The Hallowed Ones (The Hallowed Ones, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Dec 20, 2012 Regina rated it really liked it

Shelves: post-apocalyptic, urban-fantasy-uf, will-continue-series, first-in-series, ya

To read a guest blog post by this author and more reviews like this check out: Laura Bickle's Guest Blog Post @ Badass

It is unusual to read to read a different take on two of the most popular genres — vampires and the apocalypse. But that is exactly what the Hallowed Ones is — a completely different telling of vampires and the end of the world. I am partial to survival stories, whether they are non fiction, written by Laura Ingalls or a modern apocalyptic tale. And having glutted myself on u To read a guest blog post by this author and more reviews like this check out: Laura Bickle's Guest Blog Post @ Badass

It is unusual to read to read a different take on two of the most popular genres — vampires and the apocalypse. But that is exactly what the Hallowed Ones is — a completely different telling of vampires and the end of the world. I am partial to survival stories, whether they are non fiction, written by Laura Ingalls or a modern apocalyptic tale. And having glutted myself on urban fantasy and vampire stories, any author that writes vampires in a different way and adds in the apocalypse starts off as a winner for me.

The vampires in the Hallowed Ones may lure their victims, but they aren’t sexy and they are not romantic. These vamps are true monsters and something to fear after sundown. But while vamps and the end of the world are the general themes of the novel, the main character Katie faces other challenges. Katie engages in normal rebellion, or what appears normal to me. However, her questioning of the elders in her community and her questioning of religious and social belief structures sets other scarier monsters after her — i.e. leaders of the community who are power hungry.

What happens when a community already closed off from the world is one of the last remaining communities in the world? What happens when a community already imbued with religious superiority sees itself as the sole survivors according to god’s will? I really enjoyed the religious focus of this story. As the story begins, religious belief is just a part of Katie’s life. Yet as the horror of what is happening begins to be known to Katie she begins to question her community’s religious belief. How could a witch’s coven in New Jersey hold off the vampires if they do not believe as her community did? How could Buddhist monks survive the vampires when they do not believe (according to Katie’s community) in the one true god and the correct path? Is it Katie’s destiny to submit to the will of the elders and a husband? Having said that, the religious element in the Hallowed Ones is not offensively done and is not overwhelming.

The Hallowed Ones is not a complex story and it is told simply. But it is engaging and hard to put down. The characters are interesting and Katie, the main character, is one that grows, changes but definitely has her flaws. Katie is by definition a “young adult”, she is considering marriage, committing herself to the church as an adult and has a love interest. But the romance and the teen concerns are not the main focus of this story. Which I appreciated. I like a tad bit of romance thrown in, but I enjoy my post-apocalypse stories more when the struggle the characters go through is something separate from the romance story line. If you enjoy post-apoc and urban fantasy stories, I think this is a story you would enjoy. ...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Dichotomy Girl rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites-previous-years, philosophy-religion-politics, 4-and-a-half-to-5-stars, dystopia-apocalyptic, paranormal-or-spec, 2013, need-to-reread, own-kindle-read

4.5 Stars, rounded up, because, come on Amish people and the Vampire apocalypse??

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Jul 26, 2012 Samantha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, 2012, ebook-own

4.5-stars -A little slow at first, this book really grew on me. The slow, easy build of the story sent the creepiness factor high and Bickle's vampires do not disappoint in that department. On a personal level I find that I have a weird interest in the Amish and I have no idea why because I'd even say it's love/hate. I love that they've devoted their lives to God in such an interesting way, but I hate that even in their humbleness there seems to be a pride or judgement in how others live their l ...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it it was amazing

Author Laura Bickle has done what others thought was impossible or something that they would never have ever dreamt of doing , she has combined the world of Amish Christian Fiction with the Supernatural world of Vampires. An Interesting mix , I was wondering how it was going to work as Hello, they are like as far apart as possible but surprisingly enough it worked wonders. The Hallowed Ones is set in an Amish town , that becomes alerted to an outbreak that is happening in the Outsider world. The ...more

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Apr 16, 2013 S H A R O N rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, horror, teenybopper, dystopian, young-adult, ebook, 2013

[I also reviewed this title on my blog: Ishari's Bookshelf]

I've been wanting to read this one for a while...so imagine my happiness when they had a deal on it in the Kindle store! $1.99? Yes, please. That said...after reading it, I'd go as far as to say I could have paid the publisher's retail price and have been satisfied with the purchase.

What a fun, scary read!

In The Hallowed Ones an Amish teenager, Katie, is close to leaving on Rumspringa with her friend Elijah. Not sure if she is ready to f ...more

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