Reviews with content warning for Gore - Hollow Kingdom

This story is utterly ridiculous.
A sweetly naïve and hopeful, foul-mouthed crow (fowl-mouthed?) seeks to save fellow pets from a zombie apocalypse. I do not recommend that any one read this, it is bizarre and maybe the most gory thing I’ve ever read— really and truly, if you do read this, don’t do so while eating anything.

In a crude and VERY macabre way it is funny. Not hilarious but I did chuckle at S.T.’s (the crow) colorful and creative descriptions. The thing that kept me from stopping was how weirdly poignant the narrative was. Lots of lines like this:

“Those who burst from the shell know the gladiators fight for survival. A bird recognizes that every life that surpasses a first breath is a miracle.”

And Buxton can really write characters. There are all these little vignettes stuck between the chapters of the main narrative about different domesticated animals experiences with the apocalypse. My favorites were Genghis Cat and Winnie the Poodle. Though some of the little side stories felt more like an interruption to get through rather than any substantial addition to the storyline.

What’s really clever about the story is the underlying commentary. No, not the obvious warning that human kind succumbed to a zombie virus transferred through phone addiction. (The science behind which was as far-fetched as the image of a limp-winged crow flying on the back of a bald eagle on the heels of a mob of evolving raptor-human zombies. Which is also a part of the plot. Really got to just ride the crazy train with this book). But no. What’s clever is how S.T. earnestly and endearingly loved humans and mourns their passing when he was raised by a less than exemplary member of our species: Big Jim. Big Jim, who scoffed at tofu and penguins, whose most significant life event seemed to have been being dumped by Tiffany S. from Tinder, who refers to everyone as a MoFo and named his own pet Sh*t turd- S.T. for short. Even the most mediocre of us are pretty amazing, we are all God’s creatures (my take, not necessarily Buxton’s) and each day of life is a gift.

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antimony's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.0

very funny and silly:) and possibly my faorite zombie book ive read bc there isn't really a lot of zombie action (<- i am not a fan of zombies) . it did kinda feel a bit ecofascist at some points though like "humanity is the problem w the world" but also then it would balance out when s.t. waxed poetic about cheetos and hot dogs and whatnot. he was so fun as a narrator.

also i don't get how there weren't kids running around, like 6 year olds who havent had a chance to get addicted to screens or older kids with strict parents who won't let them have a phone or even a tablet...not to mention obviously the animals wouldn't really encounter them considering that this was set in seattle but what about the amish. how did they fare when it was screens and tech that turned other people into zombies? what about old people who can barely figure out their flip phone and are certainly not addicted to smartphones or computers? i am all for screen addiciton being a dangerous plague but like i do not think it would affect everyone so thoroughly.

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3martini's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

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