weatherd's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Violence and Murder
Minor: Antisemitism
emanck15's review
5.0
I was angry reading this. Not because it wasn't good, but because it felt real. Every ounce of anger was because stuff like this actually happens! People actually say and do the terrible things described in this fictional book. And to find out in the end that its loosely based on the 1924 murder of Bobby Franks... well of course it is.
Anyways, this was really good.
Anyways, this was really good.
jfontaine's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
teachergetslit's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
gabbyjc's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This book is absolutely amazing. Samira Ahmed’s writing is absolutely beautiful and she was able to perfectly encapsulate the feelings I have as a black girl living in America and the fear and terror that comes with being a minority here. She made me feel things, anger, saddened, relief. But, she also reminded me of the privilege I have of being alive today, because many people like myself weren’t granted that. It reminded me of my purpose and need in life to stand up and speak out for others. I would 10/10 recommend this to any body who wants to learn more about the effects of racism on BIPOC or who just wants a good murder mystery to read.
My main critic is that the story was a bit predictable. Early on, I could see what the twist would be and once I got confirmation, it was kind of hard to get through. But the writing is impeccable.
My main critic is that the story was a bit predictable. Early on, I could see what the twist would be and once I got confirmation, it was kind of hard to get through. But the writing is impeccable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia
Minor: Blood, Police brutality, and Toxic relationship
woodsbookclub's review against another edition
5.0
This heartfelt and thought-provoking story broke me. Beautifully written and unceasingly compelling, Hollow Fires is already one of my favourite books of all time. A tear-jerker, part murder mystery, part ghost story, part coming-of-age, part social commentary. It addresses so many important and horrific topics (such as racism, classicism, Islamophobia and alt-right propaganda) that it could have gone so wrong so fast. But it didn’t. With an ingenious format and lyrical prose, Samira Ahmed not only shines a light on the evil that exists among us and the silent complicity of the privileged; but she also inspires us to be the change we want to see in the world.
The 17-year-old Desi Muslim Safiya Mirza is an aspiring journalist and the editor of her school’s newspaper. Son of Iraqi immigrants, Jawad Ali was a 14-year-old Muslim boy who went missing after being racially profiled as a terrorist by his English teacher. When Safiya starts hearing unsettling whispers, she listens and starts her own investigation. With Jawad’s haunting voice guiding her, Safiya seeks to tell the whole truth about his disappearance, and it’s exciting to bear witness to her will and perseverance. And of course, when real-world events become the backbone of speculative storytelling, it’s impossible to read it and come out unscarred.
From blog posts to text messages to journal entries to interview transcripts, it’s impressive how Ahmed masterfully weaves it all together to tell us such a poignant story. The last few chapters toss me into a rollercoaster of emotions and frantic weeping. And even though I suspected the eventual murderer when there was still no reason to, I remember all along wishing I was wrong. I cried so much for Jawad, Safiya, and all the historically marginalized groups of people who are constantly trampled on by authority, bigot assholes and especially wolfs in sheep’s clothing. I will never forget Hollow Fires and will always do my best to help those in need.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Samira Ahmed. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The 17-year-old Desi Muslim Safiya Mirza is an aspiring journalist and the editor of her school’s newspaper. Son of Iraqi immigrants, Jawad Ali was a 14-year-old Muslim boy who went missing after being racially profiled as a terrorist by his English teacher. When Safiya starts hearing unsettling whispers, she listens and starts her own investigation. With Jawad’s haunting voice guiding her, Safiya seeks to tell the whole truth about his disappearance, and it’s exciting to bear witness to her will and perseverance. And of course, when real-world events become the backbone of speculative storytelling, it’s impossible to read it and come out unscarred.
From blog posts to text messages to journal entries to interview transcripts, it’s impressive how Ahmed masterfully weaves it all together to tell us such a poignant story. The last few chapters toss me into a rollercoaster of emotions and frantic weeping. And even though I suspected the eventual murderer when there was still no reason to, I remember all along wishing I was wrong. I cried so much for Jawad, Safiya, and all the historically marginalized groups of people who are constantly trampled on by authority, bigot assholes and especially wolfs in sheep’s clothing. I will never forget Hollow Fires and will always do my best to help those in need.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Samira Ahmed. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
coops456's review against another edition
4.0
Superficial resemblance to [b:Ace of Spades|42603984|Ace of Spades|Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607008002l/42603984._SY75_.jpg|66307311], with the lower middle-class protagonists of colour attending a predominantly white, upper middle-class school that pays lips service to tackling white supremacy.
Hollow Fires takes a quite different - and equally gripping - path into whodunit territory.
Hollow Fires takes a quite different - and equally gripping - path into whodunit territory.
anxietee9's review
5.0
Wow. Just wow. How do I even write a review for this? It was just so good. So, so good.
When I tried to explain to people what this book is about, I sounded like a crazy person. It's part murder mystery, part ghost story, part romance, part exploration of how alt-right groups recruit teenage boys? Ahmed masterfully weaves together so many difficult topics that it's hard to say what it's about in any concise way. It's painful, it's beautiful, it's haunting. It shines a light on horrific topics with sensitivity and grace and does so through the lens of two characters that are some of the most realistic I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Safiya didn't really know Jawad, and she still felt the pain of his loss deeply. Upon finishing this book, I too feel his loss as if I knew him. I cannot remember ever reading a book so impactful, so relevant, and so emotionally gripping. If I had my way, everyone would read this book.
When I tried to explain to people what this book is about, I sounded like a crazy person. It's part murder mystery, part ghost story, part romance, part exploration of how alt-right groups recruit teenage boys? Ahmed masterfully weaves together so many difficult topics that it's hard to say what it's about in any concise way. It's painful, it's beautiful, it's haunting. It shines a light on horrific topics with sensitivity and grace and does so through the lens of two characters that are some of the most realistic I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Safiya didn't really know Jawad, and she still felt the pain of his loss deeply. Upon finishing this book, I too feel his loss as if I knew him. I cannot remember ever reading a book so impactful, so relevant, and so emotionally gripping. If I had my way, everyone would read this book.
allibrooks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0