The Lies We Steal

Hollow Boys, Book 1

By: Monty Jay

Narrated by: 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

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.

wow everything

I was pleasantly surprised about this book. I kept bypassing it. and I hate myself for it because it was actually great. the narrators were really good too. if you have read God of malice the series is just like it but it's has its own special thing to it. it has more of the mystery and definitely has a lot of spice!

Love in the shadow

I liked the story a lot but I think the narration was missing something. Still good

Grayson did an amazing job!

I love Lucy but she read this is a very whiny tone which was a struggle for me to listen to. I had never heard Grayson before and I really liked him! The story was great and I really look forward to reading the series!

loved it

did not want to stop listening the narrator's made me very happy I'm going to listen to the next one right now

THE LOYALTY!

First... the loyalty between the mmc's in this book is everything. There's a lot of series that follow friend groupes, but the hollow boys are more than that.

The story had me on my toes. At some point i wasn't sure Alistair was going to be able to redeem himself. He is terrible and i was here for it!

This was also heartbreaking. I sobbed along with them. But again, the respect and loyalty that is in this heals you at the same time it breaks you.