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.

Book Review: The Heights by Ian Rankin

I was really glad to finally get my hands on a book by Ian Rankin. I've sold plenty of his novels over the years, but somehow, I'd never actually picked one up and read it myself. After hearing so much about his work, I was curious to see what I'd been missing. And for once, the hype was well placed! The Heights takes readers into the glittering world of London's luxury high-rise living, where wealth, privilege, and carefully cultivated reputations conceal a much darker reali

5 days ago2 min read

Book Review: Chain Reaction by Lee Child and Andrew Child

If you're looking for a good mystery with plenty of intrigue and a protagonist who knows how to get things done, Chain Reaction delivers exactly what you'd expect from a Jack Reacher novel. Reacher is called upon by General Susan Turner, who needs help investigating the brutal murder of a member of her team. With trust in short supply and danger lurking at every turn, Reacher heads to Summertown, Colorado, a remote and unusual place hiding more than a few secrets. What follow

Oct 242 min read

Book Review: The Splintered Sun by Tad Williams

Anytime someone asks me for a book recommendation in the fantasy genre, my answer, without hesitation, is the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series by Tad Williams. So when I heard about this new book set in the world of Osten Ard—and the fact that I had been granted an advanced reader copy—my little geek heart about burst! I downloaded it instantly, began reading, and pre-ordered the hardcover. Because, of course, I did! The Splintered Sun takes us back to Osten Ard, 300 years be

Oct 182 min read

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

Aug 42 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