Review: The Hollow By Jessica Verday — A Tip-Toe Through The Grave Stones!
When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead...rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special. Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.
I t begins with Abbey Browning mourning the loss of her best friend Kristen. Abbey lives in a small town called Sleepy Hollow. Dealing with her friends death there is still doubt and Abbey doesn’t believe she’s dead, but she has no clue what happened, sense Kristen's body hasn't ben recover. At the funeral she encounters a boy name Caspian, who seems to be more than meets the eye. Abbey small attraction towards and is curious about him and she starts to fall in love with. The story builds gradually as Abbey tries to find consolation in her life by in doing the things she would've done were Kristen with her, In-till she discovers Kristen's secret red diary, and clues possibly the might have led to her death. She also want to know more about the mysterious Caspian and why he pops up from out of nowhere. Abby doesn't understand why Caspian could be is open and honest one minute then secretive and closed off the next. It all leads up to Abby uncovering a frightening truth, questioning her love and trust for Caspian, and in addition questioning her own sanity.
Abby Browning is not on of my favorites heroine. She is really everything I dislike in a main character and I would not want to hang out with her. She comes across weak, has no confidence, selfish, self-centered, whiny and always being a victim. For example there was a scene were she overhears two girls at a liquor store on their way to prom talking/bashing Abby and her dead friend Kristen. The author indicate that one of the girls has a price tag sticking out on one of the girls is back dress. If I was her I would've mustered up the strength to go up to her and pull the tag off her therefore she would have to pay for the whole dress and couldn't return it and I would have left the convenience store with the biggest grin that would put the cheshire cat to shame. anyways I do understand that she just lost your friend, she can be sad and grieve but as a reader, it could become very tiresome if its throughout the whole story. It is to be mention that she enjoys hanging out at Sleepy Hollow's cemetery. Talking to the dead and Looking for new things on the grave stones. Although I will say that her passion of creating perfumes was rather intriguing. Even through I'm a guy; I can appreciate about the characters hobby and would want to know more about the process of perfumes making. Caspian is the strangest love interest I have ever encountered in literature. Caspian isn't very drool-worthy. He seems completely indifferent to Abbey most of the time, and his character comes across as very vague. I hope the reader will be able to discover more in-depth of his dynamic character. As for Benjamin Bennett he has a crush on Abby throughout the story is there to comfort her. his character is used very randomly and not utilized enough in the story. Another bad example towards secondary character details is when Aunt Marjorie came to visit the family. The author briefly explains who she is and has a whole scene about how she was a pilot and Anna began to like her, there is no description of who the aunt looks like or what details on how she is related to the family. There was a scene between about what Aunt Marjorie and Anna talk about but fails to indulge in any type of dialogue to the reader. It was very vague and abrupt not being any specific details to help the reader understand.
Jessica Verday writing was clear and easy to understand. The plot did have a bit of intrigue, and mystery. The story overall was fun, original and kept my interested. I liked that it was based upon Washington Irving's classic tale of Sleepy Hollow. The most upsetting thing about the story was the climax and resolution at the end. The pacing was very slow and I was disappointed to have figured out the twist at the end of the book as it barely made any sense. The story did lack in depth, emotion, details, and rounded secondary characters. There is still a-lot of room for all of the characters to grow and expand. I don't this this is a bad story. I think if the author focuses more on a solid narrative arc instead of telling the reader about the mundane tasks that have no real place or importance in the main plot; as well as making all of the characters more rounded and dynamic by expansion them. I think it would be a remarkable story to read. The reason why had the tolerance through this book is because this story would make a good hallmark movie. Just make it more positive and upbeat instead of dark and dreary, I'm sure it would be a great hit! I realize that this is the first book in the series. Upon this review I have read the next two installments in the series The Haunted and The Hidden and I gave them one star. The story was disappointing, wasteful and uneconomical. This story had so much potential but I have to call it as I see it. I will not be reading anymore of the authors writing.
The song I chose that best describes the story is Tell Me Why by Within Temptation.
What is your favorite candle/perfume scent? Were you able to find out the twist at the beginning of the story like I did? Let us know in the comment box!
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