I stepped way out of my reading comfort zone when I chose Wicked Is The Hollow by K. E. Ganshert. While I have read and enjoyed adult fiction written by this author (Katie Ganshert), I am not generally a YA reader. I do like a spooky, speculative book in October though, and this book sounded so intriguing. Find out my thoughts below.
A STRANGE TOWN. A SPRAWLING MANSION. A PERILOUS ROMANCE.
Ever since her mother vanished, Selah Whitlock has been drawn to the unexplained. So it feels almost fated to live in Foggy Hollow, a place where mystery abounds. Even more so when her father accepts a job at the Vandenberg estate, the epicenter of the town’s most infamous cold case.
Moving into the estate’s carriage house pulls Selah into the orbit of the Vandenberg cousins: Jude, the brooding heir with a tragic past, and Rafe, effortlessly charming and undeniably dangerous.
Then a centuries-old portrait surfaces bearing Selah’s exact likeness. Suddenly, she isn’t just chasing a mystery. She’s caught in the heart of one. As the town prepares to celebrate its bicentennial, Selah and Jude are pulled into a secret that spans generations. Something sinister is stirring beneath the golden leaves and carved pumpkins. And the deeper they fall, the deadlier the consequences.
K.E. Ganshert writes romantic speculative fiction filled with high stakes, big emotions, and exciting twists. Her stories feature heroines with gifts they don’t fully understand, emotionally guarded heroes who fall hard for the girl, and dangerous worlds that aren’t quite what they seem. Perfect for readers who want to escape into supernatural, dystopian, or fantasy tales—where the romance runs deep, but never explicit.
When she’s not writing, you can find her dreaming up new story ideas, playing a competitive game of pickleball, cheering on the Indiana Fever, or spending time with her family in the Midwest.
My Impressions:
While I have read adult novels by K. E. Ganshert (writing as Katie Ganshert), I have never read any of her YA offerings. At sixty-something, I am definitely not her target audience. 😉 But there was something so intriguing about the description of Wicked Is The Hollow, that I gave it a chance. This book is a speculative (paranormal)/romance/thriller with all the great spooky October vibes. I really liked it! The story centers on Selah, a high schooler with baggage from a missing mother and a penchant for all things uncanny and weird. Living in Fog Hollow, WV helps keep her interests piqued, and she and her best friend Twig are on the case of all the mysterious happenings of their home town. But they get a lot more than they bargained for when the Vandenberg family returns. This novel will keep its readers on their toes while making their fingers turn the pages furiously. The ebook is 500+ pages, but is a surprisingly fast read. I loved all the twists and turns! I also loved that this clean romance is never morally ambiguous. The bad guys are truly bad, and for those looking for truth, evil never is attractive. Do some fall for the temptations? Sure, but that is real life. For a fun reading experience, grab a YA friend or loved-one for a buddy-read. This novel will make you want to talk!
Recommended.
Great for Book Clubs.
Audience: YA (16 year old-ish+) and adults.
(I borrowed this book from KU. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Tags: K. E. Ganshert, Katie Ganshert, romance fiction, speculative fiction, supernatural thriller, suspense fiction, thriller
Recent Comments