Liminal spaces get under our skin in a way that’s difficult to explain–both captivating and unsettling. Those are perhaps the best ways to describe T. Kingfisher’s The Hollow Places as well…the book is both captivating and unsettling–but in the best ways.

Kara’s life didn’t turn out quite the way she expected. Freshly divorced from a husband who left more than a little bit to be desired, she finds herself moving into the apartment owned by her eccentric and doting uncle, in the same building as his museum of curiosities–mostly containing items of questionable authenticity and taxidermy specimens of equally questionable taste and quality. When she discovers a hole in the wall, Kara has no way of preparing for what she discovers on the other side.

With the assistance of her friend and trusty barista, Kara explores the concrete bunker that exists in a space that can’t exist within the walls of her building, only to find a whole new world awaiting her. But this new world is a dangerous place filled with threats–both seen and unseen. Navigating the treacherous–and seemingly endless–series of small islands rising from a shallow river, Kara and Simon soon fear they may be lost. Lost, but not alone.

Will they find their way home?

If they find their way home, will something else pass through into our world?

You’ll have to read it to find out.

The Hollow Places is a stirring adventure into the unknown, leaving us with so many questions for which there are sure to be no answers…but satisfying our curiosity just the same.

The narration from Hillary Huber is spot-on, capturing the exasperated and sarcastic nature of Kara’s character, the kindly qualities of her loving uncle, and the peculiarly out-of-his-depth Simon about as perfectly as one could hope.