaked and violent. It’s a bit of a slow read, but the payoff is well worth the wait. It will get into your head, making you think and making you feel. If you’re looking to get emotionally invested in a strong, character driven story, look no further than Rhonda Parrish’s Hollow.
The first thing that struck me about Hollow is that it’s written in first person, present tense. This is something that I haven’t personally seen elsewhere, and it took some getting used to. However, it did offer a uniquely intimate narrative and experience, which is one of the best parts of Parrish’s writing. Morgan begins as something of a tragic character, and Parrish seems to perfectly illustrate her anxious, guilt-ridden mind. She gets inside the mind of a teenage girl struggling to deal with her traumas and stay strong and pours it all out on the page. I’m pretty far removed from the mindset and situation of Morgan, but the way Parrish portrays her seems so raw and genuine.
As a horror story, Hollow doesn’t really take flight until the last quarter or so. Up until then, Parrish is setting the scene, lining up the circumstances and crafting the relationships necessary for the big final payoff. This first act might be a bit slow of a burn for some readers. There is a lot of time spent living in Morgan’s head, hearing her thoughts rattle around before the action truly kicks off. However, Parrish’s successfully intimate portrayal of Morgan is certain to make this slow burn bearable to all but the most impatient of readers.
Once the final act begins, Parrish truly kicks it into gear. The final act is haunting, dark and beautiful. Parrish pushes the envelope with scene after suspenseful scene, including some of the most gripping sequences I’ve read this year. She elicits a powerful, emotional response; all without relying on gore or violence. This culmination puts Morgan in some gut-wrenching scenarios that are certain to keep you locked in through the end.
Hollow is an emotional, psychological horror story about a girl confronting her traumas and inner demons. It’s not extreme, nor is it blood-soaked and violent. It’s a bit of a slow read, but the payoff is well worth the wait. It will get into your head, making you think and making you feel. If you’re looking to get emotionally invested in a strong, character driven story, look no further than Rhonda Parrish’s Hollow.
February 17, 2020
I received this ARC from Netgalley for my honest review.
“I think when we leave this world we leave something behind”
Hollow is YA horror novel.
If you love the horror genre do not come here and expect much.
The book had its moments but it was not scary at all in my opinion.
Hollow is a very well written book and it sucked me in right from the start.
The story follows high schooler Morgan who is dealing with the aftermath of a car accident that killed her little brother and left her mother paralyzed. Morgan finds an old camera at an abandoned hospital and she believes it steals people’s goodness once their photo is taken.
I liked this book but it wasn’t amazing like it could have been. It was very short and I wish the author had given more details about the camera.
Overall it was an okay book.
“I think when we leave this world we leave something behind”
Hollow is YA horror novel.
If you love the horror genre do not come here and expect much.
The book had its moments but it was not scary at all in my opinion.
Hollow is a very well written book and it sucked me in right from the start.
The story follows high schooler Morgan who is dealing with the aftermath of a car accident that killed her little brother and left her mother paralyzed. Morgan finds an old camera at an abandoned hospital and she believes it steals people’s goodness once their photo is taken.
I liked this book but it wasn’t amazing like it could have been. It was very short and I wish the author had given more details about the camera.
Overall it was an okay book.
April 22, 2020
Morgan is sixteen, and Amy, her sister is 7. There was once Aric, a little brother. But a tragic car accident has shattered the family. Suddenly, her brother’s dead, her mom's a quadriplegic and paralyzed in more ways than one. Her dad consumes himself with long long hours at work.
Then there is high school which is its own special kind of hell, where her ex-boyfriend thinks it’s fun to spread rumors that shred Morgan’s reputation and bottoms out her already low self esteem.
Her home is located by an old abandoned, burned out hospital that once housed a psychiatric ward. The hospital is said to be haunted and cursed even from the day it was being built. A bizarre set of circumstances lead Morgan to venture into this scary place. Morgan is a photographer and when she happens upon an old Polaroid camera in one of the creepy rooms, she is intrigued by the relic. She takes it home and now her luck goes from bad to worse.
Amazingly, the camera works and is loaded with film. After taking a few pictures Morgan begins to realize that after she photographs a person or in one case an animal, they become corrupted versions of themselves. It's like the camera steals their goodness, their essence, and leaves them hollow.
The weirdness really heats up when Morgan arrives home one day to find that her sister has used the camera to take a selfie.
Can Morgan will find a way to reverse the effects of the cursed camera and save Amy, before her already-fractured family completely self-destructs.
This reminds me of The Twilight Zone or in more modern days a Black Mirror episode.
I think the YA audience will be drawn to this high school drama/thriller.
Then there is high school which is its own special kind of hell, where her ex-boyfriend thinks it’s fun to spread rumors that shred Morgan’s reputation and bottoms out her already low self esteem.
Her home is located by an old abandoned, burned out hospital that once housed a psychiatric ward. The hospital is said to be haunted and cursed even from the day it was being built. A bizarre set of circumstances lead Morgan to venture into this scary place. Morgan is a photographer and when she happens upon an old Polaroid camera in one of the creepy rooms, she is intrigued by the relic. She takes it home and now her luck goes from bad to worse.
Amazingly, the camera works and is loaded with film. After taking a few pictures Morgan begins to realize that after she photographs a person or in one case an animal, they become corrupted versions of themselves. It's like the camera steals their goodness, their essence, and leaves them hollow.
The weirdness really heats up when Morgan arrives home one day to find that her sister has used the camera to take a selfie.
Can Morgan will find a way to reverse the effects of the cursed camera and save Amy, before her already-fractured family completely self-destructs.
This reminds me of The Twilight Zone or in more modern days a Black Mirror episode.
I think the YA audience will be drawn to this high school drama/thriller.
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