The Hallowed Ones

by Laura Bickle

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.

• ISBN10: 0547859260
• ISBN13: 9780547859262
• Publish Date: 25 September 2012 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Houghton Mifflin
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

I highly enjoyed The Hallowed Ones.

I thought the beginning took a while for me to get hooked but once I did I couldn't put this down. I liked learning about the Amish culture, the way Bickle did it didn't make me feel like it was thrown in my face or that it was over the top. It was easy, simple, she just slipped the facts in. Because of this the beginning was a bit slow but I didn't mind it too much because I found it interesting.

I love that Katie questioned things a lot, I loved that she liked having her own opinion and didn't dive in head first just because she was told to. But I also loved that she stayed true to herself and what she believed in without disrespecting the bigger picture of her culture, even when she herself felt like she was breaking all the rules as according to her community, not her god. She was a very interesting character.

The vampires were scary. I loved this. I loved that they were monsters that attacked, I loved there were gruesome parts, I loved that this scared me when I read it at night. It was refreshing.

I did want to see more of Alex though, I wanted there to be a few more scenes between him and Katie, something that built their whole relationship up. At the same time I liked that he was independent and wasn't the sort of love interest that was thrown at Katie, he didn't try and control her.

The Hallowed Ones is a vampire book that I think everyone should give a go.

Miss Book Reviews

[Angie]

There was no way in the world I wasn't going to read this book! As you probably already know, I'm a huge vampire fan, but I also find the Amish culture fascinating. Combing the two? Yes, yes, and more yes! While The Hallowed Ones uses the slow pacing that defines the Amish lifestyle, it is still a highly engaging and exciting story.

The idea of the Amish standing against a vampire apocalypse may seem strange, but it does make sense. Who would be best prepared for some kind of disaster? A self sustaining, isolated community, of course! And these vampires are nothing like the beautiful, seductive creatures featured in so many books today. They're grotesque, vile things, with one thing on their mind: kill.

I really liked our narrator, Katie. She's compassionate and curious, and thinks before she acts. She even takes a moment before following a direct order from her elders. While she is dedicated to her faith, she does want to know what lies Outside. Rumspringa is quickly approaching, and she wants to experience Outside life before committing to a lifetime of being Plain, or not. Sometimes her compassion does come in direct conflict with the rules of her community, like when she rescues an English man stuck right outside their gates during the lock-down.

There's an element of horror lingering in the background as Katie worries about what's happening Outside, and whether or not it can get in their gates. However, life must go on, and the author does an amazing job of showing us the everyday routine of the Amish people, as well as some special events. I felt totally immersed in their lifestyle, but I could also sense the fear and confusion that Katie is harboring.

I seriously loved this book, but I can't give it a full 5 stars because I have hard time believing Katie's actions toward Alex at the end. It felt rushed, random, and out of character for her. This is definitely a solid 4.5 star read though, and I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[kimbacaffeinate]

I was dying to get my hands on the Hallowed Ones and patiently waited for it to be released in eBook format since I set a goal to only buy eBooks in 2012. I even entered contests to win it! Grrr! I was so thrilled when I saw it on B&N and consumed this on Halloween Day. What a perfect read for All Souls Day. Bickle’s novel blends the Amish world with the vampire world in this post-apocalyptic novel and I loved every minute of it. The first in the Hallowed Ones series this offered up some horror, fascinating characters and set the stage for things to come.

The tale begins when we meet Katie, a young Amish girl on the verge of Rumspringa. She is daydreaming about her adventure when a helicopter crashes into the cornfields. As she calls for help and attempts to save those inside, she sees the pilot pulled back into the cockpit by a thing with glowing red eyes. When the outside world fails to send help and two Amish boys fail to return home at the end of the work day, the small settlement realizes something is dreadfully wrong. Unsure what has happened, the Elders order the gates closed. No one goes in or out. Katie finds a injured young man by the fence and the tale that unfolded kept me riveted.

The plot was fantastic, but Katie made the tale come to life. I really adored this bright, young woman with a weakness for coca-cola and comic magazines. Her world is turned upside down, yet she hungers for truth and despite fear of God, the Elders and her family her own moral compass steers her. She struggles with Gelassenheit (God’s will) and at times does things to save her people despite the fear of being banished. Alex, the young injured man was interesting, and I am looking forward to getting to know him more. Ginger, an English woman, separated from her family and trapped on the farm was a strong, silent presence. She helped remind us how truly different the Plain folk were from the outside world. Elijah, the young Amish man she is intended for had me wavering in my feelings for him. I loved the Hexenmeister and found both him and his role fascinating. The two love interests in Katie’s life were very different and each represented a different path. The romance was sweet and felt genuine.

The world-building was dark and horrifying. From the first few pages I was enthralled and could not put this book down. While there are no new elements, Bickle cleverly weaved the Amish, religion and vampires into a tale that I will not soon forget. I liked her straightforward writing style, and grasp of the characters. The suspense was constant as she slowly revealed revelations as the tale demanded them. The tale ends on a cliffhanger. The tale felt finished, but the ending did pose questions and left a few unanswered. What will happen to Katie and her friends? What is happening outside? How did the vampires come to be? I simply cannot wait to read the Outside book two in this series.
Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer