Rumble in Woodhollow

Holly Sisters #1

by

Jonathan Pembroke

Me and this book, we did not start out as friends.

Something about the first chapter just didn’t work for me at the time I read it – but I can’t say for sure what. Fortunately, I’d read another review from someone else who got off to a slow start with the book, but then grew to enjoy it, so I decided to stick it out.

On top of that, the basic premise of the story is really good. Gang drama in a fantasy town.

So, I pressed on, and I’m really glad I did. By the start of the third chapter, we were on the same wave length, me and this book, and after that, it was smooth sailing.

This book grew into an action packed fantasy gangster romp, and it’s awesome.

Sure, it’s far from perfect, but it’s not about being perfect, it’s about telling a good story and having a good time, and once it gets going, it hits all the right marks.

What I’ll whine about:

The beginning, as mentioned already. I’m still not sure if it’s my attitude, or the book’s attitude, but once we got over it, we got along just fine.

What I’ll gush about:

Fairy gangsters. I’ve always pictured fairies as dainty little creatures, but these ones pack a punch. I also liked how the wing markings were used to signify clan affiliation. I wasn’t able to keep track of all the clans, but I like the idea (maybe it’s common in stories involving faeries, but it was new to me).

Sidney, the main character. She starts out a bit uncertain, but grows a lot throughout the story, and it’s great to see.

The setting. This world doesn’t shy away from the fantastic, and there’s magic all over the place. Woodhollow, the town where most of the story plays out, feels a bit like a non-comedy version of Ankh-Morpork. Also, I didn’t notice it at first, but there are no humans at all in this story.

Final Comments:

If the concept sounds interesting, go for it, but be prepared for a slow start.

Find Rumble in Woodhollow on Goodreads