The Haunted (The Hollow, Book 2) [Hardcover]

Jessica Verday (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 31, 2010

An impossible truth. An impossible love.

After a summer spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with--the boy who must not exist, cannot exist, because she knows that he is dead--Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, ready to leave the ghosts of her past behind. She throws herself into her schoolwork, her perfume-making, and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be her ticket to getting over Caspian once and for all.

But Abbey can never get over Caspian, and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side, for Caspian is a Shade, and Abbey is his destiny. They are tied not only to each other, but also to the town of Sleepy Hollow, and to the famous legend that binds their fates--a legend whose dark truths they are only beginning to guess....

“Spectacular! The Hollow keeps you reading from beginning to end without coming up for air.” --L.J. Smith, bestselling author of The Vampire Diaries and Night World

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This darker follow-up to The Hollow (2009) opens with 17-year-old Abbey Browning still mourning the death of her best friend, Kristen, and reeling from the discovery that her boyfriend, Caspian, is actually a ghost. Abbey initially resists Caspian, whose otherworldly status can only cause heartbreak; but as Abbey and Caspian fall deeper in love, they uncover Kristen’s murderer and learn the true meaning of “soul mates.” Verday deviates from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which she ambitiously tried to integrate into the first book, to introduce some sinister new characters who heighten the suspense of this drawn-out sequel. Grades 8-11. --Kimberly Garnick

Review

"[It] completely blew me away, I loved it! ...be prepared to be blown away by this thrilling sequel! It's romantic and mysterious with great characters and an exciting ending that was a huge cliffhanger!"
----The Book Scout (Book Reviewer)

"A contemplative read touched with the chill of the grave and the longing of the heart." 
------E.J. Stevens (From the Shadows, reviews)

"Like Twilight (Little Brown) and the Vampire Diaries (HarperTeen) series, Verday’s planned trilogy (of which The Haunted is the second installment) is characterized by its protagonists’ unrequited passions and its narrative’s gradual revelation of a second, supernatural world, the rules of which are distinct and complicated. This lengthy novel ends with a cliffhanger, as Abbey is positioned to make a choice that may or may not ensure the eternity of her relationship with Caspian; this trope will all but guarantee an audience for the trilogy’s final novel. --VOYA, October 2010

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse; No Edition Stated edition (August 31, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141697895X
• ISBN-13: 978-1416978954
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #671,267 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jessica Verday is the bestselling author of The Hollow Trilogy, first published in 2009 by Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse. She wrote the first draft of THE HOLLOW by hand, using thirteen spiral-bound notebooks and fifteen black pens. The first draft of THE HAUNTED took fifteen spiral-bound notebooks and twenty black pens. THE HIDDEN took too many notebooks and too many pens to count. Find out more at jessicaverday.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the first September 1, 2010

By Jessawa VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed Jessica Verday's book The Haunted. Her first book of the series was OK. I loved the sleepy hollow theme and the characters were OK so I decided to go for book 2.

Much better! The thing that made me like this book the most are the characters. Abbey and Caspian are both much stronger more likable characters. As Abbey returns home to Sleepy Hollow their relationship definitely blossoms throughout the book to something more intense. Abbey's friendship with Ben also goes through some changes. I don't feel like much was really accomplished plot wise until the last couple of chapters but I enjoyed the writing and dialogue between Abbey and all of the other characters so much that I didn't seem to mind. The last few chapters give you a preview into what book 3 will be about and it sets up book three nicely. I really enjoyed this book and am now eagerly awaiting what Verday comes up with next.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Lost for Words August 31, 2010

By Cor Lost For Words

Format:Hardcover

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Loretta from Simon & Schuster for sending me this book for review. This book was received free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 4/5

The Haunted opens up with Abbey heading back home to Sleepy Hollow. She is still dealing with her friend Kristen's death, and her relationship with Caspian. She is back to her perfume making and is trying to figure out what exactly is going on with Caspian, and herself.
Abbey is a more formidable character in this installment, she is learning more about herself, and also seems more sure of herself. In my review of The Hollow, I stated that I hoped that she would grow more of a backbone, and she seems to have definitely evolved from that person into a newer, stronger, more resilient one. Caspian has also grown as a character. I really enjoyed reading about the two of them, but wish that we could have seen more of Nikolas and Katy. I think Verday has hit her stride in this installment and many questions asked in The Hollow are answered in this book. The book starts off slowly, and gains momentum, capturing the reader's interest while setting the stage for its haunting conclusion. As an avid fan of anything to do with the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, I enjoyed the paranormal element, and hope to see more of them in the final installment. I absolutely loved this book and am happy that Abbey is figuring things out.
All in all, a spectacular read. Based on this book alone, I would have to say that I would buy the full trilogy, and add it to my re-read shelf. Fans of the first book will love this installment. Those who didn't enjoy the first book should give Verday a second chance as this book was exceptional. It is slow to start, but the payoff is worth the wait.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars From an unlikely reader... August 13, 2011

By H. Jones

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'd read about Jessica Verday's principled stand regarding content in a story of hers that had been chosen for inclusion in a collection. I was curious what kind of stories such a principled author would write. So, I--a 66 year old man--bought and read two volumes of her Hollow series, a series targeting a female YA readership. Despite my not fitting that demographic in the least, I was entertained and impressed by both the books I read. I hope, someday, she writes for an adult audience. I predict she'll do well.