Just like the rest of her family, Priscilla is a monster hunter. She has been raised by her mums and powerful grandmother to be a hunter of the hollow creatures that tear through into their reality. Priscilla’s older sisters are very accomplished hunters, and her niece is about to complete the ritual of receiving her power and familiar.

This is a rite of passage at age 13, and Priscilla has been disappointed and left feeling guilty ever since she went through hers. There is no doubt she loves her tiny but wise familiar, Mouse, but she wishes for a much more useful power than she manifested. Knowing who is at the door before anyone else doesn’t feel very useful at all.

She tries to make it up to her family by making sure everyone is organised, well fed and happy, not realising that her seemingly simple power hasn’t shown it’s true self yet. Always feeling ‘less than’ the rest of her family, she hides this secret. When she meets a handsome fan at a Hunter / Norm (normal person) meet and greet, she can’t deny she loves all the attention he is giving her. Her self inflicted battered self esteem begins to pick itself up off the floor, and she is increasingly intrigued by this guy called Bastion.

He also helps to put aside the hurt of her girlfriend leaving months before, for a job opportunity straight out of university. Priscilla knew she could have gone too, but her stubborn nature refuses to let her remember that possibility. Why bother when Bastion is so interesting?

But there are things she doesn’t know about Bastion, about her power, and about her family. Suddenly everything is about choices to be made, hearts to break and lives to save. Can she finally become the Hollow Monster Hunter she has dreamed of being?

The 1st part of a thrilling duology, I’m so glad I finally got to read this book. I have had it on my radar for a while, and now I have to get my hands on the second book.

Although the characters live in a futuristic fantasy world of hover cars and monsters, it was such an easy world to inhabit as I read. Main character Priscilla is very family orientated, and the family dynamics are superb! Coming together for a coming of age ritual, then again for a battle of their lives, We Who Hunt The Hollow is for anyone who loves kickass female characters, love stories of betrayal and redemption, and Monsters!

The rituals and world building is effortless, and Priscilla’s arc of self discovery is brilliant.

Looking for a copy of We Who Are Forged In Fire now!

Author – Kate Murray

Age – 13+

Book #1 in the Hollow series

– Shortlisted for the Ampersand Prize
– Shortlisted for the Readings Young Adult Prize
– A CBCA Notable Book
– Shortlisted for the Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Novel
– Winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Young Adults

(2022, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, NZ Author, New Zealand, Romance, Family, War, Secret, Magic, Fantasy, Action, Betrayal, Series, Monsters, Tears, Powers, Rituals, Sisters, Fight, Weaponry, Guilt, Loss, Familiars, Mouse, Fox, Imps, Hovercraft, Future Fantasy)