The Hollow (Sign of Seven Trilogy, Book 2)
by Nora Roberts
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Book Reviews of The Hollow (Sign of Seven Trilogy, Book 2)
Book Review: Instead of a trilogy, these should have been 1 GREAT novel.
Summary: 3 Stars
"The Hollow" is the second in the 7 trilogy by Nora Roberts. A continuation from "Blood Brothers", this book finds Layla, Quinn and Cybil even closer friends with Fox, Cal and Gage, and more determined than ever to destroy the evil in their small town of Hawkins Hollow. While Book 1 focused on the growing relationship between Quinn (paranormal writer) and Cal (bowling alley owner), who have a psychic ability and connection, this latest book focused on Layla (the fashion queen) and Fox (the lawyer), both of whose abilities grow stronger as their relationship does. The only two not coupled up yet, but to me seem to be attracted to each other are Cybil (paranormal expert)and Gage (card shark with an attitude). I think that will be the beginning of book 3 which will all culminate in an ending that I am sure we won't soon forget..a showdown between good and evil. As the friends struggle to save the world as we know it, we find out more about their connection to the town and the evil that makes an appearance every 7 years for 7 days. Having now figured out how to reassemble the stone, we know that the end of this war (between good and evil) is near. I will however make a few predictions, the first being obvious: good always wins. The second being that while Gage and Cybil's relationship is going to be important in the last novel, so too will Gage's relationship with his father (hint, everyone else gets along and loves their father, with the exception of Gage...because his father abused him as a kid). And is there possibly a "7th" person in this adventure, maybe even Gage's father? Just guessing. Anyway, I still believe that the problem with this trilogy is that it should have been one great novel. On the other hand, because I am determined to see how this story ends I will read the final book, Pagan Stone, when it is released.
Book Review: A Wonderful Paranormal Romance
Summary: 5 Stars
The Hollow is the second book of the Sign of Seven Trilogy by Nora Roberts. The story started twenty-one years ago, when three young boys, Caleb, Fox, and Gage, spent the night camping by the Pagan Stone. They shared birthdays and an unbreakable bond on friendship. Boys being boys, they wanted to take it one step farther. They would become blood brothers. During the ritual of sharing, mixed blood hit the ground. It unleashed an evil entity that returned to Hawkins Hollow every seven years. For seven days madness reigned, lives were lost, property destroyed, and families torn apart.
Caleb, Fox, and Gage are descendants of the Guardian, Giles Dent, the one that locked the evil entity, Lazarus Twisse under the Pagan Stone. Up until now Caleb, Fox, and Gage did what they could to minimize the damage but they couldn't stop it.
The madness would be returning this summer and now, twenty-one years after releasing the demon, they have a chance at ending it once and for all. Three women, Quinn, Cybil, and Layla, all descendants of the child conceived when Twisse raped an innocent girl, have joined the battle.
With the history laid out in the first book, the story is more evenly divided between the challenge Lazarus Twisse presented, and the budding romance between Layla and Fox. The attraction was strong, but they were circling each other, not sure if getting involved was a smart move. They had to work together on so many levels, a romance might cloud the issue---or clear it.
The Hollow by Nora Roberts is a fast paced thrilled with a healthy dose of romance thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the third book The Pagan Stone scheduled for release in December of 2008.
Book Review: Better than the first, but still not her best
Summary: 4 Stars
I was hesitant to buy this book given that the first one of the series didn't really do anything for me, but I was on vacation and needed something to read at the last minute so I broke down and got it. I will say that it was definitely more interesting than the first book of this series, which I feel dragged on a little bit and got bogged down with setting the stage for the trilogy.
I was glad that the focus was almost entirely on Fox and Layla in this book but was at the same time frustrated that we learned almost nothing new about Layla at all! It's like Ms. Roberts got so busy developing the pasts of the male characters of the series that she forgot to give us any information about the female ones. Who is this woman anyway? All I know about her is that she used to manage a clothing store in NYC and can't deal with her emotions unless she compartmentalizes them, which she herself says, by the way. How can an author go through an entire 300+ page novel without giving any background story on one of the main characters?
Other than that it was a better read than Blood Brothers but not up to her usual standard of excellence in my opinion. There were some laugh out loud moments for me, which is something I always love about Nora's dialogue and was glad to see present here. The action was a little creepier in this book too, which I think made it more interesting as well. I'll look forward to reading the Pagan Stone because now I do actually care about what happens to these people, something that I didn't really feel after the first book, but I'll probably forget all the stuff that happened between now and then because it doesn't even come out until December. WTH?
Book Review: fine urban romantic fantasy
Summary: 5 Stars
Twenty-one years ago three boys (Caleb, Fox and Gage) camped at the Pagan Stone, a place of great power in the woods of Hawkins Hollow, Illinois. They shared a blood rite that made them blood brothers, but when that serum hit the ground a black evil mass appeared followed by a blinding light that sent the demon back to its dimension. Three centuries ago, the guardian Trent after hundreds of years of battle with the demon Lazarus took an unprecedented step to stop the malevolent one.
In the present, the three blood brothers descendents of Trent have faced the demon who has influence over the townsfolk especially on the seventh day of the seventh month every seven years. Now they have three female allies (Layla, Cybil and Quinn) who are descended from the demon's rape of Hestern three centuries ago. They must fight as one the evil; this time hoping to dispatch him to hell forever. While the sextet research what to do, Layla and Fox are attracted to one another; feelings that frighten both of them especially her as she fears she will lose her beloved in the next battle.
The demonic powers are stronger than they were in the first Sign of the Seven tale (see BLOOD BROTHERS) as he is able to influence many more people; however, his opponents have also grown. Though it has the Hollow feel of the middle book of an urban romantic fantasy trilogy, Nora Roberts affirms her talent as she has written an exciting and entertaining thriller starring the magnificent six who will earn reader admiration and respect for their courage. Well written, fans of Ms. Roberts will look forward to the final war THE PAGAN STONE.
Harriet Klausner
Book Review: Nora Roberts knows how to write 'em!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
An excellent second book in the trilogy! I couldn't ask for better. We're taken back to Hawkin's Hollow and its residents - good and bad. Some you love, some you love to hate.
This book circled mostly around Layla and Fox - their relationship blossoms in this novel, and I loved how they got the feel of each other - thoughts and feelings. Working together, being together... You get more of their backgrounds, what Fox was like as a kid and growing up. Layla gets to chat with his parents - together and separately, and adores his family almost as much as him. It was a little annoying how it took nineteen out of twenty chapters for her to finally admit she was in love it him - to herself and out loud to Fox himself - but I think it was perfect. I wouldn't have had it any other way.
You still get time with Cal and Quinn, and you know, just like in the first novel, they love each other deeply.
And wether Cybil and Gage want to admit it or not, I think they are very much stuck together. It'll be interesting to see them bloom in the third novel. They are alike in a lot of ways - and neither would ever admit to it.
In this novel, we're taken back in time through Ann's journals. You get a little better understanding of what they're up against. The troubles escalate, fear is mounting, as well as their determination as a group to finally stop Twisse.
I can't wait to see what the last novel - which is going to drive me absolutely crazy seeing as the third and final book in the trilogy, The Pagan Stone, isn't out until late November, early December `08. The six-month wait is going to kill me, LOL!