Hollow Heathens
Magnetic
Complex
Heartbreaking

Hollow Heathens Tales of Weeping Hollow

Once upon a time, there lived a girl named Fallon, who was taken far away from home shortly after she was born. A home that held more than strange traditions and bizarre superstitions.Twenty-four years later, she returned to Weeping Hollow, a haunting town she'd only heard about in stories during restless nights under a marble moon, to meet her last living relative. They called her a freakshow--a ghost. They said I couldn't go near her.Still, there was this aching pull to Fallon Grimaldi that I couldn't escape.A nostalgic pull as if we'd been here before.Once upon a time, there lived a mysterious man named Julian with a curse as old as centuries wrapped around his soul. He was one of the four Hollow Heathens, the very dark creatures who caused the town's people to live in fear. And the Blackwell name was stained with darkness and death.They called him a monster. Cold and hollow. They said I shouldn't go near him.Still, there was this aching pull to Julian Blackwell that I couldn't escape.A nostalgic pull as if we'd been here before.
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Reviews

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stephanie @xbookishlibra
5 stars
Jan 8, 2024

okay. wow. i read the synopsis but was no where near prepared for this book. it had me in a chokehold the entire time. i’m immediately starting book two. julian and fallon will forever hold such a special place in my heart, i absolutely love them. the way they never truly gave up on each other and loved each other while showing it in their own ways…. it was absolutely stunning. i cried so much reading this book because i just got so attached to absolutely everything and everyone, i felt this book. i swear i was in a movie. please, if you haven’t read these. read them. go in blind.

Photo of Lover of Romance
Lover of Romance @addictedtoromance
5 stars
Nov 2, 2023

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨

I loved her, and perhaps it was a kind of love that wasn’t normal. Perhaps love wasn’t supposed to move something like her, quiet and gentle. Or maybe it wasn’t supposed to move something like me, cruel and unusual. Ours was different—a strange love. A mixture of us. Quiet and cruel, hiding in the depths of darkness before plunging a sharp blade into our hearts.


First Impressions
Hollow Heathens is the first installment in the “Tales of Weeping Hollow” series. This is also my very first Nicole Fiorina novel. This is a novel that I have been wanting to get it, and to be honest I hear “Bone Island” is epic but due to the world-building, certain aspects make more sense upon reading “Hollow Heathens” and I was so intrigued by this one and I knew I wanted to save it for this time of year. And if you are looking for a highly atmospheric read for fall time, this book must be on your list. In fact, if you love real writing talent, this is an author you need to pay attention to. I was completely floored by this book and the writing style that was portrayed within this story. I have never read such writing like this that has such attention to detail, the world builds so intricately and the chemistry between our couple is vibrant and real. Hollow Heathens is a gothic paranormal romance. It’s set in a small town and has a forbidden touch to the romance. It’s a story that is epic and packed with lyrical meaning and packs such an intense punch and will literally spook you within each chapter. It’s a book I can’t recommend enough and I admire the author in what she was able to create in this timeless romance.

Heart failure. The organ I would follow anywhere, without question, without reasoning. When lost or confused, it was our hearts we were told to trust completely. The speaker of desires, deliverer of feelings, and giver of hope. Yet it still had the audacity to fail us

First Line
Things that lurk in the darkness; monsters, ghosts, ghastly supernatural beings tethered by bottomless energy to keep them there, pinned to the earth and walking without direction.

Summary
Fallon was taken away from her childhood home as a form of protection and has lived away from Weeping Hollow majority of her life. She has now returned after exchanging letters with her grandfather who is in need of her. Her grandfather is her only family left and she is determined to get the answers to what happened to her mother and the mystery behind her past but also hopes to find herself and find a place of acceptance. Fallon has always been different which sets her apart from everyone else. When she comes to Weeping Hollow, there is so much mystery surrounding the people who live there. There is a magic in the air that is sometimes dark and twisted, and she is drawn to one of the four Hollow Heathens, Julian, who is forbidden to her. Julian is cursed as is his fellow Heathens and has to wear a mask over his face or those who see his true face will die. The coven has determined that Julian is too dangerous and he can’t get near Fallon. But Fallon is the only one who truly sees Julian as more than a cursed Heathen, she sees the man he is on the inside and quiets the turmoil in his head. But Fallon and Julian were never meant to find each other, but can their connection be the key to freeing Weeping Hallow and his closest friends from a curse they were dealt?

There was a serenity lurking behind the walls of his madman illusion—a false imprisonment of a wonderland I wanted to wander in. A place I could get lost in.

What I Loved
Hollow Heathens is a story I wasn’t expecting to be as good as it truly was. I do recommend if you can, getting this in audio. I am telling you the experience will be even more elevated. There is a very strong lyrical feel to the writing that Nicole Fiorina implements within her story here, and the narration really brings out that quality so well. So Hollow Heathens is a story that will instantly captivate you. I was so quickly drawn into this story and the mystery behind it all. I do think this is a book you need to take time with in order to get the full scope and vibe of the story. I read this one all day because I knew I wanted to get more time with it. I am really happy that I took the time reading this one and didn’t rush it because its not a story that is a quick read, you definitely want to ease into it. I even kept my audio narration at 1.4x speed to just really enjoy it a bit more. The story is captivating and we get multiple POV’s in this story. Mostly from Fallon and Julian, but we do get a sideline story of the origins of the curse and why its so vital to the story. This POV is short, really only a couple of pages a few times throughout the story and added such dimension into the background of the curse.

They are of formidable beauty, both love and death. Within them lies their immortality.

I think what I was drawn to the most is the atmosphere of this story. If you want a story that will literally awaken your senses, then this book will do that. I guarantee that it will take you on a ride you won’t be expecting. There is a talent that this author has that is so different from what I was expecting with this one here. What this author writes in the attention to detail is so crafty. The world-building is such that is so complex but not too complex that you get lost in the story. It’s slowly built with such detail that it’s an enriching experience. Then we have the cast throughout the story. I will say that it can be overwhelming for all the characters that are involved here, my best advice is to be patient with it and take time to learn them all as they all have roles within the story. The primary characters Julian and Fallon are so vibrantly portrayed. Their journey together was intimate and so haunting. You immediately feel the connection that these two have together. And even though Julian has such mystery surrounding him, you also sense his tortured past and the way he gets treated is so heartfelt throughout the story. Fallon is a heroine you can easily get behind. She is a fighter for the relationship and will do anything to protect Julian. Julian is very protective of her, but he is also in a tough spot because he knows his future fate and doesn’t want to take Fallon down with him. He also knows that their love has been forbidden. He isn’t allowed 50 feet within her space but they have a bond that is worth fighting for. There is a intense magnetism that rises between them that borders the line of life and death.

I would go to him, and I would love him. All of him. Over and over … on repeat. Because I was certain all these things he was made of were the very parts missing in me.

There is also a beautiful captivating mystery that is implemented and the paranormal elements that are drawn into this story is so mystical. I was so enraptured by these darker magical elements and seeing what our characters are having to deal with and the dark forces that are trying to destroy them and Weeping Hollow. The different events that build up to the crescendo and climax of the story just add to the tension and conflicts that arise within the story being told. And the ending that we have, well I couldn’t have written a more epic finalizing ending that delivers all the heart and feels and capitalizes on the built-up storytelling and the author definitely delivered a true masterpiece here.

she buried her face into my neck. I held the back of her head, keeping her here with me. She held on to me. I held on to her.

What I Struggled With
Nothing really, the writing can take some getting used to, but keep with it and take it easy and slow and you will be captivated!

He replaced the darkness with his own kind. I stilled, utterly dependent on him, yet trusting him. He was everywhere, a severe and passionate force of a shadow.

Overall View
Hollow Heathens is a timeless romance that stuns the reader with heart-achingly sweet intimacy, gothic mystery, and magic that is woven within the pages of a brilliantly mastered story to captivate the heart and deep abiding truths of the soul…

So, I kissed the night, got lost in his sky and suspended in his time. I kissed the darkness too, as if it was all I knew because it was a part of him.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Paranormal Romance, Gothic, Dark Romance
Character Types: Alpha Male, Bad Boy
Themes: Small Town, Gothic, Magical
Tropes: Forbidden Love

Book Perspective
Multi POV's

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A Mix of Both

Song This Book Inspires
Middle of the Night by Elley Duhe

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.

Narrators:
Lilly Drake
Vincent Skye
Zara Eden

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Estefany @thedarkestreader
4 stars
Jun 17, 2023

Sencillamente me encantó. Me leí el libro por casualidad y no puedo estar más feliz de haber dado con esta autora. Me gustó mucho su pluma y el desarrollo de la historia. Si que es verdad que tiene algunas situaciones clichés, otras un tanto de relleno, y me faltó mas acción en el desenlace, pero en general, disfruté la historia, me lo leí super rápido. Los personajes son entretenidos, realistas y cercanos. Estoy deseando ponerme con el segundo libro.

Photo of Aparna
Aparna @aparnanv
5 stars
May 18, 2022

I'm a sucker for love and magic, and this gothic romance had both by the bucket. It's just. Amazing. I loved every minute of it.

This review contains a spoiler
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Tanya @babygyalreadit
5 stars
Mar 16, 2022

I have no idea what to do with myself. There’s so much to discuss and dissect and I- can’t This is a fucking masterpiece which I didn’t expect anything less. This woman always pulls on my heartstrings & I both love & hate her for it. She has gotten many of my firsts. First trilogy, first book that made me cry & now my first fantasy read. There’s no words I could use to describe this book but the story of their love in this town is super extraordinary & I cannot wait to read the rest of their story in the upcoming books.

Photo of Aundreya Rich
Aundreya Rich@readinginwatercolor
5 stars
Feb 9, 2022

"Come with me, and I'll show you everything no one else will. Come with me, and I will tell you things no one else will tell you, I'll give you everything, feed all your forbidden thoughts, thing you never knew you wanted." No. One. Prepared. Me. Welcome to Weeping Hollow... where the covens are corrupt, the heathens are cursed to wear masks, the love is all consuming, and no one is safe after 3 am. Nicole Fiorina does an incredible job writing a modern tale that feels Like Edgar Allen Poe and Shakespeare had a baby. (sounds weird, but stay with me) You will spend so many moments rereading, highlighting and swooning over this book. With the dark eery setting and star crossed lovers that are written like poetry, I felt as if I myself was running through the forest at night after Julian. Hollow Heathens is available in both YA and NA format but listen to me... if you are not faint of heart get that NA BOO! Fallon returns to her hometown after receiving a letter from her estranged dying grandfather and is pulled different directions by the Sacred Sea coven she is told she is a part of, and the masked man with silver eyes. Julian has never felt the sun on his face thanks to the curse that requires him and his coven to wear masks... or everyone who looks upon him will die. Jules hands are dirty and he is seen only as a monster. But the freakshow with white hair that just entered town may see through the mask and make him feel worthy of more, even a life without the Heathen curse. "We didn't make sense, but as I stood before her, she saw all the things in me that felt too messed up. She pulled me back into the person I'd abandoned a long time ago. Fallon looked past the curse, and therefore, I couldn't look past her." Be warned. You will start this book and neglect everything in life you were in need of doing... who knows maybe you'll take a second stroll as soon as you are done. But this tragic dark love story is worth every minute of neglected house cleaning time, I promise. Why I loved it: -Fallon & gramps -It felt dark and magical like The Wicked Deep -Old literature vibes referencing to EAP, Frankenstein, Phantom of the Opera -a little mystery and one I did not see coming -new book bae... that's right # GyrateforJulian because he is SMEEEEXXXYYYYYYY -epic star cross love story -timeline jumps that are SEAMLESS -does it get any cooler than magic that is amplified by pain or the big "O" -I said Julian... right? -I needed a good deep cry - it's on Kindle Unlimited (score) but now I need it on my shelf PRONTO What was missing: I just needed more gramps.... Rating: Story-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Romance- Forbidden Love Characters-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Steam- "Hollow Heathens may live on your bedside table and become your new foreplay." Scene One Sleeping with Sirens

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Rebecca@bexx
3 stars
Jan 16, 2022

3.5

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Sophie@rosemeadows
5 stars
Dec 7, 2021

4.5 stars

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Sarina Sherman@sarina
5 stars
Nov 25, 2021

5+ million stars 💫 🌙 This was amazing. I’ve been in a reading slump for weeks now and the last thing I thought I could get into was a long book like this one- but i was so wrong. This book swept me away from page 1 with its poetic writing into a spooky town with so many characters that felt so lifelike. The entire book felt like a movie! I swear i could smell the scents and see everything so clearly. The writing was so descriptive and phenomenal. But the emotions this book evoked in me- my god. I FELT their pain. Every moment of it. The angst. The yearning. The longing! What a beautiful tale of soul deep love. And that epilogue? Yeah, I cried. This book is the perfect October/Fall book, to give you warm cozy feelings with a bit of spooky mystery, magic, and a witchy love so strong. I can’t stop thinking about it and I really hope we get to see more of other characters because I fell in love with them all. But Julian and Fallon.. you have my heart. I think this might be my read of the year ❤️🌙

Photo of Danya <3
Danya <3@youfloweryoufeast
4.5 stars
Oct 18, 2021

4.75 ⭐️ Genre: Adult romance Age group : 18+ POV : Dual Characters: 5/5 ⭐️ Plot: 5/5 ⭐️ Setting/Themes: 5/5 ⭐️ Writing: 5/5 ⭐️ • please check trigger warnings • mature language, graphic sexual scenes, violence, murder, torture, physical assault, death, kidnapping, loss of a loved one, drowning, asphyxiation , sacrifice • HEA Wow. Just wow. Wow did I love this. Wow, wow. Wow. This was magnificent, in a tragically beautiful way. The lyrical writing really had me feeling stuff (*sobs*). It was emotional and unpredictable and I almost believed there wouldn’t be a happy ending. THE STORYLINE?! YES PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW MORE TAKE ALL MY MONEY 💳 Chilling, emotional, nerve wracking, scary, wholesome and unpredictable all at once. I loved it. Fallon. Moonchild. Strong, witty, kind and well- so much more. I loved Fallon’s character, she was an outcast, not in a cliche “I hate everyone nobody understands me way”. Her character was one I want to protect and never let out of my sight. That sums it up. I love her. Julian. Ah, Julian. Tall, dark and mysterious. Masked, struggling with his inner demons (which were vv real btw) and caring. Julian was definitely, something. In a good way. My heart hurt for him, and I wanted to protect him and coddle him too. I won’t say much, experiencing it first hand makes it better. I loved this book. It was a beautiful read, perfect for Octobers really. I only didn’t give it 5 stars due to the lack of diversity, really. I’m super excited for the rest of the series. ( a lot impatient too, but I’ll wait, it’s worth) read this !!

+8
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Aubrey Erskine@shelflifechronicles
5 stars
Sep 9, 2021

When I first read the synopsis I thought I was going to be reading this super dark and scary story that would keep me up at night. Instead I got a beautifully written gothic love story that did make me question the shadows for a bit. I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t want to. Hollow Heathens was this perfectly crafted story about love, lies and magic set against this romantic gothic backdrop. The world building was incredible and I can’t wait to explore Weeping Hollow further in the next books. Think Stars Hollow: Magic Edition or Forks, Washington but with feuding covens. For a small town it felt huge and there is still so much to discover. I was drawn to it’s small town vibes and the community that attempted to live harmoniously. Fallon was a total bada** without even knowing it. Never changing herself for anyone despite her struggles with other people. She never let it jade her into being an awful person. I do feel like her personality got a tad lost at times within the love story, but like the strong and stubborn woman she is she always managed to pull it together at the right moments. Julian was an enigma. Actually the Hollow Heathens as a whole were. I could never get a good read on them nor the pressures they faced from their coven. That all still feels like a mystery to me, but Julian was a heathen with a managed heart deserving of love. He didn’t chose the hand he was dealt but did his best to honor his magic and lead his people. A leader with a kind yet misunderstood heart. I swooned and hard. Dark, sexy, sweet and only eyes for his girl? Sign me up please. Fallon and Julian made my heart hurt, each shunned and put down for things they can’t control. They have a lifetime of hurt, of being outcasts, until they find each other. *Cue the forbidden romance* It’s not an easy journey though with a ton of obstacles standing in their way. I loved their stolen moments and how I felt like an interloper in them while also simultaneously not being able to look away. I of course wish for more of those moments (smutty and cute) but am content with how their story ended. There are still quite a few things in this book that I don’t quite understand though. It all seemed very low stakes until all of a sudden it wasn’t. It felt very much like a fever dream, real or not real? It was just how Weeping Hollow was though and with Fallon not having grown up there and most of the book being from her perspective, we kinda lose the rivalry between covens and how their power is divided. It was seen in Julian’s perspective a bit and I think that dual POV did help to balance the story. I do hope the intricacies of the two covens is explored more in the next books. To say I loved this book would be an understatement. It’s one I see myself rereading for years to come and from the moment I met the Hollow Heathens, I knew each was going to get their own story (Team Phoenix and Fable 4ever!). We’ve just barely scratched the surface with this new world and I can’t wait to explore it more while also meeting new characters and seeing old ones grow in the background. In the meantime I’ll just be immersing myself in the Hollow Heathens playlist and day dreaming about Julian.

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Samantha Palencia@sampalencia
5 stars
Aug 30, 2021

Freakin loved this book. The way it was written and the story flowed was amazing. Julian and Fallon were both such lovely characters and I was more and more obsessed with them as the story went on. Hollow Heathens had just the right amount of spooky + witchy vibes and I was very captivated by this book. CANNOT WAIT for the next in the series.

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Bethany Phillips@paperbacksandcoffeemugs
4 stars
Aug 29, 2021

Such a spooky, pleasant surprise! I really loved this one. This is definitely a fantasy / paranormal romance, centering on a forbidden romance trope--so if that's your thing, make sure to add this to your TBR. It felt a bit Beauty & the Beast-ish to me at points, too. I really like the setting of Weeping Hollow: it's the perfect spooky, creepy, superstitious little town that is home two to rival witch covens, as well as some regular humans they call "flatlanders." The first thing that caught my interest with the town is that once you enter, you can't leave until Weeping Hollow "lets you go," which sounded like a random phrase the townspeople used colloquially...but no. I really liked a lot of the characters, and the tension between Fallon & Julian is off the charts at times. I like how they, both being outcast for various reasons throughout their lives, find solace in each other. Though it is very far from an easy process; it takes a bit of time and LOTS of hiccups along the way. I'm excited for the rest of this series!

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Genesis (@whisperingchapters)@whisperingchapters
4 stars
Aug 3, 2021

"I am the dark, cursed stranger they all warned you about."

I decided to dive back into this world again, since the sequel is coming out in September, perfect time for all the gothic and creepy vibes. This is one of those books you have to be in the mood for, because once you are, there's no turning back; this book will live within you.

Long after death, love has the power to turn us all into the darkest of monsters.

After 24 years, Fallon is back in Weeping Hollow after receiving a letter from her gramps. Unfortunately, she was never supposed to go back, because once she did, the town would never let her leave. Enter Weeping Hollow, a town of secrets, covens, and death.

Fallon's journey through this town and everything it held was otherworldly, especially once she meets Julian, one of the four Hollow Heathens who have been cursed. Their romance is deemed forbidden by the town, but neither can stay away.

"I"ve tried to ignore it, but I can't. No matter what they say, you were always mine, and you always will be."

The journey to search for a way to break the curse had me on the edge of my seat. Julian has always put his coven first, but when Fallon arrives, for once he wishes to put himself first and go after what he wants. My poor baby Julian kept being controlled by everyone around him, except with Fallon; she brought such a calmness to him. It's why their romance was so incredibly beautiful. While everyone else sees a cursed villain who should die, Fallon sees him at his core: a man who's been hurt and persecuted, a man who has a gentle and caring nature for his coven.

I would go to him, and I would love him. All of him. Over and over ... on repeat. Because I was certain all these things he was made of were the very parts missing in me.

Nicole Fiorina's writing is beautifully poetic; it gave me goosebumps. While this story is definitely different from the Stay With Me trilogy, the lyrical and elegant writing is one that Nicole carries with her no matter what kind of story she writes. Prepare to get your breath stolen with this series; it's a very unforgettable one.

+10
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Zoe Wilson@zoespages
2 stars
Oct 23, 2024
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Aleksandra@alexandra369
5 stars
Sep 15, 2022
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Pamela @pamhabangana
4 stars
May 28, 2024
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Redwineandbookplease@ksotkova
4 stars
Jan 3, 2024
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mar uriarte@maycresslloway
2 stars
Aug 2, 2023
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Anna @annalou908
5 stars
Jan 22, 2023
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Jasmine@lovelyximperfect
4 stars
Jan 21, 2023
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Anna t@annalou98
5 stars
Nov 2, 2022
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ausra@ausragi
4 stars
Oct 20, 2022
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Toni pilato@tinyytoes
4 stars
Oct 2, 2022

Highlights

Photo of Aparna
Aparna @aparnanv

Branches from birch trees whispered, ravens sang their darkest tale, and with every crackle of fallen leaves beneath their heavy boots, secrets of the forest unraveled, spinning words together like a web from a black widow spider. And this was just from the forest because the sea, child, oh! the sea, it roared with prophecy, waves crashing against the imperishable cliffs, the moon’s transcendent phases glimmering over the eternal waters.

Page 21

I love this imagery. I love dreamy, fairytale language.

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Nichole Eckman@nicholeeckman

And the cruelest is love. Long after death, love has the power to turn us all into the darkest of monsters.