Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽'s Reviews > The Hollow Kingdom
The Hollow Kingdom (The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy, #1)
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Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽'s review
bookshelves: favorites, ya-fantasy, you-go-girl-kickass-heroine, fantasy, victorian
Apr 24, 2013
bookshelves: favorites, ya-fantasy, you-go-girl-kickass-heroine, fantasy, victorian
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.
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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](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1426446432i/14016972._SX540_.jpg)
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
April 22, 2013
–
Finished Reading
April 24, 2013
– Shelved
October 2, 2013
– Shelved as:
favorites
April 16, 2014
– Shelved as:
ya-fantasy
April 16, 2014
– Shelved as:
you-go-girl-kickass-heroine
July 10, 2015
– Shelved as:
fantasy
October 13, 2016
– Shelved as:
victorian
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Kathy
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rated it 5 stars
Apr 04, 2014 04:20AM
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Have either of you read By These Ten Bones? I had put off reading it for a long time, and was very pleased with the story. Dunkle has a unique way of turning fantasy/fairytale tropes on their head(s).
Willow and I read Bones and the Hollow Kingdom series together this year (and part of last year). It's been fun. The House of Dead Maids is up next.
btw: Amazon has By These 10 Bones for $4 in paperback
btw: Amazon has By These 10 Bones for $4 in paperback