See more of my reviews at On The Nightstand.The Hallowed Ones is the very definition of a hidden gem. I honestly hadn't heard much about this book in my bookish circles--granted, I've been out of touch for a while now, so that may have played a part in it. When I read the summary, it sounded good enough that I knew I had to read it, so when Amazon had a sale on the Kindle version, I snatched it up as fast as possible.I'm so, so glad I did. I loved this book. It was a breath of fresh air in so many ways.Where to even start? The atmosphere is the best part about The Hallowed Ones, I think. It's an unsettling, quiet, creepy atmosphere that sneaks up on you and slowly sinks under your skin, making you realize that things have gone very wrong. There were several times during the book I got the shivers, and it was from Bickle's wonderful writing and her ability to immerse me in this slowly decaying world.I also loved Katie as a character. She questions the world around her and the people who expect her to be subservient, but she also keeps her faith. I thought she was a wonderful, layered character that I immensely enjoyed reading about. I wish her friend Elijah had been written half as well, especially considering the end scene with him that just came out of nowhere and didn't feel organic at all.The setting of an Amish community was an especially inspired move, since it's generally closed off from the world and they keep to their own devices. It really added a sense of unease and worry to the story; what's going on outside, what if it comes for us next? It's also a rare setting to see in a young adult novel, and once I loved reading about.I don't think I can praise The Hallowed Ones enough. I can't wait to read The Outside as soon as I can.