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: Good Book!
Summary: 4 Stars
The Hollow is the second in the Sign of Seven Trilogy. I don't think that it was as good as the first book, Blood Brothers, but I still really liked it.
Fox O'Dell is a small town lawyer, who just happened to help unleash an evil demon on his 10th birthday. Since that fateful night in 1987, he and his friends Cal and Gage have been cleaning up after it when it wreaks havoc every seven years. Layla Darnell was a boutique manager in New York, who just happens to be descended from the very same evil demon that Fox, Cal, and Gage released in 1987. Now, she is destined to fight the very thing that allowed for her to exist. She is afraid to committ to a town and people who may not be alive come July 2008, but she fights anyway, falling in love along the way.
While this book is good, I can't help waiting for the last book, The Pagan Stone, to come out because I think that Gage will have the best story. I have a feeling that in order to defeat the Big Evil Bastard, he will have to confront his feelings about the father, who abused him until he was big enough to defend himself. It promises to be an even more engrossing book than the last two.
P.S. I loved the Sound of Music and Nirvana references.
Book Review: Second in the "Sign of 7" trilogy.
Summary: 4 Stars
21 years ago three 10 year olds who were born on the same day, and are best friends, celebrate their birthday by sneaking into the woods to go camping & eat junk food. While there, they cut their wrists to merge their blood & become "Blood Brothers". But their childish ritual unleashes an ancient monster. Now every 7 years at their birthday the town goes crazy; murders, beatings, suicides, etc. This year it started months earlier and they know this will be the final showdown.
The basic plot of the series is good and I don't have a problem with the paranormal aspect as I expected it going into the first book
Why not a five? First, while I read the first book in the trilogy I`ve read a lot of books in between so it would have helped if there had been a review about the previous book in the beginning of this one.
Second, I could not tolerate the thing with Fox, Sage and Paula. I don't want to give it away to anyone, so I won't. I found it downright creepy, slightly nauseating and, at best, borderline incest. That none of the other characters, including Layla, had a problem with it was bizarre. Maybe this somehow factors into the next book but I'm not sure I have the stomach for it.
Book Review: More like 4 1/2 stars!
Summary: 4 Stars
I have to say that I definitely loved this book and the only reason I took off half of a star is because as a stand-alone book, it is harder to understand what is going on. Besides that, I thought the characters, especially Fox and Layla, really were fleshed out and you could really feel the angst they were feeling. Not only was the dialogue more realistic, she drew me in with how the characters felt and those feelings were very realistic - how not everyone automatically wants to jump on the "hero" wagon and are reluctant to leave their old lives - it definitely felt real to me.
Another thing is that I loved was the banter between Cybil and Gage - they see the pattern but instead of falling in line like they think they have to or are "fated" to, they are trying to create their own path. I wish there were more scenes with them together, but I guess that's what the next book is for.
For those who are so over the paranormal stuff, this is going to be a stretch to read, but for those who liked the Three Sisters and the Key trilogies, I think you'll like this one!
I highly enjoyed Fox and Layla's story and cannot wait to read about Cybil and Gage!
Book Review: 4 stars
Summary: 4 Stars
Once upon a time, three young boys performed a dark ritual to bind their friendship, but in doing so, awakened an ancient evil that has gone on a killing spree at seven year intervals in their small hometown. As the time for its return approaches, the trio unites to stop it. Now adults, the men need their other halves, the women who are their soul mates, to help them use the powers that the ceremony bequeathed them, in order to put the chaos to an end and atone for their foolish act. Fox's resultant "gift" from that night was the ability to read minds, and in Layla, he finds a soul with a similar blessed curse. For her the emphasis is on the curse side, and she is unable to deal with having such a power, or the sudden connection she finds with this man. Despite her struggle, it is something she must learn to accept, for herself, for Fox, and for everyone she cares for's sakes.
**** The drama and tension continue to cast their spells over Ms. Roberts' legions of fans. Her ability to weave relationships is fantastic, and she makes the utterly unrealistic seem totally believable. You will never go wrong with one of her books, and this is not the exception to the rule. ****
Book Review: Much better effort
Summary: 4 Stars
I was as harsh I can bring myself to be to Nora about the first book of this trilogy. I felt that the first one really shortchanged Quinn & Cal by getting bogged down in the history and set up of all three couples. (See my review for a full explanation.)
Now that the set up is out of the way, lo and behold, we have a full story about Layla & Fox! Hooray! We barely even get foreshadowing for the third book - an even bigger HOORAY! This really focused entirely on the current couple, which I dearly appreciate.
Even with the first book, I praised her normal (for her) excellence in dialogue and likeable characters, but I was annoyed by the lack of a full story for the opening characters.
I still don't feel like her heart must be in the trilogy paperbacks anymore. The hardbacks and JD Robbs give us much better and "full" stories. But, this was much better than the first in that respect.
I will continue to read any and every new book she puts out, but I'm glad that this was more vintage Nora. Don't give up if you were with me on the first of this trilogy. I think you'll be rewarded by sticking with it.