The Hunt for the Hollower by Callie C. Miller

What worked:

Will the Septimum Genus be the minutes-older Merlynda or her younger, more talented twin brother Percy? Merlynda’s spells always go wrong and she can hear the magic laughing at her. Percy always arrives to clean up her messes until a portal opens up and whisks her brother away. Merlynda’s unpredictable abilities provide uncertainty throughout the rest of the book as she goes on a quest with her best friend Neci to rescue Percy from the Hollower. Bedtime stories about the Hollower are told to scare young children but readers are left to imagine and anticipate the terror when Merlynda and Neci finally face it.

The narrative is a wonderful blend of description, action, and levity that creates an entertaining quest. A familiar appears from the aether in the form of a small, wormlike creature she calls Iggy. Iggy views himself as a “fierce wyvern” but his small stature and a never-ending desire for more food undermine that image. Merlynda and Neci find their quest sidetracked many times as they face different obstacles. They confront bands of marauding raiders with starkly different outcomes. Another race of creatures offers friendship and training whether they want it or not. Merlynda and Neci know they have seven months to rescue Percy but an unexpectedly quick passage of time means they now only have days left. All of these events create constant action and drama to engage young readers.

Each character is dealing with some type of internal issue. Merlynda struggles with self-confidence since she can’t perform the simplest spells and her brother is the wizard admired by all. Neci wants to escape her parents’ expectations of becoming a root vegetable farmer. She dreams of becoming a royal knight and all of her efforts are with the hope of proving herself. Neci’s help with Merlynda’s rescue mission will help her accumulate quest points to improve her application toward becoming a knight in training. The two friends rescue a young minstrel named Batu who has trouble interacting with other people. It’s unclear why his attempts to say “Thank you” and express kindness manage to make the girls dislike him even more. His past is unknown so readers will wonder what terrible secrets he might be hiding.

What didn’t work as well:

The narrator is omniscient but sudden leaps into characters’ minds to describe their thoughts and feelings can take a moment to process. Most of the moments are brief, maybe lasting only a paragraph, but they’re a contrast to most of the narrative describing events. It’s not a huge issue but it’s noticeable.

The Final Verdict:

The book is highly engaging as Merlynda battles doubts within her mind and relentlessly strives to save her twin brother. The resolution might be foreseeable but the author still drives the plot to an exciting, emotional climax. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot.