The Hallowed Ones (The Hallowed Ones, #1)

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The Hallowed Ones (The Hallowed Ones #1)

4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 · rating details · 679 ratings · 268 reviews

Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers can get a taste of the real world. But the real world comes to her in this dystopian tale with a philosophical bent. Rumors of massive unrest on the “Outside” abound. Something murderous is out there. Amish elders make a rule: No one goes outside, and no outsiders come in. But when Katie finds a...more

Paperback, 311 pages

Published September 25th 2012 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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September 2012 YA Fiction

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TO DIE FOR 2012 - 2013 STAND-ALONES

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Sep 25, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: new-adult-college

"Plain folk are taught that evil is spiritual. The absence of God."
Mrs. Parsall bit back a sob. "Well it seems as if God's left the building, and we're left to our own devices."

When I first saw that there was a book featuring both Amish and Vampires, I'm pretty sure that I had a GTFO reaction, but in a good way.

I mean, it's a book about the Amish.

I was a fast hooker.
Well, at least, that's what my mother said about my crochet skills.

And Vampires. The Scary Kind. No explanation necessary.

Ho...more

60 likes · like · see review

Sep 08, 2012 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-or-galley, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic, dystopia-or-pa-favourites, fantasy-or-paranormal, fantasy-or-pn-favourites, romance, paranormal, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, 2012-favourites

4.5 stars

The vision of a vampire apocalypse is always striking – let’s face it, vampires will forever remain an interesting topic – but what really drew me towards this book was the promise of a story built around the Amish culture. A vampire apocalypse with the Amish. How often do you come across something like that?

Laura Bickle has taken a very different and very fascinating idea to craft together a story that is equal parts educational and thrilling. My knowledge of the Amish way of life is s...more 4.5 stars

The vision of a vampire apocalypse is always striking – let’s face it, vampires will forever remain an interesting topic – but what really drew me towards this book was the promise of a story built around the Amish culture. A vampire apocalypse with the Amish. How often do you come across something like that?

Laura Bickle has taken a very different and very fascinating idea to craft together a story that is equal parts educational and thrilling. My knowledge of the Amish way of life is sketchy at best, and while I can’t comment on the accuracy of Bickle’s portrayal, I do think she did a brilliant job making it both fascinating and accessible for the reader. Understandably, religion plays a large role in this story, but the author handles it carefully and with skill. It’s incredible just how much I learnt from this book – even while vampires were knocking down the front door.

In Katie’s world, a suspected contagion is spreading fast around the outside communities, resulting in a lethal vampire-like population. These are the monsters that we all secretly love; the blood-curdling, vicious, flesh-eating kind that should be stuffed with garlic and beheaded. The amount of gore in this book is startling and – I’ll be honest – quite thrilling. Be warned, The Hallowed Ones is not for the faint-hearted. Everything is so vividly described that it’s probably best not to eat your dinner (as I did) during some of the more horrific scenes. Think carcass debris, leaking intestines and sticky pools of blood. Picture a hacksaw going through the bones of a neck…

As much as I relished the plot in this book (despite some lingering questions that were never addressed), it was Katie who made this story for me. She was incredibly relatable when I didn’t expect her to be. Admittedly, I could never clean and bind a corpse without spilling my stomach, and she is a great deal more admirable than I’ll ever be, but there was something so endearing about her compassion and genuine kindness. She also has a faint rebellious streak that I enjoyed. Despite being a member of the Plain Folk (as the Amish call themselves), Katie has an inclination to coca cola and comic books. She has to think twice before following an order from the Bishop, whereas the rest of the community do as instructed instantly. She has fleeting moments of doubt about God’s will, Gelassenheit, and has to wonder if the Elders are doing the right thing.

Some of the secondary characters were equally intriguing, from Alex, the love interest, to Ginger, the English (non-Amish) woman trapped within the gates of the community once lockdown is announced. Ginger’s presence was especially significant as she truly defined and distinguished the differences (and similarities) between the Plain and the English. The romance between Alex and Katie is subtle enough to please those who prefer it when romance takes a backseat, but also substantial enough to please those who can’t do without a little romance. It’s a fine balance but Laura Bickle manages it perfectly.

The book wraps up nicely but there is a significant amount left unresolved which can only be satisfied with a sequel. If there is one, I know I will be reading it, and I hope it is just as wonderfully fascinating and horrifying as The Hallowed Ones.

(This review also appears on my blog)(less)

43 likes · like · see review

May 08, 2013 Brandi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I absolutely loved this book! I haven't felt a really good connection to anyone in a while, and not because I haven't read some good books recently (The 5th Wave, and Not a Drop to Drink come to mind), but even with those two I didn't get that instant pull I want. You know what I mean.

The story is about an Amish girl named Katie who witnesses the zombie apocalypse. Wait don't go!! Hear me out first. Now, I know you might be thinking that yet another zombie book isn't going to be special, but i...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-pnr-sci-fi-romance

Three weeks before Katie is due for her Rumspringa, when Amish youth go Outside and taste the real world, news filters into their isolated community that strange things are happening Outside. When a young man is found injured near the border of their property, the elders decide to leave him to die, fearing he may be a carrier of a contagion that's affecting the outside population. But Katie's never been too fond of following the rules, so she hides him in a barn and cares for him.

Alexander Green...more

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Oct 20, 2012 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley-e-book

4.5 Stars

I was wowed by this story. Who would have thought the mix of Amish people, end-of-the-world, and vampires would make a bloody brilliant story?!! I was riveted, scared and on the edge of my seat in parts!

Katie is an Amish girl preparing for her Rumspringa, and she can hardly wait. Rumspringa literally means “running around,” and it’s a time when the Amish youth travel to the Outside and have a glimpse of life outside the walls of their community. That way, when they get baptized and com...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Wendy Darling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hmh, young-adult, september, 2012-publication, pn-vampires, deliciously-creepy, mature-ya, 2012-favorites, read-2012

Strong 4 stars. Vampires among the Amish--plus tips on birthing puppies!

32 likes · like · see review

May 21, 2013 Litchick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dark-ya, horror, vampires, the-sky-is-falling, brandi-said-so

When I first started reading this book I was struck by a ~~moronic~~ genius idea. Remembering all the ~~sheer terror~~ fun I had as a teenager staying up late and watching scary movies I decided to try to bring back that youthful ~~stupidity~~ excitement and prove to myself how ~~dumb~~ tough I still am. You see, I decided to only read this book at night.

Gah. I was totally right, I’m such a ~~weakling~~ bad ass. This was definitely NOT me after the very first night of attempting my ~~fucking retarded~~ plan.

The next...more

10 likes · like · see review

Dec 08, 2012 Keertana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kick-ass-heroines

The Hallowed Ones was one of those novels I remained skeptical about until I was a good half-way through the book. It had come recommended to me by all my most trust bloggers, so of course, I knew it had to be good, but I was still skeptical. You see, my mom went through a phase where she was enamored with the Amish culture and lifestyle and as such, we'd have novels with Amish women on the front cover and I'd often find her watching movies featuring men with long beards making butter. As her da...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Barbara ~*Lindt Ninja*~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ya, thriller, thank-you-sir-ill-have-a-sequel, post-apocalyptic, paranormal

Katie and her friend Elijah are watching the far-off highway, thinking about their upcoming Rumspringa when an out of control med-flight helicopter crashes into the field in front of them. Before Katie can rescue someone she thinks might be alive inside, she thinks she sees something sinister – then she’s yanked back by Elijah and her people as the helicopter explodes.

As the cleanup after the helicopter crash and fire winds down into the evening, two of the young boys from the Amish community ha...more Katie and her friend Elijah are watching the far-off highway, thinking about their upcoming Rumspringa when an out of control med-flight helicopter crashes into the field in front of them. Before Katie can rescue someone she thinks might be alive inside, she thinks she sees something sinister – then she’s yanked back by Elijah and her people as the helicopter explodes.

As the cleanup after the helicopter crash and fire winds down into the evening, two of the young boys from the Amish community haven’t returned home from town yet, setting off a mild panic. An outsider visiting Katie’s family is able to find out that a curfew has been imposed, possibly related increased violence in the area. When the boys still don’t return, the Elders go to look and return home stone-faced, alone, and place the community under lockdown. No one goes out, no one comes in.

Katie has a disobedient streak however and defies the Elders and the powerful, pious Bishop. When she finds a badly wounded stranger just outside the fence, she ignores their edict and brings him inside, risking a shunning. Alex knows about the horrors outside, is willing to tell Katie his theories and they develop a strong bond as she takes even more dangerous risks for him.

Evil strikes, of course. Bickle managed to completely surprise me with the last couple of chapters though. Some books have steady action, some are up and down – The Hallowed Ones starts calm and builds and builds and ends with a big crescendo and a shocker of an ending. I loved the way the tension was handled. I do need to say it – this is a gory book. There are intestines spilled, heads removed and bodies impaled. It works in such beautiful juxtaposition to the innocence of Amish community though, it’s almost lyrical. I never thought I’d say disemboweling could be lyrical, but there it is.

As a perfect balance, Elijah, Katie’s parents, her friends and the Elders are all written with simple motives and speak plainly, as I’d expect them to and it was comforting to read sometimes, a little oasis of predictability amongst the weird. Elijah is Katie’s long-time friend and possible husband. They’ve been planning their Rumspringa for years but with the closed gates and the disappearance of Elijah’s brothers, things have changed for him. I can’t say I liked him much even though he was probably acting perfectly normally for a young man in his position. He just treated Katie callously for someone who had known her for so long. Her parents were sweet, but it was noted that they were more affectionate than most Amish mothers and fathers. I loved her mom though, the way she called Katie liewe (dear) and pampered her when she came home covered in someone else’s blood, which seemed to happen a lot.

I’d probably run out of superlatives if I went on as long as I wanted to about how much I loved Katie. She was spunky, sweet, unbelievably strong and smart. I loved that she believed in the power of her own convictions enough that she was willing to risk so much every single day. She knew at any moment she could be discovered and it was always in her mind, but she loved her community and her family enough that she had to keep Alex safe and do the right thing. She was delightfully innocent without any worldly knowledge at all but with a love for Wonder Woman comics of all things. Her budding relationship with Alex was a sweet surprise because they were confidantes, then just friends.

This is the perfect book to read late at night, when you’re alone and wanting a nice scare, or if you’re not quite up to it, you could just read it during a sunny day. It’s tense, thrilling and just a tad on the bloody side. The setting was brilliant, the characters perfect – I had one big complaint though. I wanted another hundred pages. More, more!

My thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's for providing an early review copy for review(less)

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Jan 01, 2013 Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was dying to get my hands on the Hallowed Ones and patiently waited for it to be released in eBook format since I set a goal to only buy eBooks in 2012. I even entered contests to win it! Grrr! I was so thrilled when I saw it on B&N and consumed this on Halloween Day. What a perfect read for All Souls Day. Bickle’s novel blends the Amish world with the vampire world in this post-apocalyptic novel and I loved every minute of it. The first in the Hallowed Ones series this offered up some hor...more I was dying to get my hands on the Hallowed Ones and patiently waited for it to be released in eBook format since I set a goal to only buy eBooks in 2012. I even entered contests to win it! Grrr! I was so thrilled when I saw it on B&N and consumed this on Halloween Day. What a perfect read for All Souls Day. Bickle’s novel blends the Amish world with the vampire world in this post-apocalyptic novel and I loved every minute of it. The first in the Hallowed Ones series this offered up some horror, fascinating characters and set the stage for things to come.

The tale begins when we meet Katie, a young Amish girl on the verge of Rumspringa. She is daydreaming about her adventure when a helicopter crashes into the cornfields. As she calls for help and attempts to save those inside, she sees the pilot pulled back into the cockpit by a thing with glowing red eyes. When the outside world fails to send help and two Amish boys fail to return home at the end of the work day, the small settlement realizes something is dreadfully wrong. Unsure what has happened, the Elders order the gates closed. No one goes in or out. Katie finds a injured young man by the fence and the tale that unfolded kept me riveted.

The plot was fantastic, but Katie made the tale come to life. I really adored this bright, young woman with a weakness for coca-cola and comic magazines. Her world is turned upside down, yet she hungers for truth and despite fear of God, the Elders and her family her own moral compass steers her. She struggles with Gelassenheit (God’s will) and at times does things to save her people despite the fear of being banished. Alex, the young injured man was interesting, and I am looking forward to getting to know him more. Ginger, an English woman, separated from her family and trapped on the farm was a strong, silent presence. She helped remind us how truly different the Plain folk were from the outside world. Elijah, the young Amish man she is intended for had me wavering in my feelings for him. I loved the Hexenmeister and found both him and his role fascinating. The two love interests in Katie’s life were very different and each represented a different path. The romance was sweet and felt genuine.

The world-building was dark and horrifying. From the first few pages I was enthralled and could not put this book down. While there are no new elements, Bickle cleverly weaved the Amish, religion and vampires into a tale that I will not soon forget. I liked her straightforward writing style, and grasp of the characters. The suspense was constant as she slowly revealed revelations as the tale demanded them. The tale ends on a cliffhanger. The tale felt finished, but the ending did pose questions and left a few unanswered. What will happen to Katie and her friends? What is happening outside? How did the vampires come to be? I simply cannot wait to read the Outside book two in this series.
Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer (less)

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Nov 13, 2012 jo mo rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampires, horror, dystopia, 2012, 4-stars, bible-thumping, creatures-of-the-night, new-adult, paranormal, family, post-apocalyptic, series, young-adult, thriller, tough-heroine, mystery

enjoyment: 4.25/5
actual rating: 3.5/5

bonus factors: amish + vampires + post-apocaplypse

note: besides the female lead, the characters were not that defined or fleshed out. lots of gore and goosebumpey moments which i thought were well done. i liked the overall plot, setting and tone better than the author's writing style. the hallowed ones lacked .. something and yah, i cannot quite pinpoint what it was in particular the book lacked. (view spoiler)...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Dizneeee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

Review to come. Just know that you need to read this book. Run out and buy it right now. Or, at least order it. Right now!

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 08, 2012 Dellis rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, vampires, kinda-yucky-sometimes, apocalypse, creepy-sometimes

3,5

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book, and it's clearly not my favourite book. But still, it's very good.

I didn't really like the characters - didn't hate them either, except Elijah. Actually, Elijah might be the only character I felt something for, but that wasn't really positive. (view spoiler)
However, I loved the relationships between the characters. The romance between Alex and Kati...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Julie (Manga Maniac Cafe) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Updated with full review:

This book had me extremely freaked out at several points during the story, and I could not put it down. Well, I did have to put it down once, because everyone else had wandered off to bed, it was dark, and I was FREAKED OUT. I just could not sit in the living room by myself and continue to read, damn my easily frightened heart. So I carefully marked my place, set the book down, and waddled off to bed, already counting down the hours until I would be home from work and ab...more

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 30, 2013 Celia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fun-way-to-waste-time, rated-well-by-friends, my-favorites, omg-its-a-good-ya, strong-female-lead, my-best-paranormal-and-fantasy, what-a-great-love-story, why-did-it-have-to-end, horror-elements

After reading the intro and Stacia's review(read it!), I was sold.

Mmmm, such a treat coming in at 4.5 start! and you know what? if YA was my favorite genre it would have gotten a 5!

From the POW of a young woman we are told how she experiences the end of the world.

Now WHY is this any different than the current mainstream YA books? Well;
- She's Amish
- Humans are turned into horrifying vampires
- (A well written) character development and interactions
- She is Amish! And lives with the Amish in Amis...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Vanessa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, best-young-adult-series

Kate is Amish, and is on the cusp of Rumspringa, the time in young Amish life where they are are able to experience modern frivolities, a taste of freedom and explore the "outside" world. Instead, the outside world comes full force to Kate and her Amish community, as this book is set in a dystopian world of a dark and evil plague , destroying the world systematically, with only holy grounds being safe. Kate is a remarkably strong willed heroine, kind hearted, and willing to stick to her convicti...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Misty Baker rated it 4 of 5 stars

It’s not all that often that I pick up a book based solely on a single word. I read the synopsis, I lapse into a rather heated argument with my inner self about it’s possible worth and then I make a decision. This was not the case with Laura Bickle’s “The Hallowed Ones.”

The word that hooked me? AMISH.

“Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers can get a taste of the real world. But the real world comes to her in this dystopian tale with a philosophical bent. R...more

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May 14, 2013 Pamela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: royal-may-2013, coming-of-age, fantasy, horror, multicultural-books

Katie is a typical Amish teenager – planning her Rumspringa activities, helping with chores at home and on the farm, and flirting with the boy destined to be her husband. However, a strange helicopter crash in her Amish community and word from the Outside of riots and death brings Katie’s plans to a halt. Fearing the evil of the Outside, these events prompt the Elders to impose community quarantine – no one is allowed in or out. When a young man is found outside their gates, on the verge of dyin...more

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May 02, 2013 Bethany Mitchell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Katie was just weeks away from her Rumspringa. The excitement of exploring the world that has always been denied to her is all most more than she can bear. And with Elijah by her side...nothing can stop them... until something does.

I have always had what some might say is an unhealthy curiosity when it comes to the amish. I have read both fiction and non fiction books about them and their culture. That being said most books I have read have been from a Christian perspective so I went into this...more

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May 01, 2013 Gail Roshong rated it 4 of 5 stars

Name: Gail Roshong

APA Citation: Bickle, L. (2012). The hallowed ones. New York: Graphia (Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt).

Genre: Science fiction (dystopia)

Award: This book has won no awards, as of yet.

Format: print

Selection process: Academic Search Complete provided two reviews of The Hallowed Ones. The Library Media Connection in the January/February, 2013 and the Kirkus Review in the August 15, 2012 recommended this book. Both reviewers felt this dystopian novel to have many thought provoking, eth...more Name: Gail Roshong

APA Citation: Bickle, L. (2012). The hallowed ones. New York: Graphia (Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt).

Genre: Science fiction (dystopia)

Award: This book has won no awards, as of yet.

Format: print

Selection process: Academic Search Complete provided two reviews of The Hallowed Ones. The Library Media Connection in the January/February, 2013 and the Kirkus Review in the August 15, 2012 recommended this book. Both reviewers felt this dystopian novel to have many thought provoking, ethical dilemmas.

Review: As the outside world crumbles to a mystifying contagion, sixteen year old Katie’s Amish community somehow remains unaffected. On the eve of her Rumspringa, the Amish rite of passage, the Elders lock the gates in an attempt to keep the community safe. To foreshadow future events, after a helicopter crashes in a nearby cornfield, Katie views radiant red eyes amid the smoking debris. Further happenings perplex Katie as the brothers of her intended, Elijah, disappear and she defiantly aids a mysterious, injured outsider, Alex. The intrigue thickens when her parents have difficulty comprehending her rebellious behavior, the elders deny the disasters, and boyfriend Elijah jealously conspirers against her. Only the Merlinesque hexmeister, Alex, a Canadian PH.D student, and Katie are willing to honestly face the impending destruction and hostile Amish populace who confront them. It is not until Elijah’s brothers reappear in grotesque forms that the community must face an almost unfathomable truth. Katie now must decide whether to remain with her Amish roots or to venture into the outside world. Either decision has calamitous consequences for her.
The Hallowed Ones offers a mostly accurate and balanced depiction of the straightforward Amish, in general. In this 21st century, however, it seems unlikely that any Amish elders would render such narrow minded denial if faced with imminent disaster. The blending of an inspirational Christian backdrop with a dystopian theme is interesting; yet one wonders if this combination will attract much of an audience.

Recommended: The Hallowed Ones is highly recommended for grades 9-12 and any other readers who might enjoy Christian literature with a dystopian twist.
(less)

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Apr 27, 2013 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

I picked this book up because I was intrigued by the idea of horror mixed with an Amish community. It seemed like a strange combination, but definitely unique.

I initially was expecting a story of survival as they dealt with life without Englishers. I was not expecting vampires, and I set down the book in shock when the theory was introduced. I'm surprised that so many reviews mention it right from the get go because the theory is posed over 100 pages in! I don't think I'd mention in in a recomme...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Stacey rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is an easy five star YA novel. I was interested in reading it because of the Amish slant; it was a relatively new concept to me in YA paranormal/dystopian fiction. I was a little leary as I first began the story. Even though I was hooked from the start, I was worried that the Outside sounded like a Walking Dead copy. It is not. Laura Bickle (a new to me author) puts a nice, subtle new spin on her monsters.

The premise of the story? Katie is secure in her Amish community. They do busines...more This book is an easy five star YA novel. I was interested in reading it because of the Amish slant; it was a relatively new concept to me in YA paranormal/dystopian fiction. I was a little leary as I first began the story. Even though I was hooked from the start, I was worried that the Outside sounded like a Walking Dead copy. It is not. Laura Bickle (a new to me author) puts a nice, subtle new spin on her monsters.

The premise of the story? Katie is secure in her Amish community. They do business with the Outside world and know people who live there. Katie is excited to experience her Rumspringa with her best friend and potential future husband Elijah. Rumspringa is the period where young adults in the Amish world can venture and live in the Outside...they can wear modern clothes and listen to pop music. They can watch television and go to clubs. Most Amish eventually return home and get baptised and then live the plain life for the remainder of their years. But suddenly the outside world is gone. Elijah's brothers never make it home from the Outside. When people investigate they find plenty of blood but no signs of life. At least not human life. For some reason their Amish community appears to be safe. The Elders issue a decree that no one may live the settlement and no one and nothing is to come in. Then one day Katie finds an outside boy lying next to the fence. The Elders forbid the injured man from being allowed in. And Katie makes a tough decision that goes against everything her world believes in.

This is one intense book. The characters are vividly created and the Amish laws and people are well described. I love that the book touched on the subject of God and what happens after death. So few books seem to anymore, even ones that deal in death and the supernatural. The book is pretty gory too. One scene in particular had me shocked that this passed the requirements for a YA book. And the book is scary. It was particularly scary when I tried to finish it in the middle of the night with my house completely silent. I can't say much more about this book but I want fans of YA and paranormal books to know about this one. I want to hear other readers talk about it. This book is that good and I am very pleased that I stumbled upon it. This one deserves some fans!(less)

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Apr 06, 2013 Katie Herring rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am on page 100 and I am hooked! I found this at the library and decided to give it a go. I will definitely finish this tonight because it is so intense!

I believe I have only read one other Amish related book, and that was the one by Jodi Picoult. I remember liking that one too.

I was taking a break and looked it up and one of the views said vampires. VAMPIRES? What. I was NOT expecting that! I guess I will meet them soon though.

The main character and I share a name, which is quite rare. While...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Bookgirlr rated it 4 of 5 stars

I spent all of my teenage years in a Mennonite Community. I walked the walk, talked the talk, dressed the dress… whatever you want to call it. I immersed myself in the culture and I loved it. We still had cars and telephones, although back then hardly anyone had cell phones, so it wasn’t as extreme as the Amish. I tell you this so you understand that when I saw the cover of The Hallowed Ones I absolutely had to have it. Some of my family still follows many of the Mennonite ways, although I am no...more I spent all of my teenage years in a Mennonite Community. I walked the walk, talked the talk, dressed the dress… whatever you want to call it. I immersed myself in the culture and I loved it. We still had cars and telephones, although back then hardly anyone had cell phones, so it wasn’t as extreme as the Amish. I tell you this so you understand that when I saw the cover of The Hallowed Ones I absolutely had to have it. Some of my family still follows many of the Mennonite ways, although I am no longer living in the Mennonite Community for those of you that wonder. My Mother’s nearest neighbors are Amish, and I am very familiar with their beliefs and customs. I understand that each Amish community is a bit different, but I was a tad disappointed in Bickle’s portrayal of the Amish. Two points: 1) The Amish do not pray out loud at meals. They pray silently before and after a meal. 2) The Amish do not believe that they can know they are going to heaven as this would lead to pride. Now I understand that this may garner me some flack as each community is different. However I have been led to understand, by the Amish that I know, that these are rigid rules and beliefs that should be the same in every community. I also understand that there is such a thing as poetic license which is why I will not let this small disappointment tarnish my love of this book.
I did love The Hallowed Ones. I read it in less than a day. It was my birthday and I treated myself to a trip to Barnes and Noble. I bought a lot of books. At one point a salesperson offered me a basket. I declined because my rule is that I can’t buy more books than I can carry. A few minutes later another salesperson offered to take some of the books to a register for me. She looked very concerned for my safety. I can carry a lot of books! Okay, back to the book. The cover of The Hallowed Ones grabbed my attention right away. I didn’t really pay attention to what it was about until I got home; I just knew that I needed this book with the Amish girl on the cover.
The Hallowed Ones is a horror novel about an apocalypse told from the perspective of an Amish teenager. It was wonderful. I was sad when I finished it. It made me angry and it made me sad. It made me smile and it made my heart pound. I loved Katie and the fact that she didn’t just blindly follow along with what the Elders told everyone to do like a sheep. She loved her community but wanted to understand the reasons that they did things the way that they did. She knew that she would most likely end up choosing the Amish life but wanted to experience life outside of the community first and all of that was ruined by this disaster.
When we read and write novels about apocalypse or dystopian earth we rarely consider what would happen to these people who already live apart from the rest of society. With no phones, no television and no radio, these communities would be the last to know about a disaster and the least affected by one. The Hallowed Ones was very original and told a story that many of us have not really considered before now.

If you like this book you may want to read:
Obernewtyn: The Obernewtyn Chronicles book 1 by Isobelle Carmody
The Forrest of Hands and Teeth Series by Carrie Ryan
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Mar 08, 2013 Khanh rated it 3 of 5 stars

Interesting book with a storyline one doesn't encounter too often. The heroine is a spirited Amish girl about to go off on her Rumspringa trip with her childhood friend Elijah, a boy she might one day marry. Their little community is isolated, obviously, but they do have contact with the outside world including a woman who visits fairly regularly. Suddenly, strange things start happening, a plane crashes, and the outside world doesn't respond. When several members of the community who has been v...more Interesting book with a storyline one doesn't encounter too often. The heroine is a spirited Amish girl about to go off on her Rumspringa trip with her childhood friend Elijah, a boy she might one day marry. Their little community is isolated, obviously, but they do have contact with the outside world including a woman who visits fairly regularly. Suddenly, strange things start happening, a plane crashes, and the outside world doesn't respond. When several members of the community who has been visiting town go missing, Katie and Elijah go investigating and find that the entire town is empty. The elders of the village then decide to completely cut the community off from the outside world, even refusing to save Alex, a young man who is injured and who has stumbled onto their land. Despite their warning, Katie takes it upon herself to help Alex survive.

Within their community, the elders are creating a little witch hunt and keeping the majority of the community in blessed ignorance, but Katie and Alex knows that there is a vampire invasion going on outside. It might be up to them to save the day, since everyone else is in denial or ignorance.

Amish. Vampire apocalypse. Never did I think these would go together. I have to admit I expected a zombie apocalypse, so it shocked me more than a little when I found out that the bad guys were vampires. The protagonist was likeable, strong without being bitchy, sheltered but not TSTL. She has the common sense to hide her tracks and avoid getting into trouble, and is brave enough to stand up against the elders and do what she knows is right. Her religious upbringing gives her faith, but she is never preachy, just truly curious about the nature of religion when it seems that it is the power of faith, not a specific faith, that repels these vampires. As an agnostic reader, I appreciate the non-preachiness of a book whose heroine's culture is so steeped in tradition and religion.

The book is difficult to read in parts, because it gets a little bogged down, I find Alex a little annoying and patronizing, but he is from the outside world and I think I would find myself a little high-handed myself when dealing with what I consider a backwards community. It's an original book, and while not the best written or compelling, makes for an interesting read.(less)

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Jan 06, 2013 Lizzy Lessard rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, ya

Books about the Amish are my secret love. I've lived within 10 miles of Amish (and Mennonites) for the majority of my life and I've always fantasied about what it would be like to live among them. Most books about the Amish are found in Christian literature which tends to be preachy, so I end up skipping whole scenes. When I heard about a paranormal Amish story, I was immediately intrigued, and yet skeptical. I wasn't sure how capable the author was of staying true to the Amish lifestyle and rel...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Penny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Possibly 4.5 stars. I've always had a curious fascination with the Amish community just because I don't think I could ever imagine myself living that lifestyle, so I was definitely intrigued by the premise of this book and throwing vampires in the mix? Well, I wanted to see how the author would pull that one off and Bickle does, in a number of ways.

She succeeds by having, in Katie, a protagonist you can sympathize with. She wants so much to be obedient to her parents and to God and to be mindful...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian-read, horror, my-library, paranormal-read, mystery-suspense-read, romance, series, young-adult-read

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

My Summary: Katie is due to set out on her Rumspringa - the chance every amish teenager gets to experience the real world and decide whether or not to stay - when disaster strikes. The world outside is no longer a safe place (if it ever was) and the elders make a decision not to allow anyone in or out. But when Katie stumbles upon an injured stranger, she decides to take a chance and hid...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Jesse Kimmel-Freeman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Creeptastically wonderful! I think this book should come with some kind of warning- "plays on all of your fears." That would be a good one. I love vampires, I've read tons of books that feature them- I was seriously worried that I was going to have nightmares about this one though. And vampires do not usually get to me. I had to wake up my husband and make him come lay on the outside of the bed to protect me from whatever imaginary beasts this book was going to cause my tired mind to invoke.

I lo...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Karin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampires, amish, death, death-of-a-friend, religious-conflicts, religious-places, religion, rebellion, friendship, families, self-discovery, relationship-problems, relationships, adult-ya-crossovers, adult-fiction, supernatural, superstition, borrowed-from-the-library, quick-read, suspense-thriller

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Katie and Elijah are Amish teenagers who are looking forward to their Rumspringa when the world is beset by darkness in the form of vampires. When Elijah’s brothers are killed by the creatures, he decides to commit himself to his faith early. Katie feels betrayed – especially when Elijah takes up with Ruth who also takes her baptism early. She is further conflicted when her heart tells her to go against the edicts of the Elders and the Bishop to assist an injured man whom they find outside the g...more

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About Laura Bickle

Laura Bickle has worked in the unholy trinity of politics, criminology, and technology for several years. She and her chief muse live in the Midwest, owned by four mostly-reformed feral cats.

Her work has been published in Midnight Times, Down in the Cellar, MicroHorror, Theaker's Quarterly Fiction,Ballista , Byzarium, New Myths,a Blog-O-Novella office soap opera for True Office Confessions, and Ao...more

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Quotes from The Hallowed Ones

“For me, that was love. Tangible. Love was what was in front of me, not a distant fantasy.” — 5 people liked it

“I wanted the syrupy taste of this small rebellion. And this stupid machine was denying that bit of freedom to me . . . just like everyone else.” — 4 people liked it

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