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From the Hollow
Welcome to the Cabinet of Curiosities—a collection of gothic history, strange traditions, haunted places, forgotten folklore, dark symbolism, and the stories hidden behind art and books.
Here you’ll find ancient festivals, eerie legends, Victorian oddities, supernatural inspiration, book reviews, collector features, and the beautifully strange details that shape my worlds. From haunted Pittsburgh to poisonous gardens, from ravens and roses to old rituals and whispered ghost stories, this is where mystery, history, and art meet.
If you love gothic atmosphere, dark fiction, and the allure of the unusual, you’re in the right place.
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Book Review: Good Girls Die Bored by Elizabeth Little
Sometimes you need a book that isn’t quite as heavy—a fast-paced thriller with a compelling main character, enough twists to keep things interesting, and the kind of story that makes for perfect summer reading. Good Girls Die Bored by Elizabeth Little fits that category. Juno Hardwick is a fighter. At least, that’s who she used to be. Once a rising star in national security policy, her life took a sharp turn after the death of her father. Now she’s living in Los Angeles, spen
6 days ago2 min read
Book Review: Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden
Christopher Golden’s Carry Me to My Grave starts with a fantastic horror premise: an old woman with a dark reputation, a family haunted by rumors of witchcraft, and a final journey that awakens things better left buried. Maggie Wise has always been surrounded by whispers. When Malcolm was growing up, local children taunted him and his siblings with the chant that his mother was a witch. They tried to ignore the rumors, but now, as Maggie lies dying, the past begins to resurfa
Aug 22 min read
Book Review: Erebus-13 by David Wellington
I didn’t realize when I picked up Erebus-13 that it was actually the third book in David Wellington’s Red Space trilogy. The good news is that Wellington does a solid job of writing this installment in a way that allows readers to follow the story without feeling completely lost if they haven’t read the previous books. The story follows Petrova and her crew as they face the release of Erebus, an ancient entity of pure darkness threatening humanity and the galaxy itself. What
Jul 141 min read
Book Review: The Whisper Man by Alex North
I bought The Whisper Man by Alex North when it was first released in hardcover, read the opening chapter… and then, like too many books on my shelf, it quietly slipped into my TBR pile for far too long. I finally picked it up again during a break between ARCs while I was working through older unread books—and I can honestly say my only regret is not finishing it sooner. The story follows Tom Kennedy and his young son Jake, who move to the town of Featherbank after a personal
Jul 62 min read
Book Review: Last of the First by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
If you're a fan of fantasy or science fiction, chances are you've come across the name L.E. Modesitt, Jr. His bibliography is extensive for a reason—he consistently delivers engaging characters, intricate political intrigue, and some of the most thoughtfully constructed worlds in the genre. Last of the First is the conclusion to a four-book story arc within the long-running Saga of Recluce. While this is roughly the twenty-seventh novel in the overall series, one of Modesitt'
Jul 52 min read
Book Review: Doe by Rebecca Barrow
Doe is a YA horror-adjacent thriller by Rebecca Barrow that attempts to blend high school cheerleading rivalry with mythological horror, centering on Maris Larsen—a girl caught between social power dynamics, personal instability, and a supernatural force that begins invading her dreams. On paper, the premise is strong: a decaying, ancient deer-like entity (Doe) tied to bloodlines, revenge, and long-buried violence paired with the intense hierarchy of a competitive cheer squad
Jun 232 min read
Book Review: Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan
Whisper Creek is a rural-set standalone thriller from Allison Brennan that blends family drama, environmental pressure, and a slow unraveling mystery on a Texas farm facing both financial collapse and literal storms. At the center is Ellen McKenna, a widow trying to hold her family’s land together after her husband’s sudden death. The setup is strong and grounded—rising costs, neighboring farms being sold off, and the constant pressure of survival give the story a believable
Jun 232 min read
Book Review: Spiral (Ring Series #2) by Koji Suzuki
After finishing Ring, I was eager to continue with Koji Suzuki's sequel, Spiral (sometimes published as Rasen). Like many readers, I first came to the series because of the films that it inspired. We've all heard the phrase, "the book is better than the movie," and while there is certainly truth to that, I have to give Hollywood some credit. The American adaptation of The Ring captured much of the suspense and dread that made the original story so memorable, even while changi
Jun 202 min read
Book Review: Headlights by C.J. Leede
Danny boy has the shine! But wait, this is not a review of The Shining by Stephen King. Headlights by C.J. Leede follows Special Agent Daniel Stansfield on what is supposed to be his final day with the FBI—an exit from a career that has left him burned out and hollowed out. Instead, he is pulled back into a disturbing case in Denver, where people are waking up on highways with no memory of how they got there, wearing the skins of victims they cannot explain. The only consiste
Jun 93 min read
Book Review: Skyring Water by Beau L’Amour & Louis L’Amour
It is hard to overstate how unexpected Skyring Water feels coming from the legacy of Louis L’Amour. For many readers, his name is synonymous with the American Western—dusty trails, lone riders, and frontier justice. So stepping into a Cold War espionage thriller packed with car chases, international intrigue, Nazi secrets, and a globe-spanning treasure hunt is nothing short of a jolt—and a welcome one. Set in 1961, on the razor edge of nuclear tension, the novel follows Mike
Jun 23 min read
Books for Readers Who Love Haunted Houses
There’s something uniquely unsettling about a haunted house story. It’s not just about ghosts, it’s about the way house seems to listen, the very walls breathe, and the unnerving feeling that you are not alone. For readers drawn to the macabre, haunted house books blend the perfect balance of atmosphere and dread. If you are looking to fill your shelves with a few stories that will leave you checking the dark shadows and sleeping with the lights on, here are some essential re
May 103 min read
Book Review: Shy Girl by Mia Ballard
A Deep Dive into Shy Girl Mia Ballard’s Shy Girl arrived wrapped in controversy long before many readers ever opened the first page. I received an ARC through NetGalley, where I often review upcoming releases. This title had already built a strong buzz across multiple reader groups. Naturally, it landed high on my reading list. Before I even had the chance to begin, the publisher pulled the book entirely after a The New York Times article alleged that the novel had been writt
Apr 263 min read
Book Review: Hope Rises by David Baldacci
If you’ve been hearing recommendations to read David Baldacci for years and haven’t taken the plunge yet, Hope Rises might be the push you need—though fair warning, you’ll want to start with Nash Falls first. Hope Rises picks up exactly where its predecessor leaves off, throwing readers right back into the fractured world of Walter Nash, now living under the alias Dillon Hope. What makes this sequel so compelling is how seamlessly Baldacci continues Nash’s transformation. T
Apr 142 min read
Book Review: The Survivor by Andrew Reid
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, nerve-wracking thriller that grabs you early and doesn’t let go, The Survivor by Andrew Reid is a strong pick. The premise wastes no time throwing you into chaos: Ben Cross, already having the worst first day imaginable after being fired from his new job, boards a New York City train—only to have his situation spiral into something far more sinister. Anonymous texts from a killer turn his commute into a high-stakes game of control and surv
Mar 241 min read
Book Review: A Nightmare on Nightmare Street by R.L. Stine
It might come as a surprise, but A Nightmare on Nightmare Street was my first time reading anything by R. L. Stine. His Fear Street series wasn’t released until the year I graduated high school. But his popularity with middle grade began in my days as a bookseller so I am certainly familiar with his name and body of work. And now I completely understand why he’s such a staple in middle grade horror. This story leans fully into classic spooky vibes: a new house filled with un
Mar 212 min read
Book Review: A Place to Die For by A. M. Strong & Sonya Sargent
A Place to Die For is a psychological suspense novel that blends eerie apartment-building horror with a slow-burning mystery. The story follows Jordan and her fiancé Sam, who move into the historic Glendale co-op in Boston after a devastating personal loss. At first the building feels like a stroke of luck—beautiful, prestigious, and full of old-world charm. But the longer Jordan spends alone in the apartment, the more unsettling things become. The building itself is easily
Mar 172 min read
Book Review: They Call Her Regret by Channelle Desamours
Channelle Desamours’ They Call Her Regret is a darkly enchanting YA horror novel that blends spine-tingling suspense with the emotional weight of past trauma. The story follows Simone Washington, a high school senior whose love of Halloween parties and horror is both a passion and a coping mechanism for the secrets she hides. When her invitation-only eighteenth birthday bash at Doll’s Head Lake goes horribly wrong with the death of her best friend Kira, Simone is forced to c
Mar 21 min read
Book Review: The Ravine by Maia Chance
I went into The Ravine expecting something sharper—something that leaned harder into the horror it so clearly flirts with. Instead, what I found was a slow-burning psychological suspense novel that hovers right at the edge of darkness without ever quite plunging in. The premise is unsettling: a misty, wooded island; a husband returning to his childhood home; a luminous tradwife influencer neighbor who feels just slightly too polished to be real; and a ravine that may, or may
Mar 12 min read
Book Review: Pendergast by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
It’s hard to believe that I was first introduced to the enigmatic Agent Aloysius X. L. Pendergast back in 1995 with the release of Relic. That novel was phenomenal—intelligent, atmospheric, and chilling in all the right ways. I devoured it and subsequently read everything by them while eagerly awaiting the next release. Life, as it tends to do, intervened, and I eventually fell behind. So when I discovered they had written an origin story for one of my all-time favorite liter
Feb 282 min read
Book Review: Eradicate by Jarrett Mazza
Eradicate is a fast-paced action thriller centered on Kyle Quinn, a former elite operative turned black-ops mercenary known as a “Custodian.” Tasked with dismantling a child abduction cult hidden within Louisiana’s Cajun underworld, Quinn quickly discovers the mission is far from routine. The deeper he goes, the more personal it becomes—entangling him with a shadowy family, a skilled assassin, and ultimately, the father he fears most. The novel delivers exactly what action-t
Jan 211 min read
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