Hollow | ARC Review

Thank you to Boom! Studios and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.

Book: Hollow by Shannon Watters and Branden Boyer-White. Illustrated by Berenice Nelle and colored by Kaitlyn Musto
Release Date: October 4th 2022
Tags: Graphic Novel, Halloween, Sleepy Hollow Retelling, Young Adult, LGBTQ+, queer, f/f relationship
Trigger/Content Warnings: Headless character, violence, attempted murder

Isabel “Izzy” Crane and her family have just relocated to Sleepy Hollow, the town made famous by—and obsessed with—Washington Irving’s legend of the Headless Horseman. But city slicker-skeptic Izzy has no time for superstition as she navigates life at a new address, a new school, and, with any luck, with new friends. Ghost stories aren’t real, after all….

Then Izzy is pulled into the orbit of the town’s teen royalty, Vicky Van Tassel (yes, that Van Tassel) and loveable varsity-level prankster Croc Byun. Vicky’s weariness with her family connection to the legend turns to terror when the trio begins to be haunted by the Horseman himself, uncovering a curse set on destroying the Van Tassel line. Now, they have only until Halloween night to break it—meaning it’s a totally inconvenient time for Izzy to develop a massive crush on the enigmatic Vicky.

Can Izzy’s practical nature help her face the unknown—or only trip her up? As the calendar runs down to the 31st, Izzy will have to use all of her wits and work with her new friends to save Vicky and uncover the mystery of the legendary Horseman of Sleepy Hollow—before it’s too late.

With Halloween coming up within the next month it was hard to resist a cover like the one of Hollow.

Hollow is a Sleepy Hollow retelling. I would advise you to know the general gist of Sleepy Hollow before reading this graphic novel because it doesn’t explain a lot. It banks on you knowing the story for the most part.

The town of Hollow has been banking on the legend of Sleepy Hollow for ages and the Von Tassel family has been using their teen daughter at various events throughout the year. This does not make Vicky very happy. Enter Izzy Crane, who just moved to the town and doesn’t quite understand the towns obsession with halloween and the legend. When the ghosts is being seen again and shows itself to Izzy, it turns out the ghost itself isn’t quite the bad guy the legend makes it out to be. Izzy, Vicky, the headless horseman and another schoolmate team up to save Vicky from a bit evil.

As a whole I thought the story was a lot of fun. From Izzy’s questioning incredibility at the town, to Vicky who is trying to find who she is outside of the Von Tassel legend and the happy excitement of their classmate. There could have been more deepening in places like with Vicky’s predicament and the supernatural deity but it was a fun read regardless.

The art looks great and the colors match with the vibe.