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The Hollow Boy

(Lockwood & Co. #3)

Jonathan Stroud (Goodreads Author)

4.36 · Rating details · 10,607 ratings · 1,520 reviews

As a massive outbreak of supernatural Visitors baffles Scotland Yard and causes protests throughout London, Lockwood & Co. continue to demonstrate their effectiveness in exterminating spirits. Anthony Lockwood is dashing, George insightful, and Lucy dynamic, while the skull in the jar utters sardonic advice from the sidelines. There is a new spirit of openness in the t ...more

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Hardcover, 385 pages

Published September 15th 2015 by Disney-Hyperion

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4.36 ·

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· 10,607 ratings · 1,520 reviews

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Oct 08, 2018 Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

”Secrets followed Lockwood about like the flapping of his coat, and it was nice to be close enough to feel them brush against me too.”

The more “Lockwood & Co” books I read, the more I want to dive into this world. It’s really amazing and something completely different to all the other fantasy books I usually read. Stroud invented such an intriguing world that it gets difficult not to believe in spectres, malaise and ghost lock. XD I mean alone the effort he put into his glossary is more than ...more

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Apr 22, 2015 Darth J rated it did not like it

Recommended to Darth J by: Cameron Chaney

Shelves: amazing-artwork, disappointing, longer-than-necessary, slow, series

I was in the mood for something spoopy for Halloween.

But I think I'm done with this series now. First off, the thin story is stretched over 374 pages when it easily could have been told in ~120. Second, now that we know the secret that Lockwood has been hiding in that room, his mystique is all gone, leaving him quite bland. Third, Lucy is threatened by a new female on the job. Jonathan Stroud, you should be ashamed of yourself for this. Is that really what you want to do with that character? Luc ...more

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Oct 29, 2016 Sana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, daddies, romance, badass-chicks, i-have-a-heart

This is a reread.

Second time reading this really stirred up emotions for me. That ending brought tears to my eyes and I just want to lay down and cry. Who knew this series could affect me like this?

I seem to love this even more reading this the second time. For me, this book is the best in the series. I am absolutely terrified to start the next book. I haven't read that book at all and was rereading the previous three in preparation for it. I'm so nervous and scared for what's going to happen w ...more

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Jun 05, 2015 Holler Loud rated it it was amazing

DUDE BUT GUYS IM TELLING YOU IF THIS HOLLY CHARACTER COMES INBETWEEN MY LUCEWOOD I WILL BITE HER HEAD OFF THIS CAN NOT HAPPEN

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Feb 11, 2015 Paige Bookdragon rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2015, adventure, best-series, favorite-author, favorites, friendship, ghosts, got-a-copy, humor, love-the-hero

“Under all the anger and the sorrow, Lucy, I was was just left feeling hollow”

I love this book.I can't get over it, I want to swallow it and I want to stare at it for a looong time.

description

The Hollow Boy is the third book in the Lockwood & Co. series and damn you, Jonathan Stroud for making me such an unrepentant fangirl to Lucy and Lockwood..

description

Speaking of Lucewood love team, there's another character added to our little band of psychics. Holly Munro is this goody-two-shoes,I'm-so-perfect-and-you-ca ...more

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Feb 19, 2015 Missjjang1 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: september, favorites

ME WHEN I GOT THE BOOK

photo Reading Takes Precedence_zpsmykrngoq.gif

ME WHEN MY MOM KEPT TELLING ME TO GO DO MY HOMEWORK

books photo tumblr_lrkz1quqeL1r1vggvo1_400_zpsjjtpozd9.gif

ME WHEN I FINISHED THE BOOK

ME REALIZING I HAVE TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER YEAR

dead photo tumblr_inline_mhzb2yF5w61qz4rgp_zpskt9n15fb.gif

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Aug 24, 2017 may ❀ rated it really liked it

Shelves: 400-pgs, aaaaaaaaaa, audiobook, buddy-read, bye, ded, fantasy, i-am-trash, i-will-go-down-with-this-ship, kickass-heroine

Full review posted

Lockwood and Co. continue to freak me out and melt my heart at the same time. I’m. Just. So. Invested. In. Everything.

So, let me tell you, if you looking for creepy, this book has got it. If you’re looking for complex characters that will own your soul, this book has got it. If you’re looking for mysteries and thrills, this book has got it.

HONESTLY JUST PICK UP THE BOOK.

I’m telling you, when I was listening to it (audiobook-ed it), I was getting goosebumps at certain parts, ...more

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Oct 26, 2018 Ginger rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018

What a great cliffhanger! I really enjoyed The Hollow Boy which is the 3rd book in the Lockwood & Co. series.

First, the name of the book, The Hollow Boy was only a small portion of this book. The book was much more involved with other ghost hauntings. It also dives into personal changes within the paranormal group, Lockwood & Co.

I thought this was a good addition to the series and the book starts off with the crew of Anthony Lockwood, George and Lucy tackling ghosts while there's a ghost What a great cliffhanger! I really enjoyed The Hollow Boy which is the 3rd book in the Lockwood & Co. series.

First, the name of the book, The Hollow Boy was only a small portion of this book. The book was much more involved with other ghost hauntings. It also dives into personal changes within the paranormal group, Lockwood & Co.

I thought this was a good addition to the series and the book starts off with the crew of Anthony Lockwood, George and Lucy tackling ghosts while there's a ghost epidemic brewing in the Chelsea neighborhood of London.

Lockwood and company have not received a invite to the Chelsea neighborhood because the main ghost agency branch (DEPRAC) are using more well known paranormal groups to fight all the ghosts and spirits.
And damn is this pissing Lockwood off! I don’t blame him because his gang of ghost fighters are one of the best in the business. Lockwood thinks about making the group bigger to get more paranormal cases like the one happening in Chelsea and decides to hire a new girl to the group.

Holly Munro is super organized and literally the perfect girl. She rubs Lucy the wrong way. I would laugh at the way these two interacted together in the book. It was very descriptive and Jonathan Stroud wrote teenage girl drama well!
I couldn’t decide if Lucy was just jealous of Holly because she's starting to like Lockwood or if Holly was just a pain in the ass. I think it was a little bit of both in this case.

The Hollow Boy had more teenage angst in it then I would like but it was still written well, and I love the skull in the jar. He’s one of the best things in this series with saying the things that I’m likely thinking.

The spooky parts are great in this series, the writing is well done, and the characterization seems to get better with each book. The only thing that I'm hoping does not happen with upcoming books is a love relationship between Lockwood and Lucy. I just don’t want it! I like how the group interacts now and I think it would ruin the chemistry of Lockwood & Co. ...more

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Nov 15, 2018 Jody rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, spooktacular

Thoughts: I'm happy to say Jonathan Stroud really stepped up his game in this installment. In The Hollow Boy we get all the ghost chasing fun we've had in the previous two books, but with a little darker tone.

By darker tone, I mean the hauntings and description of the haunts had a more horror feel to them. Now, I'm not comparing this to a Stephen King book, but I felt more of a terror vibe with this as compared to the creepy and spooky atmosphere of books 1 & 2.

It has been about a year and ...more

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Jan 15, 2015 Eris Vianney rated it really liked it

Luckwood, don't fail me now.

AFTER READING

Consider Luckwood NOT failed. Slow burning, but definitely no fail.

But why...

Why must there be another cliffhanger? STROUD.

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Aug 27, 2017 Madeline rated it liked it

Shelves: audiobook, kids-and-young-adult

Looking back at my reviews for the first two books in the Lockwood & Co series, I learn that apparently the second book (The Whispering Skull) ended on a massive cliffhanger. But since there was so much time between me finishing the second book and starting the third, I completely forgot what the cliffhanger even was. If it got resolved in any satisfying manner in the beginning of The Hollow Boy, I didn't notice. So that's probably not a great sign.

We're at the third installation of what is ...more

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May 27, 2015 RitaSkeeter rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015, fantasy, ya

Honestly, this series just keeps getting better and better. It's a big call, but here goes - this is the best series to come along since my beloved Mr Potter. I never want this series to end.

This installment has a lot of humour (love that skull!), a lot of character development for Lucy, and A LOT of chills. I read the book in the cold hard light of day (after being scared silly reading the first installment at night), but frankly the climax of this book still scared the bejeebus out of me.

Write ...more

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Jan 04, 2016 Vee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: print-ausgabe

WAS IST DAS FÜR EIN ENDE?! WO IST DE RNÄCHSTE BAND? WIE SOLL MEIN LEBEN JETZT WEITERGEHEN??? WAS SIND GEFÜHLE? ICH KOMME MIT DEM NICHT MEHR KLAR!
ugly crying

Ich hätte wirklich nicht gedacht, dass das mir so an die Nieren gehen wird ...

Ich hab den dritten Band der Reihe ja schon irgendwie weggeatmet? Und er war einfach nur super? JEDER SOLLTE DIESE REIHE LESEN! (UND ICH WILL MEHR! TT_TT MEEEEEHHHR!) Ich bin gerade einfach viel zu emotional, um irgendwie eine Rezension zu dem Buch zu schreiben und ich werde ...more

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May 23, 2017 Frankie Lovely rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Yeah I don't even have to think about this one.
~~5 stars~~
ALL THE STARS

I can't even form adequate words right now to write this review!
I'm not even sure adequate words even exist!

This book is a piece of my soul. My emotions are off the charts right now!!!

I just ... and .... omg but .... my heart ❤ ...more

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Dec 17, 2014 Gergana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary-fantasy, ghosts-necromancy, kids-protagonists, setting-uk-and-ireland, favorites, horror

Absolutely brilliant and terrifying! And the most petrifying plot twist I've ever read!!! (view spoiler)

The Lockwood series are not for the faint of heart. People will ask: "What, the bloody hell, is she talking about? This book is targeting middle-school children! Does she get scared by her own bloody shadow?" and I'll just send my army of rabid bunnies after them, because reasons. This series will leave you with eyes wide open during the night and feet shive Absolutely brilliant and terrifying! And the most petrifying plot twist I've ever read!!! (view spoiler)

The Lockwood series are not for the faint of heart. People will ask: "What, the bloody hell, is she talking about? This book is targeting middle-school children! Does she get scared by her own bloody shadow?" and I'll just send my army of rabid bunnies after them, because reasons. This series will leave you with eyes wide open during the night and feet shivering under your covers. Nothing will be able to get the chill out of you.

Ok, enough with the threats, for now, and WELCOME once again to the scariest London in fictional existence. Ghosts are all over the place and it's up to children to defend the British isle from this nasty infestation (cause adults can't see them, you see). Sounds cute and jolly doesn't it?
WRONG!!!

We join our favorite agents, Lockwood, Lucy and George, as they learn to deal with the new found popularity of their agency. After exorcising a particularly nasty ghost (and a couple of crazy adults brandishing kitchen utensils), the trio is once again overwhelmed with the number of cases arriving each day and the lack of order and hygiene in their home. A secretary is required, someone who can deal with the clients, organize their schedule and clean the mess in their kitchen. And, oh joy, it doesn't take long for Lockwood to find Holy - the perfect assistant and Lucy's worst nightmare.

Oh, and there's also
- a massive outbreak of ghosts in Chelsea - where different agencies are working together to resolve the ever increasing attacks and panic.
- a pushy client with a murderous ghost in her home
- and if things weren't hard enough for Lucy, battling ghosts (and Holy for Lockwood's attention), she also has to deal with her talent getting more and more powerful, both helping her colleagues, but also endangering their lives at the same time.

AND THAT ENDING!!!!!! GRRRR!!! Sometimes I think writers are intentionally evil. Ending the book with a twist and leaving us alone in our misery for months, until we get the sequel.

There are books that just click with you, and this one clicked with me. I was sucked into the world, I interacted with the characters, I was emotionally involved with everything that was happening and I completely forgot that this is just a work of fiction. An absolutely great experience for me. I can't guarantee that this will be one of THE BOOKS for you, but it was a wonderful ride nevertheless. If you decide to give the series a go, I hope you enjoy them.
...more

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Jul 17, 2017 Scott Hitchcock rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, ya-fantasy

Another good chapter in this series. I could have missed the angst between Lucy and Holly over Lockwood but it did produce one very funny scene.

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Nov 06, 2017 Veronique rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017, favourites-5and4-5, 2019, 2018

4.5 re-read, this time with husband. What can I say? I couldn’t resist?
___
“Because you're unique . You shine like a beacon, attracting the attention of all dark things." It chuckled. “Why do you think I'm chatting with you?”

Ok, I am completely hooked on this series. Stroud builds on the previous two titles, deepening the development of our cast, while offering the expected thrilling action scenes, spine-tingling moments, and of course the humour and snark. We also start finding out a little mor ...more

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Jun 21, 2015 Beth rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed

SO MUCH TO SAY. First: who thought a cliffhanger ending was a good idea? WHY? (It's a good ending. It grows organically out of the story. I just hate cliffhangers.)

Even with an abrupt end, the story crackles. I find the worldbuilding so compelling, and I never get bored of the different ways ghosts manifest and the many problems they can cause. I think The Hollow Boy dials up the series elements: there are more threads introduced that aren't wrapped up than I remember from the previous two books SO MUCH TO SAY. First: who thought a cliffhanger ending was a good idea? WHY? (It's a good ending. It grows organically out of the story. I just hate cliffhangers.)

Even with an abrupt end, the story crackles. I find the worldbuilding so compelling, and I never get bored of the different ways ghosts manifest and the many problems they can cause. I think The Hollow Boy dials up the series elements: there are more threads introduced that aren't wrapped up than I remember from the previous two books (though the central conflict, from a plot perspective, is resolved), and they're exciting threads. I'd have picked up the sequel even without that cliffhanger ending.

The story from a character perspective is less perfect, I think. For one, there are still elements of the fat-shaming Hallie mentioned in her review of the first book. For another - and this is central to the book's character conflict - Stroud introduces another female character. Who is positioned as Lucy's opponent and competition, but is immediate pals with the boys and subsequently creates a rift in the team. Quite frankly: this is why we can't have nice things. This isn't a wholly unnecessary streak of misogyny in a story that would otherwise be fine without it - Stroud's too good of a writer for that, and in fact, the plot hinges on this conflict - but isn't this something we should be past? Where are my awesome-women-supporting-each-other plotlines? It's actually good writing to challenge an established team; that way, you don't end up with a case-of-the-week style series. But when the team is fractured because of two women who just can't get along, and who see each other as competition... It's been done before. And I didn't like it then, either.

More on the competition: (view spoiler)

One thing I really like about this series is the background given for the less-present adults. It's something a lot of MG books have to deal with, because for the most part, kids need space to have adventures. The Lockwood & Co. series gives it a great twist by having the kids be more professional and in many ways more adult than the actual adults, but the Lucy/Holly spat throws a wrench in that, and frankly, so does Lucy's minor fixation on Lockwood. (No Romance, Please is another bias on my part, apparently.)

Also, I don't know why I never noticed this before, but Stroud is spinning some extended thoughts on government and bureaucracy underneath the story. (I'd have to reread the Bartimaeus series to be sure, but I seem to remember him doing the same there.) He takes it further in this book with the parade and events that follow, and while he stops short of making political pronouncements and I avoid looking for them, there are definitely ideas to be mined.

Which brings me, finally, to the ending. Like I said, it's a cliffhanger - yuck - but it's also smart, and drastic, and it finally brings some of the stylistic aplomb seen in the Bartimaeus series to this new series. Because until it happened, the Lockwood series read as lighter fare, creepy manifestations and nighttime horrors and deaths and all. But now there's a major character decision without any easy resolution, and that's exciting. ...more

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Oct 13, 2017 samantha (books-are-my-life20) rated it it was amazing

this was as good as any of the other in the series. Stroud has created a world filled with fun, fear, mystery, conspiracy, and humor. I never want this series to end! and its Perfect for Halloween!!!!!

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Nov 27, 2017 Insi Eule rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Ich glaube, das war der bisher gruseligste Band der Reihe (aber ich bin auch empfindlich xD). Und Protagonistin Lucy hat mir diesmal so leid getan, oh je, die Ärmste... dieses Ende... *seufz*. Ich muss mich diesmal wohl doch beeilen was Band 4 betrifft, da ich wissen will wie es weiter geht. Auf jeden Fall hat es wieder Spaß gemacht mit Lockwood & Co. auf Geisterjagd zu gehen. Ich kehre immer wieder gerne zu dieser Buchreihe zurück.

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Aug 26, 2016 Jesica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Aku suka banget seri ini walaupun sebenarnya aku gampang takut n seri ini bisa dibilang seram. Di buku ini atmosfer seram yang menurutku sempat berkurang di buku kedua balik lagi. Cerita di seri tiga ini agak mirip dengan buku pertama. Kasus jejak kaki berdarah agak mirip undakan menjerit. Menurutku buku ketiga ini lebih berwarna. Ada seramnya, serunya, ada misteri yang mencakup hantu dan bukan hantu seperti penjahat-penjahat yang berusaha membunuh Fittes dan Rotwell. Ada bagian melankolisnya ya Aku suka banget seri ini walaupun sebenarnya aku gampang takut n seri ini bisa dibilang seram. Di buku ini atmosfer seram yang menurutku sempat berkurang di buku kedua balik lagi. Cerita di seri tiga ini agak mirip dengan buku pertama. Kasus jejak kaki berdarah agak mirip undakan menjerit. Menurutku buku ketiga ini lebih berwarna. Ada seramnya, serunya, ada misteri yang mencakup hantu dan bukan hantu seperti penjahat-penjahat yang berusaha membunuh Fittes dan Rotwell. Ada bagian melankolisnya yang bikin sedih tapi banyak juga adegan dan percakapan konyol yang bikin ngakak. Beberapa hal mencurigakan. Disini juga (mungkin) ada sedikit hint romance antara Lucy n Lockwood :p Tapi yang paling beda menurutku adalah asisten baru yang dipekerjakan Lockwood, Holly Munro. Holly ini orangnya perfect banget. Cantik, rapi, sopan n kerjanya efisien. Menurutku interaksi Lucy-Holly bikin gemes. Sifat mereka beda 180 derajat jadi mereka ga pernah bisa akur. Lucunya, mereka bersikap sopan n formal kaya berusaha bersahabat satu sama lain tapi sebenernya mereka saling cemburu. Holly ini juga jadi bahan utama si tengkorak yang lagi hobby jodoh-jodohin Lucy sama Lockwood buat godain Lucy. Lockwood sendiri yang ga sepenuhnya sadar 2 rekannya saling cemburuan malah disebutkan suka ‘tersenyum hangat’ lihat Lucy n Holly ‘bagaikan ayah yang mengisap pipa cangklong menyaksikan anak-anaknya bermain di pekarangan’. Perbedaan mencolok lain dari buku-buku sebelumnya adalah si tengkorak yang disini lebih banyak dapat peran. Hantu yang satu ini bisa bikin ketawa walaupun keadaannya lagi setegang dan seseram apapun. Karakternya, menurutku mirip jin Bartimaeus di seri Bartimaeus karangan penulis yang sama. George dan Flo juga tidak ketinggalan dengan riset cerdasnya George dan gaya ala gelandangannya Flo.
Waktu pertama beli buku ini yang langsung menarik perhatianku adalah terjemahan judulnya: Pemuda Berongga. Kesannya seperti sejenis hantu tapi, sedikit bocoran, Hollow Boy disini tidak tepat hantu, kok. Tergantung pembaca mengartikan gimana. Aku jadi mikir setelah perhatiin covernya kalau dibuka/ditutup (great design, btw). Agak cocok sama salah satu karakter di dalam, sih.

”aku memusnahkan hantu yang melakukan itu,” katanya, “tapi apa gunanya? Sudah terlambat. Dan aku merasa…” Aku bisa merasakan dia mencari-cari kata yang tepat. “Dalam kemarahan dan kesedihan, Lucy, aku hanya merasa kosong.

Hal menarik lainnya yang aku perhatikan adalah si penulis, Jonathan Stroud, beberapa kali memasukkan beberapa hal yang berbau Indonesia. Biasanya ini ga terlalu ketara tapi di buku ini jadi lumayan penting karena diceritakan kalo Jessica Lockwood meninggal dibunuh hantu dari Indonesia. Lockwood juga disebutkan punya koleksi rebana penangkal hantu dari Bali dan ada juga quote kocak Lucy tentang inspektur Barnes dari buku kedua:

Namun seperti biasa, kumisnya yang mengagumkanlah yang menarik perhatianku. Bagiku, kumis Barnes mirip sekali dengan sejenis ulat bulu eksotik, mungkin dari hutan Sumatera, yang sebelumnya tidak dikenal di dunia ilmiah.

Walaupun endingnya bikin kesel tapi secara keseluruhan buku ini seru. Terjemahannya juga oke. Jadi ga sabar nunggu buku keempatnya. :D ...more

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Apr 01, 2016 Danielle The Book Huntress (Back to the Books) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: ghost fiction readers

Shelves: audiobook, library-checkout, ghost, ghost-hunters, young-adult, children-in-danger-harmed, favorite-series, favorites, set-in-uk, dark-fantasy

I was thrilled that my library finally got the audiobook for this latest release in the Lockwood and Co. series. I've been listening to it from the beginning and I hated to have to change format. The narrator is a different person, but she was very good. She brings Lucy, George, Lockwood and the other characters to life distinctively.

I was slightly less impressed with this than the previous books, but it was still very good. I wasn't sure I liked the addition of a new agent to the team. The tri ...more

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Sep 03, 2015 Annemieke / A Dance with Books rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015, 5-star, supernatural-paranormal, 2018

You know, it doesn’t often happen that I rate books higher as the series goes along. But this third installment definitely deserves that. Jonathan Stroud stepped it up a notch.

Especially in the plot department and world building. Things from the first and second book, like the figure on the goggles in the first book, are now becoming a part of a larger plot. Not everything is clear about this larger plot yet, but they are slowly falling into place. Another aspect that I liked is that I am getti You know, it doesn’t often happen that I rate books higher as the series goes along. But this third installment definitely deserves that. Jonathan Stroud stepped it up a notch.

Especially in the plot department and world building. Things from the first and second book, like the figure on the goggles in the first book, are now becoming a part of a larger plot. Not everything is clear about this larger plot yet, but they are slowly falling into place. Another aspect that I liked is that I am getting a better feeling for the world throughout the events of this book and when it comes down to the problem. Before we saw mostly cases that were bound to one room or house, but this time we also get a cluster of the problem that has caused an area to be evacuated. It gives a better idea of how it has been affecting London, and some social reactions and politics are also shown.

I also feel that things have taken a darker turn nearing the end of this book. While the humor is still present, the characters are deepening out further. There is a lot of character development here, mostly in Lucy’s case. The relationships between the three are also deepening. I especially like how Lucy and George’s relationship continues to grow throughout each book. Lockwood remains a bit of a mystery, though we do learn quite a bit more about him. I’d still really like to learn more about his parents.

The skull is back. He gives a lot of comic relief throughout the book, but he also voices Lucy’s doubts, dark thoughts and sometimes is even right, though he uses it to manipulate Lucy. Another we see back is Kipps and his team. I kind of love that throughout these books they are kind of trusting each other, and that they begrudgingly see the others talents.

And last but not least, there is a new addition to Lockwood & co. Holly becomes their assistant to help them out in the home and at times with cases. Holly and Lucy do not take to each other. I liked how their dynamic was partly dealt with during the ending of this book. It fits with these characters, and I do feel that a change between them has occurred towards the positive. It also helped with Lucy’s character development.

I can’t wait for the fourth book (which is yet to be titled)! ...more

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Mar 03, 2016 K. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016, library, paranormal, audience-young-adult, setting-uk, 2017

24/5/2017
Trigger warnings: ghosts of people who died in horrible ways? Discussion of the death of a sibling several years earlier.

3.5 stars.

Definitely my least favourite of the series to date. Everything that I said last time stands, but I wanted to punch Lucy in the face for approximately 60% of the book. (Although to be fair, I kiiiiiind of wanted to punch Lockwood in the face for approximately 60% of the book too. So there's that.)

6/3/2016
To be honest, this is probably my least favourite of ...more

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Apr 24, 2018 GraceDarcy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: part3, antiheroprotagonist, awesome-cover, detective-stories, great-hero, individual-idea, fantasy, funny-as-fuck, heartwrecking-ending, highlight

Es gibt Autoren, sehr viele Autoren, die mit krassen und schockierenden Plottwists aufwarten, um Leser zu schocken, zu unterhalten oder durch Neuartigkeit in ihren Büchern zu provozieren.
Es gibt Autoren, die eine Handlung konstruieren, von der sie denken, dass die meisten Leser sie lesen wollen und diese mit viel schriftstellerischem Talent aufbereiten.
Es gibt Autoren, die das Geheimrezept für tolle Protagonisten zu kennen scheinen - wahre Helden mit all jenen Charaktereigenschaften, die man s Es gibt Autoren, sehr viele Autoren, die mit krassen und schockierenden Plottwists aufwarten, um Leser zu schocken, zu unterhalten oder durch Neuartigkeit in ihren Büchern zu provozieren.
Es gibt Autoren, die eine Handlung konstruieren, von der sie denken, dass die meisten Leser sie lesen wollen und diese mit viel schriftstellerischem Talent aufbereiten.
Es gibt Autoren, die das Geheimrezept für tolle Protagonisten zu kennen scheinen - wahre Helden mit all jenen Charaktereigenschaften, die man sich wünscht.
Solche Autoren schreiben in der Regel Bücher, die gut ankommen. Die hohe Verkaufszahlen und positive Rezensionen erzielen.

Aber solche Autoren schreiben keine wahrhaftigen Büchern. Sie schreiben keine echten Bücher, keine echten Geschichten, die aus sich selbst heraus leben - unabhängig davon, was der Leser vielleicht mag und nur dadurch beeinflusst, was sinnvoll für die Geschichte ist - einer inneren Notwendigkeit heraus folgend.
Jonathan Stroud schreibt solche Bücher. Bücher die echt sind. Kontrovers. Outstanding. Jonathan Strouds Plottwists sind deshalb so gut, weil sie sich logisch und notwendig aus der Handlung ergeben, ohne offensichtlich zu sein oder nur ins Buch geschrieben zu sein, um zu provozieren. Er konstruiert keine Handlungsgerüste, die gefällig sind. Im Gegenteil - manche Handlungsstränge sind für den Leser ein Schlag ins Gesicht und zerstören ihn so richtig; aber das ist gut, weil es innerhalb der Handlung sinnvoll ist. Die Geschichte geht den Weg, den sie gehen muss, unabhängig davon, ob sie sich verkaufen wird. Das macht sie echt. Glaubhaft. Auch die Charaktere entsprechen keinen Stereotypen und es sind auch keine idealtypische Helden. Sie haben ihre Macken und Fehler und sind teilweise echte Antihelden. Lockwood mit seiner Arroganz, Lucy mit ihrer Eifersucht, George mit seiner mangelnden Körperpflege..sie alle sind so herrlich unperfekt. Wo sonst bekommt man Maincharacters, die im Schlafanzug rumlungern und Chips essen oder sich in wichtigen Situationen lieber streiten, als die Welt zu retten? Und die Freundschaft in diesem Buch! Wo sonst findet man eine solche, wahrhaftige Freundschaft? Endlich mal ein Buch, dass ohne unnötige, wenn auch gut verkäufliche, Liebesgeschichte auskommt und stattdessen die wahre Freundschaft in den Fokus stellt. Aber auch die Nebencharaktere sind großartig. Ich liebe Flo (wo wird schon Obdachlosigkeit in Jugendbüchern betont?) und auch das Team von Kipps ist mir inzwischen ans Herz gewachsen. Ob nun der kleine Vernon oder Inspector Barnes...jeder unter ihnen ist einfach nur echt. Vom Schreibstil muss ich glaube ich gar nicht erst anfangen, denn der ist (wie auch der Humor in diesem Buch) einfach nur klasse und überdurchschnittlich gut. Meine Sorge, dass mir Lockwood nicht so gut gefallen würde, wie meine geliebte Bartimäusreihe war jedenfalls völlig unbegründet. Je mehr ich von der Reihe lese, desto mehr liebe ich sie. ♥ Und jetzt bin ich gespannt, wie es in der übergreifenden Handlung weitergeht. Wenn ihr mich fragt, steckt eindeutig diese Harfengesellschaft hinter allden Ausbrüchen. Die Fitts steckt sicher auch mit drin. :o ...more

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Jan 04, 2015 Tanja Voosen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 08-favourite-authors, 09-favourite-book-characters, 18-my-bookshelf, 19-german-books-i-own, 16-holy-moly-pure-adrenaline

Buchgestaltung

Inzwischen kann ich mich gar nicht mehr entscheiden, ob mir die neuen englischen Cover oder doch die deutschen besser gefallen. Egal, in welcher Sprache man die Buchreihe verschlingt, die Aufmachung passt auf jeden Fall immer. Die Übersetzung des Titels von „Hollow Boy“ zu „raunende Maske“ finde ich ehrlich gesagt ein bisschen passender, deshalb kann man als Fan nicht darüber klagen. Alles in allem ist das Cover aber wieder sehr cool und passt toll zu den Vorgängern.

Meinung

Seit de Buchgestaltung

Inzwischen kann ich mich gar nicht mehr entscheiden, ob mir die neuen englischen Cover oder doch die deutschen besser gefallen. Egal, in welcher Sprache man die Buchreihe verschlingt, die Aufmachung passt auf jeden Fall immer. Die Übersetzung des Titels von „Hollow Boy“ zu „raunende Maske“ finde ich ehrlich gesagt ein bisschen passender, deshalb kann man als Fan nicht darüber klagen. Alles in allem ist das Cover aber wieder sehr cool und passt toll zu den Vorgängern.

Meinung

Seit dem ersten Band von Lockwood & Co bin ich Fan der Figuren und der Story gewesen und MUSSTE natürlich auch zum dritten und aktuellem Band greifen. Endete der Vorgänger doch in so einem fiesen Cliffhänger, das die Wartezeit unmöglich erschien, so war ich umso gespannter, als es endlich weiter ging. Der Einstieg ins Buch hat mich allerdings ein bisschen enttäuscht, da man schon über 100 Seiten lesen muss, um überhaupt zu der Cliffhänger-Information aus „der wispernde Schädel“ zu kommen. Ich hatte bei diesem Band der Reihe leider öfter den Eindruck, der Autor würde ihn als eine Art Überleitung benutzen, um noch mal wichtige Dinge zu wiederholen, die der Leser eventuell vergessen haben könnte. Klar – in Lockwood & Co geht es in erster Linie um die Agenturen, Geister und Aufträge der Stadt, aber im Großen und Ganzen war es vor allem der rote Faden, den ich hier mehrmals gesucht und nicht gefunden habe. Versteht mich nicht falsch – das Buch war sehr gut, ich fand es unterhaltsam und ich liebe die Figuren sehr, aber nachdem der Vorgänger so brillant und aufregend und spannend war, wollte ich einfach MEHR.

Jonathan Stroud kann einfach Schreiben und hat es hier auch wieder bewiesen. Sein Stil ist wortgewandt, klar strukturiert und hat diesen herrlichen Touch Humor, sodass man durch das dicke Buch hindurch fliegt. Ich habe es tatsächlich an einem Stück gelesen und wollte nicht, dass es schon wieder so schnell vorbei ist. In diesem Teil der Reihe müssen Lockwood & Co aufgrund eines riesen Falls wieder mit anderen Agenturen zusammenarbeiten und das sorgt für allerlei Konkurrenzdruck unter den verschiedenen Parteien. Nachdem ein Massengrab gefunden wurde, nehmen die Geistererscheinungen Überhand und es tun sich noch einige Rätsel mehr auf. Ein besonders Großes hat auch wieder etwas mit dem Titel zu tun.

Die Welt der Reihe ist faszinierend und interessant wie zuvor und ein neues Lockwood Buch zu lesen bedeutet irgendwie in eine bekannte Welt einzutauchen, die aber trotzdem so viele Dinge vor dem Leser verbirgt, dass es niemals langweilig wird. Neben Lucy, Lockwood und George taucht auch eine neue Figur im Team auf und ich fand es witzig, wie der Autor die Dynamik des Teams auf die Probe gestellt hat. Auch erfährt man endlich etwas mehr über Lockwoods Vergangenheit, wenn es für meinen Geschmack auch gerne noch mehr Informationen gewesen hätten sein können.

Zwischen lustigen Schlagabtauschen und ernster Dialoge ist es vor allem Lucy, die in diesem Teil mit Selbstzweifeln kämpft. Durch das neue Teammitglied muss sie erst wieder ihren Platz finden und sich auch daran gewöhnen, dass sie nicht mehr das einzige Mädchen in der Agentur ist. Dazu kommt, dass ihre Gabe ihr noch immer zu schaffen machte und auch der Schädel aus dem Vorgänger ihre Bedenken anstachelt. Kann man der Neuen trauen? Hat Lockwood weitere Geheimnisse? Und was ist eigentlich in der Stadt los. In einer Mischung aus dem Alltag der Agenten, vielen kleinen und diesem großen Auftrag erlebt man wieder hautnah mit, wie unser Charaktere Abenteuer überstehen, Geheimnisse ans Licht bringen und dabei selbst zur Zielscheibe werden. Besonders gegen Ende war der Roman unheimlich spannend! An einer Stelle wäre mir fast das Herz stehen geblieben, weil die Wende so unerwartet kam und überhaupt versteht es der Autor sehr gut mit den Emotionen seiner Leser zu spielen. All diese haarscharfen Erlebnisse haben mir ganz oft Schauer den Rücken hinunter gejagt. Das Finale zum Schluss ist atemberaubend.

Trotzdem kam mir das Buch aus oben genannten Gründen an 2-3 Stellen ein wenig langatmig vor und wünsche mir für den nächsten Band wieder etwas mehr Interaktion zwischen Lucy und Lockwood und ein paar mehr Erklärungen zu den Dingen, die hier nur angerissen wurden. Was Action und Plot angeht kann man bei Stroud niemals meckern, aber die Figuren mussten hier ein wenig zurückstecken. Nichtsdestotrotz hat mich Lockwood wieder sehr fesseln können.

Fazit

Gelungene Fortsetzung der Bestseller-Reihe, von der wir hoffentlich noch eine Menge zu lesen bekommen. Die Figuren sind charmant, der Plot ist abwechslungsreich und das große Finale ist ein Feuerwerk an Gefühlen und packenden Wenden. Leider fehlte auf Dauer etwas der Zusammenhang zu den anderen Romanen, was vor allem daran lag, dass Hintergründe zu Lockwood zu kurz kamen und uns der Autor noch ein wenig auf die Folter spannend wollte. Von mir gibt es aber eine Leseempfehlung – die ganze Reihe ist einfach sau cool, witzig und mal was anderes! ...more

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Jul 01, 2018 Julia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4,5*

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Jul 16, 2018 Reina Tan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommended to Reina by: Olivia

Shelves: 2018-fav

⚠ subjective opinion || 4.5 ⭐ || it's not kind of review that talks through about the book, it's more likely fangirling. So, I'm sorry in advance 😂
° ° °
“Not everything you see is what has passed. Sometime it is what is yet to be.”—383

My heart showed so many emotions while reading this...

There are so many things happen here, even though it was more focusing to characters' feeling—especially Lucy.

I can't stop babbling everytime I turn the pages. I hate but love every interaction written here. If y ...more

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Dec 05, 2014 Bonnie rated it really liked it

Shelves: library, paranormal, pn-ghosties, ya

The trio are at the top of their game and their camaraderie has never been better, so it comes as quite a disappointment when Lucy arrives home one day to find the boys have added a new member to the team: Holly Munro. On top of dealing with the new member of the team, Lucy is struggling to come to terms with her developing powers of being able to communicate with spirits and is torn between the desire to investigate them more and in keeping herself and her team safe. In addition to all that’s g The trio are at the top of their game and their camaraderie has never been better, so it comes as quite a disappointment when Lucy arrives home one day to find the boys have added a new member to the team: Holly Munro. On top of dealing with the new member of the team, Lucy is struggling to come to terms with her developing powers of being able to communicate with spirits and is torn between the desire to investigate them more and in keeping herself and her team safe. In addition to all that’s going on with the group, a recent surge of supernatural activity has all the psychic agencies in London joining together in the fight, including Lockwood & Co.

My adoration for this fantastic series continues and I dread the day when the trio grows up and subsequently loses their ghost hunting abilities. The Hollow Boy is once again another solid installment that continues some fantastic character building and even adds a new character to the mix. I’ve seen a lot of readers express displeasure in Lucy’s attitude towards Holly, calling her catty and petty, and while I also originally felt disappointed in the immediate girl-hate, I could also understand it. Lucy is upset at the immediate change the house undergoes with Holly’s presence as well as the immediate closeness Lockwood shows her. She’s understandably jealous which quickly puts the brakes on any closeness the two girls could share. Jealousy, while hard to control, is alas a fact of life. Holly’s presence managed to throw a proverbial wrench in the comfort and familiarity Lucy was just beginning to feel and I don’t think it was unreasonable for her immediate response not to be “Hi, you’re a girl and I’m a girl! We’re going to be the best of friends.” It is what it is and I don’t like Lucy any less because of it.

The aspect of these novels that has been most satisfying is just how creepy they can be. Stroud’s writing is on point and because the entire novel isn’t a creep-fest the sections that do terrify really sneak up on you making them all the more effective. The descriptive detailing is enough to sufficiently get under your skin. Here’s just a taste of what I’m talking about:

‘I watched that notch of darkness.
I watched as something moved into it.
It came from the right-hand side beyond the arch, a human figure crawling on all fours. Scarcely blacker than the blackness all around, it dragged itself along on knees and elbows with a series of slow, slow, jerking movements. Now and again it advanced in swift scuttles, as a hunting spider might…’

I think it’s quite possible the word scuttle makes anything terrifying. Nothing should scuttle. *shudders*

This series is quite the underrated gem possessing a fantastic set of characters (plus a talking skull that adds a layer of comedy to this haunted tale), an intriguing alternate reality of sorts, and a subtle horror that is woven throughout the story. The ending sets up much anticipation for the next installment and I for one will be eagerly awaiting it. ...more

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Apr 12, 2017 Constanze Zietz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult

The third part of the Lockwood-series is my favorite so far. In addition to the ghost-hunting-adventures, which are always fun to read and entertaining, a new character is introduced as part of the team of Lockwood & Co.! I liked that Strout added a girl which brings a little more tension and jealousy to the mix. Also the story focusses more on Lucys abilities and the story behind Lockwoods family, which I loved to read about.

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Goodreads Librari...: Editing Book Description	3	84	Sep 14, 2016 05:27PM
Lucy Discussion (Spoilers)	5	62	Apr 07, 2016 09:13AM
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About Jonathan Stroud

Jonathan Stroud

6,947 followers

Jonathan Anthony Stroud is an author of fantasy books, mainly for children and youths.

Stroud grew up in St Albans where he enjoyed reading books, drawing pictures, and writing stories. Between the ages seven and nine he was often ill, so he spent most of his days in the hospital or in his bed at home. To escape boredom he would occupy himself with books and stories. After he completed his studies ...more