publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
date of publication: September 25, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 320
source: Netgalley
From Goodreads:
Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers can get a taste of the real world. But the real world comes to her in this dystopian tale with a philosophical bent. Rumors of massive unrest on the “Outside” abound. Something murderous is out there. Amish elders make a rule: No one goes outside, and no outsiders come in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man, she can’t leave him to die. She smuggles him into her family’s barn—at what cost to her community? The suspense of this vividly told, truly horrific thriller will keep the pages turning.
When I first heard about The Hallowed Ones, I was intrigued yet doubtful. You see, I wasn't sure just how well a vampire apocalypse would work with an Amish community for a setting. Then, I began to read and became attached the the main character, Katie, a spirited young Amish girl thirsting for knowledge of what lies beyond the fences of her community. As calamity begins to befall the outside world, some unexpected dynamics come into play and Katie begins to undergo a transformation that will forever change her view of life. The Hallowed Ones is an absolutely gripping work of thoughtfulness, horror, and dystopia in its purest sense. What do you do when you discover corruption in the face of true horror?
Katie turned out to be a very compelling main character. While those around her expect her to be a good Amish girl and to settle down into marriage with her childhood friend, Elijah, right after her Rumspringa, Katie wants more. It is her internal fight against these wants that, in essence, prepares Katie for the events about to befall the entirety of the world. Her resistance of denial is fascinating to observe, especially when compared to the reactions of those around her to the nature of the disaster. There's everything from corruption to unexpected betrayal amongst this tight-knit community, which makes nearly every event so unexpected. I really enjoyed the different aspects of human reaction that were displayed within this book.
It didn't take very long for me to be fully convinced of the effectiveness of the story's setting. In regards to the traditional view of vampires (garlic, can't tread on holy ground, burn in sunlight, etc.), the Amish community in which Katie lives proves to be a novel, perfect backdrop. What constitutes holy ground? How vulnerable is it really? What breaks the fortification that holy ground provides? All were questions pondered in the story, making the overall plot both mentally stimulating and emotionally exciting. I was also pleasantly surprised by the return to the traditional vampire traits from the stories of old. It all made for a horrific, terrifying tone that I simply couldn't get enough of.
While the first few pages made me wonder as to whether the pacing would be good, the time in which it took actions to begin was nearly spot-on. The Hallowed Ones is a well-paced, well-executed story that is more than capable of grabbing your attention and holding it for hours on end. Even if you find yourself weary of vampire tales, as I do, you still need to read this book. If I'm this excited about it, I can imagine that others may be completely over-the-moon when they read it. The Hallowed Ones is well worth your time and attention thanks to such great characters and its amazing plot line. You won't be sorry.
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Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.
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