Point-Counterpoint: Hollow (Book Review)

Read two wildly different takes on Mike Salt’s new claustrophobic terror “Hollow” and decide if you dare to enter this underground hellscape.

POINT: ONE TAKE FROM WRITER REINALDO GOTIERREZ

I recently read Hollow by Mike Salt, and I must say that I was really let down. Though this book has been getting a lot of attention and praise, I don’t think it lives up to the hype; by the third of the book, I was starting to lose interest in it.

Many reviews said the book made them feel claustrophobic, but it made me want to sleep.

The book’s plot felt unimaginative, revolving around the main characters falling into a “secret world” where nefarious powers are at work, taking advantage of gullible travelers and manipulating them. The horror genre has done this several times, so Hollow didn’t provide anything particularly novel or intriguing. The plot of Hollow could have been tighter, scarier, and more compelling.

Though Salt can write emotion well, the characters in the book are still very one-dimensional and lack depth. One of the main characters was supposed to be this strong and independent heroine, but I found she wasn’t written with enough substance to convey those qualities and help readers really root for her. The other characters were forgettable and contributed little to the overall story.

The writing style was another major issue for me.

It was very predictable. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, taking me out of the action. Speaking of that action, the obvious main attraction for a story like this, nothing really grabbed me as much as it should. I felt the pivotal action scenes could have been better executed with more excitement and tension.

Furthermore, there were many plot holes and inconsistencies throughout the book. The world-building needed to be more well-developed, and I was frustrated by having far more questions than answers.

I also wanted a better ending to the book. It had ideas packed in, sure, but it still needed more of an explanation for all of the things happening in the story to make me care. It felt rushed and unsatisfying, leaving many loose ends and unanswered questions.

It seemed like the author was trying to set up a sequel, but I have no desire to continue with this lackluster series.

COUNTERPOINT: A DIFFERENT TAKE FROM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF STEPHANIE MALONE (EDITOR-IN-CHIEF)

While I have enormous respect for my colleague, I could not disagree more when it comes to the entertaining and effectively terrifying novella Hollow.

As a lifelong, hardcore horror fan, I’ve seen almost everything there is to see in the world of genre films, and it’s hard to truly frighten me. However, in spite of my strong constitution, films like The Descent and As Above So Below — as brilliant as they are — are almost too much for me to take with their claustrophobic, nightmare-inducing setting.

For me, those films represent the extreme amplification of fear with characters facing the unknown, the terror of what’s hiding in the darkness or just around the next corner, the inability to move freely, the feeling that the walls are closing in around them, and the anxiety of being trapped with the very real possibility that escape may not be possible.

Hollow is the literary manifestation of this terror, and it’s every bit as nerve-wracking, unsettling, and anxiety-inducing.

It’s a story that gripped me from the beginning and never let me go.

I was on edge with the turn of every page; the tension, dread, and horror were continuously cranked up until the absolute gut-punch of an ending.

The story takes place in a vast, labyrinthine underground system of underground caves and tunnels that have long dwelled beneath the city. Three friends embark on a treacherous journey into the depths of the caves to rescue some missing friends and loved ones. Along the way, they encounter other lost souls and a hidden world of incomprehensible evil.

It reminded me in many ways of Silent Hill in that this cave seemed capable of manifesting everyone’s worst nightmares and darkest fears, throwing a kitchen sink of unspeakable horrors at our helpless victims.

As the friends get sucked deeper and deeper into the bowels of the cave, the story switches between multiple POVs where you follow different characters down different dark and dangerous paths.

It’s a never-ending maze and a harrowing battle for survival drenched in atmospheric horror and pulse-pounding suspense — an absolutely stress-inducing blend of claustrophobia and panic that makes my heart beat fast just thinking about it.

Just when you think you’ve reached the apex of suffering, something even more sinister makes its presence known.

The mystery elements keep you invested, desperate to know how everything connects and how it will all come to an end.

A fair critique would be that there is so much happening at all times in this book that it can be a bit overwhelming and hard to follow. While it does create a compelling mystery, there are (as my colleague points out) far more questions than answers, and you aren’t really meant to know the “why” of everything, which can be frustrating for many readers.

For me, however, I found it thrilling and loved not knowing from one page to the next what was in store for me or where the twisting, twisted story was going.

The characters are strong and easy to root for, and there is emotional gravitas — even with very little setup and backstory — that makes you care about what happens to them and have emotional reactions to the tragic situations they find themselves in.

The pacing is relentless, and you are given virtually no time to catch your breath between traumatic events. You’re really thrust into this living nightmare right along with the characters, and it makes the petrifying fear and uncertainty palpable.

The cave itself is a compelling character, and Mike Salt manages to create vivid imagery in this dark and disorienting world.

If you aren’t claustrophobic or afraid of caves, you almost certainly will be after reading this book.

I’ve learned three more books from Salt take place in a shared universe known as the Linkville Series. I understand that they are all standalone stories and can be read in any order, and I’m certainly anxious to explore more from this talented writer after starting off with such a bang.

Judging from my colleague’s reaction, maybe it’s not for everyone. But there’s truly something for most horror fans here, whether you’re looking for a great mystery, an immeasurably effective setting, terrifying monsters, paranormal activity, demonic entities, cults, ample violence, or simply a quick and well-written horror story that moves like lightning and offers nary a dull moment.

One tip: It doesn’t work as well as an audiobook, given how much is happening at all times and how many different character perspectives there are to keep up with — perspectives that are rapidly changing continuously. If you pick up a copy (and I think you should), consider reading it the old-fashioned way to get the maximum impact.