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The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy #1
The Hollow Kingdom
"She had never screamed before, not when she overturned the rowboat and almost drowned, not even when Lightfoot bucked her off and she felt her leg break underneath her with an agonizing crunch. But now she screamed long and loud, with all her breath."
Hallow Hill has a strange and tragic history. For thousands of years, young women have been vanishing from the estate, never to be seen again. Now Kate and Emily have come to live at Hallow Hill. Brought up in a civilized age, they have no idea of the land's dreadful heritage-until, that is, Marak decides to tell them himself.
Intelligent, pleasant, and completely pitiless, Marak is a powerful magician who claims to be a king-and he has very specific plans for the two new girls who have trespassed into his kingdom.
The Hollow Kingdom is a 2004 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
Hallow Hill has a strange and tragic history. For thousands of years, young women have been vanishing from the estate, never to be seen again. Now Kate and Emily have come to live at Hallow Hill. Brought up in a civilized age, they have no idea of the land's dreadful heritage-until, that is, Marak decides to tell them himself.
Intelligent, pleasant, and completely pitiless, Marak is a powerful magician who claims to be a king-and he has very specific plans for the two new girls who have trespassed into his kingdom.
The Hollow Kingdom is a 2004 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
230 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2003
About the author
Clare B. Dunkle
10 books383 followersI was born Clare Buckalew in Fort Worth, Texas, and grew up in Denton, Texas, a city north of Dallas. I earned my B.A. in Russian with a minor in Latin from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. After graduating from Indiana University with a master's degree in library science, I came back to San Antonio to work when my husband, Joe, joined the engineering staff at Kelly Air Force Base. I earned tenure as the monographs cataloger at Trinity University's Coates Library from 1990 to 1999; then I left the library to homeschool my two daughters, Valerie and Elena. My family moved to Germany in 2000, and we lived for seven years in the Rheinland Pfalz region, not far from the old Roman city of Trier. We returned to San Antonio in the summer of 2007, when my younger daughter Elena began college. In 2012, now grandparents, Joe and I moved back to Germany, where we are once again enjoying the bike trails, wine fests, and amazing travel opportunities. We hope to live here at least through 2017.
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March 21, 2015I'll post a fuller review later, but my immediate thoughts are:
I'm honestly not sure how to rate this.
My experience of reading this book would get it five stars. I loved the writing, the setting(s), the characters, and the magic. I loved the words and sentences so much that I couldn't read quickly -- I had to savor everything about how it's put together. It's both charming and clever, and all of the characters show a spunk and ingenuity that just delighted me and constantly surprised me. I wanted to read this aloud to everyone on the train! I really enjoyed reading it.
So what's the problem?
Well, this is a "love" story. A "love" story about a girl who is chosen by the Goblin King to be his next wife. Not because he knows anything much about her, mind you, but basically because she happens to be the only girl of age living in his territory. And she is given no choice in the matter. There are some feeble reasons offered as to why Goblin Kings all have to have unwilling brides, but they don't hold much water. The wives of Goblin Kings are never allowed to see their families again; they are also never let above ground again, but must spend the rest of their lives in the goblin caverns. Again, there seems to be no particularly good reason for this, as the goblins themselves seem to go above ground at will, and there are plenty of spells available to prevent the Wife from running away. It's just cruelty.
And to amplify the problem, we all live in a real world where:
Boko Haram stole nearly 300 girls last year -- girls who have been forced into marriage with men who apparently can't get wives any other way; girls who despite the best rescue efforts by Nigeria and its allies may never be found and may never see their families again. A real world where every year I read in the paper about men who have grabbed young girls and women off the streets in the USA and kept those women hostage as sex slaves in their basements, or in their backyards.
In a world like this, the captive-wife "love" story strikes me as a little too real, and absolutely appalling. Granted that the book was published ten years ago, but the author herself points out in the text that this stuff has happened to women and girls throughout all of history. And IMO, there is no way to put a good spin on this kind of horrible story. Maybe some of these guys treat their female slaves "decently" (aside from the whole slavery thing). But I do not think women should fall in "love" with these creeps. It's just not romantic at all to me.
So this book was a really great read (five stars), with a really terrible message (negative stars!). I enjoyed it -- but at the same time, it's made me incredibly angry. There is no way I could recommend this story to anyone in its target age group. It's too confusing. And I for one don't want any girls I know even entertaining the idea that guys like this might be "lovable." Barf.
October 13, 2016
This is a wonderful, different kind of YA fantasy, set in Victorian times in England. It takes the old trope--goblin kings kidnap beautiful girls, marry them and they never see the light of day again--and twists it: Goblins are lovable even if ugly and, um, prone to kidnapping women for their wives. You don't need to marry a handsome prince. And it's done in a way that's honest and appealing (the story has a great sense of humor) but doesn't pull any punches.
Kate, the main character who becomes the object of the goblin king's attention, is one of my favorite young woman protagonists ever: brave, resourceful, caring and intelligent. She does an amazing job of battling for her freedom and her rights against both her guardian, who's supposed to protect her but doesn't, and the goblins. The goblin king, Marak, accomplishes the almost impossible task of making me believe he's worthy of falling in love with, when he's got several major strikes against him: Girls may swoon when they see him, but it's because his face causes horror rather than ecstasy, and he's often brutal and pitiless. But he's also highly intelligent and considerate (when it doesn't interfere with his duties as goblin king). He has a great, resonant voice and a sense of humor, and is a natural leader. I thought the author was quite brave to even attempt this relationship, and she pulls it off amazingly well.
My only real beef with this book is
The magical golden snake in the last half of the book--a moving tattoo that comes to life when needed--is not to be missed. I seriously want one of my own, to bite any would-be thugs and muggers and protect me from all harm, while passing out insults to all and sundry.
Kate, the main character who becomes the object of the goblin king's attention, is one of my favorite young woman protagonists ever: brave, resourceful, caring and intelligent. She does an amazing job of battling for her freedom and her rights against both her guardian, who's supposed to protect her but doesn't, and the goblins. The goblin king, Marak, accomplishes the almost impossible task of making me believe he's worthy of falling in love with, when he's got several major strikes against him: Girls may swoon when they see him, but it's because his face causes horror rather than ecstasy, and he's often brutal and pitiless. But he's also highly intelligent and considerate (when it doesn't interfere with his duties as goblin king). He has a great, resonant voice and a sense of humor, and is a natural leader. I thought the author was quite brave to even attempt this relationship, and she pulls it off amazingly well.
My only real beef with this book is
The magical golden snake in the last half of the book--a moving tattoo that comes to life when needed--is not to be missed. I seriously want one of my own, to bite any would-be thugs and muggers and protect me from all harm, while passing out insults to all and sundry.
May 12, 2011
There are books that I don't like, but very few of them do I hate. Not only did I hate this book, I hated it with such a fiery passion, I'm surprised the pages didn't erupt into flames.
It started off with so much potential, which is what got me hooked at first. I loved Kate, because she started off as a strong, well-rounded character. She could be lady like, and she had fear, but at the same time she didn't let her fear paralyze her. I loved how at first she stubbornly refused to marry the awful goblin king even to the point of bashing her head against a tree to knock herself unconcious. I even respected her for agreeing to marry him if he released her sister when she thought he kidnapped her, because I assumed she would find a way to get out of her "promise" (an issue I'll complain about later).
Obviously, that wasn't the case.
I read a couple reviews to understand why people could like the monstrosity of a story, and many people said this was a "beauty and the beast" type of tale. Ok, fine. But I felt that Marak could have been drop-dead handsome, and I still would have hated his guts. People misinterpreted his attempts to keep Kate safe and his willingness to help her save Em as love for Kate. No, it wasn't out of love, it was because he was willing to do anything to get her to marry him so she could have his baby. Ok, so maybe he fell "in love" with her, but the whole reason he needed her was to produce a male heir. Please excuse me while I roll my feminist eyes.
Now, I'm all for the idea of hating someone at first, then falling in love with them. I've seen and read "Pride and Prejudice" more times than I can remember. But I truly believe the only reason Kate grew to accept her new life and "love" her husband and baby is all a result of Stockholm Syndrome. Since the author made it impossible for Kate to find an out in her new life, whether it be by means of esacpe or any kind of death, obviously Kate wasn't going to spend the rest of her life resenting her husband--even though she fucking should have! The whole basis of their "relationship" was for her to be a captured bride/baby mamma against her will.
Which is why the fact that they all that talk about how she "chose" this life, because she agreed to marry him if he helped her sister was complete and utter bullshit. She was playing the roll of a dutiful older sister. Of course she would agree to do anything to help save Em! Besides, if Em hadn't been kidnapped, Marak would have captured Kate anyway! In fact, he came damn well close to doing so, and would have succeeded if she hadn't fought him loudly enough for her gaurdian to hear the struggle!
I can't lie, I skimmed over all that crap at the end with the sorcerer, because I was so mad at that point that it was actually PAINFULL for me to continue reading this book. I can't believe that people call this a romance. It's not a romance, it's a horror story! A horror story that glorifies kidnapping, and abuse!
It started off with so much potential, which is what got me hooked at first. I loved Kate, because she started off as a strong, well-rounded character. She could be lady like, and she had fear, but at the same time she didn't let her fear paralyze her. I loved how at first she stubbornly refused to marry the awful goblin king even to the point of bashing her head against a tree to knock herself unconcious. I even respected her for agreeing to marry him if he released her sister when she thought he kidnapped her, because I assumed she would find a way to get out of her "promise" (an issue I'll complain about later).
Obviously, that wasn't the case.
I read a couple reviews to understand why people could like the monstrosity of a story, and many people said this was a "beauty and the beast" type of tale. Ok, fine. But I felt that Marak could have been drop-dead handsome, and I still would have hated his guts. People misinterpreted his attempts to keep Kate safe and his willingness to help her save Em as love for Kate. No, it wasn't out of love, it was because he was willing to do anything to get her to marry him so she could have his baby. Ok, so maybe he fell "in love" with her, but the whole reason he needed her was to produce a male heir. Please excuse me while I roll my feminist eyes.
Now, I'm all for the idea of hating someone at first, then falling in love with them. I've seen and read "Pride and Prejudice" more times than I can remember. But I truly believe the only reason Kate grew to accept her new life and "love" her husband and baby is all a result of Stockholm Syndrome. Since the author made it impossible for Kate to find an out in her new life, whether it be by means of esacpe or any kind of death, obviously Kate wasn't going to spend the rest of her life resenting her husband--even though she fucking should have! The whole basis of their "relationship" was for her to be a captured bride/baby mamma against her will.
Which is why the fact that they all that talk about how she "chose" this life, because she agreed to marry him if he helped her sister was complete and utter bullshit. She was playing the roll of a dutiful older sister. Of course she would agree to do anything to help save Em! Besides, if Em hadn't been kidnapped, Marak would have captured Kate anyway! In fact, he came damn well close to doing so, and would have succeeded if she hadn't fought him loudly enough for her gaurdian to hear the struggle!
I can't lie, I skimmed over all that crap at the end with the sorcerer, because I was so mad at that point that it was actually PAINFULL for me to continue reading this book. I can't believe that people call this a romance. It's not a romance, it's a horror story! A horror story that glorifies kidnapping, and abuse!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2010
I... well. The beginning is creepy in a good way. The end is creepy in a bad way.
The beginning has a sense of danger from a goblin menace. The end is some sort of apologia for rape, abduction, and Stockholm Syndrome.
This book just kinda grosses me out.
The beginning has a sense of danger from a goblin menace. The end is some sort of apologia for rape, abduction, and Stockholm Syndrome.
This book just kinda grosses me out.
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December 19, 2020"She couldn't move or speak, though she was vaguely aware the ugly creature was watching her with concern."From page one, I was captivated by this award-winning fantasy, written for adolescents. With only a few hugs and kisses, it is unexceptional, but beware the creepy dark magic in the last chapters, where . That section, along with the kidnapping theme, could upset some very young adolescents. (The dark magic is highly reminiscent of the urban fantasies written for adults by Patricia Briggs, particularly Cry Wolf.)
Story summary, with comments and vague spoilers: Marak, the Goblin King of the Hollow Kingdom (and much like crafty old Hades himself) encounters his beautiful Persephone in the person of young Kate Winslow, who comes with her little sister Emily to live in the Lodge with their aunt. She's a nature-lover and star-gazer. Marak -- needing a son -- immediately plots to carry Kate away to his magical kingdom. But Kate is no
This is NOT like Beauty and the Beast, for the ugly goblin does not transform into a handsome prince. (So this is better). Kate learns to ♥ Marak's gray skin, mismatched eyes, horsetail hair, sharp teeth and pointy ears. (Sweet! And a lesson for us all.)
The first time Kate sees his face: "Oh, I know what's bothering you," Marak teased before Kate could turn away in disgust. "The cloak and hood. It's been on your nerves all evening. You've been imagining all sorts of horrors, I'd guess."
Marak tugged back his hood and examined her stunned expression. He watched her cheeks grow pale, her lips bloodless. He grinned in delighted amusement.
He's ruthless but compassionate, strong and protective, kind to young Emily, intelligent, humorous, and he owns a smashing library! Plus, he just happens to be one of the greatest magicians ever (much like Criminy Stain in Wicked as They Come -- but that's not for YOUNG adults). His main flaw? He's a sore loser!
(The author makes light of hundreds -- maybe thousands -- of bridal abductions and incarcerations, sidestepping her own trope, never attempting to justify it. In fact, almost glorifying it.
For some reason I loved it anyway! Stockholm Syndrome? Nah! Sabine women carried off by Romans? Umm?)
Best parts: I loved it when Kate outsmarted her guardian. Well done, indeed! Loved how the Goblin King got to the truth of a certain matter. ツ Loved how Kate saved the day, with the help of her special guardian -- and what a dark day it was! The scene where all the goblins clustered around poor Bulk is a tear-jerker.
Really enjoyed some of the secondary characters, including Emily, the wolf, the big black cat Seylin (who is not just a cat), and lively Old Agatha. But my favorite secondary character is Charm, the snake-sword creature sworn to protect Kate. He (it) constantly compared Kate to previous King's Wives he'd protected:
"I have guarded one hundred and sixty-eight King's Wives," it hissed. "Sixty-four of them were unintelligent. Two of them were so stupid they didn't know their own names." (haha!)
Table of Contents: The book has three parts: 1) STARLIGHT 2) LAMPLIGHT 3) DARKNESS. There are no titles for the chapters, but these might roughly suffice:
Old Magic and Druid Circles
A Dark and Stormy Night
Nightmares for Anxious Orphans
And...The Old Oak Wins!
One Point for the Sash
A Doctor in the House
For Emily, with Love
Up with Hyou!
The King’s Wife Ceremony
Getting to Know You
Go to Sleep
A Watery Exit
Charm Speaks Up
Dark Arts in Liverpool
Wolves, Mice, Monkeys, and Matilda
Catspaw (and starlight)
Minor Quibbles:
Setting: Just like Kate, I learned to ♥ the various hideous goblins that inhabit the hollowed hills of ___ Where?? The author is not clear, but Kate and Emily traveled to Hallow Hill from Coventry, in England, “bouncing around in a carriage” for two days. Later in the book, the setting shifts to Liverpool, still in England. It takes Kate three days to get there, traveling day and night by carriage. So...who knows where the Hollow Kingdom lies, but I imagine some mystical spot not far from the Scottish border. The year is never stated, either, but the plight of children working in textile mills is mentioned, so I'd guess about 1885. (I wanted a clear setting.)
Kate's age: Dunkle never states Kate's exact age, but her guardian said that he "had three years before she would come of age" and Great Aunt Prim declares that Kate is "old enough to have a family of her own by now." (I wanted to know her age. I'd guess 18?)
Plot holes: Why didn't Dr. Thatcher show more concern abut the wreckage and rubble in the ...? He should have asked more probing questions and been more suspicious. Also, what will become of Matilda? Surely she needs sunshine?
Minor quibbles aside, a jolly good fantasy!
Other books by this author: Kate's little sister Emily gets her own story in the sequel, Close Kin. Happily, it contains several scenes with Marak, Kate, etc. Book 3 is fairly weak. I also enjoyed Dunkle's stand-alone novel By These Ten Bones, a YA romantic horror about werewolves (my review).
PS. Every goblin king is named Marak which brings to mind the king of the werewolves, called The Marrok in the UF world created by Patrica Briggs (see her Alpha and Omega series, beginning with Alpha & Omega: A Companion Novella to Cry Wolf). Briggs said she got the title Marrok from Sir Marrok, a knight in King Arthur's court, cursed to be a werewolf. I wonder where Dunkle got her notion of Marak?
June 11, 2010
Although I may have liked this book in my youth, as an adult I found it rather repellent.
A young woman is coerced into marrying the Goblin King, Lord of the Hollow Kingdom.
This book is unfortunately one of those cases where the two main characters start off hating one another (or rather, the young woman starts off hating the male protagonist), but eventually fall in love. What probably incensed me more than anything is that the male character virtually slings the female character over his shoulder and takes her underground where she is to live - FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE. No choice, no hope of ever leaving. What really kills me is that the main character loves stargazing - a passion that gets utterly taken away from her when she is forced underground.
What I'm trying to get across is that this is another example of a story where a young woman gets virtually everything taken away from her - her passions, her freedom, everything - but (through Stockholm Syndrome or sheer stupidity, I'm not sure) she forgives it all in the name of love and becomes a supremely contented Stepford Wife. Argh.
A young woman is coerced into marrying the Goblin King, Lord of the Hollow Kingdom.
This book is unfortunately one of those cases where the two main characters start off hating one another (or rather, the young woman starts off hating the male protagonist), but eventually fall in love. What probably incensed me more than anything is that the male character virtually slings the female character over his shoulder and takes her underground where she is to live - FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE. No choice, no hope of ever leaving. What really kills me is that the main character loves stargazing - a passion that gets utterly taken away from her when she is forced underground.
What I'm trying to get across is that this is another example of a story where a young woman gets virtually everything taken away from her - her passions, her freedom, everything - but (through Stockholm Syndrome or sheer stupidity, I'm not sure) she forgives it all in the name of love and becomes a supremely contented Stepford Wife. Argh.
November 10, 2011
I really wanted to like this book and everything I read for the first 100 pages convinced me that I would. Unfortunately the story never developed into anything more than a case study on Stockholm syndrome.
Kate was a strong protagonist, bright and courageous and Marak was terrifying as the villainous Goblin King. I was honestly scared during his scenes with Kate. Marak was a true monster, unpredictable and inhuman. He laughed at Kate’s fear and toyed with her until finally winning her surrender. This is where the story completely fell apart for me.
Once Kate is forced into marriage to Marak I expected there to be some kind of reason for her to fall in love with him other than the fact that they were now husband and wife. He is ,after all, still her kidnapper and rapist along with being her husband. I think it is very possible to have a “captive falls in love with captor” story line. (Robin McKinley did it beautifully in the The Blue Sword.) What is key to having this story line work is for the kidnapper/villain to show some remorse, some kind of sympathy, regret, or understand for the horrible crime that he has committed, for all that he has stolen from his captive. Maybe even expressing anger at being forced to become a thief. Marak never once expresses any real compassion or regret for his actions. And, although Marak does at one point explain that his bride must be human, there is no real reason for him to steal her other than expediency. His position is that eventually Kate will come to terms with the fact that there is no escape. He expresses no concern for whether or not she will be happy or will ever love him.
I started this book with hope for love and ended up hating the book, hating Marak, and hating Kate’s helpless and hopelessness.
Kate was a strong protagonist, bright and courageous and Marak was terrifying as the villainous Goblin King. I was honestly scared during his scenes with Kate. Marak was a true monster, unpredictable and inhuman. He laughed at Kate’s fear and toyed with her until finally winning her surrender. This is where the story completely fell apart for me.
Once Kate is forced into marriage to Marak I expected there to be some kind of reason for her to fall in love with him other than the fact that they were now husband and wife. He is ,after all, still her kidnapper and rapist along with being her husband. I think it is very possible to have a “captive falls in love with captor” story line. (Robin McKinley did it beautifully in the The Blue Sword.) What is key to having this story line work is for the kidnapper/villain to show some remorse, some kind of sympathy, regret, or understand for the horrible crime that he has committed, for all that he has stolen from his captive. Maybe even expressing anger at being forced to become a thief. Marak never once expresses any real compassion or regret for his actions. And, although Marak does at one point explain that his bride must be human, there is no real reason for him to steal her other than expediency. His position is that eventually Kate will come to terms with the fact that there is no escape. He expresses no concern for whether or not she will be happy or will ever love him.
I started this book with hope for love and ended up hating the book, hating Marak, and hating Kate’s helpless and hopelessness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2015
This book. THIS BOOK. You know those books that come along every once in a while that you utterly fall in love with to the point of hugging them? THIS BOOK. The last occasion I can pinpoint such a reaction was my reading of Howl’s Moving Castle, so yes, this is BIG NEWS. There’s just something about Clare B. Dunkle’s writing that is simultaneously starkly real and utterly charming–it hits the heart in ways that so few books have the power to do, no matter how wonderful their stories may be. In fact, I knew after one paragraph this was going to be among my favorite books:
She had never screamed before, not when she overturned the rowboat and almost drowned, not when the ivy broke and she crashed into the shrubbery below, not even when Lightfoot bucked her off and she felt her leg break underneath her with an agonizing crunch. She hadn’t even known that she could. Screaming was Lizzy’s job, and Lizzy was terribly good at it. But now she screamed, long and loud, with all her breath.
And that’s just the prologue. In fact, the particular characters involved in that paragraph aren’t even living by the time The Hollow Kingdom truly gets started, and yet I knew this book would speak to my heart.
At its core, The Hollow Kingdom is a retelling of one of my favorite tales–Beauty and the Beast. It has all of the bare bone elements of that story that we are familiar with, and yet somehow becomes its own fully fledged tale of perseverance, love, and feminism. Yes, it is a small book at 240 pages aimed toward Middle Grade readers, but like my beloved Frances Hardinge, Clare B. Dunkle writes for an ageless audience, bringing a maturity and depth to the pages that will be appreciated by countless readers.
What struck me about this Beauty and the Beast retelling is that it’s not about our Beauty (Kate) being locked away with the Beast (Marak, the goblin King) and slowly falling for him as he inevitably returns to a handsome state of being. It is about Kate’s persistent resistance to Marak’s propositions, and slow realization that monsters can wear human faces as well as kind souls can be hidden behind terrible features. Kate is a character who refuses to be robbed of her free will, even as those around her attempt to make her decisions for her, while Marak is a creature who remains as inhumanly ugly as he is inhumanly rude, but whose honesty and care for his people earns our love regardless.
Kate is innocent, but she is not stupid–an important distinction that is too often blurred in young people. In her world, it is easy to assume that those meant to protect you will, and that those ugly things that come to steal you at night are foul and loathsome–but she doesn’t let herself be taken in by either. As the guardians of Kate and her little sister Emily slowly back her into a corner she begins to utilize the hard lessons of humanity, knowing that lies can save her where truth cannot.
Marak, however, never lies. The goblin King is honest and frank to a point of frightening Kate with the situation he intends to force her to, but he also withholds information from her when she chooses to assume the worst of his kingdom. Marak’s frank conversations with the inquisitive and fearless Emily mark our ability to fall for him, knowing that he would never hurt Kate. I find myself disturbed that this was a book where I actively wanted the girl to end up with the stalkery guy who wanted to steal her away from everything, but I am so happy that nothing ever turns out quite as you might expect it to.
Marak sees Kate for who she is, not merely for the beauty she displays on the surface, and in time she does the same for him. While the human world is decrying Kate for her weak nerves she is bashing about proving quite the opposite. Both Kate and Marak are outrageously stubborn, the qualities they share being those that initially drive the biggest wedge between them, and later bind them oh so tight. Marak’s protectiveness for Kate comes with a disturbing price, but a weaker character on either of their parts would spell defeat for all.
I love the fact that in a story where a King’s wife can never be called a Queen, it is still the King’s wife who proves most important to the kingdom. The Hollow Kingdom is a book that reflects acute grief and homesickness, joy and wonder, and also the inevitable mixing of the two. In the end Marak has never lied to Kate, and never been wrong in all of the cruel things he has predicted for her fate, and yet those days of tears and darkness pale to nothing in the light of love.
Original review posted at Bunbury in the Stacks.
She had never screamed before, not when she overturned the rowboat and almost drowned, not when the ivy broke and she crashed into the shrubbery below, not even when Lightfoot bucked her off and she felt her leg break underneath her with an agonizing crunch. She hadn’t even known that she could. Screaming was Lizzy’s job, and Lizzy was terribly good at it. But now she screamed, long and loud, with all her breath.
And that’s just the prologue. In fact, the particular characters involved in that paragraph aren’t even living by the time The Hollow Kingdom truly gets started, and yet I knew this book would speak to my heart.
At its core, The Hollow Kingdom is a retelling of one of my favorite tales–Beauty and the Beast. It has all of the bare bone elements of that story that we are familiar with, and yet somehow becomes its own fully fledged tale of perseverance, love, and feminism. Yes, it is a small book at 240 pages aimed toward Middle Grade readers, but like my beloved Frances Hardinge, Clare B. Dunkle writes for an ageless audience, bringing a maturity and depth to the pages that will be appreciated by countless readers.
What struck me about this Beauty and the Beast retelling is that it’s not about our Beauty (Kate) being locked away with the Beast (Marak, the goblin King) and slowly falling for him as he inevitably returns to a handsome state of being. It is about Kate’s persistent resistance to Marak’s propositions, and slow realization that monsters can wear human faces as well as kind souls can be hidden behind terrible features. Kate is a character who refuses to be robbed of her free will, even as those around her attempt to make her decisions for her, while Marak is a creature who remains as inhumanly ugly as he is inhumanly rude, but whose honesty and care for his people earns our love regardless.
Kate is innocent, but she is not stupid–an important distinction that is too often blurred in young people. In her world, it is easy to assume that those meant to protect you will, and that those ugly things that come to steal you at night are foul and loathsome–but she doesn’t let herself be taken in by either. As the guardians of Kate and her little sister Emily slowly back her into a corner she begins to utilize the hard lessons of humanity, knowing that lies can save her where truth cannot.
Marak, however, never lies. The goblin King is honest and frank to a point of frightening Kate with the situation he intends to force her to, but he also withholds information from her when she chooses to assume the worst of his kingdom. Marak’s frank conversations with the inquisitive and fearless Emily mark our ability to fall for him, knowing that he would never hurt Kate. I find myself disturbed that this was a book where I actively wanted the girl to end up with the stalkery guy who wanted to steal her away from everything, but I am so happy that nothing ever turns out quite as you might expect it to.
Marak sees Kate for who she is, not merely for the beauty she displays on the surface, and in time she does the same for him. While the human world is decrying Kate for her weak nerves she is bashing about proving quite the opposite. Both Kate and Marak are outrageously stubborn, the qualities they share being those that initially drive the biggest wedge between them, and later bind them oh so tight. Marak’s protectiveness for Kate comes with a disturbing price, but a weaker character on either of their parts would spell defeat for all.
I love the fact that in a story where a King’s wife can never be called a Queen, it is still the King’s wife who proves most important to the kingdom. The Hollow Kingdom is a book that reflects acute grief and homesickness, joy and wonder, and also the inevitable mixing of the two. In the end Marak has never lied to Kate, and never been wrong in all of the cruel things he has predicted for her fate, and yet those days of tears and darkness pale to nothing in the light of love.
Original review posted at Bunbury in the Stacks.
April 21, 2013
If you had asked me just last year, I would have told you I didn't have a favorite fairy tale. I grew up hating "Snow White" and while I adored nearly every "Cinderella" movie re-telling I'd seen, the original story was not among my favorites at all. As a child, I never actually saw "Beauty and the Beast" or read the book, until one fated French class when we saw an old black-and-white version of it in French. Granted, I didn't understand everything that was said as it was only my second year of French, but I fell in love with the atmosphere and the very idea of the tale: of finding beauty where other people could not.
Needless to say, what makes The Hollow Kingdom such a successful re-telling of "Beauty and the Beast" is its ability to perfectly capture that very same atmosphere I so fell in love with years ago. For me, the joy of a re-told story lies not in its similarities to the original, but rather in its differences. As such, The Hollow Kingdom pleasantly surprised me by being a tale, not of a love that could transform a hideous beast into a beautiful prince, but rather one of a love that could look beyond a monstrous exterior to the beauty that lay within.
When The Hollow Kingdom begins, it reads much like a Gothic mystery. Hallow Hill, the countryside residence where Kate and her younger sister, Emily, have recently moved to is a place with a dangerous past, one where young girls vanish, never to be seen again. One night, when Kate and Emily lose their way back home, they come upon an encampment of gypsies who help lead them home. Yet, these nighttime travelers are no gypsies, but goblins, who have lived under Hallow Hill for centuries. And now, it is time for their powerful king, Marak, to marry. Very quickly, Marak decides on headstrong and stubborn Kate to become his bride, but exacting her acceptance to his proposal is far harder than he imagines.
From the moment you read the first page of The Hollow Kingdom, it is virtually impossible to set the book down. Everything about it, from its dark atmosphere to its witty banter, will keep you flipping the pages frantically. Kate is the type of heroine we all love - strong, intelligent, and quick to avoid traps that most protagonists would have fallen for due to naivete. Not only does she fight fiercely against Marak's advances, but she even turns the tables on him during more than one occasion. Emily, her younger sister, is no less compelling, charming us with her inquisitive nature and deep attachment for her older sister.
It is Marak who comes across as murky, indefinite, and hard to figure out. Although Marak desperately needs Kate to become his bride - and is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to take her underground with him - it becomes obvious that he grudgingly respects Kate. As he patiently deals with the curious nature of Emily, answering her questions about his magical world, it becomes evident that whatever Marak's plans are, hurting Kate isn't one of them. Furthermore, despite his sarcastic and rather rude nature, he cares deeply for his subjects and something about him ceases to be annoying and begins to become endearing. We know that Marak is supposed to be the villain of this tale, but gradually, it becomes impossible for our hearts not to thaw towards him.
Moreover, Marak sees Kate for who she really is, not simply a beautiful girl who can continue his lineage and not as a weak-willed lady who babbles about nonsensical creatures either. As such, he respects and even comes to love the very qualities that make her such a burden to her guardians. Although both Kate and Marak are fiercely stubborn - a trait which seems to cause them both nothing but irritation during their first few meetings - it is this same quality that later binds them close to one another. All in all, the love story in this novel is flawlessly executed, all side-by-side with descriptive prose and rich world-building.
Nevertheless, while The Hollow Kingdom had me completely besotted with it, I couldn't help but be rather disappointed by the end. In retrospect, it isn't a huge qualm at all, but one of the ending plot threads, built to make Kate realize the extent of her affection for Marak, was not one I particularly enjoyed. I felt as though the same idea could have been built in a much more poignant manner and this particular scene seemed to be thrown in to rush the inevitable ending for these two characters. Additionally, the writing leads you to believe that kisses lead to babies, probably because it is written for a MG audience. While I don't so much mind the latter issue, I was expecting more of a slow-burn romance till the end rather than a sudden twist into adventure.
Yet, let me re-assure you, The Hollow Kingdom is amazing. A re-imagined tale of "Beauty and the Beast" where the beast never turns into a handsome prince is a rare and wonderful thing to come by, so don't let this one slip by your hands. Even if you can't find yourself falling for an ugly goblin, Dunkle will ensure that you do and, believe me, you won't want to leave this underground world, even for just a glimpse of the stars.
You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.
Needless to say, what makes The Hollow Kingdom such a successful re-telling of "Beauty and the Beast" is its ability to perfectly capture that very same atmosphere I so fell in love with years ago. For me, the joy of a re-told story lies not in its similarities to the original, but rather in its differences. As such, The Hollow Kingdom pleasantly surprised me by being a tale, not of a love that could transform a hideous beast into a beautiful prince, but rather one of a love that could look beyond a monstrous exterior to the beauty that lay within.
When The Hollow Kingdom begins, it reads much like a Gothic mystery. Hallow Hill, the countryside residence where Kate and her younger sister, Emily, have recently moved to is a place with a dangerous past, one where young girls vanish, never to be seen again. One night, when Kate and Emily lose their way back home, they come upon an encampment of gypsies who help lead them home. Yet, these nighttime travelers are no gypsies, but goblins, who have lived under Hallow Hill for centuries. And now, it is time for their powerful king, Marak, to marry. Very quickly, Marak decides on headstrong and stubborn Kate to become his bride, but exacting her acceptance to his proposal is far harder than he imagines.
From the moment you read the first page of The Hollow Kingdom, it is virtually impossible to set the book down. Everything about it, from its dark atmosphere to its witty banter, will keep you flipping the pages frantically. Kate is the type of heroine we all love - strong, intelligent, and quick to avoid traps that most protagonists would have fallen for due to naivete. Not only does she fight fiercely against Marak's advances, but she even turns the tables on him during more than one occasion. Emily, her younger sister, is no less compelling, charming us with her inquisitive nature and deep attachment for her older sister.
It is Marak who comes across as murky, indefinite, and hard to figure out. Although Marak desperately needs Kate to become his bride - and is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to take her underground with him - it becomes obvious that he grudgingly respects Kate. As he patiently deals with the curious nature of Emily, answering her questions about his magical world, it becomes evident that whatever Marak's plans are, hurting Kate isn't one of them. Furthermore, despite his sarcastic and rather rude nature, he cares deeply for his subjects and something about him ceases to be annoying and begins to become endearing. We know that Marak is supposed to be the villain of this tale, but gradually, it becomes impossible for our hearts not to thaw towards him.
Moreover, Marak sees Kate for who she really is, not simply a beautiful girl who can continue his lineage and not as a weak-willed lady who babbles about nonsensical creatures either. As such, he respects and even comes to love the very qualities that make her such a burden to her guardians. Although both Kate and Marak are fiercely stubborn - a trait which seems to cause them both nothing but irritation during their first few meetings - it is this same quality that later binds them close to one another. All in all, the love story in this novel is flawlessly executed, all side-by-side with descriptive prose and rich world-building.
Nevertheless, while The Hollow Kingdom had me completely besotted with it, I couldn't help but be rather disappointed by the end. In retrospect, it isn't a huge qualm at all, but one of the ending plot threads, built to make Kate realize the extent of her affection for Marak, was not one I particularly enjoyed. I felt as though the same idea could have been built in a much more poignant manner and this particular scene seemed to be thrown in to rush the inevitable ending for these two characters. Additionally, the writing leads you to believe that kisses lead to babies, probably because it is written for a MG audience. While I don't so much mind the latter issue, I was expecting more of a slow-burn romance till the end rather than a sudden twist into adventure.
Yet, let me re-assure you, The Hollow Kingdom is amazing. A re-imagined tale of "Beauty and the Beast" where the beast never turns into a handsome prince is a rare and wonderful thing to come by, so don't let this one slip by your hands. Even if you can't find yourself falling for an ugly goblin, Dunkle will ensure that you do and, believe me, you won't want to leave this underground world, even for just a glimpse of the stars.
You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.
June 17, 2017
(Note: This isn't my most coherent review, because I was just really pissed off when I wrote it, and I don't really feel like going back and making it more... polite. So, please, enjoy it in all its ragey goodness. Contains cursing, GIFs, a bit of feminist ranting, and expressions of murderous intent towards fictional characters.)
THIS BOOK.
I HATE IT SO MUCH. I hate it so much, I'm not even sure where to begin with this review. I've been putting it off for a few months now. But here it goes... *takes deep breath*
This is one of the most rapey, perverted, misogynistic, fucked-up books I've ever read. Including Fifty Shades of Grey. Because at least FSoG is marketed at adults. Yes, plenty of teenagers will inevitably read it (myself included), but at least they're not supposed to. But this book is YA. And, since there really isn't technically any explicit sex or cursing, it could almost be considered appropriate for middle grade readers, and that's what scares me--because even if they're too young to fully understand all of it, they're still going to get the message that not having a woman's consent first is okay.
Also: at least Christian Grey was just one man. This is an entire fucking society. The only reason I'm okay with a society like this existing in a book is so Buffy can come in and slaughter them all, and rescue all the women and animals (!) in their possession.
So, first, the society:
- For centuries, the goblins have been kidnapping females of all species (humans, elves, EVEN ANIMALS) and forcing them to become their "wives" and basically rape them and use them to make babies until they drop dead. Most of the women, particularly elves, die during childbirth, since goblin babies can be twenty pounds or more. For some reason, there is particular note taken to a three-foot-tall green girl the goblins captured some centuries before, who continually tried to kill herself to escape, and failed every time, only to die in childbirth.
Why do the goblins capture women? Apparently, most goblin women are infertile, and they don't want their race to die out. (I DO! MOST DESPERATELY!) And yet Marak is certain that he will have only sons, because the Goblin Kings always bear only sons. Why? This world-building is shoddy at best. Why not just make it so that all the goblins are men? That would've made much more sense. That wouldn't have made me like it more, but it would've made more sense.
Some lovely quotes to make you see red:
-"We never eat a female animal. Because our own females so often can't have children, the beast goblins often cross out to all kinds of different species. We view every female as a mother, a sacred life."
In other words: "We have a lot of captive animals here; we eat the males and rape the females, because to us, female=uterus."
Also, an aside:
-"There aren't any volunteers to my kingdom, but we try not to let it discourage us."
-(as the elves started to go extinct) "We hunted the elf women tirelessly after that, to get the good of the blood before it was all gone."
What is this, a buffet? "Better go get the last of that chocolate cake before it's all gone."
-(after describing the steps of wooing a girl, and how long it takes, and how she may just refuse him in the end, after all his hard work) "No. The King's Wife is always a capture. It's the only prudent way." Getting a girl's consent first? Bah! Who has time for that?
And, guess what? All of these quotes (and many more that I never wrote down) are all courtesy of our "hero", Marak!
And now, on to the plot of this monstrosity!
In the prologue, a goblin king throws a young girl over his shoulder and takes her, kicking and screaming and crying and clawing, into his kingdom under the ground, where he tells her she will be his wife and live out her days. Later, we are told that this woman (Marak's mother) fell in love with this bastard and lived happily with the goblins forever.
Many years after these events, Kate and her younger sister, Emily, come to live on the estate they've inherited, which happens to rest right on top of the goblin kingdom. As soon as Marak sees her, he decides that she will be the one to bear his goblin babies. The first 60% of the book is just him chasing her around.
The scenario for a good half of the book: Kate runs. Marak pursues. Kate inevitably injures herself while running. Marak heals her, and admonishes her for hurting herself--silly little woman, if you hadn't fought, you wouldn't have gotten hurt! It's your fault! But it's okay, you're only female, and dumb females can't comprehend such matters! Then he takes her home, and they repeat the process the next day. During this game of cat and mouse, Kate feels charmed by Marak, even if she doesn't want to--she "feels different" the day after he calls her beautiful... in a good way. Why? He's a psychopath who looks at her and sees a talking uterus. She shouldn't be swooning because he called her beautiful. She should be disgusted and running the fuck away.
Another aside:
And okay, yes, she runs. For a little while. But eventually, she goes to Marak willingly, promising to be his wife when she thinks he's kidnapped her little sister--but it wasn't him. It was someone else. I don't really feel like explaining that part, especially since it's been months and I've kind of forgotten. Anyway, Marak saves her sister, then takes Kate down to his kingdom with him, because she made an oath, and he doesn't feel any remorse at all.
And here's what bothers me about this book the most.* Marak. This doesn't work as a Beauty and the Beast tale, because Marak has no redeemable qualities. He honestly doesn't think he's doing anything wrong. It'd be one thing if he was raised like this, but learned as he got older--or even through loving Kate--that it's wrong to treat women this way. But he doesn't. Even by the end, he doesn't love Kate--he loves her uterus. He always refers to her as his "wife and son", even before she's ever pregnant. And, towards the end, when he's under a mind-control spell and tries to kill her, her saying that she loves him doesn't snap him out of it--but her saying that she's pregnant and referring to herself as "your wife and son" does. And he doesn't regret almost killing her--he regrets almost killing the baby growing inside her. And he never tells her that he loves her, but that he loves his "wife and son." What does that tell you?
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Back to Kate.
Kate never really tries to escape. She whines and cries and mopes a lot, but all she really does in terms of escaping is go and ask the talking door to let her out, even though it's enchanted not to. Yeah, great plan. That'll work. Of course, Marak catches her, and then we get this line: "'Poor little elf,' he said kindly. 'Come back to bed.'" This isn't the first reference to Marak's "kindness."
"Kindness."
But Kate could have escaped! All the goblins are constantly telling her about her magical elven blood, and that she could be a powerful magician, if she wished. Marak is a magician, and he lets her sit in his study with him, watching him do spells. And he's teaching her to read goblin. Now, instead of learning some magic and using a spell to fight her way out of there, what does our "heroine" do? She denies it all, insisting that she's human, and a righteous Christian woman, and then sits around moping and crying some more. And ends up discovering that she enjoys Marak's kisses, so maybe it isn't so bad being treated like an object after all. And then, towards the end, she's allowed outside to go rescue Marak from an evil magician's clutches. And what does she do? She goes and rescues Marak, and then the book ends with her living happily as his little slave-wife.**
Anyway. *shudders, gags* I need to go read some more books with badass women and men who treat them like equals to get over the horror of this book. It's been months, and I'm still recovering.
* Actually, no. The animal rape is the thing I hate the most.
** That's another thing. These women aren't "Queens." They're "King's Wives." I think that's rather telling. Kate is never even called her name, or anything else, by the other goblins. She's addressed as "King's Wife." And, on the subject of wives--Kate frequently likens herself to a Sabine woman, and finds the idea rather romantic. You know, as in The Rape of the Sabine Women?! Also, this song is perfect for thisbook monstrosity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ob2i...
THIS BOOK.
I HATE IT SO MUCH. I hate it so much, I'm not even sure where to begin with this review. I've been putting it off for a few months now. But here it goes... *takes deep breath*
This is one of the most rapey, perverted, misogynistic, fucked-up books I've ever read. Including Fifty Shades of Grey. Because at least FSoG is marketed at adults. Yes, plenty of teenagers will inevitably read it (myself included), but at least they're not supposed to. But this book is YA. And, since there really isn't technically any explicit sex or cursing, it could almost be considered appropriate for middle grade readers, and that's what scares me--because even if they're too young to fully understand all of it, they're still going to get the message that not having a woman's consent first is okay.
Also: at least Christian Grey was just one man. This is an entire fucking society. The only reason I'm okay with a society like this existing in a book is so Buffy can come in and slaughter them all, and rescue all the women and animals (!) in their possession.
So, first, the society:
- For centuries, the goblins have been kidnapping females of all species (humans, elves, EVEN ANIMALS) and forcing them to become their "wives" and basically rape them and use them to make babies until they drop dead. Most of the women, particularly elves, die during childbirth, since goblin babies can be twenty pounds or more. For some reason, there is particular note taken to a three-foot-tall green girl the goblins captured some centuries before, who continually tried to kill herself to escape, and failed every time, only to die in childbirth.
Why do the goblins capture women? Apparently, most goblin women are infertile, and they don't want their race to die out. (I DO! MOST DESPERATELY!) And yet Marak is certain that he will have only sons, because the Goblin Kings always bear only sons. Why? This world-building is shoddy at best. Why not just make it so that all the goblins are men? That would've made much more sense. That wouldn't have made me like it more, but it would've made more sense.
Some lovely quotes to make you see red:
-"We never eat a female animal. Because our own females so often can't have children, the beast goblins often cross out to all kinds of different species. We view every female as a mother, a sacred life."
In other words: "We have a lot of captive animals here; we eat the males and rape the females, because to us, female=uterus."
Also, an aside:
-"There aren't any volunteers to my kingdom, but we try not to let it discourage us."
-(as the elves started to go extinct) "We hunted the elf women tirelessly after that, to get the good of the blood before it was all gone."
What is this, a buffet? "Better go get the last of that chocolate cake before it's all gone."
-(after describing the steps of wooing a girl, and how long it takes, and how she may just refuse him in the end, after all his hard work) "No. The King's Wife is always a capture. It's the only prudent way." Getting a girl's consent first? Bah! Who has time for that?
And, guess what? All of these quotes (and many more that I never wrote down) are all courtesy of our "hero", Marak!
And now, on to the plot of this monstrosity!
In the prologue, a goblin king throws a young girl over his shoulder and takes her, kicking and screaming and crying and clawing, into his kingdom under the ground, where he tells her she will be his wife and live out her days. Later, we are told that this woman (Marak's mother) fell in love with this bastard and lived happily with the goblins forever.
Many years after these events, Kate and her younger sister, Emily, come to live on the estate they've inherited, which happens to rest right on top of the goblin kingdom. As soon as Marak sees her, he decides that she will be the one to bear his goblin babies. The first 60% of the book is just him chasing her around.
The scenario for a good half of the book: Kate runs. Marak pursues. Kate inevitably injures herself while running. Marak heals her, and admonishes her for hurting herself--silly little woman, if you hadn't fought, you wouldn't have gotten hurt! It's your fault! But it's okay, you're only female, and dumb females can't comprehend such matters! Then he takes her home, and they repeat the process the next day. During this game of cat and mouse, Kate feels charmed by Marak, even if she doesn't want to--she "feels different" the day after he calls her beautiful... in a good way. Why? He's a psychopath who looks at her and sees a talking uterus. She shouldn't be swooning because he called her beautiful. She should be disgusted and running the fuck away.
Another aside:
And okay, yes, she runs. For a little while. But eventually, she goes to Marak willingly, promising to be his wife when she thinks he's kidnapped her little sister--but it wasn't him. It was someone else. I don't really feel like explaining that part, especially since it's been months and I've kind of forgotten. Anyway, Marak saves her sister, then takes Kate down to his kingdom with him, because she made an oath, and he doesn't feel any remorse at all.
And here's what bothers me about this book the most.* Marak. This doesn't work as a Beauty and the Beast tale, because Marak has no redeemable qualities. He honestly doesn't think he's doing anything wrong. It'd be one thing if he was raised like this, but learned as he got older--or even through loving Kate--that it's wrong to treat women this way. But he doesn't. Even by the end, he doesn't love Kate--he loves her uterus. He always refers to her as his "wife and son", even before she's ever pregnant. And, towards the end, when he's under a mind-control spell and tries to kill her, her saying that she loves him doesn't snap him out of it--but her saying that she's pregnant and referring to herself as "your wife and son" does. And he doesn't regret almost killing her--he regrets almost killing the baby growing inside her. And he never tells her that he loves her, but that he loves his "wife and son." What does that tell you?
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Back to Kate.
Kate never really tries to escape. She whines and cries and mopes a lot, but all she really does in terms of escaping is go and ask the talking door to let her out, even though it's enchanted not to. Yeah, great plan. That'll work. Of course, Marak catches her, and then we get this line: "'Poor little elf,' he said kindly. 'Come back to bed.'" This isn't the first reference to Marak's "kindness."
"Kindness."
But Kate could have escaped! All the goblins are constantly telling her about her magical elven blood, and that she could be a powerful magician, if she wished. Marak is a magician, and he lets her sit in his study with him, watching him do spells. And he's teaching her to read goblin. Now, instead of learning some magic and using a spell to fight her way out of there, what does our "heroine" do? She denies it all, insisting that she's human, and a righteous Christian woman, and then sits around moping and crying some more. And ends up discovering that she enjoys Marak's kisses, so maybe it isn't so bad being treated like an object after all. And then, towards the end, she's allowed outside to go rescue Marak from an evil magician's clutches. And what does she do? She goes and rescues Marak, and then the book ends with her living happily as his little slave-wife.**
Anyway. *shudders, gags* I need to go read some more books with badass women and men who treat them like equals to get over the horror of this book. It's been months, and I'm still recovering.
* Actually, no. The animal rape is the thing I hate the most.
** That's another thing. These women aren't "Queens." They're "King's Wives." I think that's rather telling. Kate is never even called her name, or anything else, by the other goblins. She's addressed as "King's Wife." And, on the subject of wives--Kate frequently likens herself to a Sabine woman, and finds the idea rather romantic. You know, as in The Rape of the Sabine Women?! Also, this song is perfect for this
April 4, 2019
This will always be my quickest read because it is so good and so fast. Everything happens all at once and Duncan just writes in a way that keeps you captivated. It's like Beauty and the Beast but without the beast ever changing into a "handsome" man lol.
Humans, Elves, Goblins, Demons, a strong-willed heroine stepping up to the challenge to defend her family and loved ones, even though society deems it "improper" for a lady. This book had everything I wanted and I didn't even mind the romance part and that's saying something.
This book is for anyone going through a reading slump in my opinion so check it out ya'll :D
January 10, 2015
4.5 Stars - Sweet, Grim, and Unique Fantasy
The characters - especially Kate, the heroine - are a departure from archetypes some readers may assume "The Hollow Kingdom" holds. We are told Kate has been educated by her father and she behaves intelligently, displaying an agile mind. Marak, the Goblin King - who must capture his bride, as is the tradition - starts as an irreverent character then becomes a a genuinely sympathetic character.
Although this book is the first in a trilogy, I am thoroughly satisfied with the resolution in this story. (And with only 230 pages it was a very fast read that had me biting my nails!) Also, "The Hollow Kingdom" is appropriate for older adolescents, although there are grim aspects and elements of horror in this story. It's a YA in the same sense the Harry Potter series is sometimes listed. (No 'snogging' (kissing) though it is mentioned. Also, no sex or sexual situations.) Yet it can also be enjoyed by adults.
I'd recommend this series to readers who enjoyed:
Clay Griffith's Vampire Empire series (e.g. The Greyfriar), Anne Bishop's fantasy novels, or the Wicked as They Come, as one reader friend likened King Marak to Criminy Stain.
Thank you, Kathleen for the book rec and will purchase it for my Keeper Shelf! I have a few friends I think will enjoy this book. ;D
"If you know I hate being teased, she asked, "why do you always do it?"
"Because that's one of the things abut your new life that I love," he chuckled. That made her smile. "And I write about the milestones that the Kings look for their wives to pass. The first time you spoke to me--that was when you met me. The first time you called me by name--that was the day after you came here. The first time you smiled at me--that was a week after you came here, but the first time you smiled because you were really glad to see me--that was only a month ago. The first time you were happy when you woke up in the morning, full of plans you wanted to accomplish..." He fell silent.
"When was that? Kate wanted to know.
"That one hasn't happened yet," he admitted. "Maybe tomorrow."
The characters - especially Kate, the heroine - are a departure from archetypes some readers may assume "The Hollow Kingdom" holds. We are told Kate has been educated by her father and she behaves intelligently, displaying an agile mind. Marak, the Goblin King - who must capture his bride, as is the tradition - starts as an irreverent character then becomes a a genuinely sympathetic character.
Although this book is the first in a trilogy, I am thoroughly satisfied with the resolution in this story. (And with only 230 pages it was a very fast read that had me biting my nails!) Also, "The Hollow Kingdom" is appropriate for older adolescents, although there are grim aspects and elements of horror in this story. It's a YA in the same sense the Harry Potter series is sometimes listed. (No 'snogging' (kissing) though it is mentioned. Also, no sex or sexual situations.) Yet it can also be enjoyed by adults.
I'd recommend this series to readers who enjoyed:
Clay Griffith's Vampire Empire series (e.g. The Greyfriar), Anne Bishop's fantasy novels, or the Wicked as They Come, as one reader friend likened King Marak to Criminy Stain.
Thank you, Kathleen for the book rec and will purchase it for my Keeper Shelf! I have a few friends I think will enjoy this book. ;D
March 30, 2017
Kate y Emily Winslow llegan a Hollow Hill tras la muerte de su padre, la tierra les pertenece como legado materno, pero pronto ni sus ancianas tias ni su guardian legal parecen poder protegerlas de peligros que las acosan.
Situado en lo que parece ser una Inglaterra del siglo 19, y en medio de un plot de semi-horror gótico te ves envuelto en un mundo sobrenatural.
“If that’s what you think my kingdom is like, I certainly know not to ask you to come.”
Hope swept through her. “You won’t?” she gasped.
Marak opened his eyes again and frowned at her eager expression. “Of course not.” He shrugged. “I’ll just take you there. No sense in asking.”
Si juzgas la historia como una fantasia moderna, te quedas horrorizad@ por varios elementos , pero si lo ves como uno de esos cuentos clásicos de hadas ves que sigue todos sus aspectos :
Más un sentido de humor irónico que va bien con otros tonos más oscuros. Aunque confieso que más de una vez quise darle de bofetones a la hermanita menor, que me sacaba de quicio y me desesperaba.
Situado en lo que parece ser una Inglaterra del siglo 19, y en medio de un plot de semi-horror gótico te ves envuelto en un mundo sobrenatural.
“If that’s what you think my kingdom is like, I certainly know not to ask you to come.”
Hope swept through her. “You won’t?” she gasped.
Marak opened his eyes again and frowned at her eager expression. “Of course not.” He shrugged. “I’ll just take you there. No sense in asking.”
Si juzgas la historia como una fantasia moderna, te quedas horrorizad@ por varios elementos , pero si lo ves como uno de esos cuentos clásicos de hadas ves que sigue todos sus aspectos :
Más un sentido de humor irónico que va bien con otros tonos más oscuros. Aunque confieso que más de una vez quise darle de bofetones a la hermanita menor, que me sacaba de quicio y me desesperaba.
January 20, 2021
Occasionally you pick up a book that perfectly fits your mood and circumstances. This was one of those for me. It felt warm and comforting, with an old English setting and some kick-ass characters I could really get behind. I LOVED it.
When Kate and Emily Winslow's parents die, they are sent to live with their distant cousin and great aunts at their ancestral home of Hallow Hill. Their new home, however, has a history of disappearing young, unwed women and when, lost out one night, the sisters are forced to rely on cloaked strangers for help, a game of cat and mouse begins between Kate and Marak, Goblin King, out to find himself a human bride.
Hallow Hall, a stately home in northern England, is bordered by an ancient forest and a large lake. Within the forest, elves once lived but are now long gone. Underneath the lake though, the goblin realm still thrives, kept strong by their kings and the stolen human brides that bear their children. Whether this realm is as dark and horrifying as the creatures it homes, Kate is sure to find out. Goblin realm aside, I loved the rural setting and the beautiful, old house (though we don't see nearly enough fo the latter). It reminded me a little of the early chapters of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and I felt right at home in the eminently British surroundings.
Kate, our heroine, is 15 or so (Dunkle only ever says she's three years from her majority, but this may be different in 19th century England). She's wise beyond her years and not easily fooled or made to do something she doesn't wish to do, even, to Marak's frustration, when bewitched. I loved her strength of character, her courage and resourcefulness in the face of danger, and her care for those around her – at least once she's gotten over the shock of seeing them.
Marak is proud and clever, sneaky and sarcastic. He's not above forcing people to his hand, but enjoys the challenge of a worthy opponent. He doesn't mollycoddle but is prepared to do his share. He made me smile and swoon, all despite never asking Kate for so much as a kiss.
Emily, or M, is eight or so and young and impetuous, annoying in the way that all younger siblings are at that age. Seylin, Marak's thirteen year old page, is more mature and much more adorable. I just wanted to squidge his cheeks like an old grandma.
Do not be mistaken, Hollow Kingdom is a children's book. The language is relatively simple, the book short and the plot predictable. There's no sex (not even a kiss!) and gore is limited (though does include a beheading). I would recommend it to advanced readers of 10 or older. I certainly wish I'd read it at that age! Even so, I enjoyed it tremendously as an adult, finding the quaint setting soothing, the fantastical elements creative and the characters delightfully feisty. I will definitely be reading the next book, Close Kin, and will keep an eye out for other Dunkle books in future.
When Kate and Emily Winslow's parents die, they are sent to live with their distant cousin and great aunts at their ancestral home of Hallow Hill. Their new home, however, has a history of disappearing young, unwed women and when, lost out one night, the sisters are forced to rely on cloaked strangers for help, a game of cat and mouse begins between Kate and Marak, Goblin King, out to find himself a human bride.
Hallow Hall, a stately home in northern England, is bordered by an ancient forest and a large lake. Within the forest, elves once lived but are now long gone. Underneath the lake though, the goblin realm still thrives, kept strong by their kings and the stolen human brides that bear their children. Whether this realm is as dark and horrifying as the creatures it homes, Kate is sure to find out. Goblin realm aside, I loved the rural setting and the beautiful, old house (though we don't see nearly enough fo the latter). It reminded me a little of the early chapters of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and I felt right at home in the eminently British surroundings.
Kate, our heroine, is 15 or so (Dunkle only ever says she's three years from her majority, but this may be different in 19th century England). She's wise beyond her years and not easily fooled or made to do something she doesn't wish to do, even, to Marak's frustration, when bewitched. I loved her strength of character, her courage and resourcefulness in the face of danger, and her care for those around her – at least once she's gotten over the shock of seeing them.
"But I don’t want to marry you at all!" she shouted. "Of course not," Marak agreed. "I never thought you did. There aren’t any volunteers to my kingdom, but we try not to let it discourage us."
Marak is proud and clever, sneaky and sarcastic. He's not above forcing people to his hand, but enjoys the challenge of a worthy opponent. He doesn't mollycoddle but is prepared to do his share. He made me smile and swoon, all despite never asking Kate for so much as a kiss.
"Why would I want to steal your sister? I’m having enough trouble with you. Not that she hasn’t offered."
Emily, or M, is eight or so and young and impetuous, annoying in the way that all younger siblings are at that age. Seylin, Marak's thirteen year old page, is more mature and much more adorable. I just wanted to squidge his cheeks like an old grandma.
Do not be mistaken, Hollow Kingdom is a children's book. The language is relatively simple, the book short and the plot predictable. There's no sex (not even a kiss!) and gore is limited (though does include a beheading). I would recommend it to advanced readers of 10 or older. I certainly wish I'd read it at that age! Even so, I enjoyed it tremendously as an adult, finding the quaint setting soothing, the fantastical elements creative and the characters delightfully feisty. I will definitely be reading the next book, Close Kin, and will keep an eye out for other Dunkle books in future.
July 21, 2013
This book is about goblins, plain and simple. But don’t be fooled into thinking this is your average goblin story. In fact, what Clare Dunkle does is actually pretty cool. Dunkle doesn’t make her goblins suddenly beautiful creatures with noble intentions. No, she leaves them with all their warts and their monstrous features. Their intentions are questionable, their methods underhanded, and they are thoroughly dangerous. Yet I grew to sympathize with them, because Dunkle gives them a point of view. The reader learns why goblins do some of the nefarious things they do in old faerie stories, and their logic makes perfect sense. This turnaround (without changing the basic goblin nature) is what I enjoyed the most about The Hollow Kingdom. After all, let’s face it, usually goblins are mean-tempered and dodgy, even in modern day books like Harry Potter, so it was great to see them given a different slant.
The main goblin is Marak and he’s an interesting character. He’s spooky and grotesque, but even from the beginning he always struck me as having a lot of charisma. I couldn’t help but think of him as Robert Carlyle (with his Scottish accent) dressed up like Rumplestiltskin.
The story is pretty simple. Basically it’s another version Beauty and the Beast, but what I liked was how the beast doesn’t really change. It’s Beauty’s perception of him that changes. Maybe goblins aren’t so ghastly as originally thought?
Dunkle is imaginative, creating a lush new fantasy world, yet she also incorporated all kinds of faerie tale lore that gave everything a firm base. This is probably the best modern day faerie book that I’ve read. I enjoyed it a lot. :D
The main goblin is Marak and he’s an interesting character. He’s spooky and grotesque, but even from the beginning he always struck me as having a lot of charisma. I couldn’t help but think of him as Robert Carlyle (with his Scottish accent) dressed up like Rumplestiltskin.
The story is pretty simple. Basically it’s another version Beauty and the Beast, but what I liked was how the beast doesn’t really change. It’s Beauty’s perception of him that changes. Maybe goblins aren’t so ghastly as originally thought?
Dunkle is imaginative, creating a lush new fantasy world, yet she also incorporated all kinds of faerie tale lore that gave everything a firm base. This is probably the best modern day faerie book that I’ve read. I enjoyed it a lot. :D
November 24, 2008
I have had the entire Hollow Kingdom trilogy sitting in my TBR stack for awhile now and finally settled in with the first one and read it through. The first thing to catch my eye was the dedication. This is often the case with me. I was wandering the bookstore with my cousin just other night, talking about what a sucker I am for a good dedication. I should probably be keeping some sort of top ten list or something. I've fallen in love with many a Lloyd Alexander dedication and that's why this one in The Hollow Kingdom stood out to me. Because it was dedicated to him.
Kate and her younger sister Emily arrive at Hallow Hill in search of a new home. Recently orphaned, the two sisters have inherited the estate and come to live with their two muzzle-headed great aunts and their one creeperiffic guardian. The girls take to the new surroundings immediately, but soon after moving in Kate starts to feel like she's being watched. One night while out walking she is actually followed home by a mysterious hooded stranger on horseback. The stranger turns out to be the goblin king Marak. Every goblin king must steal a human bride and bring her home to the kingdom under the hill to live forever, never to see the sun or stars again. Once he sets his sights on Kate, Marak assures her it is only a matter of time til she is his. Kate manages to keep an admirably stiff upper lip, under the circumstances, and resolves to outwit the goblin king and remain above ground. Unfortunately, she is forced to reconsider when her sister is kidnapped and she is sure the Marak is behind it. In a wonderful reversal of expectations, Kate (of her own free will and choice) gains entrance to the goblin court and agrees to marry the king if he will release her sister.
The Hollow Kingdom is completely enchanting. It was the characters that won me over. Kate is a strong, thoughtful heroine and her sister Emily provides a good bit of comic relief as she is interested in absolutely everything. The prospect of spending the rest of her life among goblins strikes terror in Kate's heart, but sends Emily into raptures. What an adventure! But then it's not Emily who has to marry one of the ugly creatures. Which brings us to Marak. And Marak is an enigma. Crafty and cunning, he delights in attempting to capture his chosen bride and force her to do his will. Yet he is not without sympathy. He rushes to his wife's defense at any slight and, even as he laughs at her discomfort, he tries to make her more at home in his underground world. It's a surprising and lovely story and I recommend it for an evening autumn read.
Kate and her younger sister Emily arrive at Hallow Hill in search of a new home. Recently orphaned, the two sisters have inherited the estate and come to live with their two muzzle-headed great aunts and their one creeperiffic guardian. The girls take to the new surroundings immediately, but soon after moving in Kate starts to feel like she's being watched. One night while out walking she is actually followed home by a mysterious hooded stranger on horseback. The stranger turns out to be the goblin king Marak. Every goblin king must steal a human bride and bring her home to the kingdom under the hill to live forever, never to see the sun or stars again. Once he sets his sights on Kate, Marak assures her it is only a matter of time til she is his. Kate manages to keep an admirably stiff upper lip, under the circumstances, and resolves to outwit the goblin king and remain above ground. Unfortunately, she is forced to reconsider when her sister is kidnapped and she is sure the Marak is behind it. In a wonderful reversal of expectations, Kate (of her own free will and choice) gains entrance to the goblin court and agrees to marry the king if he will release her sister.
The Hollow Kingdom is completely enchanting. It was the characters that won me over. Kate is a strong, thoughtful heroine and her sister Emily provides a good bit of comic relief as she is interested in absolutely everything. The prospect of spending the rest of her life among goblins strikes terror in Kate's heart, but sends Emily into raptures. What an adventure! But then it's not Emily who has to marry one of the ugly creatures. Which brings us to Marak. And Marak is an enigma. Crafty and cunning, he delights in attempting to capture his chosen bride and force her to do his will. Yet he is not without sympathy. He rushes to his wife's defense at any slight and, even as he laughs at her discomfort, he tries to make her more at home in his underground world. It's a surprising and lovely story and I recommend it for an evening autumn read.
February 22, 2015
Apparently it is romantic to be imprisoned underground by goblins and forced to bear their children. At least she had her self-centered sister to keep her company till the Stockholm Syndrome kicked in.
February 21, 2024
I remember liking this. If I read it now, however, I'd probably be way more critical.
August 29, 2012
I first read this book when I was younger, and I absolutely loved it. It was one of those books that I enjoyed reading over and over. There are a lot of things I hate about this book now, which really breaks my heart, because I used to love it so much. When I was young, naïve, and blind to—or at the very least ignoring—all of the disturbing elements.
But first to the positives. I absolutely adore the world Dunkle creates. The goblins are really cool, and it’s kind of fun to watch Kate go from regarding them as monsters to accepting them for who they really are. The goblin city sounds absolutely beautiful, and totally a place I would love to live. The King’s Wife ceremony had me fascinated. The King’s Wife Charm is hilarious, and his monologues on all the Wives he’s guarded are truly entertaining.
Of course, I still love all of these things, but now that I'm older I notice a lot more. I now find the whole "stolen bride" premise to be more disturbing. Kate is being stalked by the goblin King Marek (no doubt modeled after Jareth from Labyrinth), who intends to make her his wife…no matter how she feels about it. It’s kind of like Twilight, in that we’re supposed to go, ‘aw, he’sstalking really wants to be with her, how romantic’. However, unlike Bella, Kate doesn’t like being stalked in the least. Don’t worry, though, she ends up falling in love with him. In fact, every one of these King's Wives kidnapped over the centuries ended up falling in love with their captors…so it’s all okay in the end. I just don’t buy that! I cannot see the likelihood that ALL of these women WOULDN’T end up harboring lifelong resentment towards the men who ruined their lives.
My feelings towards Marak are divided. Sometimes, he can be really funny, and his snark makes me laugh. Other times, he’s just a dick. For one, his apathy towards Kate’s pain at being forced underground makes me furious! He has no choice but to kidnap her—the King has to steal a wife to give him a strong heir in order for the goblin way of life to continue—and yet he still shows NO remorse, whatsoever! “It’s not my problem,” He declares with a shrug. Yes, it is! The very least he could say is, ‘I’m sorry for taking you away from everything you’ve ever loved. I had no choice, but I’m sorry.’ Nope, Marak doesn’t say he’s sorry, or do anything besides waving off, and even laughing at, Kate’s misery. He doesn’t say sorry because he knows that he won’t have to; she’ll fall in love with him, like they all do…so it’s all okay in the end.
I suppose one thing can be said in Marak’s favor (all of the Kings in this series, actually): they don’t start the…uh, King-bearing until the abductee gives her consent. Definitely keeps this story from getting as disturbing as it potentially could.
On a side note, it’s mentioned that goblins “marry” animals…funny how now that I’m older, I totally recognize that for what it is: WEIRD. I love how she says "marry", though. Gotta keep this PG, folks! Of course, we all know what she REALLY means; the goblins are pulling a Loki (obscure joke, sorry; if you don’t get it, just look up “Sleipnir”).
Anyway, there’s a small plot line near the end of the story. It was rather random, but it connected to the rest of the book in an interesting, albeit small, way, and served to highlight how much Kate has changed in the year and a half since her capture. By then Kate is already in love with Marak, and comes to realize that she fell in love with him at their first meeting…when he was being Mister Stalker, might I add. So I guess the first part of the book—him chasing her down, trying to wrestle her into submission, laughing at her grief at being taken prisoner—only served to deepen her irrevocable love for him *dramatic sigh*. Hey, turns out she was in love with him all along…so it’s all ok in the end.
But first to the positives. I absolutely adore the world Dunkle creates. The goblins are really cool, and it’s kind of fun to watch Kate go from regarding them as monsters to accepting them for who they really are. The goblin city sounds absolutely beautiful, and totally a place I would love to live. The King’s Wife ceremony had me fascinated. The King’s Wife Charm is hilarious, and his monologues on all the Wives he’s guarded are truly entertaining.
Of course, I still love all of these things, but now that I'm older I notice a lot more. I now find the whole "stolen bride" premise to be more disturbing. Kate is being stalked by the goblin King Marek (no doubt modeled after Jareth from Labyrinth), who intends to make her his wife…no matter how she feels about it. It’s kind of like Twilight, in that we’re supposed to go, ‘aw, he’s
My feelings towards Marak are divided. Sometimes, he can be really funny, and his snark makes me laugh. Other times, he’s just a dick. For one, his apathy towards Kate’s pain at being forced underground makes me furious! He has no choice but to kidnap her—the King has to steal a wife to give him a strong heir in order for the goblin way of life to continue—and yet he still shows NO remorse, whatsoever! “It’s not my problem,” He declares with a shrug. Yes, it is! The very least he could say is, ‘I’m sorry for taking you away from everything you’ve ever loved. I had no choice, but I’m sorry.’ Nope, Marak doesn’t say he’s sorry, or do anything besides waving off, and even laughing at, Kate’s misery. He doesn’t say sorry because he knows that he won’t have to; she’ll fall in love with him, like they all do…so it’s all okay in the end.
I suppose one thing can be said in Marak’s favor (all of the Kings in this series, actually): they don’t start the…uh, King-bearing until the abductee gives her consent. Definitely keeps this story from getting as disturbing as it potentially could.
On a side note, it’s mentioned that goblins “marry” animals…funny how now that I’m older, I totally recognize that for what it is: WEIRD. I love how she says "marry", though. Gotta keep this PG, folks! Of course, we all know what she REALLY means; the goblins are pulling a Loki (obscure joke, sorry; if you don’t get it, just look up “Sleipnir”).
Anyway, there’s a small plot line near the end of the story. It was rather random, but it connected to the rest of the book in an interesting, albeit small, way, and served to highlight how much Kate has changed in the year and a half since her capture. By then Kate is already in love with Marak, and comes to realize that she fell in love with him at their first meeting…when he was being Mister Stalker, might I add. So I guess the first part of the book—him chasing her down, trying to wrestle her into submission, laughing at her grief at being taken prisoner—only served to deepen her irrevocable love for him *dramatic sigh*. Hey, turns out she was in love with him all along…so it’s all ok in the end.
April 17, 2015
I really really really wanted to like this book. In fact, there were parts of it that I enjoyed immensely. Kate was my favorite kind of heroine, someone who was clever, determined, and a little fiesty. So what went wrong? Well, the whole captive bride thing. I know they went over it a lot, how important it was for the goblin race and how it was necessary for survival, but the wedding ceremony was honestly the most disturbing thing I'd ever read. They made a big deal of Kate doing it "of her own free will," but she was really just doing what a big sister would do to save her sibling. And what about all the past wives, chained and with their voice taken away so that no matter how hard they struggled they could not get away? What about the loved ones who tried to rescue them but couldn't because they were held back by the guarded door?
Even if Kate supposedly loved Marek the entire time, even if we're supposed to believe that Kate being forced underground despite her love of the stars and everything outdoors turned out to be alright in the end because she learned to love her new life, that does not erase what happened in the past. I feel like they really made light of the situation, especially when Charm talks about how many of the wives tried to commit suicide. One girl tried multiple times, clearly desperate, then only died delivering an ugly goblin baby. WTF? The whole thing was honestly so horrifying, especially about elves being the best brides, even though elves loathe being underground and end up miserable because of it.
I just can't even. I feel as though I'd have enjoyed this a lot more if I were younger. Now, all I can see is a case of Stockholm Syndrome, with Marek being an incredibly manipulative character, even if there was a part of me that wanted to be drawn in by his charm. (Also, people say Twilight is bad, but Marek's stalkerish behavior was downright disgusting. Kate was constantly afraid and tormented because of the feeling she was being watched. At least Bella seemed okay with Edward creeping on her.)
Even if Kate supposedly loved Marek the entire time, even if we're supposed to believe that Kate being forced underground despite her love of the stars and everything outdoors turned out to be alright in the end because she learned to love her new life, that does not erase what happened in the past. I feel like they really made light of the situation, especially when Charm talks about how many of the wives tried to commit suicide. One girl tried multiple times, clearly desperate, then only died delivering an ugly goblin baby. WTF? The whole thing was honestly so horrifying, especially about elves being the best brides, even though elves loathe being underground and end up miserable because of it.
I just can't even. I feel as though I'd have enjoyed this a lot more if I were younger. Now, all I can see is a case of Stockholm Syndrome, with Marek being an incredibly manipulative character, even if there was a part of me that wanted to be drawn in by his charm. (Also, people say Twilight is bad, but Marek's stalkerish behavior was downright disgusting. Kate was constantly afraid and tormented because of the feeling she was being watched. At least Bella seemed okay with Edward creeping on her.)
October 16, 2013
When Kate arrives at Hallow Hill, she feels a pull to walk the fields and see the stars. And a pull not to trust the man who offers her a ride home on his stallion. But Marak is not easily dissuaded. Nor is he a man.
The goblin king can walk through mirrors and explode windows. But he cannot marry another goblin.
He must kidnap and marry a girl not of his own kind. And he has chosen Kate.
Oh! This was a wonderful story. A perfect read for fans of The Princess and the Goblin & The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald, as well as The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope. The Hollow Kingdom features a no-nonsense heroine, an unlikely hero, and a fantasy realm far too rarely traveled. I would have read the book much earlier had I realized what I was missing! Fabulous.
The goblin king can walk through mirrors and explode windows. But he cannot marry another goblin.
He must kidnap and marry a girl not of his own kind. And he has chosen Kate.
Oh! This was a wonderful story. A perfect read for fans of The Princess and the Goblin & The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald, as well as The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope. The Hollow Kingdom features a no-nonsense heroine, an unlikely hero, and a fantasy realm far too rarely traveled. I would have read the book much earlier had I realized what I was missing! Fabulous.
August 28, 2018
This is what Stolen Songbird should have been. I'm so glad I chose to read this one. It almost makes the other one more tolerable. This book shares the goblin mythology and kidnapped bride, but there the comparisons end. The Hollow Kingdom is the story of a very beautiful, clever young woman determined to outwit the Goblin King.
I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. Kate is witty and strong. She does break down occasionally, but it always feels natural. The Goblin King is properly hideous and perfectly sweet. I easily fell for him. (Though their romance did disturb me a little bit.)
This is one of those fantasy books where the author takes an existing mythology and adds her own twist, creating a whole new legend to tell around the campfire.
It reminded me of Lloyd Alexander (who the author credits), Beth Hilgartner (perhaps it is just the use of the name Kate, but there is some The Perilous Gard feel), and Diane Stanley.
I'm seriously tempted to give this one five stars, particularly for a scene at the end. However, I suppose it isn't precisely a 5 star read. The beginning and the end feel too much like separate story arcs. This book is definitely a new favorite, though.
August 9, 2016
Poor Marak. As King of the Goblins, he was not only accepted but revered in his world down-under. His subjects actually thought he was 'elf-pretty': almost too beautiful. But to most humans, he was monstrously ugly. With oddly colored hair similar in coarseness to a horse's tail, sharp teeth, bushy eyebrows and two different colored eyes, a disfigured shoulder and one hand that included six fingers, he looked like a beastly freak.
He knew he was in a difficult situation. As King, he was required to marry and produce a son to continue his posterity. Except goblin kings could not have children with goblin females and, as far as he was taught, the elves had died out. He was required to choose a human as his father had done.
He chose Kate Winslow. Beautiful, kindly, -up until she met Marak- Kate: except she abhorred him. To make matters worse, she thought he was disgustingly rude.
He laughed at her. He gazed at her. He had the nerve to talk to her!
I liked Marak. But then, I didn't have to marry him.
I enjoyed his endearing speech and quirky truisms. But then, I wasn't forbidden to return to the human realm.
The goblin world embodied blisters, blemishes and flaws. It was by no means perfect when the kings always captured their unwilling queens. Read this story if you enjoy an off-the-wall young adult fantasy. Read it if you enjoy magic and charms in an alternate society. Read it if you like a very unlikely hero and his initially-prudent heroine. Just don’t take it seriously or you will find issues with the plot.
He knew he was in a difficult situation. As King, he was required to marry and produce a son to continue his posterity. Except goblin kings could not have children with goblin females and, as far as he was taught, the elves had died out. He was required to choose a human as his father had done.
He chose Kate Winslow. Beautiful, kindly, -up until she met Marak- Kate: except she abhorred him. To make matters worse, she thought he was disgustingly rude.
He laughed at her. He gazed at her. He had the nerve to talk to her!
I liked Marak. But then, I didn't have to marry him.
I enjoyed his endearing speech and quirky truisms. But then, I wasn't forbidden to return to the human realm.
The goblin world embodied blisters, blemishes and flaws. It was by no means perfect when the kings always captured their unwilling queens. Read this story if you enjoy an off-the-wall young adult fantasy. Read it if you enjoy magic and charms in an alternate society. Read it if you like a very unlikely hero and his initially-prudent heroine. Just don’t take it seriously or you will find issues with the plot.
August 21, 2016
This book is truly special! I love reading, but this was the first time I was so excited with a book that I started sharing what I've read with my family. By the time I've reached half of it, my mother was nudging me to read it faster so I could tell her more of Kate and Emily's adventures. Unfortunately, The Hollow Kingdom is not available in Bulgarian and I am surprised that the book hasn't been translated in more languages! A pity, because I am certain that people from all over the world will enjoy the story!
Thank you, Clare B Dunkle!
Thank you, Clare B Dunkle!
May 10, 2009
When Victorian teenager Kate and her younger sister Emily are sent to live at their mysterious ancestral estate, Kate is sure she is being watched. It turns out that she is - and not by the native gypsies, but by the old and hideous goblin King Marek, who (following tradition) plans to kidnap and wed her. Will Kate be able to outmaneuver him before she is trapped underground forever?
After coming so highly recommended I had high hopes for this book, but I was disappointed. It's really unfortunate because it has a lot of things going for it. Dunkle has created an imaginative underworld of creatures you've never before seen or imagined. Kate is an extremely well drawn heroine - brave, feisty, and smart. Emily is the perfect inquisitive, accepting ten-year old providing the needed comic relief. Even pitiless, ugly, but caring Marek becomes likable. And humor! I simply loved the snake charm. I'd almost read the sequels just to read more of its dry-humor commentary. I can just imagine his monotone, robotic voice reciting the statistics. And Kate's encounters with the dimwitted "door"! Hilarious. These are just some of the things that really make it one of the more creative YA fantasy novels out there.
Unfortunately, the pacing was uneven and odd for me. I just didn't care what happened to Kate until more than half-way through the book, when the adventure finally starts. And then of course when the book finally grabs me, it's over too quickly. But these are only minor complaints. It was the whole captive bride tradition - which remains totally unchallenged by the end of this book - that really bothered me and completely ruined this book for me. Why was this just glossed over? Maybe if Dunkle had spent more time convincing us that Kate's love for Marek was real, I might have been okay with it. And if Marek really loved Kate as much as it seemed, he would've wanted her to have the right to choose. Instead, we're left to assume that their relationship is founded on Stockholm Syndrome. That's just plain unromantic and gross.
After coming so highly recommended I had high hopes for this book, but I was disappointed. It's really unfortunate because it has a lot of things going for it. Dunkle has created an imaginative underworld of creatures you've never before seen or imagined. Kate is an extremely well drawn heroine - brave, feisty, and smart. Emily is the perfect inquisitive, accepting ten-year old providing the needed comic relief. Even pitiless, ugly, but caring Marek becomes likable. And humor! I simply loved the snake charm. I'd almost read the sequels just to read more of its dry-humor commentary. I can just imagine his monotone, robotic voice reciting the statistics. And Kate's encounters with the dimwitted "door"! Hilarious. These are just some of the things that really make it one of the more creative YA fantasy novels out there.
Unfortunately, the pacing was uneven and odd for me. I just didn't care what happened to Kate until more than half-way through the book, when the adventure finally starts. And then of course when the book finally grabs me, it's over too quickly. But these are only minor complaints. It was the whole captive bride tradition - which remains totally unchallenged by the end of this book - that really bothered me and completely ruined this book for me. Why was this just glossed over? Maybe if Dunkle had spent more time convincing us that Kate's love for Marek was real, I might have been okay with it. And if Marek really loved Kate as much as it seemed, he would've wanted her to have the right to choose. Instead, we're left to assume that their relationship is founded on Stockholm Syndrome. That's just plain unromantic and gross.
April 26, 2016
2 Stars
In theory, I should have enjoyed The Hollow Kingdom-- it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a touch of folklore and a capable female lead. But I just couldn't get past the captured bride situation that played out between Kate and Marek.
The Hollow Kingdom is divided into three parts. I love the first part which focuses on Kate's relationship with her younger sister, the folklore surrounding their new home, and their first encounter with the goblins. The writing is atmospheric and the mystery of Hollow Hill unravels slowly. Kate is clever, brave, and persistent-- She was someone I could root for!
Unfortunately, it's all down hill from there. In the second part, Kate seems to lose all her agency. She's cornered and stifled by the Goblin world, and she quietly resigns herself to her fate. This isn't the girl that we meet in part one. And the romance seems to come from nowhere-- did she forget that's she's a forced bride??? Also her sister, Emily, is almost written out of the story, which doesn't make sense because Kate essentially gave up her future to save her in the first part.
Whatever good remained in part two is nowhere to be found in part three. Suddenly there's a rushed and unnecessary plot about the goblin kingdom being under threat by an outside force. The shift in focus outside of the kingdom also exposes the weaknesses in world building.
The Hollow Kingdom would have been much better if it stayed true to Kate's character, built on her relationship with her sister Emily, and made the romance much more believable.
You can find a much better Beauty and the Beast retelling in Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier.
In theory, I should have enjoyed The Hollow Kingdom-- it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a touch of folklore and a capable female lead. But I just couldn't get past the captured bride situation that played out between Kate and Marek.
The Hollow Kingdom is divided into three parts. I love the first part which focuses on Kate's relationship with her younger sister, the folklore surrounding their new home, and their first encounter with the goblins. The writing is atmospheric and the mystery of Hollow Hill unravels slowly. Kate is clever, brave, and persistent-- She was someone I could root for!
Unfortunately, it's all down hill from there. In the second part, Kate seems to lose all her agency. She's cornered and stifled by the Goblin world, and she quietly resigns herself to her fate. This isn't the girl that we meet in part one. And the romance seems to come from nowhere-- did she forget that's she's a forced bride??? Also her sister, Emily, is almost written out of the story, which doesn't make sense because Kate essentially gave up her future to save her in the first part.
Whatever good remained in part two is nowhere to be found in part three. Suddenly there's a rushed and unnecessary plot about the goblin kingdom being under threat by an outside force. The shift in focus outside of the kingdom also exposes the weaknesses in world building.
The Hollow Kingdom would have been much better if it stayed true to Kate's character, built on her relationship with her sister Emily, and made the romance much more believable.
You can find a much better Beauty and the Beast retelling in Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier.
October 5, 2008
An interesting take on the old folktales where humans are lured into magical hills and appear to all the world to have disappeared or been kidnapped. Dunkle's version--about two orphaned sisters, who come to live with their great-aunts after the death of their father--tries to give its heroine a little more agency, but I ultimately still have qualms about a story that essentially romanticizes Stockholm Syndrome. The pacing of the story is odd, and the adventure that forms the last part of the book seems to be over far too quickly.
That said, I loved the sword-charm-snake, whose little comments about previous King's Wives were invariably hilarious. ("I have guarded one hundred and sixty-eight King's Wives," it buzzed like an enraged bee. "I have saved ten of them from drowning. I saved one Wife from a bucket. I saved another from the Flood. But I never saved a single one from walking into the middle of a lake before. You are the very first.") I suspect I will read the remainder of this trilogy solely for more appearances by the snake.
That said, I loved the sword-charm-snake, whose little comments about previous King's Wives were invariably hilarious. ("I have guarded one hundred and sixty-eight King's Wives," it buzzed like an enraged bee. "I have saved ten of them from drowning. I saved one Wife from a bucket. I saved another from the Flood. But I never saved a single one from walking into the middle of a lake before. You are the very first.") I suspect I will read the remainder of this trilogy solely for more appearances by the snake.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2017
Not bad, but not great either. A beautiful young woman becomes the goblin king's wife and must eventually save the kingdom. It's a decent fantasy, but I suspect it'll be immediately forgettable for me. Nothing really stood out for me except to feel annoyed that the narrative skipped over any *adult* issues, such as how the protagonist could get pregnant by the king. Surely THAT deed would have been horrifying, considering that she was unwilling and found him repulsive. Surely there would have been some inner turmoil and some character growth there ......but no, it just skipped over until more than a year later she mentions that she's learned to almost enjoy being kissed by him. Gotta love Stockholm syndrome....
I won't be bothering with the sequels.
I won't be bothering with the sequels.
February 9, 2020
3.5 stars. This was a strange read. At times, the author's obvious love for nature swept me away a bit. Until I remembered this story is mostly about the world of goblins. (They are hideous on the outside, but outside and inside don't always match. )
I was looking for a humorous, magical fantasy novel, and at times, this was exactly that. And there was a love story off to the side, which I usually enjoy. I'm scratching my head a bit, because there was some humor and at times quite a bit of suspense, which are also pluses. The magical world was interesting and at times, whimsical and humorous, but not predominantly so. Also, I think the whole thing was just a little too weird for me: the way goblins find their wives and the binding ceremony, etc.
I discovered this story by searching for one of my favorite audio narrators on Audible. I absolutely loved her performance of this book. Five plus stars there. I don't think I'll go on with the series though. (Although maybe I would if Jenny Sterlin narrated them all, or if audio versions even existed.)
I enjoyed it, but wouldn't necessarily recommend it to everyone. If you enjoy fantasy stories that feature goblins with some humor off to the side and don't mind a strange "love story", then maybe it'll work great for you.
I was looking for a humorous, magical fantasy novel, and at times, this was exactly that. And there was a love story off to the side, which I usually enjoy. I'm scratching my head a bit, because there was some humor and at times quite a bit of suspense, which are also pluses. The magical world was interesting and at times, whimsical and humorous, but not predominantly so. Also, I think the whole thing was just a little too weird for me: the way goblins find their wives and the binding ceremony, etc.
I discovered this story by searching for one of my favorite audio narrators on Audible. I absolutely loved her performance of this book. Five plus stars there. I don't think I'll go on with the series though. (Although maybe I would if Jenny Sterlin narrated them all, or if audio versions even existed.)
I enjoyed it, but wouldn't necessarily recommend it to everyone. If you enjoy fantasy stories that feature goblins with some humor off to the side and don't mind a strange "love story", then maybe it'll work great for you.
October 25, 2012
Kate and Emily have just inherited the estate on Hollow Hill but have no idea of the land's cursed history. Girls have been disappearing off the property for centuries with only crazy legends about magic and goblins for explanations. Kate begins to realize just how true the danger is once Marak the Goblin King begins to woo her. Goblin Kings court by kidnapping and the bride is destined to spend the rest of her life below ground. Kate is desperate to save herself and her sister, but dangers develop from unexpected sources--and sometimes, so does love.
The Hollow Kingdom was one of Catie's book choices for me in The Readventurer's She Made Me Do It Challenge. Catie wasn't sure how I'd go for the Beauty and the Beast aspect of the story and I must admit, I've been hit and miss with B&B stories in the past. Luckily, The Hollow Kingdom has several important differentiations from the trope that makes it one of my favorite Beauty and the Beast retellings to date.
First of all, Marak (the Beast in question), isn't an isolated brooding, angsty or self-pitying alpha male. He's a pragmatist and a confident and compassionate leader. Above all he's amused and delighted by most things---especially Kate. He's friendly, he cracks himself up and it's pretty well known how much I enjoy a happy smartass.
Secondly, I appreciated that the Beast was actually, you know, a beast. I roll my eyes when the Beast has like one scar and everyone screams monster. Marak has six fingers, silver skin, horse hair, chrome teeth and unfortunate bone structure. Yet I was also relieved that he wasn't so much of a Beast that the story necessitated him changing into something more socially acceptable for a viable romance to occur.
Although there were No Regrets, I'm not sure I could call The Hollow Kingdom a full on Disco Chicken, Catie. For the first half of this book I was stressed out of my ever loving mind! (You can't yell "Wheeee!" when you're busy breathing into a paper bag.) Yes, there was an inevitability about Kate's situation but her panic and desperation were so visceral that I couldn't help but be swept up in those feelings.
I appreciated that Kate's struggle with Marak was a battle of wits rather than a battle of physical strength (another welcome differentiation to the Beauty and the Beast trope). I was also impressed with Kate's resourcefulness in resisting the Goblin King's abduction attempts but Marak had just enough of a magical and tactical advantage for the whole thing to be truly unsettling.
I also loved that no matter how quick thinking Kate managed to be, she had to constantly worry about being foiled by her sister's naivete. As someone who growing up constantly had dreams of my sister inexplicably ignoring warnings and jumping into a shark-filled swimming pool, I could relate. The supporting characters' "back away slowly from the crazy person" attitude toward Kate also added to the uneasiness factor. I mean, even knowing what the plot was and what would undoubtedly happen, I couldn't ignore the "last night I dreamt I went to Manderly again" feeling in their interactions.
From the book summary I was surprised that more than half of the story was devoted to Kate's resistance of Marak's marriage attempts. I expected more time to be spent in the development of Kate and Marak's spousal relationship. I wish the reader got to witness more of the bonding scenes alluded to (I swear I'm not just being a perv) rather than just mentions of the milestones and time jumps. The reader spends so much time viewing Marak as an adversary and the time between their marriage and the crisis that catalyzes the plot is a pretty small window to adjust to their new relationship. While Kate has years, the reader has a chapter or two.
Still, I was charmed. The writing was lovely and I was enthralled by the goblin world building. Little details like the reason a goblin baby looks the way it does were just unbelievably endearing. I'd call this recommendation a big success, Catie!
Has anyone read the rest of the series?
This review originally appeared at Young Adult Anonymous.
The Hollow Kingdom was one of Catie's book choices for me in The Readventurer's She Made Me Do It Challenge. Catie wasn't sure how I'd go for the Beauty and the Beast aspect of the story and I must admit, I've been hit and miss with B&B stories in the past. Luckily, The Hollow Kingdom has several important differentiations from the trope that makes it one of my favorite Beauty and the Beast retellings to date.
First of all, Marak (the Beast in question), isn't an isolated brooding, angsty or self-pitying alpha male. He's a pragmatist and a confident and compassionate leader. Above all he's amused and delighted by most things---especially Kate. He's friendly, he cracks himself up and it's pretty well known how much I enjoy a happy smartass.
Secondly, I appreciated that the Beast was actually, you know, a beast. I roll my eyes when the Beast has like one scar and everyone screams monster. Marak has six fingers, silver skin, horse hair, chrome teeth and unfortunate bone structure. Yet I was also relieved that he wasn't so much of a Beast that the story necessitated him changing into something more socially acceptable for a viable romance to occur.
Although there were No Regrets, I'm not sure I could call The Hollow Kingdom a full on Disco Chicken, Catie. For the first half of this book I was stressed out of my ever loving mind! (You can't yell "Wheeee!" when you're busy breathing into a paper bag.) Yes, there was an inevitability about Kate's situation but her panic and desperation were so visceral that I couldn't help but be swept up in those feelings.
I appreciated that Kate's struggle with Marak was a battle of wits rather than a battle of physical strength (another welcome differentiation to the Beauty and the Beast trope). I was also impressed with Kate's resourcefulness in resisting the Goblin King's abduction attempts but Marak had just enough of a magical and tactical advantage for the whole thing to be truly unsettling.
I also loved that no matter how quick thinking Kate managed to be, she had to constantly worry about being foiled by her sister's naivete. As someone who growing up constantly had dreams of my sister inexplicably ignoring warnings and jumping into a shark-filled swimming pool, I could relate. The supporting characters' "back away slowly from the crazy person" attitude toward Kate also added to the uneasiness factor. I mean, even knowing what the plot was and what would undoubtedly happen, I couldn't ignore the "last night I dreamt I went to Manderly again" feeling in their interactions.
From the book summary I was surprised that more than half of the story was devoted to Kate's resistance of Marak's marriage attempts. I expected more time to be spent in the development of Kate and Marak's spousal relationship. I wish the reader got to witness more of the bonding scenes alluded to (I swear I'm not just being a perv) rather than just mentions of the milestones and time jumps. The reader spends so much time viewing Marak as an adversary and the time between their marriage and the crisis that catalyzes the plot is a pretty small window to adjust to their new relationship. While Kate has years, the reader has a chapter or two.
Still, I was charmed. The writing was lovely and I was enthralled by the goblin world building. Little details like the reason a goblin baby looks the way it does were just unbelievably endearing. I'd call this recommendation a big success, Catie!
Has anyone read the rest of the series?
This review originally appeared at Young Adult Anonymous.
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