Hollow City (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #2) by Ransom Riggs

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

My Rating: ★★★★

After Jacob and company rescued Miss Peregrine, her time loop was destroyed, and it was discovered that can’t transform back into her human form. On the run and being chased at every turn, Jacob and his new friends hold onto the hope that they can save Miss Peregrine. They must save her, so they put their heads together and count on each other’s strengths to get themselves and Miss Peregrine to safety as they travel through World War II Europe in 1940.

Picking up where the first book left off, we follow Jacob and company as they try to get off the island and come to the terrible conclusion that Miss Peregrine is stuck in her bird form. This time around has a much darker feel to it because the stakes are much higher. The timespan that Miss Peregrine can be saved from spending the rest of her life as a bird is very small, and the clock is ticking. Jacob and company are on the run and their lives are at stake. Every time they think they’ve finally caught a break, they’re discovered. Plus, they’re traveling through World War II struck Europe, which really drives time travel through the time loops home for Jacob.

The world building is absolutely phenomenal in this installment. The first book introduces us to Jacob, his world, and the other world he never knew he was apart of.  This time around, we’re thrust into a dual war zone as WWII rages and the war between peculiars and wights and hollows. Jacob and his friends are essentially being chased through time every time they enter a new loop hoping they’ll finally be safe and find help.

I love that we get to see how big the peculiar world is this time around. We meet so many new characters including peculiar animals! It was really wonderful seeing everyone come together after discovering they didn’t need to be suspicious of each other each time we met new people. It was also great seeing all the kids, if you can call many of them that since Emma and company are basically adults stuck in the bodies of kids and teenagers, lean on each other and find their strengths in new ways.

It does get a bit slow at times, but it makes perfect sense because there are so many action packed scenes and everyone is on the run and constantly in danger. Every time things finally slow down, and Jacob can finally catch his breath, things pick up again. I thoroughly enjoyed this installment and all the twists and turns that it takes us through. I’m excited to start the next book in the series.