Synopses & Reviews
In The Hallowed Ones, a plague of vampires is unleashed in the world, with catastrophic consequences. Katie, an Amish teen, was kicked out of the safe haven of her community for her refusal to adhere to the new rules of survival. Now, together with her "English" friends Alex and Ginger, she must survive long enough to unravel the mystery of how the plague began. She must also come to grips with the knowledge that her family and community abandoned her, and attempt to understand her relationship with Alex (does he love her only because shes among the last women on earth?). The friends seek out answers, fellow survivors, and the strength to battle the vampires. Katie is required to commit violent acts that undermine her faith in the very humanity she is struggling to save. In their travels, they come across an isolated group of humans who are experimenting with a new way to keep the vampires at bay—in the form of a serum created by a scientist who studies phosphorescent algae. By manipulating their DNA, this group has discovered a way to make themselves phosphorescent. Like sunlight, their glowing bodies seem to confer some immunity to the vampires. Alex readily chooses to take the serum, but Katie struggles with what tampering with her core physical self means for her Amish faith and identity. But if the serum is humanity's best hope, it must be made available to other survivors. Alex and Katie find themselves at an impasse when he wants to continue north to rescue what remains of his family, and she wants to go south to bring the serum back to her Amish community. But what lies at the end of their journey is something neither of them expected.
Review
"At once horrifying, hopeful, and hauntingly beautiful, this gorgeous read with its rich textures and spine-tingling suspense kept me glued to the pages in utter fascination. Laura Bickle is a master storyteller. Brava! Just superbly done!"--Darynda Jones, New York Times Bestselling author of Third Grave Dead Ahead and The Darklight Series
Review
PRAISE FOR THE OUTSIDE
* "Top-notch. . . . A horror story with heart and soul." —Kirkus, starred review
"At once horrifying, hopeful, and hauntingly beautiful, this gorgeous read with its rich textures and spine-tingling suspense kept me glued to the pages in utter fascination. Laura Bickle is a master storyteller. Brava! Just superbly done!" —Darynda Jones, New York Times Bestselling author of Third Grave Dead Ahead and The Darklight Series
PRAISE FOR THE HALLOWED ONES
"This is a book to make you fear the shadows—a horrifying and gruesome tale of faith, and things that blink red eyes in the night. I began reading in the daylight, and read on into the late hours, leaning close, biting my lip. I could not look away; I was obsessed. Katie is an unbreakable soul." —Lauren DeStefano, New York Times Bestselling author of the Chemical Garden Trilogy
"What an eerily believable, unique story! I can't stop thinking about it--or shivering." —Melissa Marr, New York Times bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely Books
"Tight pacing, suspenseful scenes, Wow! moments of tension, and exposure into a world I knew little about, The Hallowed Ones is an exciting, terse read. . . . Laura Bickle's debut novel for young adults has quickly become my favorite dystopian novel of 2012. . . . It left me wanting more, so much more." —readergirlsblog.com
"Readers will find it hard to put down this suspenseful, scary, compulsively readable adventure." —Kirkus Reviews
"Katie's an original character, and her thoughtful rebellion makes her an interesting addition to supernatural fictions's gallery of strong heroines." —Bulletin
Synopsis
In the chilling sequel to The Hallowed Ones, Katie has been kicked out of the safety of her Amish community and must face the dangerous vampire-infested outside world.
Synopsis
After a plague of vampires was unleashed in the world, Katie was kicked out of the safe haven of her Amish community for her refusal to adhere to the new rules of survival. She enters an outside world of unspeakable violence with only her two friends and a horse by her side.
And yet through this darkness come the shining ones: luminescent men and women with the power to deflect vampires and survive the night. But can they be trusted, and are they even people at all?
In this sequel to The Hallowed Ones, it's up to one Amish girl to save her family, her community, and the boy she loves . . . but what will she be asked to sacrifice in return?
About the Author
Laura Bickle has worked in criminal justice and library science. When she's not patrolling the stacks, she's dreaming up stories about monsters under the stairs. She is author of four fantasy novels for adults, and The Hallowed Ones was her first teen novel. She lives with her husband in Columbus, Ohio. Visit her website at www.laurabickle.com.