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  • Vampire Book Reviews: Hollow By Celina Myers & The Fox And The Devil By Kiersten White

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    Vampire books are so back—almost like they never left…just lurked in the shadows. Gather round, lovers of Twilight, Vampire Diaries, and beyond. Because 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for vampire fans, and we’re here to bring you two new vampire novels.

    Celina Myers’ debut novel, Hollow, is a tale about Mia, a young woman who becomes a vampire and finds herself caught between two rival families and their complicated history. Kiersten White‘s new novel, The Fox and the Devil, follows Anneke, the daughter of a vampire hunter who becomes obsessed with taking down an immortal serial killer.

    These two vampire tales feature a bisexual and sapphic romance that we absolutely live for. Not to mention the powerful, unstoppable female protagonists. Here is our dual review of Hollow and The Fox and the Devil!

    Book Overview: Hollow By Celina Myers

    Vampire book: Hollow by Celina Myers
    Image Source: HarperCollins Publishers

    Content warnings: death, parent death, murder, attempted murder, attempted suicide, gore, bodies, corpses, violence, car accident, miscarriage, needles, poisoning, mentions of transphobia

    Summary: Mia Adair isn’t even twenty-five yet, but she’s starting to wonder if her peak has already passed. She’s spent years working at her local bookstore, a job that was supposed to be temporary. As a kid, she experienced a strange sort of fame within the paranormal community thanks to her inclusion in a book that revealed Mia’s ability to talk with the dead. But that was then, and Mia’s “gift” dried up once adolescence set in. These days, she feels like she’s nobody special.

    Until she dies in a tragic car crash and reawakens as a vampire…

    Forced to leave behind everything she knew, Mia must choose to live with one of two rival vampire families. The Bellamy and Sutton clans share a dark, complicated history that spans centuries. As Mia learns about their age-old traditions and extraordinary powers, along with their forbidden romances and betrayals, she’s drawn toward two very different loves. And as she feels her gift returning, more potent than ever before, Mia realizes she’ll need it to protect innocent lives—and save the only family she has left.

    Our Review

    Let’s start with Hollow by Celina Myers. You may know her online as CelinaSpookyBoo or have watched her journey writing this book until now. Maybe you haven’t seen her content but are open to a new vampire book featuring a bisexual protagonist trying to get back her ability to see ghosts. Whatever the case, Hollow is such a quick and easy read that you won’t want to put down. Seriously, we read it all within a few hours.

    Mia Adair’s vampire journey is as rocky as one might expect, given that she didn’t ask to turn. But the method of turning people changes from injecting just one vampire’s blood to injecting the blood of a whole family of vampires. This adds a deeper layer as we meet the members of the Bellamy and Sutton families and hear their stories. With a weakening matriarch at the helm, Mia soon regains her powers and discovers the crucial role she plays in both families.

    We also want to highlight the narrative flow of Hollow. When there are so many characters in play, it can be difficult to remember who someone is and why they’re important. But this novel gives us just enough information about each one before we get into their actions that move the plot. Every character adds to the story. It felt so seamless to read, and we know how much effort it takes to make the narration seem so effortless. We were hooked!

    Release date: January 13
    Order Hollow here!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CELINA MYERS:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    Book Overview: The Fox And The Devil By Kiersten White

    Vampire novel: The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    Content warnings: death, death of loved ones, murder, gore, bodies, corpses, violence, themes of trauma and grief

    Summary: Anneke has a complicated relationship with her father, Abraham Van Helsing—doctor, scientist, and madman devoted to the study of vampires—until the night she comes home to find him murdered, with a surreally beautiful woman looming over his body. A woman who leaves no trace behind, other than the dreams and nightmares that now plague Anneke every night.

    Spurred by her desire for vengeance and armed with the latest forensic and investigatory techniques, Anneke puts together a team of detectives to catch this mysterious serial killer. Because her father isn’t the only inexplicable dead body. There’s a trail of victims across Europe, and Anneke is certain they’re all connected.

    But during the years spent relentlessly hunting the killer, Anneke keeps crucial evidence to herself: infuriatingly coy letters, addressed only to her, occasionally soaked in blood, and always signed Diavola.

    The closer Anneke gets to her devil, though, the less sense the world makes. Maybe her father wasn’t a madman after all. Diavola might be something much worse than a serial killer…and much harder to destroy. Yet as Anneke unearths more of Diavola’s tragic past, she suspects there’s still a heart somewhere in that undead body.

    A heart that beats for Anneke alone.

    Our Review

    Our next vampire book is The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White. We were drawn in by the sapphic vampire story, and we stayed for the incredible storytelling. Told in two overlapping timelines in the late nineteenth century, we follow Anneke as she devotes years to chasing after her father’s killer. All the while, we start to get closer and closer to the present threat, which was so much bigger than Anneke had assumed.

    We absolutely loved traveling all over Europe, solving murder mysteries alongside Anneke and her chaotic found family: Dávid, Maher, and Igne. They are true ride-or-dies, even when they don’t agree with one another. But Anneke’s target seems to constantly stay two steps ahead and evade them no matter how hard they try. It doesn’t help that Diavola haunts Anneke’s dreams and thoughts every night and day, either.

    The buildup of romantic tension is also done beautifully in this Gothic novel. We really get a sense of intense yearning and curiosity on both sides, as evidenced in the letters that Diavola leaves for Anneke. And Anneke eventually uncovers Diavola’s true identity and reasoning for leading her on this never-ending hunt. We couldn’t see the plot twist or the bittersweet ending coming, but that just made the emotions even more heightened.

    Release date: March 10
    Preorder The Fox and the Devil here!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KIERSTEN WHITE:
    INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    What do you think of these new vampire novels? Have you added Hollow by Celina Myers or The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White to your reading list? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

    Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!

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    Julie Dam

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  • Hollow Knight: Silksong has become a meme about waiting for games

    Hollow Knight: Silksong has become a meme about waiting for games

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    In the hours leading up to several gaming news events — like an indie event or a Nintendo Direct — you can see the rumblings of people online discussing a game called Hollow Knight: Silksong. Some share digital summoning circles constructed with emojis and dedicate them to the game in the hopes it will make an appearance at a showcase; others simply express their excitement by sharing memes prior to the event. During a digital event itself, you’ll see viewers spam the live chat with messages like “SKONG [with four airhorn emojis],” or “WHERE SILKSONG????!!??” Sometimes, the phrase “Silksong” will even trend online before one of these events because so many people are sharing their excitement.

    All of this ruckus, just because fans just really want to hear a sliver of news about Hollow Knight: Silksong. The game — which fans shorten to Silksong — is the planned sequel to a game called Hollow Knight. Developer Team Cherry first announced the follow-up to its beloved Metroidvania in 2019; since then, it got a splashy trailer in 2022, but no concrete release date. And by now, its dedicated fan base has turned waiting for the game into one giant viral meme.

    What is Hollow Knight: Silksong?

    To understand the lasting popularity of Silksong, we need to look back at the game that preceded it: Hollow Knight. Developer Team Cherry first released the popular Metroidvania in 2017. At the time, the game stunned fans with its fantastical insectoid world and precise combat. Those elements, paired with its rich method of environmental storytelling, resulted in a gem of a game. Polygon hailed it as “unquestionably the finest Metroidvania ever made.”

    Image: Team Cherry

    Hollow Knight has racked up more than its fair share of devoted fans, so when Team Cherry surprised players with the announcement of a full-on sequel called Silksong, it drummed up plenty of buzz. The developers promised an original story, new bugs to meet, and new worlds to explore. What’s more is that fans would get to play as Hornet, a mysterious but beloved side character from the main game.

    Fans excitedly awaited more news about the upcoming game, but none came. Years passed, and Team Cherry didn’t release any more trailers or news. With each passing gaming news event, it seemed all the more inevitable that players would get a release date, or a new trailer, or at least another peek at the project.

    Finally, in 2022, the developer shared a new look at the game at an Xbox Showcase, but even then, the game had no stated release date. According to Xbox, however, the games in that showcase were going to be released in the next 12 months — meaning Silksong should have come out in 2023. But it didn’t. On May 9, 2023, Matthew Griffin from Team Cherry broke the news on X (formerly Twitter) that the game was not yet ready to be released and that fans should “expect more details from [Team Cherry] once we get closer to release.”

    That was the last major update from the team, and since then, fans have been left in limbo — while still repeatedly expressing their hearts’ desires for the game online.

    Why do fans shout about Silksong online?

    In the years since its initial announcement, expressing a desire to see Silksong has become a viral bit online. At this point, you can’t watch a gaming news stream without people mentioning Silksong. People on social media will share fan art, memes, and reaction posts all in anticipation of the game, or making fun of the fact that there might not be more news about it. The avid fandom can spark the ire of other viewers in chats, and Silksong fans have inadvertently psyched up others excited for the game because they so regularly cause the game’s title to trend on X. All because people just want to express a desire to see this game.

    Polygon reached out to Team Cherry to ask about what it’s been like to see fans talk about the game. We will update this article if we hear back.

    Hollow Knight did sell in the millions, but that isn’t necessarily what seems to be causing this reaction to Silksong. It’s just that this game — which is genuinely a fantastic game to play — has inspired a super-dedicated cult following. The people who love the game just really adore it, and they want to see the next game released.

    In this sense, Silksong does just come across as the next generation’s version of the entire “localize Mother 3” movement. Nintendo has never released an official English localization of Mother 3 in North America, but people have been asking for it for years. To this day, fans still beg Nintendo on social media to release the game, and several fans have regularly pulled IRL stunts to bring attention to the game. Being a Mother 3 fan is almost as much about wanting Mother 3 to come out officially in the U.S. as it is actually playing or enjoying the content of the game.

    That all being said, Silksong has a much better chance of being released than the official English version of Mother 3. Team Cherry has assured fans that while the team might not have revealed too much, development is progressing. So I guess fans will have to rely on their summoning circles until then.

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    Ana Diaz

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  • Despite Its Size & Quality, Rise of the Ronin Feels Hollow

    Despite Its Size & Quality, Rise of the Ronin Feels Hollow

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    By the time of its launch, Rise of the Ronin is joining a staggering lineup of open-world RPG-style games. With games like Assassin’s Creed and Elden Ring setting the standard for this genre, Rise of the Ronin has had to shift from the norm to stand out. Some of that was successful, while some seemed to fall flat.

    The comparison between Ghost of Tsushima (GoT) and Rise of the Ronin (RotR) feels unavoidable. However, it’s also entirely unfair to only view RotR exclusively from the lens of GoT. That being said, if I saw someone playing RotR two months before launch, I’d think it was GoT until I was told otherwise. That is until you get to the combat.

    Image Source: Sony Interactive Entertainment via Twinfinite

    One of the biggest differences is that Rise of the Ronin plays like a Soulslike. This isn’t to say it is one, but the combat warrants the comparison. The difference is that RotR doesn’t make me feel like I need to rip my hair out to get through a boss fight. You might have to leave and get stronger materials, but you can always return and finish the job.

    If I compare RotR to Lies of P, they almost don’t play like they’re in the same genre. For Soulslikes, there’s a certain level of practice that you can’t progress without. Rise of the Ronin differs because it feels more lenient, making the combat feel hollower than that of Dark Souls or Sekiro. The challenge is less present, meaning the reward doesn’t feel as meaningful.

    Rise of the Ronin seems to take after Tears of the Kingdom more than Soulslikes. It’s approachable, showing you missions or bosses you can take on whenever you encounter them. However, you can fight them too early and get beaten enough times to realize that you’ll have to come back later. It toes the line of Elden Ring in that sense, but trying to ground that sort of combat into this story feels a bit forced.

    rise of the ronin story dialogue
    Image Source: Sony Interactive Entertainment via Twinfinite

    Rise of the Ronin is set in the 1850s in mainland Japan when the country was opening its doors to the rest of the world. The map is substantial and filled with many things to do and people to meet. This subconsciously makes RotR feel like a spiritual successor to Ghost of Tsushima, and that’s a high bar to reach.

    Rise of the Ronin has a compelling story, but something about it feels hollow beneath the surface. In contrast, Ghost of Tsushima thrusts you into the shoes (or geta, rather) of Jin Sakai, a samurai who has lost everything and has to reclaim his home at the cost of his honor, and you see that struggle play out as the game goes on.

    RotR has you make two characters who are bonded because of their shared childhood, and the one you choose becomes the one you use to seek out the other after a mission gone bad. Sure, you get the “lone samurai seeking their other half” trope, but it’s played out quickly. It doesn’t feel strong enough to drive the story through such a massive and diverse world.

    The game is set during a turbulent and controversial time in history, and you’re actively working for or against the core change that’s at the centre of it. However, instead of immersing yourself in this story, your character is silent and only has the flat motive of “must find Blade Twin.” Rise of the Ronin places you in a breathtaking and fascinating time, only to make your participation hinge on something trivial.

    rise of the ronin dialogue
    Image Source: Sony Interactive Entertainment via Twinfinite

    Even many of the side characters are quite one-dimensional. It feels like you’re forming a strong bond with those you can just for the sake of doing so. The dialogue feels hollow as they recite answers at you, and every choice feels like a matter of “yes vs. no” rather than having a real conversation. It’s no Baldur’s Gate 3, that’s for sure.

    Without trying to draw too heavy-handed of a comparison between RotR and Ghost of Tsushima, some mechanics still feel better in the latter. Riding your horse is a better experience in Ghost of Tsushima because you feel more connected to your mount. You get to choose its name, Jin talks to it often, and it’s less jumpy as you ride.

    Rise of the Ronin’s horse only serves as another thing to upgrade and maintain, but it also doesn’t ride exceptionally well. The controls in the game are already a bit sensitive due to the combat style, but that main traversal method feels clunky. I appreciate the auto-run feature, but even that can take a second to kick in properly.

    Regardless, these are two entirely separate games. Ghost of Tsushima served as a love letter to Akira Kurosawa’s Samurai films and matched the style in almost every way. Unfortunately, almost any game that’s as similar as Rise of the Ronin will look a bit dry in comparison.

    rise of the ronin bond screen
    Image Source: Sony Interactive Entertainment via Twinfinite

    One of the aspects of open-world games that I love is getting to roam the map and mingle with the NPCs a bit, but even the various collectibles and tasks in Rise of the Ronin feel a bit hollow. To establish bonds with various locations, you’re restoring “public order” to the area. It feels like a forced way to get you to contribute to society without giving you any real motive.

    This forms a struggle in me as I play the game. I want to keep playing because I am intrigued by where things are going, but the variety runs short after a while. I can’t stop myself from bouncing between red blips on the map and restoring the public order, but as I do it I don’t feel like there’s ever really much point.

    Rise of the Ronin dictates your choices based on where your blade twin goes, and it doesn’t feel like the story elicits the passion to get many players to the end of it. The graphics are breathtaking and the music is appropriate, but the gameplay and story don’t seem to stack up. Even though there’s no lack of things to do or fights to be had, Rise of the Ronin doesn’t feel as substantial as it could have been.

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    Nick Rivera

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