Hollow Kingdom

If the world ended, what food would you hope would survive? For S.T., a crow who survives the apocalypse, it’s Cheetos.I first discovered this book from @readingbeagle and I was intrigued. Who doesn’t want to read a book about the apocalypse as narrated as a foul-mouthed bird? I thought it would be a nice change up for my Rogue Book Club and chose it for the August read.S.T. is a domesticated crow. He enjoys his life until one day, his owner, Big Jim, loses his eyeball. Big Jim is no longer the same and appears to have turned into a zombie. S.T. and Dennis the dog escape their home and start to explore Seattle to determine what has happened to the mo-fos (humans). A strange illness has taken over humans and the dynamic duo set off to try to find any unaffected humans and other domestic animals.I enjoyed this unique story. It was harrowing at times, and I may had shed a tear and put the book away for a bit after the climax at the end of the book. I really liked seeing the apocalypse through the eyes of the animal survivors and how the world would change without humans. S.T. was the main narrator, but there were also random chapters from various creatures around the world which were interesting as well. The book was laugh out loud funny at times . . . and S.T. is profane as his owner. Even his real name is hilarious.I also enjoyed that the book had a reading group guide with questions at the end perfect for book club.I look forward to reading the next book in this series, Feral Creatures.Favorite Quote: “The trauma of nearly being eaten by my best friend was the single greatest pain I had ever known.”Overall, I loved that this was a book unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It was a great take on the zombie apocalypse and made me think about the impact of humans on the world overall.Book Source: Purchased from Amazon.com

I was looking for a book from an animals POV for a reading challenge and this book came up on a list, along with many others. However this one was available immediately through Kindle Unlimited so I downloaded it. I didn’t read the description at all so I had no clue what I was getting in to. Sometimes that really bites me in the ass but not this time.This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. For someone who reads a lot, it’s quite refreshing to find something that’s so different but also enjoyable. I probably would’ve never found this if not for the PopSugar challenge that forces you to find books outside of your comfort zone. So, I’m really thankful I’m doing this challenge and the group here on Goodreads suggested this book.I should also say that I SHOULD hate this book. Apocalypse style books are my very least favorite of all books, so when I started reading and I was a few pages in, I debated quitting. Also while being a huge animal lover and rescuing cats and dogs for 20+ years, birds are the one animal I don’t like. I put the book down and sat with that thought for a while. But I’m not a quitter and the absurdity of it had me intrigued. Silly humor, lovable animals, and the “what the hell is happening” factor kept turning the pages. I ended up staying up til 2am finishing it all in one day.I took two highlights from the book which should be visible. One made me actually laugh at loud. The whole premise of this about technology ruining humans, forgetting nature and disconnecting from others and animals was pretty eerie because we all see that everyday. That’s our new world. So it’s a good reminder to unplug. If anyone was to ever survive an apocalypse it definitely deserves to be the animals. They are all that’s right with the world. Ask any dog owner. :)

Hollow Kingdom is a beguiling and imaginative take on humanity’s apocalyptic demise narrated from the perspective of various animals. Think ‘The Secret Lives of Animals’ meets ‘The Walking Dead.‘ This novel is occasionally frightening, but for the most part is fun, engaging, and thought provoking.**minor spoilers ahead** Much of the story focuses on the trials, travails, and tribulations of the heroic oft-cursing domesticated crow, ‘S.T.’ S.T. is witness to the rapid and violent disintegration of human society in his native Seattle. S.T. and fellow pet Dennis the Bloodhound are compelled to leave the only home they’ve ever known and venture out into a perilous new world where the last vestiges of humanity are devouring one another on the streets.What I enjoyed most about Hollow Kingdom is the depth of empathy and interest I developed for S.T. and the other animals in this phantasmagorical novel. I liked that S.T. embodies many of the nobler traits of humanity in his courageous deeds and resiliency under pressure. One of the humorous things about S.T. is that he identifies as human and only reluctantly acknowledges his Corvid nature near the end of the story.Hollow Kingdom is a remarkably entertaining and genre-defying work of speculative fiction. I’ve never read anything like it! This novel is engaging from the beginning, peppered with many unforgettable, laugh out loud moments. There are also a few tearful occasions to balance the emotional spectrum of the novel. The individual animals and their richly imagined societies were intriguing and believable, enthralling and marvelous in their inception.Movingly written and beautifully concluded, I cannot recommend this book highly enough for fans of horror/speculative fiction. The best fiction is thought provoking and this meets the criterion. Five stars aren’t enough to reward author Kira Jane Buxton for this inventive and beguiling novel.

The concept is unique- zombie apocalypse from the perspective of the animals. I started to lose interest halfway through when it becomes predictable. It seems like the author tries to have it be too many things at once- comedic, irreverent sarcasm and irony, but also deep and meaningful and esoteric, and the two sides seem to clash. I enjoyed it as a casual read but did not find it to be a page turner.

If you enjoyed Watership Down, Animal Farm etc., you will love this book. Buxton weaves Apocalypse and hope in equal measure. This book is engaging, funny, and tragic just like life can be.

I loved this book - great combination of a gripping adventure and hilariously sardonic humour. It’s quirky and will make you laugh and cry (be warned!). If you like animals, dystopia, adventure, and/or comedy, I highly recommend.

Prinzipiell bin ich immer eher Kritsch eingestellt, wenn ein Buch aus der Perspektive eines Tieres geschrieben wird, aber hier funktioniert das ganz großartig! Das liegt auch daran, dass es um eine Art Zombieapokalypse (nicht ganz, aber ich will nicht zu sehr ins Detail gehen) geht und damit klar ist, dass es jetzt kein ernsthafter Versuch ist, die Lebenswelten eines Tieres abzubilden. Das funktioniert gut und ist witzig - es funktioniert mMn auch besser als bei den Schaf-Krimis, da die etwas zu sehr in der Realität verhaftet waren.Die Geschchte ist über weiten Teilen ein Road Movie und das passt auch wirklich gut zur Geschichte. Die etwas storylastigeren Teile gegen Ende sind etwas schwächer, aber dafür spannend. Der Vorteil ist hier halt auch, dass man keine genaue Erklärung bekommt, was eigentlich passiert, weil Tiere das nur peripher mitbekommen. Das ist schon sehr gut.Ich habe das Buch im Urlaub in zwei Tage durchgelesen, ist also wirklich schön flockig!

I love zombie stories but so many are poorly written. This is somehow very cute with the relationship between the Crow and Dog being adorable. It somehow manages to keep that element of a pending doom, but is always diminished as soon as the first action scene is over and all the suspense is gone. Highly recommend.

(無事に配達されました、ありがとうございます。)友人に勧められて購入する事にしました。まだ少ししか読んでいませんが、面白そうです。