Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers can get a taste of the real world. But the real world comes to her in this dystopian tale with a philosophical bent. Rumors of massive unrest on the “Outside” abound. Something murderous is out there. Amish elders make a rule: No one goes outside, and no outsiders come in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man, she can’t leave him to die. She smuggles him into her family’s barn—at what cost to her community? The suspense of this vividly told, truly horrific thriller will keep the pages turning.
The Hallowed Ones
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Praise for The Hallowed Ones "This is a book to make you fear the shadows--a horrifying and gruesome tale of faith, and things that blink red eyes in the night. I began reading in the daylight, and read on into the late hours, leaning close, biting my lip. I could not look away; I was obsessed. Katie is an unbreakable soul."
—Lauren DeStefano, New York Times Bestselling author of the Chemical Garden Trilogy
"What an eerily believable, unique story! I can't stop thinking about it--or shivering."
—Melissa Marr, New York Times bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely Books
"Tight pacing, suspenseful scenes, Wow! moments of tension, and exposure into a world I knew little about, The Hallowed Ones is an exciting, terse read. . . . Laura Bickle's debut novel for young adults has quickly become my favorite dystopian novel of 2012. . . . It left me wanting more, so much more."
—readergirlsblog.com
"Readers will find it hard to put down this suspenseful, scary, compulsively readable adventure."
—Kirkus Reviews
"Katie's an original character, and her thoughtful rebellion makes her an interesting addition to supernatural fictions's gallery of strong heroines."
—Bulletin Praise for The Outside * "Top-notch. . . . A horror story with heart and soul."
—Kirkus, starred review
"At once horrifying, hopeful, and hauntingly beautiful, this gorgeous read with its rich textures and spine-tingling suspense kept me glued to the pages in utter fascination. Laura Bickle is a master storyteller. Brava! Just superbly done!"
—Darynda Jones, New York Times Bestselling author of Third Grave Dead Ahead and The Darklight Series
—Lauren DeStefano, New York Times Bestselling author of the Chemical Garden Trilogy
"What an eerily believable, unique story! I can't stop thinking about it--or shivering."
—Melissa Marr, New York Times bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely Books
"Tight pacing, suspenseful scenes, Wow! moments of tension, and exposure into a world I knew little about, The Hallowed Ones is an exciting, terse read. . . . Laura Bickle's debut novel for young adults has quickly become my favorite dystopian novel of 2012. . . . It left me wanting more, so much more."
—readergirlsblog.com
"Readers will find it hard to put down this suspenseful, scary, compulsively readable adventure."
—Kirkus Reviews
"Katie's an original character, and her thoughtful rebellion makes her an interesting addition to supernatural fictions's gallery of strong heroines."
—Bulletin Praise for The Outside * "Top-notch. . . . A horror story with heart and soul."
—Kirkus, starred review
"At once horrifying, hopeful, and hauntingly beautiful, this gorgeous read with its rich textures and spine-tingling suspense kept me glued to the pages in utter fascination. Laura Bickle is a master storyteller. Brava! Just superbly done!"
—Darynda Jones, New York Times Bestselling author of Third Grave Dead Ahead and The Darklight Series
About the Author
Laura Bickle is the author of The Hallowed Ones and The Outside. Her professional background is in criminal justice and library science. When she's not patrolling the stacks at the public library, she's dreaming up stories about the monsters under the stairs, and writing contemporary fantasy novels under the name Alayna Williams. Laura lives in Ohio with her husband and five mostly-reformed feral cats. For more about Laura, please visit her website at: www.laurabickle.com.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Hallowed Ones - Vampires Make a Return to Their Frightening Origins
October 18, 2012
By MarlaSTNC
Format:Paperback
When I first heard about The Hallowed Ones, I was intrigued yet doubtful. You see, I wasn't sure just how well a vampire apocalypse would work with an Amish community for a setting. Then, I began to read and became attached the the main character, Katie, a spirited young Amish girl thirsting for knowledge of what lies beyond the fences of her community. As calamity begins to befall the outside world, some unexpected dynamics come into play and Katie begins to undergo a transformation that will forever change her view of life. The Hallowed Ones is an absolutely gripping work of thoughtfulness, horror, and dystopia in its purest sense. What do you do when you discover corruption in the face of true horror?
Katie turned out to be a very compelling main character. While those around her expect her to be a good Amish girl and to settle down into marriage with her childhood friend, Elijah, right after her Rumspringa, Katie wants more. It is her internal fight against these wants that, in essence, prepares Katie for the events about to befall the entirety of the world. Her resistance of denial is fascinating to observe, especially when compared to the reactions of those around her to the nature of the disaster. There's everything from corruption to unexpected betrayal amongst this tight-knit community, which makes nearly every event so unexpected. I really enjoyed the different aspects of human reaction that were displayed within this book.
It didn't take very long for me to be fully convinced of the effectiveness of the story's setting. In regards to the traditional view of vampires (garlic, can't tread on holy ground, burn in sunlight, etc.), the Amish community in which Katie lives proves to be a novel, perfect backdrop. What constitutes holy ground? How vulnerable is it really? What breaks the fortification that holy ground provides? All were questions pondered in the story, making the overall plot both mentally stimulating and emotionally exciting. I was also pleasantly surprised by the return to the traditional vampire traits from the stories of old. It all made for a horrific, terrifying tone that I simply couldn't get enough of.
While the first few pages made me wonder as to whether the pacing would be good, the time in which it took actions to begin was nearly spot-on. The Hallowed Ones is a well-paced, well-executed story that is more than capable of grabbing your attention and holding it for hours on end. Even if you find yourself weary of vampire tales, as I do, you still need to read this book. If I'm this excited about it, I can imagine that others may be completely over-the-moon when they read it. The Hallowed Ones is well worth your time and attention thanks to such great characters and its amazing plot line. You won't be sorry.
Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.
This review originally appeared on my blog, Starting the Next Chapter, on October 4, 2012.
Katie turned out to be a very compelling main character. While those around her expect her to be a good Amish girl and to settle down into marriage with her childhood friend, Elijah, right after her Rumspringa, Katie wants more. It is her internal fight against these wants that, in essence, prepares Katie for the events about to befall the entirety of the world. Her resistance of denial is fascinating to observe, especially when compared to the reactions of those around her to the nature of the disaster. There's everything from corruption to unexpected betrayal amongst this tight-knit community, which makes nearly every event so unexpected. I really enjoyed the different aspects of human reaction that were displayed within this book.
It didn't take very long for me to be fully convinced of the effectiveness of the story's setting. In regards to the traditional view of vampires (garlic, can't tread on holy ground, burn in sunlight, etc.), the Amish community in which Katie lives proves to be a novel, perfect backdrop. What constitutes holy ground? How vulnerable is it really? What breaks the fortification that holy ground provides? All were questions pondered in the story, making the overall plot both mentally stimulating and emotionally exciting. I was also pleasantly surprised by the return to the traditional vampire traits from the stories of old. It all made for a horrific, terrifying tone that I simply couldn't get enough of.
While the first few pages made me wonder as to whether the pacing would be good, the time in which it took actions to begin was nearly spot-on. The Hallowed Ones is a well-paced, well-executed story that is more than capable of grabbing your attention and holding it for hours on end. Even if you find yourself weary of vampire tales, as I do, you still need to read this book. If I'm this excited about it, I can imagine that others may be completely over-the-moon when they read it. The Hallowed Ones is well worth your time and attention thanks to such great characters and its amazing plot line. You won't be sorry.
Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.
This review originally appeared on my blog, Starting the Next Chapter, on October 4, 2012.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
<strong>FTC Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book from the Amazon Vice Program in exchange for an honest review./strong>
I'm almost at a loss for how to write this review without giving away spoilers. It is a deliciously spine chilling tale that just might make you think twice about the darkness. Ok, if I keep on with this, I'll end up giving something away.
Bickle has written an engaging story that is not the typical teen paranormal dystopian. Oh, it does have all of those elements, but it's not a cookie cutter teen horror story. Katie is a strong character who seems out of place in her conservative and restrictive Amish community. She does what she believes is right even if it goes against what she was taught. Readers can't help but take her side.
Of course there is a romance, but it is more sweet than hot and heavy. It takes a back seat to the main story of the evil that is threatening the world.
This book reads like the first in a series. The ending does wrap up the story, but leaves room for speculation.
This book is scheduled for release in September 2012. If you like paranormal dystopian young adult novels, I highly recommend that you read this one. I look forward to reading more by this author.
I'm almost at a loss for how to write this review without giving away spoilers. It is a deliciously spine chilling tale that just might make you think twice about the darkness. Ok, if I keep on with this, I'll end up giving something away.
Bickle has written an engaging story that is not the typical teen paranormal dystopian. Oh, it does have all of those elements, but it's not a cookie cutter teen horror story. Katie is a strong character who seems out of place in her conservative and restrictive Amish community. She does what she believes is right even if it goes against what she was taught. Readers can't help but take her side.
Of course there is a romance, but it is more sweet than hot and heavy. It takes a back seat to the main story of the evil that is threatening the world.
This book reads like the first in a series. The ending does wrap up the story, but leaves room for speculation.
This book is scheduled for release in September 2012. If you like paranormal dystopian young adult novels, I highly recommend that you read this one. I look forward to reading more by this author.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Books about the Amish are my secret love. I've lived within 10 miles of Amish (and Mennonites) for the majority of my life and I've always fantasied about what it would be like to live among them. Most books about the Amish are found in Christian literature which tends to be preachy, so I end up skipping whole scenes. When I heard about a paranormal Amish story, I was immediately intrigued, and yet skeptical. I wasn't sure how capable the author was of staying true to the Amish lifestyle and religion, while still maintaining an element of suspense. I'm happy to say that Laura Bickle surpassed all expectations.
My only complaint about the novel is that the author went to great lengths to explain the Amish lifestyle and traditions, so at points, the pacing of the novel suffered. On a flip side, I appreciate how at no point did the novel feel preachy, even as Kate was being preached to by the other characters. The author did an excellent job of separating the characters' religious views from the narrative, so even as different religions were mention, there was no bashing or persuasion that one was better than another.
With Kate's upbringing, she acts differently from any other heroine in YA fiction that I know. I admire her bravery. I understand both her rash decisions and the guilt that came soon after. There is a love triangle, however it gradually enters the story and as a reader I know that for Kate, it isn't as simple as choosing between one man or another. Rather it is about choosing whether to commit to the Amish faith or explore the dangerous world outside.
(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.)
My only complaint about the novel is that the author went to great lengths to explain the Amish lifestyle and traditions, so at points, the pacing of the novel suffered. On a flip side, I appreciate how at no point did the novel feel preachy, even as Kate was being preached to by the other characters. The author did an excellent job of separating the characters' religious views from the narrative, so even as different religions were mention, there was no bashing or persuasion that one was better than another.
With Kate's upbringing, she acts differently from any other heroine in YA fiction that I know. I admire her bravery. I understand both her rash decisions and the guilt that came soon after. There is a love triangle, however it gradually enters the story and as a reader I know that for Kate, it isn't as simple as choosing between one man or another. Rather it is about choosing whether to commit to the Amish faith or explore the dangerous world outside.
(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.)
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Read to my Heart's Content Reviews
The wonderful and very amazing Jen from YA Romantics had recommended this book to me telling me how scary good it was. Read more
Published 5 days ago by Amy@Read to My Heart's Content
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amish + Vampires = Awesome Story!
The Amish Life, or Plain Folk Life, is somewhat of a mystery in a world controlled by technology. We can't even step outside our doors in the morning without our automatic coffee... Read more
Published 8 days ago by OpheliasOwn
4.0 out of 5 stars
awesome read
I was very very hesitant to pick this one up. I was very concerned about the Amish aspect and if I would be able to relate to the characters. Read more
Published 13 days ago by TeresaMaryRose
4.0 out of 5 stars
Creepily Excellent!!
Katie was just weeks away from her Rumspringa. The excitement of exploring the world that has always been denied to her is all most more than she can bear. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Bethany @ Bythebookful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous tales, really great read
I loved this book as a matter of course.
It took a very interesting world view, one of an Amish girl and her safe home, and totally wrecked it with a vampire plague. Read more
It took a very interesting world view, one of an Amish girl and her safe home, and totally wrecked it with a vampire plague. Read more
Published 28 days ago by Ro P
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not what I thought it would be
I picked it up on a whim and the more I read the more intrigued I became. It was an interesting combination of Amish and vampires. Read more
Published 1 month ago by its just me
5.0 out of 5 stars
Who would of thought...
Really?? Who would of seriously thought that you could mix Amish and Vampires and the end result would be one of the most kick @&^ books I have ever read. For. Real. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jennifer hearts the STL Cardinals
4.0 out of 5 stars
Amish horror? Yes please!
I spent all of my teenage years in a Mennonite Community. I walked the walk, talked the talk, dressed the dress... whatever you want to call it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by R. J. Schoonover
3.0 out of 5 stars
3.5 Stars
I don't do too many tours where I actually review the book ( since I have way too many books to review as it is ) but I had to sign up for this one because of my curiosity about... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Book Flame
5.0 out of 5 stars
Infusing a tired genre with fresh blood!
Something very cool happens when seemingly contrary elements are fused together. Chocolate and peanut butter, salt and vinegar, Amish folks and the undead... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Tim McGregor
