I just could not get into this book. I think it's a combination of people behaving badly in general and acting horribly to each other and the 1960s women in science scenario in which women are treated badly. The world hasn't changed that much and it just pisses me off. Also, I finally kinda came around to Trent as a good guy in the regular Hollows series. Seeing his original utter jackhole personality does not make me want to read more. I hate books where the main characters are unlikeable and this one is all about that. I'm sure it will resolve. I'm sure it will get better. There's a human plague in the middle there, though, and I just can't hack the drama. ( )

Thanks goes to Netgalley for this ARC!

And maybe that should be double because I fell out of my chair when I discovered that I was approved. So here comes the total honestly: I'm a total fanboy of the series. I always have been. So when the series ended and I had nothing new to look forward to in this universe, I felt so sad. So sad.

But now? So happy!

We're in the sixties now. Yup, too early for most of our favorite characters to show up, but here's a little surprise for you: soooooo many of the supporting cast happens to be worked right into the tale. I didn't even have a single qualm about any of them showing up. Not even Rachael's teenager dad. :)

This is a backstory novel in the very best sense of the word. We get all of the downfall of humanity and the rise of the tomato-immune peoples, the elvish and vampire involvement in the tragedy, but more importantly, we get to learn all about another certain MC's parents. I can't say it's a particularly happy tale despite the ongoing need to put a brave and optimistic face on things from Trisk's PoV, but she's having to fight many battles on many fronts and my heart goes out to her. Mysogyny rears its nasty 60's head.

And then, of course, is the supernaturals deciding to come out of the closet and we get that story as well.

But there's one main character from all of the Hollows series that gets a nice big chunk of a role in this one that I just had to squeeeeee about.

And I refuse to reveal his/her/its name here.

But I loved it. I really really really loved it. :)

The whole novel was a perfect companion to the rest of the series and there's a lot to connect with even though most of the characters are either seen in new light or are fleshed out a ton. I geeked-out about it all. This goes well beyond nostalgia. It's a real Hollows novel. :)

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Finally, finally we get to see how the Turn started!

It's nothing like what I expected going on from the hints spread throughout the rest of the series. I loved the introduction of a new type of elf; though I'm kind of saddened we never got to see her type throughout the rest of the books.

It was interesting reading a book in the Hollows series that takes place from the perspective of the elves instead of from a witch. The furry tomatoes were a nice touch.

I'm hoping for a book that follows up on this one; one that shows what happens during the aftermath of the Turn. That was my main complaint with this book; we don't get to see what happens afterwards, just what happens to start it all. ( )

Did you ever wonder about what caused the world to change in the Hollows series? This book tells how the virus that attached itself to tomatoes and killed so many humans and outed the supernaturals to the rest of the world.
Set during the 60’s, fashion and music do play a part to the story and how attitudes towards women pushed the plot a bit but for the most part this is petty revenge of a childhood rivalry gone way out of control. There are some cameos sprinkled in the book and I enjoyed each and every one of them. The nice thing about the book being a prequel is no prior knowledge is needed for a reader so it does appeal to the fan of the Hollows and a new reader picking it up for the first time.


Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley
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The Hollows begins with death...

Those who have been longtime fans of The Hollows series all know how the supernatural creatures came out of the closet. Tomatoes. People looking at this review with no knowledge of the series are probably now thinking...tomatoes? What in the hell do tomatoes have to do with the supernatural?

Elves are near extinction. Modified by the demons before escaping the Everafter, most Elven families cannot bear healthy children. Those children who can be brought to full term must endure painful treatments in order to survive. Because of this, most elves study to become geneticists, each trying to save their dying race.

Trisk and Kalamack are no different. Rivals in school, they each earn top ranks in their class, but there is more than just a difference in their genetic theories. Trisk is a dark elf woman in the '60s when a woman was thought to be best kept at home minding their households. But Trisk has a brilliant mind and despite the bullying she receives, is determined to do what she can to save her race.

Forced to work in a human lab, Trisk toils away at building a crop of tomatoes that can end world hunger. At the same time, she works alongside her fellow scientists ensuring that any tactical virus created will not hurt members of the supernatural races who live in hiding among the humans. While the Elven Enclave is satisfied with the work Trisk has accomplished, they do not fully trust her. After all, how can a woman be so successful? Kalamack is tasked to oversee her work and if he happens to slap his name onto her work and claim it as his own all the better. But hell is about to break loose as the carefully developed tomatoes take on the tactical virus targeted to humans. For years pixies, elves, witches, vampires and the like have been living in secret among humans. But what happens when they are the only ones who survive the deadly tomatoes?

True to The Hollows series, this book is filled with magic slinging action and heart-stopping scenes. This was a bit more technical, involving a great deal of simplified science to explain the work Trisk and Kalamack achieve. While these parts were a bit slow, they were necessary and easy enough to understand.

It was great seeing familiar faces pop up in this prequel. It was fun reading about how they were before the era of Rachel, Ivy, and Jenks. Though I did miss those three so much when reading this! Trisk was a likable character and showed just how hard it was to be a successful woman in the '60s. Frowned on by not only her own race but humans as well, she pushed forward past all the doubt and kept going.

I do have to admit I cringed reading about Kalamack. Seeing how he began, I can't help but know I will be looking at him in a new light when I reread The Hollows. I mean we all knew he was a scummy businessman, but it goes much deeper than that now!

Reading about the T4 Angel Tomato's path of destruction was heartbreaking. The Hollows itself was created from this event. Watching people live in the aftermath in the original series doesn't really show just how bad things were. This novel brings the turning point front and center. You will watch as humans are corralled into quarantine zones, families are torn apart, and children struggle to survive while watching their parents slowly die. It will make you laugh and cry, as Trisk tries to right the wrongs brought upon the world of humans.
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