Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Title: Hollow City

Author: Ransom Riggs

Publisher: Quirky Books

Rating: 4/5

 

Last week, I finally got around to finishing the second book in Ransom Rigg’s Peculiar Children series. It’s taken me a lot longer than normal on account of my current work schedule, but I was still able to enjoy the continuations of the adventure started in the previous book, ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’.

We rejoin Jacob Portman and his group of newfound friends on their journey to London, in search of help for their beloved headmistress, Miss Peregrine, who is stuck in her second form – that of a bird. However, danger is never far from the group of peculiar children. They are called peculiar for a reason: each of the children possess a certain peculiar ability. For example, Emma can conjure fire in her bare hands, Millard is invisible and Jacob is the only one who can see, and possibly kill their enemy, the hollowgasts.

When outside the safety of their time-loop, the hollowgasts are an ever present danger, which we learn much more of in this second book. A number of intriguing new characters are also introduced, and they really are great additions to the story. Jacob also has the opportunity to explore his powers more, and makes an important discovery.

As with the previous book, Rigg’s has provided visuals to go along with scenes in the story. The black and white photographs, some he found in market sales and some borrowed from collectors, all equally creepy, help the reader to visualise the characters and their various deformities/powers. I think this is a great selling point for the series, and really adds something to the story, as oppose to the pictures just being plonked here and there with no reasoning.

Jacob and Emma’s relationship develops further in this second instalment, as does his friendship with the rest of the children. They have to band together to help Miss Peregrine, and is some fabulously witty dialogue between Horce, Millard and Enoch. This humour only works so well because Rigg’s has succeeded in developing each child into a strong enough character to carry a scene.

I’m currently moving straight onto the third book, ‘Library of Souls’, which I’m hoping will provide a rounded conclusion to the series, and a good ending for each of the children. Review to come.

Have you read this series? Do you like it? Leave me a comment with your thoughts!