krys_kilz's review
- 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? No
4.5
As Sabaa Tahir's review put it: "With Hollow Fires, Samira Ahmed offers us an impossible-to-put-down thriller that is both spectacularly haunting and deeply thoughtful. Safiya and Jawad are not narrators we usually see, and their harrowing story is a wholly original commentary on perception, community, and the way society weighs one life against another."
At times, the story did feel a bit repetitive and predictable. Some of the metaphors were also heavy handed. But those were very minor things and did not prevent me from devouring this book. I really look forward to reading Ahmed's other work.
tw: Islamophobia, child death/murder, xenophobia, white supremacy/alt-right ideology and violence, antisemitism
* Side Note: It did feel a little strange to read a novel set in the present with no mention of Covid-19. I know almost no books or media mention the pandemic - which is honestly a little eerie - but it felt particularly glaring given how rooted this book was in current events and the current political climate. Especially given the links between alt-right/fascist/white supremacist rhetoric and Covid-19 denial/conspiracy theories. *
Graphic: Hate crime, Islamophobia, Murder, Xenophobia, Child death, and Racism
Moderate: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Bullying, Kidnapping, and Antisemitism
Minor: Car accident
waterbottle57's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Islamophobia, Blood, Cursing, Violence, Toxic relationship, Racism, Murder, Death, Stalking, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death
Minor: Car accident and War
brokenbodybitch's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t know if I’d necessarily say it was an enjoyable reading experience because of the weight of the tw/cw in this book but it was beautifully written, with interesting and engaging formatting and dear god is it fucking accurate as all hell; I’m mixed/Arab and oh boy…I can’t count how many times someone has called me a terrorist, and like that is the tip of the shit iceberg Arab/middle eastern/bipoc people face on a daily basis and this book does not shy away from all of it and calling it out/talking about it; hence why it is such an anger inducing book but if you can take the tw’s and do not take them lightly at all! Really think if you can cope with it before you read but if you can then I cannnot recommend this book more
*⬆️ these are my initial thoughts ⬆️*
*full review to come*
⚠️DO NOT take TW/CW lightly! This book doesn’t shy away from the ugly, so really think about them and if you can cope with them before you read this book… but, if you think you can take them then I cannnot recommend this book more⚠️
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, Islamophobia, Murder, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Car accident, Classism, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Antisemitism, and Misogyny
Minor: Rape and Stalking
amberinpieces's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Classism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Gaslighting, Antisemitism, Bullying, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
Minor: Blood, Car accident, Cursing, and Medical content
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Hate crime, Car accident, Child death, Grief, Islamophobia, Murder, Racism, Violence, Antisemitism, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
marywahlmeierbracciano's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Islamophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Violence, Child death, Grief, and Kidnapping
Minor: Car accident, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Vomit, Murder, and Blood