henvika's review against another edition
4.0
IT WAS BASED ON A REAL STORY WHAT AKSJDJSJSHHS
that’s so scary — as a brown person this freaked me the hell out and also made me very angry
but one star off because it was extremely predictable and in your face
that’s so scary — as a brown person this freaked me the hell out and also made me very angry
but one star off because it was extremely predictable and in your face
summyrenea's review against another edition
4.0
A compelling mystery and thoughtful critique of our world
warlocksarecool21's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hollow Fires was a riveting and profound story about community and justice in the face of an unspeakable tragedy. I thought the format of this story was so interesting since it combined typical narration with articles, phone calls and video transcripts. I also thought the dual pov between Safiya and Jawad was well-done. We got to find out how Jawad’s past intertwined with Safiya’s and allowed readers to gain insight into what happened to Jawad while Safiya investigated. I thought Safiya was a good main character and I enjoyed her determination and sense of justice. I kind of guessed who killed Jawad (an ironic prediction turned out to be true 😭) but I was engaged in finding out how they would be revealed. The resolution of the mystery felt a little quick to me, but I think the overall plot was well-written. This is a powerful story about how fear and hatred can infest a country, and how the strength and resolve of a community can overcome it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Xenophobia, Murder, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Violence and Racial slurs
Minor: Kidnapping
lgcombs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
chyreads29's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars⭐️! I have had this book on my shelf for over a year. I've put off reading it because I thought it would be too traumatic and too devastating to digest. I grow tired of reading books where children of color experience unspeakable violence just for existing. It surrounds us enough every single day in the real world. But I am glad I gave this a chance. Though this isn't an easy story to read by any means, it is so incredibly powerful and a monument to every Black and Brown child that we have lost to the insidiousness of white supremacy/terrorism. The structure is varied, accessible, and extremely engaging. And with it, Samira brilliantly captures the seesaw role journalism and the Internet plays in twisting truth and radicalizing young white boys with chips on their shoulders. Samira Ahmed knows how to write about tough subjects with proper care and awareness. She knows how to hold space for marginalized communities and the trauma that plagues us, but most importantly she understands the importance of lifting up young people and helping them to understand their innate power.
hxyizi's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
astitchedspine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jo_the_bookworm's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0