The Truths We Burn

The Hollow Boys, Book 2

By: Monty Jay

Narrated by: Grayson Owens, Lucy Rivers

Length: 13 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Beneath the deepest parts of Ponderosa Springs lied secrets that we never meant to be uncovered.

Blood has soaked the hands of those we trusted most. Decrepit intentions finally come to light. And now truths are ready to be incinerated in the open for everyone to witness.

I was ready to watch this town that made me the villain rot in front of my eyes, but it seems ghosts don't stay buried here. Everyone's favorite sweetheart has returned to Hollow Heights dragging nothing but unanswered questions and grim memories behind her.

A distraction I can't afford with the police sniffing around. A mistake that torched my last piece of humanity. The dirty little secret that has returned searching for closure surrounding her sister's mysterious death.

But I know the innocent, lost girl is an act. They all are eating from the palm of her hand, puppets on her string. But not me. I see her for what she truly is, I always have. A fake. A manipulator. A liar.

I won't let her ruin all we have worked for. I refuse to let her derail our plan of vengeance. I've played your game once before, Sage, now it's time to play mine. And you're not making it out without getting burned.

Contains mature themes.

©2021 Monty Jay (P)2024 Tantor

Still my fave

Rook and Sage have always been my favorite, this the audiobook solidified that. The angst, the heartbreak, the way they love each other is just everything, and the end of this one. My. Heart.

Devoured Rook!

Oh my. Grayson. You absolutely killed Rook Van Doren’s performance. I loved Rook when I initially read the series, now I think he’s one of my top Hollow Boys after listening to how you brought him to life.

Lucy you perfected Sage in a way I don’t think anyone else could’ve done. Catching all her attitude and personality so beautifully!

Dark and Disturbed....I LOVED it!!!

WOW! If you thought Alistair was bad, wait until you hear Rook's story! You really can't help but feel bad for everything he's gone through.

Once AGAIN Lucy and Grayson knocked this one out of the park. The way Grayson was able to capture each of Rook's moods and moments is mind blowing. I wish I had more words to describe how amazing they are as narrators and narrating together. Simply phenomenal.

there's not a single thing I don't absolutely love

When I tell you I can't sing enough praises about this book! Oh my gosh I am obsessed, committed, and hung up on this series. I had no interest in Rook in book one, but when I tell you I am feral for this man in this book. The suspense and overall arc plot to these stories is just insanely captivating. The character development has me so invested in this series I can't put it down. This man loves fire, and I swear if you gave him a match and a little bit of gasoline, he'd set the world ablaze for this girl. The angst and banter is on point for an enemies to lovers. The betrayal is gut wrenching. The bromance between the guys is honestly heartwarming. There's not a single thing I don't absolutely love about this book. I even teared up a little when we got to see the past with Rosemary and the scene with Silas at her grave just about crushed me. I ate this audiobook up in a day flat.

Narration:
The pairing of Lucy and Grayson is just absolutely phenomenal. I am so in love with narration. The emotional scenes with Rosemary were done so well by both. It brought out a lot of feels. This is a duel style narration.

What to expect:
College
Enemies to Lovers
Pyro
Bully
Romantic Suspense
Girl squad / Bromance

The series just gets better and better!

Loved this newest installment of the Hollow Boys audio! I love this entire series and cannot recommend it enough. The narrators do a wonderful job of capturing Rook and Sage.

IM OBSESSED!

Everything about this was UTTER PERFECTION! I am blown away. The narrators did a fantastic job as well. Wow. I love Rook!

I am speechless! This is such an intense but beautiful story.

Though I struggled with Lucy’s narration in the first book she blew the narration out of the water in this book. Grayson was perfect as Rook. He used the same voice he started for Rook in the first book and sometimes narrators don’t do that they end up sounding the same as the previous character they narrated.

Rook is beautifully complex and my heart broke for him over and over. His love and loyalty for his friends was so intense and held him together through his whole life. Sage suffered so much as well and had to bare the burden most of her life. But, Rook brought her into the person she was always meant to be. The story has all the characters from the first book and occurs during the same time frame as the first book. Which makes it even more impactful to know what Rook and Sage were going through during it all.

The scene with Silas at Roses grave consumed me in tears. Rook breaking down and letting Sage in was EVERYTHING. The only thing I wished was that the narration was duet instead of dual. Duet style would have really made the story that much better. I struggle with male narrators also voicing the female characters and vice versa. However, I was still able to enjoy it since the narrators were better at it than other narrators in other books.

Plot: 10/10
Spice: 6/6
Narration: Dual

Trigger Warnings:

1. Murder
2. Mental, physical, emotional child abuse
3. Suicidal ideation and attempt (not resulting in death)
4. Sex trafficking
5. Molestation
6. Drug usage
7. Bullying
8. Stalking
9. Violence
10. Parental death
11. INTENSE Self-harm
12. Focus on mental health
Psychopathy & Schizophrenia
13. Pyromania
14. Undertone religious theme (Lucifer)
15. Psycho ward stay

Another amazing book

Room and Sage are gloriously unhinged in the best of ways. Grayson and Lucy more than did them justice. Monty ma’am! This is such a fantastic series!!!!

"It’s all yours, baby.”

The Rook I’d once known.
The one who’d so desperately wanted to keep me.
The boy I thought could love me…
Is gone.

The story between Rook and Sage was heartbreaking. They each had their own trauma that they hid from the world. I didn't see Sage's backstory coming. The amount of pain and heartbreak she endured to protect her sister.

“Tell me what it is,” I say, “and it’s yours. It’s all yours, baby.”

Least favorite of the series

Rook & Sage are my two least favorite characters in this series. I HATE how he treats her and I never really sympathized for her, even after everything she goes through. These two are the ugliest inside, which I suppose makes them perfect for each other, but the angry, bully romance isn’t really for me.

I do like that it’s a continuation, so we get to learn more about the characters in Hollow Heights. I’m just here for Lyra & Thatcher…

Narration is great except for Lucy Rivers’ male voices, which are horrid.