Thank you, NetGalley and Karina Halle, for this ARC.
This was not what I was expecting, and I did enjoy it. Dark romance and a Sleep Hollow story collide, and I am here for it!
The spicy scenes were at times a lot, but that's to be expected with a dark romance. The BDSM moments lose traction for me since this is set for a time way back.
Katrina's backstory was interesting and I am glad we have more from her character than is portrayed in movies. The mysterious Brom, I really enjoyed his character.
I would definitely recommend this book to dark romance lovers!

Being in my spooky season era, I was desperate to get my hands on this book. So it's no surprise that I basically read it in a sitting, right? Right.

Now, this is either a book you will click with or you won't at all. I fall into the former. Sleepy Hollow is one of my favorite spooky season movies. So a retelling where Katrina doesn't have to chose between Brom or Ichabod? Sign me up! But keep in mind that this is a book set in the 1800s, so if you're applying modern morals to it, it also probably won't be your cuppa. But I digress.

This book had such a vibe. A dark and spooky vibe. I will admit that while I am a whole a$s grown woman, there are parts of this book I had to read with all the lights on and every door open with my dog by my side. What? I may be grown but I'm still a chicken, okay? But I digress again.

This story is basically a retelling of Sleepy Hollow but with a twist. Ichabod Crane is a professor at an illusive school that has some dark secrets that never leave the grounds. Katrina has just entered her first year of the school even though it's the last place she wants to be. But after the death of her father, her mother's wish is for her to do her duty and attend the school. And Brom? Well, that's a plot twist and then some. Brom and Katrina are promised to each other in marriage when they are just babies. Kat has been in love with Brom for years. But after a fateful night together, he disappears and no one hears from him for years. Only for him to turn up with no memories of where he's been and a unique connection to Ichabod. And I won't tell you more than that.

I can definitely see why this is now split into two books, where there's a lot of story to unpack here. Hollow read so quick because I was desperate for answers that I only seemed to get small kernels of teasing about. The mystery, the horror vibes, the spooky setting, all of it combined for a deliciously addictive read that I can't wait to read the conclusion for. We get a small peak into the MM side here so I'm very hopeful to get more in book two because these two definitely have a ton of chemistry to be peeled back and when you add Kat to the mix it just gets better.

An entertaining dark academic retelling of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I loved the atmosphere built and am really looking forward to what they do in the second book.

I liked both this and Legend. Atmospheric, creepy, very spicy... it's so easy to turn pages and escape from your boring everyday life. The mysterious mother figure adds a lot to it, makes you feel like there's definitely characters you can't trust. I'd recommend this to readers who want spicy romance + Halloween vibes.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was one of my favorite stories as a child, so I was really interested to see a gothic romance retelling of it. This definitely took some liberties with the story, but I love the mystery and the romance between the three of them. I just wish the story hadn't ended so abruptly. I feel like it could have been one book instead of two. I can't wait to read the next one!

Deliciously atmospheric with tension and mystery I loved this so much, the dark academia elements was brilliant, karina excels at characterization I just fall in love with them, they have a ton of depth and feel authentic, I always end up invested, highly recommend to fantasy/romance/dark academia/spooky/gothic lovers!

Loved!! I love a Sleepy Hollow retelling and the author, Karina Halle, knocked it out of the park. Adding a dark academia element? Brilliant. Immediately jumping onto Legend next and I saw the author also has a Dracula duology. Please and thank you. Highly recommend, especially for fans of Emily Rath and fans of spooky season.

You never know what Karina Halle is going to write next, but whatever it is you will be guaranteed to be transfixed till the very last page. I had never read a retelling of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow but i was completely here for it!
Professor Ichabod Crane is a man of magic, he can at a touch read thoughts ,see memories, with the exception of Katrina Van Tassel , in her he met his match.She keeps her mind bolted down!
What to expect:
Spice meter🌶🌶🌶
—murder mystery
—multi-POV chapters
—childhood friends-to-lovers
—swords crossing
—blood play, ritual play
—second chance
—neurodiversity rep
—arranged marriage
—age gap (10 years)
—who did this to you/did I do this to you?
Professor/ student / student : polyrelationship
"She is the glue that keeps us together".
There is a shroud of myatery surrounding the school , wards that keep people from remembering things about what they learn when they leave, and Ichabod swears he hears ghosts at night.
Katrina's high school sweetheart suddenly shows up at the school and it turns out Professor Crane had known him him as Abe in Manhattan. The secrets of where Brom had been for 4 years slowly start tk come out in every way possible. Could he have an evil inner demon or spirit inside him making him a killer? There are so many questions that have me rushing to read book two. Thank you tk Netgalley /ACE Berkley for my copy.

This wasn’t for me. I think there’s an audience for this book, especially with darker romance readers. I just don’t feel like there was enough world building, character development, or relationship exploration.

3.5⭐️ & **SLIGHT SPOILER** i really liked 80% of this book but i don’t love the why choose🥲 i loved kat & crane together and i’m too possessive to share them w brom, but the storyline was pretty solid!! i think book 2 will focus a lot more on plot so i think i’ll prefer it

The sleepy hollow setting and the atmosphere was beautiful!!
I like how quickly this read and how much it consumed me from the very beginning.
There was definitely a lot of spice which was alright.
I will definitely be reading the next book!

Thank you to NetGallley and Berkley for the arc!

Hello dark fantasy love triangle! It's a broody Ichabod and goldenboy Brom! Do you swipe right or left?!!! Loved this book

A new reimagining of Sleepy Hollow? I am all in. I absolutely adored this book so much. It's the perfect mixture of gothic romance and spooky retelling. It's gorgeous. I am a huge fan of Sleepy Hollow and this perfectly captures the magic of the classic story but with a whole new spin and style. Karina's writing is stunning and pulls you into the world so smoothly. I loved this first book in the series and can't wait to read the next one. This is the perfect autumnal read that I will be recommending for everyone this Autumn!!

Karina Halle casts an irresistible spell with Hollow, her lush, sultry reimagining of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Equal parts gothic romance, eerie mystery, and seductive magic, this story had me hooked from the very first page. Katrina Van Tassel is a heroine with bite—powerful, passionate, and torn between two equally compelling men: the sharp, mysterious Ichabod Crane and the brooding, battle-scarred Brom Bones. And yes, the love triangle absolutely delivers.

The atmosphere is rich and haunting—fog-drenched forests, whispered spells, and the ever-looming threat of the Headless Horseman. But it’s not just the horror elements that shine; the emotional tension and raw chemistry between the trio kept me turning pages late into the night. Halle doesn’t shy away from exploring desire, darkness, and destiny, and the result is a decadent, thrilling ride. If you’re craving a story that blends witches, monsters, and tangled hearts with a gorgeously eerie aesthetic, Hollow is your next obsession. Once again, I am begging you to read a Karina Halle book.

I was fully hooked by the secrets, the power plays, romance and the haunting vibe that clung to every page. I need more books of this immediately.