Carrot, whose real name is Kara, seeks refuge from a bad divorce by moving into the Wonder Museum, an eclectic and bizarre establishment owned by her eccentric Uncle Earl. Growing up amidst taxidermied oddities and 'Mystery Junk,' Carrot finds solace in the familiar strangeness until she discovers a hidden corridor behind one of the museum walls. This impossible space leads not to another room, but to a concrete bunker and beyond, to a series of desolate, fog-shrouded islands populated by unnerving willow trees and the grotesque remnants of something unspeakable. Stumbling into a terrifying alternate dimension, Carrot and a reluctant ally must navigate a landscape of cosmic dread, where unseen entities known as 'They' are hunting. As the line between worlds blurs, she uncovers the horrifying truth about the beings that dwell in 'the hollow places' and the chilling price of escape, finding herself haunted even if she manages to return home.
Critical Reception
"T. Kingfisher's 'The Hollow Places' is celebrated as a masterful modern entry into the cosmic horror genre, seamlessly blending folk horror with a unique blend of dread and dark humor."