Hollow

Madness Re-Incarnate, Book 1

By: Travis Bagwell

Narrated by: Noah Ward

Cursed. Broken. Possibly Insane.

Nyx was born Hollow. An empty vessel in a world of spirits. Normally, that was a death sentence, yet somehow he survived. He's always been stubborn like that.

He's also always been a bit crazy. Which is why, in another life, he did something reckless. He sent himself a message—his memories. Threw them into the Flow from which all spirits return.

Besides, Nyx believed in asking hard questions. Like, was reincarnation real? Would this half-ass plan actually work? And if it did, could his life really get any worse?

Turns out…it could.

What to expect:

A different sort of reincarnation story—one that isn't so easy. A crazy protagonist. Slow burn to OP power progression. Loot-based skill modification system. Infused spirit items. Crafting. Bromance. Couple's therapy. Murder Babies. Oh, and an interdimensional death wagon. Honestly, reincarnation never looked so crazy.

©2023 Travis Bagwell (P)2024 Audible, Inc.

Deadpool’s even crazier younger brother

Hollow is a book that is a perfect fit for a Deadpool fanboy: it’s got a traumatized, probably (definitely?) insane protagonist who speaks directly to the audience, endless macabre humor, and a sprinkle of great fight scenes. Overall, this book is a great laugh. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and almost seems to mock some classic video-game/litrpg tropes by taking them to absurd levels. The narrator does a great job of voicing Nyx, the protagonist, and really gives you the full Deadpool experience. Worth a listen!

perfect little insanity

This is an interesting stories of descending into madness with a twist. I thought this was a fascinating change in writing style that left me chuckling more than I have in a while. The MC is scattered, loses track of his thoughts frequently, has to make "hard decisions," and is insane. He is not paranoid though. Overall, I really enjoyed this book; it isn't like AO, but sometimes that is a good thing.

Great story, awesome performance.

Another complex world created by Mr. Bagwell brought not only to life, but exploded into a crazy, fun filled ride by Noah Ward!

Surprisingly Good

It took a little bit to get used to, but once that happened, what a surprisingly good (and insane) story. Worth the credit.

Weird

I'm not really sure what to make of this book. The narrator is AMAZING, and his incredibly expressive voice pairs amazingly with the expressive written narration. Some of the best I've ever heard, honestly. The worldbuilding is great, with a rather interesting setup and a good deal of potential. It seems vaguely cultivation-esque, maybe with a splash of superpowers? Dialog is fine, as is the prose. Overall, I had high hopes.

But the story itself is...weird? Maybe it's just me, but I don't feel like anything happens in the first three chapters. I'm about an hour fifteen into the book, and nothing important has really been presented. Some random foreshadowing, a bit of danger, some hints at character, a bunch of exposition, and one character interaction. It feels...slow. And not the good kind of slow where we explore characters and worldbuilding, building a foundation to understand future motivation and mechanics. This just feels like filler. A lot of tell, very little show, and not a lot of groundwork.

Maybe it picks up later, but at this point I have very little understanding of our main character's motivations, outlook, or temperament, beyond what we've explicitly been told. I haven't been able to connect with him in the slightest, and nothing else about the book is really hooking me in. This book is carried on the weight of the MC's personality, and while it IS funny, the plot surrounding him just seems...hollow, no pun intended.

I can't give a recommendation either way. Lots of good, lots of bad, but both are heavily reliant on your specific tastes and personality. I guess, give it a try?