The Hollow Kingdom: Book I -- The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy

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.

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!

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 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.