I wanted to like this so much, but I just couldn’t get into it. Felt like the spice was coming out of nowhere and then the story was dragging. Felt unnecessarily gross at times, talking about that haunted snake scene, and it was really hard to get into for me personally. I so badly wanted to enjoy a romantic retelling on sleepy hollow, but this missed the mark for me. The FMC was annoying and the 2 MMC (I guess?) were hard to find likable for most of the book. Not for me.

Thanks NetGalley for this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

If Karina writes it then I’m going all the way in. She can write any genre and I’m going to be absolutely obsessed. hollow is incredible and is going to soar in book stores this fall and spooky season.

Hollow is a dark and spicy retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

After Kat Van Tassel's childhood friend and betrothed, Brom, went missing from Sleepy Hollow, Kat is allowed to attend the Sleepy Hollow Institute to continue the family legacy and harness her magical abilities. Not everything is what it seems at the Institute, but Kat quickly finds an intense connection to the handsome new professor, Ichabod Crane. When Brom unexpectedly returns home, Kat is torn between Ichabod and Brom. But Brom isn't the same carefree boy who left Sleepy Hollow. Something dark lies underneath, and when his return coincides with the murder of a villager, Kat and Ichabod must determine what Brom is hiding.

Hollow is the first book I have read by Karina Halle, and I am hooked. I loved the main characters and the mysteries that hide within the Institute and Kat's family. The spicy scenes were intense, and although they may not be for everyone, I loved every second. Hollow ends perfectly to set up the next book in the series, Legend, which I will be reading as soon as possible.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to review Hollow. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Full entertainment and I’m impressed with the sleepy hollow retelling in the book. I was instantly intrigued when witches were mentioned early in the book, that plus add a mysterious school of magic with all the dark academia vibes and it’s a perfect fall book. I think the mystery behind Bron leaving, plus the school gives it this whole gothic edge.

I really liked reading the multiple POVs in the book. I enjoyed Kat’s view more since we are learning alongside her but Crane’s view was also intriguing to read since his mind works differently, his curiosity and backstory was definitely a fun addition to his character. I was honestly surprised with Bron returning, I thought it was going to be more of a search and rescue storyline but the book shows it like an even better version of possession. That’s when we see the hints that something bigger is going on.

The romance was fun, i was also surprised by how this is a why choose and how all three main chaacters were connected years prior to the storyline of the book. If a reader wants a book full of magic, mystery, retellings and who choose, This is definitely the book to read

📖 Book Review 📖 One of my kiddos and I went on a little spooky literary road trip this summer that started in Sleepy Hollow. We obviously listened to the audiobook of Washington Irving’s famous novel set in this idyllic little town on the banks of the Hudson River. Though the extremely descriptive language in this classic piece of American literature was a bit daunting for her twelve-year old taste (and maybe mine), we were both enthralled by this epic little town immortalized by Irving. Karina Halle has reimagined this quintessential American tale perfectly but taken it to a whole new level. Hollow is not your family-friendly 31-days of Halloween resurrection of this beloved story. Karina Halle finally gives a long overdue voice to Katrina Van Tassel; and this Kat is smart, strong, and owns her sexuality. Spooky season has arrived in the first installment in this gothic, dark paranormal romance and I cannot wait to see where Karina Halle continues her revival of the Headless Horseman in Legend!

4 ⭐️
3 🌶️

ARC REVIEW / PREVIOUSLY READ

Hollow by Karina Halle was such a dark, spicy, and addictive ride—perfect for spooky season. This first book in a duet mixes haunting vibes with forbidden romance, secret societies, and a twisty Sleepy Hollow retelling that had me hooked.

We follow Kat as she’s pulled into a world of witches, dark magic, and two men—Crane and Brom—who hold her heart in very different ways. The chemistry between all three is intense, messy, and magnetic. There’s pining, jealousy, history, and a whole lot of steam (some scenes were wild… in true Karina fashion 👀).

💀 Tropes to love:
• Dark academia
• MMF dynamic
• Childhood friends to lovers
• Teacher x student
• “Who did this to you?”
• Forbidden magic
• Secret societies
• Gothic mystery & a bit of horror

The vibes were everything—moody, witchy, and full of slow-burning tension. I loved Kat’s strength and loyalty, Crane’s quiet obsession, and Brom’s tortured, protective energy. Their story is complicated but addictive, and I couldn’t look away.

It’s got spice, suspense, and a few unhinged moments (yes, that scene…), and while I figured out the twist early, I still ate it up. The ending left me with so many questions, and I can’t wait for book two!

🖤 Haunting, hot, and just the right amount of unhinged.

Thank you NetGalley, the publishers & Karina Halle for the ARC!

Karina Halle just knows how to write an absolutely thrilling gothic romance. With witches, ghosts, oh my, Hollow was a wonderful start to the spooky season with its suspense, spice, twist and just overall plot.

I’m giving it 3/5 stars because I wasn’t drawn in to this story compared to other works I’ve read by Karina. There was something missing that I couldn’t put my finger on. And the part at the beginning with two of the characters did not sit right with me with the age difference.

Other than that, I really did enjoy myself with Hollow. It kicked off my fall reads perfectly. I love Karina’s work, and her writing style and cannot wait to get more of Kat, Brom, and Crane. They are absolutely delicious.

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!!