Hollow Kingdom

Hollow Kingdom follows the story of S.T., a domesticated crow in Seattle who faces a sudden apocalyptic event that transforms humans into zombie-like creatures. The crow protagonist, along with his bloodhound companion Dennis, must navigate a world where their former human masters have become mindless beings known as Hollows. S.T. embarks on a mission to rescue domestic pets trapped in homes throughout Seattle, forming alliances with other animals and learning to embrace his true crow nature. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of a transformed city where nature begins to reclaim urban spaces and animals must adapt to a new world order. Events escalate as S.T. and his growing network of animal allies establish a safe zone while confronting various threats, including mutating Hollows and predatory animals. The story combines elements of apocalyptic fiction with environmental themes and explores the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. The novel examines questions about identity, belonging, and humanity's impact on the environment through its unique perspective of a crow narrator who must reconcile his attachment to human culture with his innate animal nature.

Readers found the book's humor and unique narrator perspective refreshing for a post-apocalyptic novel. The story told through a crow's eyes offered commentary on human behavior and environmental issues. What readers liked: - Creative premise and original take on apocalypse fiction - Strong character voice and witty observations - Balance of comedy and darker themes - Environmental and social messages without being preachy What readers disliked: - Vulgar language and crude humor - Inconsistent pacing in middle sections - Some found the pop culture references excessive - Shifts between lighthearted and serious tones felt jarring "The crow's snarky voice had me laughing out loud," noted one Amazon reviewer, while another felt "the constant profanity became tiresome." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (24,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (1,900+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.9/5 (600+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4/5 (member consensus)

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🦅 Crows can actually recognize and remember human faces for extended periods, much like the keen observations of S.T. in the novel 🌍 The Seattle setting was partly inspired by the author's own experiences living in the Pacific Northwest, where she regularly interacts with local wildlife 📚 The book was selected as an Indie Next pick for August 2019 and received the Thurber Prize for American Humor in 2020 🐦 The author spent significant time researching crow behavior and intelligence, including their ability to use tools and solve complex problems 🎭 While writing the novel, Buxton kept a crow feeder outside her window and developed relationships with local crows who would leave her small gifts - a behavior that influenced scenes in the book