Saturday, August 25, 2012

REVIEW: Hollow Pike by James Dawson

Sometimes when I'm really looking forward to a book, some strange thought process goes on in my head which means I don't read the much anticipated book straight away.  It's almost as if I'm afraid that the book won't live up to my expectations or sometimes I feel as though I'd like to hold onto that anticipation just a little bit longer. Such was the case with Hollow Pike by James Dawson.  I'd heard many wonderful things about it, but I just didn't feel like it was the right time to read it yet.  And then I did read it and kicked myself for waiting as long as I did. 

Because Hollow Pike is a wonderful addition to YA and James Dawson had written it with a wonderfully authentic teenage voice.  I really liked  Lis as a character and felt for her predicament as a bullied teenager who has moved someplace new to start over.  Things don't go quite to plan when Lis falls in with a popular crowd at her new school, only to find out they are the type of mean girl she moved there to escape from. 

Lis is just finding her feet in Hollow Pike when things of a creepy nature start sneaking in.  Hollow Pike is filled with stories of witchcraft and since moving, Lis has been suffering from very disturbing nightmares of murder that leaves both Lis and the reader very uneasy as to what the nightmares signify.  Honestly, this whole book has such a great atmosophe about it.  I was spooked out by the second half of this book, not entirely sure what to make of the witchcraft element, not sure at all who the murderer is and I was left guessing about how it all turns out, which is fantastic as I love a good thriller.

It isn't all dark and dangerous though, Lis and her outcast friends, Kitty and Jack are quite funny together.  I loved that there is an actual relationship between Lis and her sister who she has come to live with.  And also, Lis' crush on Danny was the ultimate in sweet and awkward. 

Hollow Pike was a very enjoyable experience for me to read and I highly recommend it!

11 comments:

  1. I've been meaning to pick a copy of this up, it sounds so intriguing. I am the same with a high anticipated read, I tend to buy it straight away or put it off for ages! -_- Great review, thanks for posting!

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    1. You're welcome Zoe! I hope you do pick up this book and I hope that when you read it, you love it as much as I did :)

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  2. I know exactly what you mean about not reading anticipated books immediately. It's one of the main reasons I haven't read Insurgent yet, even though it's sitting on my shelf. The hype has just sort of made me exhausted. Anyway, I've heard a lot of great things about Hollow Pike and am glad to see that you ended up really enjoying it. This one is on my to-read list, so hopefully I can pick up a copy sometime soon. Lovely review Michelle!

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    1. Thanks Tammy :) I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of Hollow Pike!

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  3. Yay, I'm so glad you enjoyed it and I know exactly what you mean about putting off books that are highly anticipated!

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  4. I really enjoyed this one! The mix of humour and danger was what did it for me.

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    1. Mix of humour and danger is a great way of describing it! :)

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  5. I hold onto books I've been really looking forward to as well,I think it's because I want to make sure I read them when I'm in the right mood so I can really enjoy it,it's daft though when I buy most of them as soon as they're released!

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    1. I do that as well! Or even worse is when it happens when I get an ARC of a book. Whoops!

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  6. I hold onto books I've been really looking forward to as well,I think it's because I want to make sure I read them when I'm in the right mood so I can really enjoy it,it's daft though when I buy most of them as soon as they're released!

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