Hollow

Happy rerelease to Hollow by Karina Halle! First published two years ago, it has just been republished with a gorgeous new cover. Hollow is the first half of A Gothic Shade of Romance duology; the second part, Legend, comes out in December.

Hollow is a retelling of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. Though I haven’t read that short story, I am familiar with the characters and plot. Here, Karina Halle has expanded everything beautifully, giving depth to the characters, a dark academia setting, witchcraft, and an MMF romance.

What I Liked:

• Dark academia and a school for witches. Much of this book take place at a secretive college on the outskirts of Sleepy Hollow, one where magic it taught but only remembered on school grounds (for most!). It’s prestigious… but are the staff and students really safe there?
• Forbidden romance. Ichabod is a teacher at the school, and Kat is a new student. They instantly have a connection. And yeah, usually a teacher and student would be off-putting, at least they’re all adults and it’s consensual here. So we’ll go with it. But then Kat’s betrothed, Brom, who disappeared four years ago, suddenly returns. And Ichabod knows him, too. Uh oh, now what?
• Love triangle? Why choose? Kat, Ichabod, and Brom are connected to each other, but can that leave enough space for a relationship they’re all happy with? I also liked the dichotomy between a character who is comfortable with his bisexuality vs. one who is battling conflicted feelings about his own sexuality.
• Legends, hauntings, and creepy vibes all around. This book has some scary parts and mysteries lurking underneath. There’s a fair amount of horror, perfect for the Halloween season. I loved the unsettling elements!

What Didn’t Work for Me:

• The sexual aspect is pretty dark, matching the tone of the book. Ichabod describes himself as a deviant, and, well, we’ve been warned! While it is all portrayed as consensual, it still was a bit too dark and uncomfortable for my tastes.

Audiobook:

Carolyn Eve and Arthur Russell narrate Hollow, and magnificently so! Ichabod, Brom, and (briefly) Kat’s dad are all narrated by Arthur Russell, and his voice works so well for each character. He captures the tender love of a father for a daughter, the dominance of Ichabod, and the terrifying thoughts running through Brom’s mind. Stunning voice acting! Carolyn Eve also does a wonderful job narrating as Kat, portraying her oscillating feelings well. I’ve heard this narrator before, and as in the other books, she does an excellent job in Hollow.

Final Thoughts

Hollow is such an incredible retelling of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”! There are so many themes in that original short story that come to life here, and so many new elements added to expand it into a richer story. This book is spooky and darkly sexy. The characters sure are horny despite all the horror happening around them; can’t relate, lol, but this book is a whole vibe to be sure. I can’t wait to read the sequel, Legend, out in December.

Though I’ve read four other novels by Karina Halle, all contemporary romances, this is my first foray into her historical/fantasy/gothic books. Her writing works so well in this genre! I’m excited to read more of these books from her. She has a ton of novels, so I have a lot to choose from!

Special thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy Hollow here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

Hollow by Karina Halle
Series	A Gothic Shade of Romance
Audiobook Narrator	Carolyn Eve and Arthur Russell
Audience	Adult
Genre	Gothic; Romance; Fantasy; Horror
Setting	New York
Number of Pages	368
Format I Read	Audiobook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	October 7, 2025 (republication)
Publisher	Ace

Official Summary

A sexy, dark fantasy reimagining of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, where Katrina Van Tassel doesn’t have to choose between Brom Bones and Ichabod Crane, and there are worse things haunting them than the Headless Horseman.

Kat Van Tassel’s life was predestined from childhood; she was to marry her best friend, Brom Bones. But Brom vanished from Sleepy Hollow years ago, leaving Kat alone to enroll in Sleepy Hollow Institute, a shadowy university for advanced witchcraft run by her powerful family. And now she finds herself drawn to the school’s enigmatic new teacher, Ichabod Crane, as he delves into dark magic.

When Brom returns, suffering from amnesia and a dark transformation, the trio must confront gruesome murders attributed to a vengeful spirit, The Headless Horseman, while navigating their tangled relationships.

As Kat, Ichabod, and Brom seek answers, their bonds deepen, and forbidden desires take hold. But Sleepy Hollow holds secrets more sinister than they imagined. The Headless Horseman lurks, threatening to claim them, while something even more terrifying looms in the shadows. Embark on a journey of dark mysteries, desire, and danger in the eerie heart of Sleepy Hollow.