Sunday, May 4, 2014

Book Review: Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children

Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children by: Ransom Riggs, Quirk Books, Philadelphia, PA, 2014.

This is the continuing story of the peculiar children who were discovered in the first novel by Jacob Portman, who later discovers that he himself is peculiar.  However his peculiarity is different.  He can see hollows.  Jacob's grandfather was one of the peculiar community, who left.  His grandfather is killed by a hollow.  Jacob saw the monster.  He finally determines to visit his grandfather's old island, which is part of Britain, at the suggestion of his psychiatrist.  He meets Emma Bloom, his grandfather's girlfriend, but who is still his own age.  He develops a relationship with her.  The peculiar children are in a time loop created by Miss Peregrine, an ymbryne.  An ymbryne is someone who can manipulate time, and also has two forms, as a human and as a bird.  The second novel begins after the loop had been invaded.  Turns out the psychologist was in fact a wight, a group of fanatics who want to make themselves immortal.  Miss Peregrine is kidnapped.  The peculiars rescued her, but she was locked in the form of a bird.
So this novel starts with the children heading to the mainland, in an effort to save Miss Peregrine.
This is a fascinating book, as our peculiars meet more peculiars, and also a group of gypsies.  They have brought a book of peculiar legend with them, and this book gives them direction to continue their journey.  They discover there is an ymbryne who can help them, but she is in London.  However, at the same time she is hunted by the wights, as she is needed for completion of the process of immortality. 
This is a great travel novel.  Our peculiars have to overcome being captured.  The finally meet the other ymbryne, but this novel doesn't turn out as expected.  A great read.  My only regret is having to wait for the next book.  Upon occasion the lead character tends to crude language, but for the most part this does not happen.

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