The Hollow Places
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
The Hollow Places is widely regarded by readers as a successful blend of weird fiction and 'cozy' horror, frequently praised for its ability to balance genuine scares with a humorous, lighter tone. While it is often recommended for its effective use of 'liminal space' imagery and fast-paced narrative, the modern and 'chippy' dialogue style is a point of contention for some readers.
Pros
- Effective and unsettling horror imagery, specifically noted for the 'guy in the water' scene
- Fast-paced narrative that moves quickly
- Successfully balances scary moments with funny or ridiculous situations
- Safe for readers concerned about animal welfare, as it is noted to have no animal deaths
- Strongly scratches the 'liminal spaces' itch for fans of that subgenre
Cons
- Polarizing prose style that some readers find poorly written or too 'chippy'
- The main character (MC) may not be likable to all readers
- The lighter, humorous tone can undercut the horror for those seeking a more serious experience
Caveats
- The book is a modern retelling or homage to Algernon Blackwood's 'The Willows'
- The tone is significantly lighter and more 'fun' than traditional grim or gory horror
- Often discussed alongside T. Kingfisher's other work, 'The Twisted Ones', as they share similar vibes
Best for
- Fans of weird fiction and Lovecraftian themes
- Readers looking for 'cozy horror' that still delivers effective scares
- Fans of Algernon Blackwood's 'The Willows'
Avoid if
- You prefer strictly serious, dark, or grim horror without humor
- You are sensitive to modern, conversational, or 'chippy' dialogue in fiction
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 122-month half-life. The evidence is drawn from a consistent pool of discussions in horror-centric communities with a median age of approximately 399 days.
Sentiment
38 positive (70%) · 5 mixed (9%) · 11 negative (20%)
Trust + time weighted score: +50% · raw score 50%
What redditors said (10 of 54)
For lighter cosmic horror maybe The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher. Still quite horrific at a few places, but the tone is drastically different from my other recs.
I picked up The Hollow Places knowing nothing about it and thought it was great; creepy in places, funny in places, really enjoyed it. My wife borrowed it, and said how much she enjoyed it. My FiL borrowed it, and said how much he enjoyed it.
Parent context: The Hollow Places by T Kingfisher! Reply: They said well written lol
As someone from the holler myself, I really liked The Hollow Places.
I wanted Annihilation recs and someone suggested this. I was so disappointed. It reads like YA.
I really like this book but I do agree that the climax with the otter is not the best ending. The middle part where they are stuck in the willow world is very chilling to me.
Every opportunity to increase tension was wasted by releasing the tension with a cringey witty quip. I could forgive that as just the tone of the book if it had a plot, a mystery, a stimulating idea, interesting characters… anything other than pointless weird stuff.
I’m so disappointed. I had heard great things, and I am coming away feeling like I read a mediocre, novel length no sleep post. No offence to the folks who love the work but I was SO disappointed.
I'll also recommend The Hollow Places, A House with Good Bones, and the Sworn Soldier books.
The Hollow Places by T Kingfisher.
Compare
The Hollow Places vs Dark MatterThe Hollow Places vs MiseryThe Hollow Places vs Books of Blood
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