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The Hollow Kingdom (The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy #1)

by Clare B. Dunkle

4.1 · Rating Details · 7,936 Ratings · 689 Reviews

In nineteenth-century England, a powerful sorcerer and King of the Goblins chooses Kate, the elder of two orphan girls recently arrived at their ancestral home, Hallow Hill, to become his bride and queen...

Paperback, 240 pages

Published September 19th 2006 by Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks (first published October 1st 2003)

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Community Reviews

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Jun 13, 2011 Catie rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Catie by: Crowinator

Shelves: read-in-2011, ya, historical, fantasy, romance, series

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 bra ...more

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Jul 11, 2015 Kathleen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-scifi, series-opener, faves, ya, beauty-beast

Bumping it up to 5 stars, because I've read this YA fantasy again and again. Each time I like it more.

"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 (view spoiler). 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: (view spoiler)

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.

It appears to be a case of Stockholm Syndrome, with Kate eventually loving her ruthless captor, but how can we blame her? I did too! 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! But Kate falls for her would-be abductor anyway. She mentally compares the goblin practice of bride-napping to how the Romans carried off women in ancient days, but -- in the spirit of fair play -- stoically refuses to engage in self-pity, reminding herself that her story is different from the plight of the Sabine women.

(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. I loved it anyway!)

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 Cool marriage ceremony, with all sorts of interesting spells and revelations. 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? Will she be able to live in two worlds?

There's a typo in the first line.

Minor flaws 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, and Catspaw. 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? ...more

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Mar 21, 2015 Eilonwy added it · review of another edition

Shelves: character-driven, beautifully-written, fast-paced, heartbreaking, heartwarming

I'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 wan
I'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. ...more

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Jul 10, 2015 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, ya-fantasy, you-go-girl-kickass-heroine, fantasy

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 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 (view spoiler)

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.
description

...more

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Jun 26, 2015 Heidi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, 2013-favorites, tale-as-old-as-time

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 f 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. ...more

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Nov 10, 2011 Alex rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya, fantasy, 2011

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

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Apr 21, 2013 Keertana rated it really liked it

Recommended to Keertana by: Heidi

Shelves: kick-ass-heroines, 2013-favorites

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 ...more

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May 12, 2011 Shawn rated it did not like it

Shelves: had-potential-but-failed

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

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Jul 27, 2010 Julie rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-since-august-2006, fantasy-sf, read-in-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.

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Jan 10, 2015 Anna (Bobs Her Hair) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommended to Anna (Bobs Her Hair) by: Kathleen

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

4.5 Stars - Sweet, Grim, and Unique Fantasy

"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, b

4.5 Stars - Sweet, Grim, and Unique Fantasy

"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
...more

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Jul 20, 2013 Willow rated it really liked it

Shelves: faeries, fairytale

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 vie ...more

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Nov 24, 2008 Angie rated it really liked it

Shelves: good-uns, ya

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 o 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. ...more

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Jun 11, 2010 Jenna rated it did not like it

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 shoul ...more

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Mar 14, 2010 Amelia, the pragmatic idealist rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-kinds-of-fantasy, favorite-books, ya-kids-teen, 2009, loveable-love-story, best-characters-ever, point-of-view-girl

EDIT: I just read this book again last night, and I have to say, I love it *MORE* than the first time!! The Hollow Kingdom is absolutely one of my all-time favorite books!! WAY TO GO, CLARE DUNKLE!!!! Thanks for writing such an amazing story :)

ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Wow I started this at 7 at night and finished at 2something in the morning! It was that engrossing! The fact that Clare Dunkle's writing was praised by Lloyd Alexander (one of my favorite authors of all time) really impressed me, and I see EDIT: I just read this book again last night, and I have to say, I love it *MORE* than the first time!! The Hollow Kingdom is absolutely one of my all-time favorite books!! WAY TO GO, CLARE DUNKLE!!!! Thanks for writing such an amazing story :)

ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Wow I started this at 7 at night and finished at 2something in the morning! It was that engrossing! The fact that Clare Dunkle's writing was praised by Lloyd Alexander (one of my favorite authors of all time) really impressed me, and I see why. Though published within the last 5 years, she writes with a lyrical narrative not seen among today's more "urban fantasy/modern" authors. I can't really describe it, but it sounded reminiscent of Alexander's own work: simple yet elegant. And I have to say, I was and still am almost entirely in love with the story! Luckily for me, I'm not near feminist enough to be bothered by the story's unconventional order of events. This is a simple enough love story, but it is definitely not common, and I found myself recollecting aspects of Phantom of the Opera a bit. This truly is a "Beauty and the Beast"-esque story, and I was completely captivated. Yes, there are things I would have done differently (not really loving the goblins - or the animallike descriptions of the goblins), and the remaining 1/3 of the story almost completely switched gears and focus, but still, besides a bit of a pacing situation I liked the direction the story took. It doesn't take an English professor to crack the major themes and the overall message of the story. Typical YA: sometimes those "messages" tend to be a little "after-school-special" for my taste, but still... GREAT story, very WELL-DEVELOPED characters, and an extremely TALENTED author.

PS... he's totally not described this way, but I couldnt help but picture the Goblin King as the one played by David Bowie in Labyrinth and after reading this book, guess what movie I'm watching now?!??! I *LOVE* Labyrinth and you all need to watch this movie after you read the book! ...more

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Oct 15, 2013 Anne Osterlund rated it it was amazing

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 C ...more

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Oct 01, 2015 Linda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series, trust-issues, kids-books-that-adults-may-like, alternate-reality, rushed-ending, clean-romance, fantasy-adventure, hero-gives-chase, beauty-and-the-beast-theme, touch-of-magic, young-adult-story, light-romance, armchair-traveler, all-in-the-family, fairy-tales-folklore-fables, the-circus-comes-to-town, kidnapped-or-captive, wizards-sorcerers, the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly

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 ...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Rory Williams rated it it was ok · review of another edition

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 re 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’s ~~stalking~~ 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. ...more

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Gry Pil But ... all the wives DID end up harboring life-long resentment. There are LOTS of stories mentioning that. How about all the wives who tried to commi ...more
Nov 24, 2013 11:07PM

Rory Williams Gry wrote: "But ... all the wives DID end up harboring life-long resentment. There are LOTS of stories mentioning that. How about all the wives who tr ...more
Jan 05, 2014 09:05PM

Gry Pil Totally reasonable arguments. If I had read the book at an older age I may have felt the same as you, but nostalgia clouds my vision.
I'm sad to hear t ...more
Jan 06, 2014 06:32AM

Oct 05, 2008 Joy rated it liked it

Shelves: teen, fantasy, american, 21c

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

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Apr 17, 2015 Stephanie rated it it was ok

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 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.) ...more

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Aug 21, 2016 Gergana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: faerie-and-fairy-like-creatures, magic-users, setting-uk-and-ireland, elves-and-elf-like-creatures, periodical-fantasy, favorites, ya, bride-kidnapping, own, to-reread

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 ...more

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Feb 09, 2015 Hallie added it

From my 2007 reading round-up: But the book which would probably put me in my severely out-of-step place if more people had read it is The Hollow Kingdom, by Clare B. Dunkle. Maybe the I-shouldn't-really-mention-this-AGAIN-but-Beauty kind of out-of-step place, at that. I didn't think it was that great - or at least found it quite uneven - but the goblin king's changing from the terrifying figure who'd take a human bride against her will, understanding the horror of being forced to spend the rest ...more

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Feb 22, 2015 Miriam rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya

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.

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Oct 25, 2012 Noelle rated it really liked it

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 deve ...more

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May 09, 2009 Holly rated it it was ok

Recommended to Holly by: Michelle Millet

Shelves: young-adult, fairy-folk-tales, fantasy

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 unfortunat 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. ...more

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May 29, 2008 Emily rated it it was amazing

This is the best fantasy-romance I believe I have ever read. The fact the the romantic interest is a goblin shakes things up and the characters are written so well. Kate is not afraid of everything like some of the female characters of such books, she faces the whole thing bravely. This is hard considering a goblin is trying to capture her for his bride. At first it seems like it can only turn out badly but with a few surprising twists it ends up being just fine.

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Apr 25, 2016 Eliene rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: genre_historical, magic, genre_young-adult, locale_england-uk, courage, sisters, period_19th-century, retelling, aristocracy-royalty, marriage, kings-emperors-princes, fairytale

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 ...more

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Feb 06, 2014 Misty rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: juvenile-ya, historical, sci_fi-fantasy, series, folklore-myth-fable-fairy-tall-tale, read-in-2014, reread

I read this almost 5 years ago, and for some reason, felt let down by it. I remember really liking it in the beginning, and feeling like it steadily lost me.
I can't for the life of me imagine why that is. This book has stuck with me for 5 years - the characters pop into my head; I wonder what became of them (I never finished the series), and I find myself thinking about them, their world, and how they're doing... "Disappointing" books shouldn't stick with you like old friends for five years, so ...more

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Jan 27, 2009 Donna rated it it was amazing

Why do I love this book?? More than anything, it's a great love story! At first I was terrified that the Goblin King would succeed in capturing Kate...but then I knew it was inevitable. I love that Marak loved Kate's fiery personality and he tells her "My God Kate, what a king you'll bear!" I love that Kate eventually recognizes his kindness and his strength when she is defending her husband to the Sorcerer, telling him that goblins "aren't pretty, they're strong." And of course when Kate tells ...more

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Jul 22, 2008 Kirsten rated it really liked it

Shelves: from-library, re-reads, fiction

This is a re-read of a YA novel I read a few years back. It combines a Beauty-and-the-Beast-esque tale with fairy ballads like "Tam Lin" and "Thomas the Rhymer." The female protagonist, Kate, is wonderfully capable and determined throughout, without being unrealistically so, which I really appreciated.

My take on it when I first read it was that the pacing was uneven and that there were large sections of the story (and characters' development) that seemed glossed over. I still feel that this is t ...more

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Aug 27, 2015 Carolyn F. rated it it was ok

Shelves: library-book, fantasy, romance

I have no idea why this is considered a children's book. It's about girls being captured and held against their will ending up having babies with their captors. Didn't a couple of real guys get arrested for the same thing? I wouldn't want any child to read this book.

And because of this big giant elephant, I could not enjoy the book. I don't anything could have redeemed it in my eyes.

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Young Adult Book ...: September 2014: The Hollow Kingdom	1	10	Sep 23, 2014 12:05PM
What's The Name o...: YA, 10-20 year old book. A teenaged girl is taken by a troll-like monster to live in an underground city. [s]	5	41	Jul 01, 2014 05:38PM
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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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The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy (3 books)

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Close Kin (The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy, #2)

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

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“Kate felt very offended. 'I am not an elf,' she insisted. 'I'm an Englishwoman!” — 24 likes

“Kate had never in her life seen such frightful deformities, and the goblins had never seen such a hideous dress.” — 23 likes

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