The Hollow (Sign of Seven Trilogy, Book 2) by Nora Roberts
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Book Reviews of The Hollow (Sign of Seven Trilogy, Book 2)
Book Review: Wonderful blend of genres
Summary: 5 Stars
While Blood Brothers focused on Quinn and Cal's connection and the initial steps in researching the phenomenon, The Hollow takes on Fox and Layla's attraction to each other. The six friends dig deeper in the course of their research, finding out more about their ancestors and about Giles Dent's plan for them.
It's a riot getting to meet and interact with Fox's "hippie" family. Each of his family members is incredibly memorable in their own way. I particularly enjoyed, as a reader, the relationship between Fox and Layla for its unusual nature. Layla's struggling with coming to grips with what's happening. Of all the six, she's the one who was least prepared. She's a practical, organized person who's never encountered the supernatural before the events of Blood Brothers. It's interesting watching her deal with these changes, learn to turn her skills to work for their cause, deal with her own unusual abilities, and come to terms with Fox's equally strong personality. They're both very compassionate people, but they're also both determined individualists. I love that they [...] heads without reducing themselves to the usual romance cliche of fiery overreaction and temper tantrums.
The demon has stepped up its campaign of terror against the group, and has moved to actively trying to harm them. This steps up the tension and level of action from the first book---no second-novel drop-off for this trilogy! There's just as much humor, entertainment value, and quotable lines as well. Quinn and Cal definitely don't drop off the face of the earth even though they're no longer the focus characters, so if you're looking for more material on them I don't think you'll be too disappointed. Finally, while the books in this trilogy aren't stand-alone stories but rather parts of a whole, Nora Roberts has a talent for weaving enough information into her books that they never feel incomplete. If you don't remember every detail of book one when you get around to book two, that should hardly be a problem.
Book Review: A Wonderful Paranormal Romance
Summary: 5 Stars
The Hollow is the second book of the Sign of Seven Trilogy by Nora Roberts. The story started twenty-one years ago, when three young boys, Caleb, Fox, and Gage, spent the night camping by the Pagan Stone. They shared birthdays and an unbreakable bond on friendship. Boys being boys, they wanted to take it one step farther. They would become blood brothers. During the ritual of sharing, mixed blood hit the ground. It unleashed an evil entity that returned to Hawkins Hollow every seven years. For seven days madness reigned, lives were lost, property destroyed, and families torn apart.
Caleb, Fox, and Gage are descendants of the Guardian, Giles Dent, the one that locked the evil entity, Lazarus Twisse under the Pagan Stone. Up until now Caleb, Fox, and Gage did what they could to minimize the damage but they couldn't stop it.
The madness would be returning this summer and now, twenty-one years after releasing the demon, they have a chance at ending it once and for all. Three women, Quinn, Cybil, and Layla, all descendants of the child conceived when Twisse raped an innocent girl, have joined the battle.
With the history laid out in the first book, the story is more evenly divided between the challenge Lazarus Twisse presented, and the budding romance between Layla and Fox. The attraction was strong, but they were circling each other, not sure if getting involved was a smart move. They had to work together on so many levels, a romance might cloud the issue---or clear it.
The Hollow by Nora Roberts is a fast paced thrilled with a healthy dose of romance thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the third book The Pagan Stone scheduled for release in December of 2008.
Book Review: fine urban romantic fantasy
Summary: 5 Stars
Twenty-one years ago three boys (Caleb, Fox and Gage) camped at the Pagan Stone, a place of great power in the woods of Hawkins Hollow, Illinois. They shared a blood rite that made them blood brothers, but when that serum hit the ground a black evil mass appeared followed by a blinding light that sent the demon back to its dimension. Three centuries ago, the guardian Trent after hundreds of years of battle with the demon Lazarus took an unprecedented step to stop the malevolent one.
In the present, the three blood brothers descendents of Trent have faced the demon who has influence over the townsfolk especially on the seventh day of the seventh month every seven years. Now they have three female allies (Layla, Cybil and Quinn) who are descended from the demon's rape of Hestern three centuries ago. They must fight as one the evil; this time hoping to dispatch him to hell forever. While the sextet research what to do, Layla and Fox are attracted to one another; feelings that frighten both of them especially her as she fears she will lose her beloved in the next battle.
The demonic powers are stronger than they were in the first Sign of the Seven tale (see BLOOD BROTHERS) as he is able to influence many more people; however, his opponents have also grown. Though it has the Hollow feel of the middle book of an urban romantic fantasy trilogy, Nora Roberts affirms her talent as she has written an exciting and entertaining thriller starring the magnificent six who will earn reader admiration and respect for their courage. Well written, fans of Ms. Roberts will look forward to the final war THE PAGAN STONE.
Harriet Klausner
Book Review: Nora Roberts knows how to write 'em!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
An excellent second book in the trilogy! I couldn't ask for better. We're taken back to Hawkin's Hollow and its residents - good and bad. Some you love, some you love to hate.
This book circled mostly around Layla and Fox - their relationship blossoms in this novel, and I loved how they got the feel of each other - thoughts and feelings. Working together, being together... You get more of their backgrounds, what Fox was like as a kid and growing up. Layla gets to chat with his parents - together and separately, and adores his family almost as much as him. It was a little annoying how it took nineteen out of twenty chapters for her to finally admit she was in love it him - to herself and out loud to Fox himself - but I think it was perfect. I wouldn't have had it any other way.
You still get time with Cal and Quinn, and you know, just like in the first novel, they love each other deeply.
And wether Cybil and Gage want to admit it or not, I think they are very much stuck together. It'll be interesting to see them bloom in the third novel. They are alike in a lot of ways - and neither would ever admit to it.
In this novel, we're taken back in time through Ann's journals. You get a little better understanding of what they're up against. The troubles escalate, fear is mounting, as well as their determination as a group to finally stop Twisse.
I can't wait to see what the last novel - which is going to drive me absolutely crazy seeing as the third and final book in the trilogy, The Pagan Stone, isn't out until late November, early December `08. The six-month wait is going to kill me, LOL!
Book Review: A terrific middle book in the trilogy!
Summary: 5 Stars
In this second and middle book of the Sign of Seven Trilogy, we learn more about Fox and Layla. Of the three boys, Cal, Fox and Gage, that unleashed an evil on their 10th birthdays 21 years ago, Fox is the one to see the present and "read" people's minds or feelings. Fox is now a lawyer in Hawkins Hollow practicing all types of law from divorces to wills to civil suits and minor criminal defenses. He brings a special compassion and understanding to his clients partly because of his personality and partly because of his special ability.
Layla was a boutique shop assistant manager in New York when her dreams drove her to come to Hawkins Hollow. She is the "oddball" of the 3 women since Quinn and Cybil have known each other for years and are best friends. Layla did not know them or the three men before she came and is now deeply involved in the work of the 6 to learn more of Ann Hawkins and Giles Dent and thus more about the evil and the magic used to contain is for over 300 years. Layla has the same special ability as Fox but has not actively used it so it is up to Fox to teach her how. Since she is now working for him as his assistant is moving away with her husband, Fox has ample opportunity to work with her in more ways than one.
This is a wonderful story just on the romance between them alone. When you add in the excitement of searching for Ann's journals, the visions and manifestations of evil and new progress in finding ways to defeat the evil, it makes for an incredibly exciting read!
I wish the final installment came out tomorrow!
High recommended.