The Lies We Steal

Hollow Boys, Book 1

De: Monty Jay

Narrado por: Lucy Rivers, Grayson Owens

It's been months since the day we stood above that empty grave that stunk of burnt flesh and secrets. All of us were dressed to the nines, one of us wearing a wedding dress, a day that was supposed to mark the beginning of a new adventure. It marked the bitter end of our vengeance.

We have done things that have marked our souls for eternity. But before we get there, we have to go back. Back to where it all started. The place I could find in my sleep.

Hollow Heights University in the macabre, somber seaside town of Ponderosa Springs. A college for prestigious, wealthy children to receive the highest education. A town drowning in treachery and secrets that became our damnation. But it wasn't the forest surrounding the grounds or even the mysterious hidden mausoleum that haunted me.

It was them. The ones that lurked in the night, things so wicked, so twisted, so evil, they would become the rulers of my nightmares. The Hollow Boys. One wrong move and I landed myself directly in their line of fire.

This is not a story about love, it is not a story of happy endings. Love just happened to blossom in our sorrows, in our pain, our fear, our blood.

Every terrible thing they ever did, we watched, we helped, we loved them anyway. Some run from their monsters, we fell in love with ours.

Contains mature themes.

©2021 Monty Jay (P)2024 Tantor

Found family <3

The plot for this was so freakin’ good! I love that it was four friends who were so close they were essentially brothers & would do anything for one another. I loved this couple in this first installment in the series, but I’m really excited for the next books in the series!

Wow

I had this book on my TBR for the longest time, always seeing rave reviews for it. I am so glad I procrastinated on reading it because the way Grayson narrates these characters is amazing. He creates these slight differences in the 4 main MMC’s voices all of them having this deranged quality. Elongated words and a dip in tone to depict a darker feeling. The story itself was fantastic. A great bully story but nothing too over the top for bully. These guys are truly morally grey characters. Their actions are depraved but the reason behind it is honorable. I got hit in the feels when Alistair talked about his childhood and the reason for being born but then also his love for his found family. Lucy also did a great job voicing Briar and depicting her strength, fear and love. I am so happy book 2 is out now bc I can’t wait to see what Rook and Sage bring.

Briar & Alistair✨

the narrators for this book were amazingggggg & told the story so well. Also Alistair is 🥵 & I love that Briar wouldn’t back down to him

awesome

started off a little slow but turned out to be freaking awesome I couldn't even put it down great read

The female voice actor is so bad

I almost stopped listening to this book because of the female voice actor. It sounds like someone copied and pasted the words into an app to have a computer read her part. The story is great and the male actor is good, but she was so so bad.

Mah

What I loved:
The narration was fantastic – she chose amazing narrators who did an incredible job. I loved the "weird" roommate and that the heroine has an unconventional pet 🐀.
I really enjoyed the "outcast" element – I have a weakness for misunderstood heroes who are angry at the world. I also appreciated the mystery and investigation; it felt well-developed and not half-baked. Lastly, the hero’s group of friends intrigued me.

What didn’t work for me:
I’ve already read Penelope Douglas’ "Devil’s Night" series, and sorry, but this felt like a knockoff. It’s like, “We already have Devil’s Night at home,” and then you discover this book.

Insta-lust – Sorry, but anyone who knows me knows I can’t stand this trope. How can you stalk her and torment her, and then, a second later, she’s the only thing you can breathe for? Like, if she’s not next to you, you’re losing your mind? Calm down, dude.

The lack of originality and the cheesy dialogues – there were so many moments that felt like things I’d already read in other books or seen in movies. Honestly, girl, enough with the same old formula. Give me something fresh for a change.

Despite all the negatives, I’m still curious about the other guys in the group. I’ll continue reading once I’m in the mood again for arrogant alpha males who make my foolish heart giggle like a smitten teenage girl.

wonderful story

Love the plot and the male reader. NOT a fan of the female reader as it sounds like a robot and choppy, with no emotion.

Such a great story

This is a great story! So many twists and turns, and so many feels in this story! The narrators were great; however I didn’t like how the female narrator did the male parts, but the male narrator is one of my new favorites!!

Slow Paced

“Whatever you have to give, I want all of it. All the dark, all the scary. I want it. Forever.”
“It’s yours. Every warped part of me. It’s yours, Little Thief. I hope you like playing in the shadows, we will be staying here for a while.”

This one started out slow. I enjoyed the characters and I'm hooked enough to read the next ones.

Not my people…

I like the creepy town vibes and all the secrets that are ready to burst out of all these characters, but I’m realizing that I’m not a huge fan of a mean MMC, especially to the FMC. Those bully vibes just aren’t for me.

So, needless to say, I never really liked Alastair, but I thought Briar was spunky. I adored Lyra, and I was very intrigued by Thatcher - those two kept me going, and I’m excited to learn that we get to their story later!

This first book is a nice introduction to the town of Hollow Heights, but these two highlighted characters were not my people. However, the narration on this book is superb. Well, everything but Lucy Rivers’ male voice, which is horrid and laughable.