pbanditp's review
4.0
Coming of age horror with hints of Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes. Not a traveling carnival in this one but a traveling cure-all salesman. Great story friendship and family and a ninety year old curse that has come back for revenge.
butyougotmysoul's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Okay so, I enjoyed this book but I have some complicated feelings regarding the characterization of some people.
Despite that it was well written and I enjoyed most of my time with this book. The narrator did a great job delivering the accents of a small southern town.
Spoiler
Specifically that the only time people of color are mentioned at ALL is as evil men. Two of the gunmen in Keith’s dream. One was specifically Jamaican and had dreads and spoke in a terrible Jamaican accent. The other was more vaguely described. There was also one of the club guys in Keith’s dream who specifically tied him up. They weren’t main roles or anything but it was enough to know they’re the bad guys and that’s the only time POC were mentioned at all. The deep stereotyping also bothered me, but he did that across all characters, not just the POC.Despite that it was well written and I enjoyed most of my time with this book. The narrator did a great job delivering the accents of a small southern town.
ghostinthepages's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I love a good coming of age story and Hell Hollow is exactly that! I tore though this story so quickly, I just couldn't put it down. I switched between my physical copy and the audiobook version just so I could continue. The narrator J Rodney Turner was just perfection for this story, his southern accent elevated the story for me and I loved it so much. Ronald Kelly is such a master at weaving a great characters and a great story. I'm also from Tennessee and Kelly was able to transport me directly into one of the small towns I've seen here.
alexctelander's review against another edition
3.0
Posted with permission from the Sacramento Book Review
There’s something enrapturing about a story involving some kids who are heroes that save the day. It reminds us of times when we were young, going out on fantasy adventures in our own little worlds. Hell Hollow is one of those stories set in the rural town of Harmony, Tennessee. The secret of the evil of Hell Hollow has been hidden and forcibly forgotten by its residents for a long time, until it is awakened and will involve four bored kids looking for some excitement during their summer. Then there is the killer who has yet to be captured, on the run from the law, continuing to mercilessly kill. And the rape victim who is on a specific mission. All of these characters will play a part in Ronald Kelly’s Hell Hollow. Kelly uses a descriptive, colorful writing style that matches the tone and plot of the book, keeping you hooked.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
There’s something enrapturing about a story involving some kids who are heroes that save the day. It reminds us of times when we were young, going out on fantasy adventures in our own little worlds. Hell Hollow is one of those stories set in the rural town of Harmony, Tennessee. The secret of the evil of Hell Hollow has been hidden and forcibly forgotten by its residents for a long time, until it is awakened and will involve four bored kids looking for some excitement during their summer. Then there is the killer who has yet to be captured, on the run from the law, continuing to mercilessly kill. And the rape victim who is on a specific mission. All of these characters will play a part in Ronald Kelly’s Hell Hollow. Kelly uses a descriptive, colorful writing style that matches the tone and plot of the book, keeping you hooked.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
alexctelander's review
3.0
Posted with permission from the Sacramento Book Review
There’s something enrapturing about a story involving some kids who are heroes that save the day. It reminds us of times when we were young, going out on fantasy adventures in our own little worlds. Hell Hollow is one of those stories set in the rural town of Harmony, Tennessee. The secret of the evil of Hell Hollow has been hidden and forcibly forgotten by its residents for a long time, until it is awakened and will involve four bored kids looking for some excitement during their summer. Then there is the killer who has yet to be captured, on the run from the law, continuing to mercilessly kill. And the rape victim who is on a specific mission. All of these characters will play a part in Ronald Kelly’s Hell Hollow. Kelly uses a descriptive, colorful writing style that matches the tone and plot of the book, keeping you hooked.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
There’s something enrapturing about a story involving some kids who are heroes that save the day. It reminds us of times when we were young, going out on fantasy adventures in our own little worlds. Hell Hollow is one of those stories set in the rural town of Harmony, Tennessee. The secret of the evil of Hell Hollow has been hidden and forcibly forgotten by its residents for a long time, until it is awakened and will involve four bored kids looking for some excitement during their summer. Then there is the killer who has yet to be captured, on the run from the law, continuing to mercilessly kill. And the rape victim who is on a specific mission. All of these characters will play a part in Ronald Kelly’s Hell Hollow. Kelly uses a descriptive, colorful writing style that matches the tone and plot of the book, keeping you hooked.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
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