In the Coils of the Snake (The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy, #3)

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In the Coils of the Snake (The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy #3)

4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 · rating details · 1,845 ratings · 145 reviews

In the powerful final volume of the Hollow Kingdom trilogy, Miranda has waited her whole life to come home to the goblin kingdom, never imagining she'd feel so alone. Caught between two hostile races, she becomes their greatest reason for war--and only hope for a future.

Paperback, 231 pages

Published December 26th 2006 by Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks (first published October 1st 2005)

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Feb 17, 2013 Kathleen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, fantasy, reviewed

2.5 stars. Disappointing, because I loved book 1, The Hollow Kingdom (my review. However, despite some interesting and captivating scenes, this is a boring YA fantasy-romance. More romance than fantasy, actually. Best were the opening chapters, with a longish yawn in the middle and a wordy info dump about ancient elvish history bogging down what could have been a much stronger finish.

Not enough happens. Little to marvel at and fret over. I wanted some captivating tension. I wanted acts of hero...more 2.5 stars. Disappointing, because I loved book 1, The Hollow Kingdom (my review. However, despite some interesting and captivating scenes, this is a boring YA fantasy-romance. More romance than fantasy, actually. Best were the opening chapters, with a longish yawn in the middle and a wordy info dump about ancient elvish history bogging down what could have been a much stronger finish.

Not enough happens. Little to marvel at and fret over. I wanted some captivating tension. I wanted acts of heroic daring-do. At least some epic love.

Instead, it's poor pitiful Miranda, sad and sometimes mad (not mad enough). And poor scared Arianna, hiding, always hiding from her new husband, Catspaw. She can magically feel people's thoughts but not enough to discern an evil intent to mutilate and disfigure from...a harmless intent to cuddle and kiss. (Huh?) Add to these stirring characters some immature posturing between the newly crowned Goblin King and the mysterious Elf Lord, and -- hey presto! -- The Coils of the Snake (no snake, beyond a mini-scene with Charm, from book 1).

At the beginning of this final book in the trilogy, Marak the Goblin King of book 1 is dying (sob). I was intent on that entire scene, down in the darkest crypt, especially how Marak and his beloved Kate interacted, and the notion of meting out your strength in minutes and seconds, then lying down to peacefully sleep (echoes of Thanatopsis). Well done! A great beginning!

But as the story plays out, Seylen becomes the unsung hero, even though he is a secondary character. I found no primary character to adore. Not even Catspaw. Just not enough time with him, for one, and his characterization was uneven. I liked Nir, but ditto. (Dunkle made the same mistake in book 2, creating two romantic relationships, and dedicating insufficient attention to each one.)

This is primarily Miranda's story. Despite growing up with Marak's fatherly love for her -- or because of it, in some sense -- she is a desperately needy 17-year-old girl. Her childhood was no picnic. Far from it. At 17, just when she thinks life is looking up, she endures two more heartrending losses. Miranda rebounds by falling for a father figure, someone to replace her beloved Marak -- a MUCH older "man" (based on the text, I infer that he is 40-ish).

Note: The needy heroine engaged in self-mutilation (little cuts) to gain a sense of control during her miserable childhood, and thinks about cutting herself (and killing herself) when her world falls apart AGAIN as a young adult. However, she eventually decides to forevermore scorn such cowardly acts.

Problems with this series as a whole: 1) Kidnapping is an accepted practice; such forced marriages work via Stockholm Syndrome effects. 2) The author created a false dichotomy where beauty is synonymous with weakness and laziness, and ugliness is synonymous with strength and hard work. This bit of nonsense is only minimally addressed, mainly by Miranda. 3) Humans need sunlight, or extra helpings of vitamin D.
(less)

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Jul 31, 2012 jo mo rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: series, 2012, 1-star, creatures-of-the-night, dual-or-multiple-povs, fantasy, flowers-plants-gardens, historic, immortals, mystery, paranormal, partly-read, bleh-or-snooze, reviews

1.5/5

notes on two problematic things:
one: female protagonist, miranda relies on male counterpart (whether it be a friend or father figure) for her happiness. she defines herself dependent on males (due to her own family, marak, but also herself). it remains this way till the end, with no change in her nor does she gain much on self-confidence.

two: miranca inflicts injuries (view spoiler) on herself when she's
(a) lonely,
(b) waiting for marek...more

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Dec 16, 2008 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: good-uns, ya

I do like these covers. The rich, sometimes earthy tones aptly reflect the individual themes of the books, in my opinion. Plus the style of artwork keeps the characters sort of dreamy and vague and I am therefore free to go on picturing them however I please and that is always a good thing. In the Coils of the Snake continues the story of the goblin court and its longtime enemies the "we're one step ahead of extinction" elves. This third and final volume in the Hollow Kingdom trilogy takes place...more I do like these covers. The rich, sometimes earthy tones aptly reflect the individual themes of the books, in my opinion. Plus the style of artwork keeps the characters sort of dreamy and vague and I am therefore free to go on picturing them however I please and that is always a good thing. In the Coils of the Snake continues the story of the goblin court and its longtime enemies the "we're one step ahead of extinction" elves. This third and final volume in the Hollow Kingdom trilogy takes place thirty years after Close Kin and begins with the unthinkable.

Marak is dead. *sob*

And as if that isn't enough, we find out that all these years he has been secretly grooming a young human girl to be his son Catspaw's bride when he passes the crown to him. The girl, Miranda, is now living in the hollow hill with them and is utterly bereft now that her one friend (and father-figure) is gone and she is expected to take up the mantle of queen to a young and inexperienced king. Her fragmented life becomes further complicated when, on the eve of their wedding, Catspaw puts her aside in favor of a young elf of impeccable pedigree. The move is without malice, as Catspaw faces a stalemate with the elf lord Nir. Nir offers the young Arianna as part of a peace treaty between his people and the goblins. When Miranda finds out her entire purpose in life no longer exists, she refuses Catspaw's offer of sanctuary and runs away. Right into the clutches of the elf lord, who finds her a very useful sort of hostage indeed.

This book held everything I hoped for the conclusion of the trilogy. The story splits its time between Miranda and the elves and Catspaw's difficulties wrangling his elf bride and his attempts to subvert Nir's plans. I wasn't as attached to Catspaw as I was his father (Marak was The Top), so I was not as invested in his story. But Miranda was a lovely, sympathetic character and it was a pleasure to watch her find a place where she felt at home at last. I was also glad to finally find a truly noble elf in Nir, after the painfully vicious and unhappy band in Close Kin. And I had to smile at how frivolous the goblins thought the elves and with what disgust and horror the elves, in turn, viewed the goblins. In the Coils of the Snake also, rather notably, has a proper ending, perfect for the book itself and for the trilogy as a whole.(less)

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Apr 11, 2009 Abigail rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Young Romantic Fantasy Fans...

Shelves: childrens-fantasy, childrens-fiction, p-l

Review Temporarily Removed.

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Jan 20, 2009 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, fantasy, ya

The last book in the Hollow Kingdom trilogy and I wasn’t disappointed. First off, this is the first book without an overly gruesome prologue. Which I’m almost sad about since I felt bound to continue reading the others to discover the reason for such horridness. This prologue begins with our beloved Marak getting ready to pass away and leave his kingdom to his son – not as gruesome and to tell you the truth not as intriguing either but still good.

Back to the story: Old Marak has been raising a...more The last book in the Hollow Kingdom trilogy and I wasn’t disappointed. First off, this is the first book without an overly gruesome prologue. Which I’m almost sad about since I felt bound to continue reading the others to discover the reason for such horridness. This prologue begins with our beloved Marak getting ready to pass away and leave his kingdom to his son – not as gruesome and to tell you the truth not as intriguing either but still good.

Back to the story: Old Marak has been raising a human girl, Miranda, to become the bride of his son for her entire life a fact which has left her ostracized from humans her entire life. Miranda has faced cruelty, disappointment and is now ready to finally take her place as the new Marak’s bride – only the arrival of a new and powerful elf turns her entire world upside down and she is caught between two strong rulers who both believe she belongs to them.

This was the most emotionally developed of all three books in my opinion. There was so much love, loss, humor and growth that I couldn’t stop reading. I wasn’t sure how she would make the ending work out and to my amazement, I was completely happy with all that occurred. Such a great series I would recommend to anyone.

This little section had me in stitches. This is when Miranda (a human) is trying to explain to Hunter (an elf) why she is reading a book – Robinson Crusoe:

Hunter was astounded. “You’re learning the history of a man who didn’t exist?” he demanded. “Why would you bother to do that?”
“Because it’s interesting,” said Miranda. “When I think about his troubles, I forget mine for a while.”
“You want imaginary troubles to forget real troubles?” asked Hunter. “I don’t have to read a big long chronicle for that. I’ll just imagine I have a stomachache.”
He rolled around on the floor, moaning and holding his middle. Miranda was disgusted. She headed back to her room to enjoy her book in peace. Hunter sat up laughing as she passed.
“Wait! My stomachache’s gone!” he exclaimed. “I feel wonderful.” But she marched up the stairs without looking at him. “She’s mad at me,” he sighed. “Now we’ll never find out what happened to the man who didn’t exist.”
(less)

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Apr 24, 2010 Danielle rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fantasy Lovers

Shelves: fantasy, all-time-favorites

I've read this book more times then I really know, and each time I just love it more and more. Nir makes me swoon, and the other characters are very engaging as well. I love the plot twists in this one as well. A must read! (the other two books are phenomenal as well) :)

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Aug 22, 2008 Kirsten rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-library, work-related, fiction, children-or-ya

I liked this one better than Close Kin, despite my disappointment at the relative absence of familiar characters.

Miranda has been raised in the human world, but ever since she was a child she has been groomed by Marak to become the human wife of his son, Catspaw. But when Catspaw, now the Goblin King, discovers a that a living, civilized group of elves has returned to their old territory, he cannot pass up the opportunity to arrange a truce in exchange for an elf wife. Suddenly robbed of her des...more

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Mar 03, 2009 Tammy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked this book a lot! The pages just kept turning. I'm still annoyed by the fact that King's brides (and often others') are stolen/forced/captive and the author can make that all ok by having them fall in love with their captors...Kate, Irina, Sable, Miranda, even Arianna is on her way. Amazing how everything turns out so perfectly. Then again, what do I want? Scott Westerfeld's less-than-perfect endings?
Setting all that aside, I really liked the book. Thank goodness the elves redeemed them...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Kathryn Fulton rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: classic-fantasy

I like this book least of all the Hollow Kingdom Trilogy. But reading it through this time it seems like perhaps it has the most going on. Like all the books, the plot is about young women who are captured by an enemy race and end up finding happiness with them. I don't enjoy this book much because the two women are pretty uninspiring: Miranda starts out at a strong, confident women who knows what she wants and who has endured a tough childhood and come out the stronger for it--but then she is c...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Fell4 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ttr-2012, library-read

I went to the library and looked for it on the shelf and it wasn't there! I was so disappointed. Imagine my surprise when I found it on my bedroom floor! Apparently my sister got to the book before I did and checked it out for me!
I loved and hated this book. Marak was his usual smug I'm-always-right self, if only for a few pages, and the girl. I love how Catpaw didn't like that he had to marry the elf and still wanted to marry Miranda.
What I hated was the elves. Well, it's not so much hate as a...more

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Dec 16, 2010 Karin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, goblins, elves, young-adult-fiction, romantic, royalty, relationship-problems, relationships, borrowed-from-the-library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Marak, the goblin king, bids fond adieus to all of his loved ones and then goes to his grave that his son, Marak Catspaw, can begin to rule the Kingdom. Catspaw plans to marry his human bride Miranda shortly after the funeral for his father is held, but these plans are interrupted when a group of elves appears and asks to treat with the goblins. Nir, the elvish lord, offers an elf bride to the goblin king in return for the elves’ safety and access to the elvish magic books that the goblins posse...more

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Sep 24, 2009 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the Hollow Kingdom trilogy, and it takes place several years after the second book. A human girl has been raised to become the wife of the next King of the Goblins, but when it comes time for that to happen, a small band of elves who are not living a savage life is discovered, and their leader attempts to trade for the old elvish records which the goblins captured at the end of the last elf-goblin war.

The trade involves an elf bride for the King of the Goblins, so the h...more

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Jul 19, 2009 Liked00dness rated it 4 of 5 stars

The final book in the Hollow Kingdom trilogy and a great ending to this wonderful series.

Many years have passed since book 2 and Marak Catspaw is now king. Miranda, a human girl, has been raised by the previous king to be Catspaw's wife and they like each other very much. Things are looking great but right before their wedding a powerful elf called Nir appears and offers Catspaw a deal: he will give the goblin king an elf wife if he will help them revive their race. When Catspaw sees the royal d...more

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May 12, 2010 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: adults

Recommended to Amy by: Mich

I really enjoyed this one. (Although I thought this was a misleading title because really the "coils of the snake" as it were do not figure prominently in this book. I wish it had been called the Seven Stars or something... much better. But, I digress.)

This book made me think a lot about judging a culture different from mine own, particularly in relation to their customs and ways of life without a proper understanding and contextual understanding. A lot of grief would have been avoided in their...more

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Jun 27, 2009 Rachel Of Questionable Luck rated it 5 of 5 stars

I picked this book up in my middle school library. I only wanted to flip through a couple pages, but before I knew it I'd checked it out & finished the book within a day. Only once I'd finished it did I realize - well, actually my friend told me - that it was the conclusion to a series! "In The Coils Of The Snake" is about Miranda, a human girl who has been raised by goblins, and is soon to be wed to the heir to the goblin throne. Yet a certain band of elves, previously thought to be extinct...more

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Jul 15, 2010 Becca R.G. rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 10, 2011 Kathryn Knight rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was surprised as I finished this, because I love it even more deeply than I loved the first book. While it certainly can't stand alone and has to be read in order, it still is a deeply riveting, complex story that completely captured my attention. It follows the stories of two captured brides--one elf, having been traded to the goblins for peace, and one human, having been somewhat kidnapped by the elves. The stories intertwine in a way that resonated with me. The novel discussed the rejuvenat...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Alexa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I loved this book.
Growing up, Miranda was hated by her mother. Both her mother and her father grew up in the Hollow Kingdom, home to the goblins.
Miranda, unbeknownst to her, was being raised to be a King's Wife by Marak, who was at that time king. He was like a father to her, and he planned on marrying her to his son, Marak Lionspaw.
Their story is that the First Fathers had an argument over the making of a race; so, besides the humans, to races were created: elves and goblins.
The goblins, abov...more

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Sep 24, 2010 Kayt rated it 3 of 5 stars

Many years after the first two books, we finally get to focus on a new character, although not completely new: Miranda is the daughter of a minor character from the second book [not a spoiler].

It's easy to feel sorry for Miranda. All her life, she's been promised that she was destined to marry a king--the King of Goblins. When something unexpected occurs and that plan is thrown off, I felt sorry for her but it was harder to connect with her than with the previous two heroines.

The relationship, t...more

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Dec 08, 2011 Fred Dickson rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 04, 2011 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 6-young-adult-lit

I enjoyed this final book of the trilogy the most. I'm still a little unsettled about the whole capturing-brides-against-their-will issue that is a prevalent theme in these stories. Also, the other-worldly societies depicted are a little too male dominating than I prefer, but then again, I'm a modern girl and these novels are set in the 1800's (although I don't think Elizabeth Bennet would let herself be pushed around as much as the heroines in these novels are). I'm used to Tolkien's elves, so...more

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Dec 28, 2009 Kim (magicsandwiches) Lawyer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: glad-i-read-it-but-wont-reread

The final book in The Hollow Kingdom trilogy recounts the story of Kate and Marak's son, Catspaw, and his bride-to-be. The goblin king's bride must be one who will help insure the continuation of the goblin race. She may not be a goblin, but a human or an elf, and the more magical power she has, the better. Wedding preparations come to a skidding halt when a band of elves show up and lay claim to some land within Catspaws kingdom. After discovering an elven girl with great magical potential, Cat...more

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Oct 20, 2011 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: couldn-t-finish, disappointing, library-catalog

The one thing that always tends to kill a series for me is the changing of main characters. If the author has a totally new character tell the story within a series with established characters that we already love, it just kills the series to me. It killed the Narnia series for me, and now it's killed this trilogy.

Speaking of killing, why did you kill Marek in the first chapter of this book! Marek was awesome!

Anyway, after I read about half the book, bored out of my mind with the plot and Miran...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Rachel M. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-books

This is one of my favorite books! I don't even know if I can adequately describe exactly why this book appeals to me so much. One thing I will point out, however, is that this novel does a great job of depicting how people of different cultures come to misunderstand each other due to ancient prejudices. It also shows how people of different cultures can reach an understanding if they are willing to see life from other people's perspectives. The ending of the novel is epic! I won't give it away b...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

In the Coils of the Snake is the last volume in the Hidden Kingdom series, and I started out not liking it, because Marak dies. But it's OK, in fact; it's good--and very satisfying. It all circles around and forms a final and fitting end to the story that began with the theft of a child bride. I bought the first book in the series at a massive discount. It was on a sale table at University Bookstore, and I picked it up mostly because it had a recommendation from Publishers Weekly. It won four aw...more

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Sep 18, 2009 Dee rated it 4 of 5 stars

The final book of this trilogy tells the story of two women, one an elf and one human, who are to be married to a King. Miranda, the human, is raised by Matilda, Marak's step-sister. Matilda hates Marak, and takes her hatred and jealously out on her daughter who is destined to marry Marak's son. Arianna, the elf, is destined to marry the King of the Elves until Nir, the Elf King uses her as a hostage in a peace treaty with the goblins. Again, the plot turns on misunderstandings based on the proj...more

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Apr 08, 2008 Kelly Aley rated it 4 of 5 stars

This final book in the trilogy still left me craving more stories set in this world. I really enjoyed this series. They are REALLY quick reads and are great stories. Recommend.

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Feb 22, 2013 Rachael rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved the comparisons between the elves and the goblins... how are they both honest? Are they kind? Do they treat their women fairly? Are they prejudiced? Nicely done in that sense. I love a good set of foils! I DON'T love a lot of dramatic irony and there were times that this was just hard to read because of that, but it absolutely keeps a story engaging. Still a safe bet for younger readers... a little talk of one character cutting herself for attention (definitely viewed as negative) and so...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Bayla rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: princesses, paranormal

I enjoyed the different-ness of this series, and I liked that this book allowed me to see some of the elf culture in the same ways that the first allowed me to see goblin. New perspectives, seeing that what seems bad to one can seem good to another. That said, I did not like the way (view spoiler)...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Lisa Rathbun added it

I zoomed through this book, longing to figure out what would happen to the elf kingdom. I enjoyed the characteristics of the different peoples and how they live; very convincing and fit in well with what you know of goblins and elves from other fantasy books, although many years of Macdonald and Tolkien kept me from totally buying into the goblin kingdom; I couldn't quite wrap my mind around goblins being "good." As the book progressed and Marak and Nir seem bent on destruction as they each hate...more

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About Clare B. Dunkle

I 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 earn...more

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Books by Clare B. Dunkle

The Hollow Kingdom (The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy, #1)

Close Kin (The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy, #2)

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In the Coils of the Snake (The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy #3)

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