The Hollow Places

Written by T. Kingfisher

Narrated by Hillary Huber

A young woman discovers a strange portal in her uncle’s house, leading to madness and terror in this gripping new novel from the author of the “innovative, unexpected, and absolutely chilling” (Mira Grant, Nebula Award–winning author) The Twisted Ones.

Pray they are hungry.

Kara finds the words in the mysterious bunker that she’s discovered behind a hole in the wall of her uncle’s house. Freshly divorced and living back at home, Kara now becomes obsessed with these cryptic words and starts exploring this peculiar area—only to discover that it holds portals to countless alternate realities. But these places are haunted by creatures that seem to hear thoughts…and the more one fears them, the stronger they become.

With her distinctive “delightfully fresh and subversive” (SF Bluestocking) prose and the strange, sinister wonder found in Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, The Hollow Places is another compelling and white-knuckled horror novel that you won’t be able to put down.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Oct 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781797112152

T. Kingfisher

T. Kingfisher, also known as Ursula Vernon, is the author and illustrator of many projects, including the webcomic “Digger,” which won the Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story and the Mythopoeic Award. Her novelette “The Tomato Thief” won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette, and her short story “Jackalope Wives” won the Nebula Award for Best Story. She is also the author of the bestselling Dragonbreath, and the Hamster Princess series of books for children. Find her online at RedWombatStudio.com.

Reviews for The Hollow Places

[Elizabeth Mellen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another perfect spooky pick for October! This was very creepy to me, but not so scary that I had to put it down and hide. To be honest, taxidermy kind of already creeps me out, so as soon as she got to the museum and started describing things I was tensing up. I don't think I'll be able to be around taxidermy again for a while, after this. I loved Simon, and I liked that it was two people sucked into this together, and not just her - two heads were definitely better than one here. The idea that the monsters are drawn by thoughts *shudder* and I was unable to put it down. I tried...because I didn't want to get too creeped out before bed, and then I woke up early and binged the rest in one sitting.

[brigitte0cordova · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I struggled to finish this, after chapter 11 I expected more disturbing and horror-ish to happen but I feel like the plot was brought on way to early. The narrator was great but I felt like the characters in the book were sarcastic in a way where you don’t know if they are scared or not. Needless to say I was waiting for the penny to drop

[Sarah Hufnagle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Like the review. The book was okay. I just couldn’t get immersed in the story like other audio books and just kept zoning out. It got pretty interesting by chapter 16. Overall it is was just..okay.

[Erwin Rodriguez · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was fun but it dragged more than it should have.

[Tabbitha smith · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Lacked something. Not sure what, but it was difficult to pay attention.

[Diana Reese Puckett · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I went into this book thinking I was diving into a thrilling horror story.... what I found was a sci/fi portal themed tale with the feel of a bad YA thriller. The book spent more time talking about the existence of the portal than describing it. The characters were flat and the religious references have a feel of negativity and added nothing to the characters or the story. There is no tension in the story, an interesting premise that fell flat

[Sarah Dunham · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I want more of the Wonder Museum. I can't help but picture David Rose when hearing Simon described.

[cheryl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The narration was fantastic! I liked this story a lot. Being a NC native, I have been to the Taxidermy and Creation Museum in Southern Pines and that’s what I pictured as the story setting. Fun tale!

[Erin Williams · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The story is slow paced and spends most of it's time in description and between two characters. It's a semi dark fantasy that reads purely like a YA novel although the author is putting it out as adult. Narration is not horrible, but it was hard to focus.

[Jessica Marie Hill · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

So boring. The narrarator did a great job but the story felt slow.

[crwiese · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Would possibly rate higher if not for the ridiculous amount of unnecessary profanity.

[mirekluza · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great lovecraftian horror story. Original, haunting, with intelligent main character. Minor problems are: a bit too many "ironic comments of middle aged divorced woman" and cardboard characters of anyone else than the main one. Still, it is a great story.

[April · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved this! Such a great mix of ideas and they characters felt so real

[Morgen Matlock · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Author used under foot way to much. storyline was good but weird & vague at the same time.the story would have been better if there was more background on the wooden statue or my info on things within the Willow's.

[Erika Schoff · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Creepy, humorous, and creative with a satisfying ending. The author spends sufficient time developing the end so that the reader isn't left wondering, "what the hell just happened? "

[Kathie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was so scared, at times, that I actually cringed and had to go back and listen later. Great book!

[usri · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I struggled to finish this. The snarkiness and try-hard wit of the dialogue is insufferable.
Very obvious this person used to write fan fiction.
The horror itself though was very scary. You just have to fight through unfunny sarcastic banter in between.

[RosaLee Muckley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This story was captivating and thought provoking. I love the way it is told and how it just pulled me into the story like I was there. I definitely recommend it for those that like psychological thrillers

[Heather Roden · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lol I loved this audiobook!! It made me laugh and the book was amazing

[Miriam Gomez · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When they went thru hole and found out there were in another world it was amazing ride love the narrator she was great I really felt like I was there

[Ashleigh Shuler · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I didn't think I would like it at first, but boy was I wrong! It had a weirdly satisfying mix of Narnia, night at the museum, star gate, primevil, and wonder emporium. All that together probably wouldn't work but it did in this novel.

[Charles Haines · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Humor is good; it's a worthwhile book. However, the wry narration really worked against the horror. I found myself wishing the humorless, hundred- dollar adjectives of HP Lovecraft.

[bluiee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was a slow build up to the real story, that ended way to fast. But the story was so kwirky and still horrifying in its way, that I couldn't stop thinking about those other dimensions and the creatures there in. Would love if there's a continuation of this book.

[Rory Haynes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Much like The Twisted Ones, this book drew me in immediately. None of the usual horror cliches. I like the fact that it doesn’t rely on detailed descriptions of violence or gore. Just a creepy, interesting story, with a small, focused group of characters.
I listened to the whole book over two days. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for more of the author’s work.

[Wayne Cameron · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Awesome. Great follow up to The Twisted Ones. Can’t wait for more like this! The writing is immersive and so is the narrator. Love it. Totally.

[Lexie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Horrifying, charming, TKingfishery.

If you like uncanny horror in the style of the backrooms, you'll love this.

[dkzctf4fgq · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kingfisher did a marvelous job of slowly UNRAVELING *wink wink* the plot, but at a pace which kept me listening/turning the pages in awe of what might happen next!

The strength of the characters will to keep pushing forward is inspiring, even within a world of fiction.

On a school grade rating, this book gets an A from me! Read this book — you won’t be disappointed.

[Jennifer Smith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What an absolutely fun experience I had reading this! Loved it.

[Latasha Renay · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I forced myself to finish this novel. What did work for me? The characters. I really loved the MC and Simon and the banter between the two of them. The humor was perfect and the banter and wit had me laughing out loud. I just thought this was supposed to be a horror book and honestly it missed the mark in that department. Maybe just not the book for me unfortunately. I will try again with this author though.

[Thea Kavanaugh · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not my favorite but I finished it. It never really had me on the edge wanting to read more.