Clare B. Dunkle
Paperback | Pages: 230 pages Rating: 4.08 | 9785 Users | 820 Reviews
Identify Books In Pursuance Of The Hollow Kingdom (The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy #1)
| Original Title: | The Hollow Kingdom |
| ISBN: | 0805081089 (ISBN13: 9780805081084) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Series: | The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy #1 |
| Literary Awards: | Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature (2004) |
Description Conducive To Books The Hollow Kingdom (The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy #1)
This book is exactly the type of fairy tale that I love the most. Now, I know that I have been outspoken in the past about my dislike of fantasies featuring caveman, bad-boy type hero characters. However, I think that I know and respect dozens of women who melt in the presence of these guys. Do I look down on my friends for their fantasy preferences? Absolutely not, because guess what? We all have a fantasy weakness. We all have that certain fairy tale that bypasses every logical part of our brains and just makes us feel giddy and excited. So, you can safely assume that mine is decidedly not the perfect specimen, territorial, alpha male. This book keys into the fairy tale that’s always turned me into a puddle of goo:
He’s ugly (but only on the outside, of course), a bit ruthless, desperate, smart, and he has one hell of a library. Except that in this book, he’s comfortable in his own skin, and he doesn’t turn into a foppish, effeminate prince in the end (which is what I always wished would happen).
This book is not going to go down in history as one of the greatest works of all time, but I can feasibly see myself re-reading it whenever I need a bit of comfort. It’s like the literary equivalent of a grilled cheese sandwich. I was completely drawn in by the prologue, and by the time the intelligent, practical, and resourceful heroine Kate and her plucky little sister Emily run into the Goblin King Marak I knew that this would become a favorite of mine.
Marak is the ruler of a colorful, dangerous race of goblins, dwarves, and elves who live within Hollow Hill. It is a long and traditional practice for the Goblin King to steal a human or elf bride and imprison her underground until the next King is born and his people are secure. When Kate inherits Hollow Hill after her father’s death, she and her sister become the wards of two elderly great aunts and a shady, pretentious cousin. Kate and her sister soon catch the eye of the Goblin King, but Kate is revolted and determined to escape his grasp at all costs.
As Kate and Marak engage in a battle of wills and wits, this book actually began to remind me of Pride and Prejudice. These two characters have a lot of preconceived notions and ideas about each other, and their verbal sparring is charged and exhilarating. Here is one of my favorite scenes:
”’Indeed it is, Kate,’ Marak agreed. ‘It’s time to plan your revenge. Goblins just adore revenge.’ He grinned. ‘Do you have anything in mind?’
Kate was taken aback. ‘Revenge is wrong,’ she told him solemnly. ‘Vengeance belongs to God.’
The goblin put his head to one side and watched her through narrowed eyes. ‘You won’t even give God a little help?’ he asked softly.”
Kate is independent and powerful, but not unrealistically so. She’s a proper Englishwoman who reacts in realistic ways to her surroundings and the hideous goblin court. And by the end of this book, she fits the specs for all of my favorite female heroines: she’s determined, powerful, a bit merciless and bloodthirsty, and she has a sword (plus the most entertaining magical charm around).
My only “thirty year old woman” type gripe is that this book, despite being what I would class as a romance novel, is clean enough to give to a ten year old. Which is actually great for when my daughters get a bit older, but the lack of anything even mildly suggestive felt like a big gaping omission to me.
Perfect Musical Pairing
Joshua Radin – The Fear You Won’t Fall
This sugary sweet song is not something that I like to listen to all the time, but it’s a definite comfort food song for me. This is a song about falling harder than you thought you could for someone, who may or may not love you back.
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| Title | : | The Hollow Kingdom (The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy #1) |
| Author | : | Clare B. Dunkle |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 230 pages |
| Published | : | September 19th 2006 by Henry Holt & Company (first published October 1st 2003) |
| Categories | : | Fantasy. Young Adult. Romance. Magic. Fiction. Fairy Tales |
Rating Regarding Books The Hollow Kingdom (The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy #1)
Ratings: 4.08 From 9785 Users | 820 ReviewsComment On Regarding Books The Hollow Kingdom (The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy #1)
2 StarsIn 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 theI'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
This book is exactly the type of fairy tale that I love the most. Now, I know that I have been outspoken in the past about my dislike of fantasies featuring caveman, bad-boy type hero characters. However, I think that I know and respect dozens of women who melt in the presence of these guys. Do I look down on my friends for their fantasy preferences? Absolutely not, because guess what? We all have a fantasy weakness. We all have that certain fairy tale that bypasses every logical part of our
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 Kates fear and toyed with her until finally winning her surrender.
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.
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
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