Reviewed by LiteraryLure · 31 January 2026
Hollow
Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
Crown of Hearts and Chaos, book 1
Active longing
“Every step toward trust remains dangerous, which gives the romance its tension.”
📖 Hollow by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti Rating 4/5
Ferris Creed enters a deadly hunt tied to the cursed forest threatening her town. Clever, bookish, and stubbornly loyal, she survives by reading people and situations rather than relying on brute force. Her path crosses Hendrix, a dangerous fae figure whose goals and loyalties remain difficult to trust.
The cursed woods, spirits, and magical creatures give the novel a menacing atmosphere. Ferris and Hendrix begin with hostility and suspicion, then build a tense alliance through shared danger. Their banter and attraction carry much of the book, while the spirit hunt keeps the romance connected to the larger plot.
The story is carefully paced through most of its length, but the closing chapters introduce several developments very quickly. The result is an effective cliffhanger that can also feel crowded after the steadier buildup.
Hollow will appeal to readers who enjoy dark romantic fantasy, cursed forests, reluctant allies, morally gray characters, and a romance that remains dangerous even as trust begins to form.
Published by LiteraryLure.
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What is in it
- Dark Romantasy
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