Review: HOLLOW CITY by Ransom Riggs

HOLLOW CITY

Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs

Publication Date: January 14, 2014

Published by Quirk Books

Pages: 394

Source: Publisher/Library (audiobook version)

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This sequel to the first novel, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended.

Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.

Complete with dozens of newly discovered vintage photographs.

My Thoughts

When I finished Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, I was content with how it ended with the children riding off into the sunset. At the time, I don't think a second book to the series was announced,  but I wasn't desperate to know how the story continued. I could imagine how their story would continue without the need for a new book. So when Hollow City was released, I held off reading it. This was purely due to my personal reading preferences and nothing against the story or the writing, I just wasn't into it at the moment. It wasn't until book 3, Library of Souls, was announced that I found myself wanting to revisit the peculiars. 

As soon as I started reading Hollow City (well, listening to it), I was back in their world and I questioned why it took me so long to go back there. It's funny when that happens. I alternated listening to the story and reading it and that help to raise my enjoyment level. The audiobook brought more life to the story than what I was giving it while reading it. I find that I need that sometimes when a story is filled with many characters and Hollow City definitely is. 

Like the first book, I loved how the pictures were used in the storytelling. One of my favorite parts of reading the book is learning the story behind the image on the cover. The images are unusual and sometimes really creepy and most definitely enhance the story. I looked forward to coming across one of the images as I read. (While listening to the audiobook, I would grab my physical copy of the book so I could see the new peculiar or the setting described.)

The plot of Hollow City kept me engaged and when I wasn't reading it, I found myself eager to return to the story. The peculiars were put in many dangerous, life-threatening situations and found that their abilities were necessities and not just oddities. It helped them find their purpose. Many new peculiars were introduced with powers and a unigueness of their own. And there are a lot of unexpected turns to the story.

Hollow City is a fantastic contuation of the series. I feel silly that it took me so long to read this book, but I won't make the mistake of waiting to read Library of Souls. In fact, I've already started reading it. (Spoiler: AND I'm loving it!)

Disclaimer:  I received a finished copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any way other than the book provided. Thoughts and opinions are my own.