Shandi Sturgill

 Throughout his life, Jacob has heard fantastical stories about his grandfather’s childhood. Abraham tells his grandson about the orphanage he grew up in and the children who lived there. As Jacob matures, these stories with their monsters and peculiar children become harder to believe. After his grandfather passes away, Jacob decides he has to know the truth about his grandfather and the truth behind his stories.

This was a fun story to read. Riggs does a wonderful job at pacing the story so the reader uncovers the truth along with Jacob. I thought the imagery was very well done; Riggs builds his world from the ground up, and the reader can easily picture everything in their imagination. The photographs Riggs included helped with the world building as well, and I found them to be a great addition. Another thing that I enjoyed about the novel is that Riggs takes the time to introduce each child’s peculiarity, and many serve a pivotal role in regards to the plot.

I do have one complaint about the book. I wish that the central conflict with the villains, supernatural beings referred to as “hollows”, was given more time. However, I am sure the author did this so the conflict could span through the other books in the series.

If you are apprehensive about picking this book up because it is for children or young adults, don’t be. It may be marketed to that age group but the book is not childish. Riggs does an excellent job of blending various genres in his debut novel; this book has a bit of fantasy, moments of horror, some family saga, and a touch of historical fiction.