Customer Reviews

The Hollow Kingdom (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Hollow Kngdom Trilogy)

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Claire Dunkle makes a smashing debut with "The Hollow Kingdom," a look at those old legends about maidens being kidnapped by goblins. Dunkle has a wonderful flair for storytelling -- she gives you suspense, creeps, humor and romance, all entwined in a wonderfully surreal storyline.

Kate and Emily are recent orphans, sent to the estate of Hallow Hill to live with their sour-faced guardian Hugh. Soon after they arrive, the girls become lost in the woods -- and encounter goblins posing as gypsies. Kate finds that she is being singled out by the goblin king Marak to be his bride. The goblin kings always kidnap human girls to be their wives, and since Marak's mad wife has died, he wants a new queen to produce an heir for him.

At first, Kate resists Marak as he tries to kidnap her. But Hugh tricks Kate into walking down into Marak's realm and surrendering herself to be his wife, and Emily comes with her. At first Kate is miserable and homesick, since she is destined to remain underground for the rest of her life. But the goblins are falling prey to evil sorcery, which binds them in sleep, and threatens the whole hollow kingdom...

"Hollow Kingdom" is pretty much everything a fantasy should be -- fantastical, well-plotted, and with a well-created alternate world. Not to mention the goblins themselves. Dunkle has obviously thought out a lot of detailed history about elves, dwarves, and goblins, while carefully linking them with old legends. And she actually makes it halfway plausible.

Dunkle has a good writing style, polished, quick and full of details. Even long conversations about the history of goblins are kept interesting. Whether it's a goblin chase on a dark night or a sunrise seen through a lake, she makes it come alive. And despite the grimness of the storyline, Dunkle keeps plenty of humor in the dialogue. ("You're just like that other King!" "No. I'm not green.")

Kate is an excellent heroine, with plenty of spirit and determination. Even though she starts off fearing Marak, she gradually comes to appreciate and love him. And Marak is an interesting combination of truthfulness and charm, as interesting as Kate. Supporting characters like elf-cat Seylin and Kate's sister Emily are also well-drawn.

"Hollow Kingdom" is a truly excellent fantasy, casting a new light on things that go bump in the night. A chilling, entrancing debut, and one that bodes well for Claire Dunkle.

This is an excellent fantasy story that grabs your attention and makes you want to delve further into the world Mrs. Dunkle has created. It is much lighter than Tolkien but has a similar (and more "modern") feel. So for those who are big Middle-Earth fans and are willing to branch out slightly, this is familiar, comfortable ground-yet with some fresh concepts to explore. The only drawback I see is that now I DO want to find out what happens next! A problem for fantasy addicts who can't get enough...

This was one of those books that kept me up until two in the morning even knowing that I had to be at work the next day. Constantly wondering in what direction the next odd little twist would go, it kept me hooked until I finished the last page. And then I read it again.

This is not something I can guarantee for everyone. But if you are the type of person who enjoys fantasy, and are not too old at heart to pick up a book aimed at a more adolescent audience (I for one am also a Harry Potter fan) this is a good read.

I was all geared up to really love this story. It had all of the fantasy-romantic elements that I've always liked. I surprised myself when I really didn't enjoy it.

I has nothing to do with the writing or with Ms. Dunkle's story-telling ability, which is considerable. I like the premise and the characters. I just found myself angry and incensed that there was nothing (LITERALLY) that Kate could do to prevent her marriage to Marak. Now, I promise I'm not about to go on some kind of feminist rant. I do have a reader's reason for disliking this book.

I suppose the best way to say it is that there was no challenge. When a heroine chooses to stay with the ugly, outcast or non-human suitor, that choice carries the most power when there's some leg room for her to move around. In other words, she doesn't HAVE to stay, she CHOOSES by her own free will to stay. The fact that Kate has absolutely no way out destroys the power of her choice. Her choice is made not by her but by the forces that surround her. I'm sorry, but I don't see anything romantic in that, or heroic. It was almost distracting. I found myself desperate for Kate to try to run away, to kick and scream, to swear at Marak like a drunken sailor, ANYTHING to show that she wasn't just some wilting flower who was going along with this because of some kind of Victorian sensibility. Nothing like that ever happened. All of a sudden, she's falling madly in love with Marak without having put up a fight or gone through some interesting internal struggle or anything like that.

I really like the idea of the story, but (and bear in mind this is just my personal preference) it would've been more interesting if it were set in the modern era with a modern heroine full of modern ideas of male-female relations (I'd be really interested to see what Holly Black would do with a plot like this). Kate's relationship with Marak could be so interesting if only she had an effective way to oppose him. Even the fact that she chose to go to Marak in exchange for him saving her sister isn't all that interesting because Marak had already made up his mind that he was going to kidnap her no matter what she did, and so her gesture falls flat in its attempted nobility. I gotta admit, to me the story was ultimately boring. I can see that most people love it, and like I said, it IS a good story. It just wasn't executed in a way that made it interesting to me. It made me unpleasantly agitated and as a result I didn't enjoy it.

I got this book because a family member told me it was a great read and he was right! (Plus, Ms Dunkle happens to have the same name as me! Talk about your concidences!) It's a well-concieved and well-written book with a lot of interesting ideas. The characters are believable and you can relate to most of them, even though the book is fantasy and I don't think something like that would ever occur. The plot is good, with unforeseen twists. I especially like the customs and the way even the "bad" guys have things that are beneath them- in a way they're more civilized than the normal people! (I wish I could say more but that would give everything away!) I can only recommend this book- most certainly for teens and even for some adults (the kind that likes fantasy). If you get it you won't regret it!!!

Horror? Check. Gothic setting? Check. Plot twists? Check. Fantasy and magic? Check. Romance? Check.

Fast read, I could hardly wait for lunch time so I could read some more. My favorite line was about living in modern times - and it's set in 19th century England.

However, I can't say much more about the plot for fear of giving it away, but there is a consistent theme running through the whole book of things and people can be different than what you see on the surface.

Get it, read it, you'll want to read it again.

The Hollow Kingdom is an absolutely fascinating book. The story stretched my imagination so greatly that it was painfully difficult for me to put down. I simply could not wait to unveil the next chapter from beginning to end. An attribute to this books strong hold was how easy it was to relate to the characters and wanting desperately for good to conquer evil. There are many twists and turns and thought provoking subtleties that unfold which make this story a beautiful piece of work. Not only is Hollow Kingdome a great story, but there is also a moral message here that really makes it top notch. I must say that I feel fortunate that Clare Dunkle has shared a piece of her mind with all of us. I cannot wait for her next book!

I was a bit sceptical when I began reading this book, but I did not put it down once and as soon as my kids finished it, I read it again. The Hollow Kingdom is one of the best books I have ever read and I was happy to see Lloyd Alexander's review as he is one of my favorite authors. I highly recommend it for young adults and adults who appreciate good literature. I can't say much without giving anything away, but the world created by Ms. Dunkle is fresh, new, and exciting. Forget everything you thought you knew about elves, goblins, and reality. This book teaches us not to judge by appearances and has real romance (not sex and kissy stuff). It will be enjoyed by both boys and girls. I can't wait for the next book!

Hollow Kingdom is the first book in a long time that I have wanted to read more than once. At first glance, one might think that the story is simply a Regency-era fantasy in which a powerful ruler (who happens to be frightfully ugly) of a magical kingdom plans to abduct a young, beautiful woman for his bride and ends up winning her over completely. That is Marak's plan, but Dunkle does not let her characters off that lightly, nor her readers for that matter. Marak, the king of the goblin realm, is charismatic and infuriatingly funny but arrogant and presumptious. While 18-year-old Kate is as clever as Pride and Prejudice's Elizabeth Bennett, Marak is not a stand-in for Mr. Darcy. Marak comes from a xenophobic culture that might as well be alien, though his people live on (or rather, in) Earth. This fantasy-adventure has dynamic, flawed characters who are nonetheless lovable, and encourages the reader to think about the nuances of the story long after the last page. The sequels promise to be as compelling as the first book, though they will be hard-pressed to match the vibrant chemistry between Kate and Marak. For more information, check out the author's website (type in Clare Dunkle's name in your search engine, and it should come up right away).

I started out this book cause I just simply like a story about unlikely love, especially one spiced up with abduction :))

What a fantastic read!! It exceeds my anticipation!!
Just love the way it started, flowed in an unusual beauty-beast love and the ending. YOu can say you have read a complete cycle after you read it although there are more sequel to this (which I'm looking forward to buy, yes, buy).

I don't have the heart to bring what's inside. Just read it yourself. Really, this is A truly treasured book for keep.

I picked this book up and wasn't really sure what I'd be getting. The characters are full and while the story is serious there are some funny moments. I was supprised by how quickly I got caught up in the story. The relationship between Marak and Kate call to mind Pride and Prejudice. Overall, are really interesting read. I would highly recommend it especially to reads who like books like Toll Fell.