Reviews

The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle

eris_reads's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

my favorite book. i reread it all the time.

ahether87's review against another edition

5.0

definitely an interesting book. Love a strong female character! I loved watching Kate's character develop in this story. It had a great back history for elves and goblins and some wonderful messages about being different. The writing was well done and the humor was completely enjoyable.
This book is about goblins but not your average goblin story. Clare Dunkle doesn’t make her goblins suddenly beautiful creatures with noble intentions. No, she leaves them just the way they are warts and all. But in the end you'll fall in love with them, feel for them in spite of their monstrous features.
In the end it was a fun read. Well done.

konvineo's review against another edition

5.0

I don't know how many times I've read this book by now, but it's a lot. It's been a favourite of mine since I first read it, but I honestly don't know why. I think it might be the goblins' full acceptance, and happiness in their great physical variation, or really just the goblin society overall.
There are some not so great things about the book. The use of the word g*psy is not acceptable, and I'm not a fan of the purity culture vibes in the book. Now that I'm reading the book as an adult I'm also not a fan of the way Kate's age isn't stated outright because I'm getting groomer from Marak now that I'm reading this as an adult.
So yeah this book has its definite problems, while at the same time being very nostalgic to me.

randiymkje's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

heathenpenguin's review against another edition

4.0

One of the main lessons in this book is learning not to be a racist or a look-ist, I think. The author's website says so, after all. But that did not stop the fans of Marak to draw bishie versions of him. Anyway, this was a great read. The tone of the book is appropriate, considering the setting and genre of the story. The goblin kingdom is fascinating and fairy-tale like. I know, I being Captain Obvious right now. What I mean is, it's not trying to be epic like in Eragon and it's also not vague, like in a lot of fantasy romance books.

meganmindj's review against another edition

1.0

I tried rereading this book, because when I read it the first time, I was probably too young for it and a lot of the books I rated as one star back then are actually fantastic books that I just wasn't ready for, but I still stand by this rating.

The fact that this is marketed as a YA book concerns me. The love interest

literally kidnaps her and takes her to his world, refusing to let her go back to her old home ever again. He also forces her to have his kid.

And you want me to believe that this is a ROMANCE?

It just makes me sad, especially since it wasn't written THAT long ago! 2003 is in this century for goodness sake!

mlliu's review against another edition

Just … couldn't … characters so … irritating. (Read to page 80 of 230.)

micaela11's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Confinement, and Blood

Minor: Miscarriage, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt

readingmissfroggy's review against another edition

4.0

This book was so cool! I have never before read a book with goblins in it but if the other books about them are even a little bit like this one, I will pick them up right away! I loved the story and the characters, I loved how they grew during the story and how feelings and thoughts changed over the course of time and events. Great read!
Watch my full review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UCWMcHlekQ

thegoodship88's review against another edition

5.0

I chose this book because among the books listed under "readers also enjoyed" were many books that I had loved! I expected great things from this book and I was not disappointed! The story is enthralling! After having a run of reading good, but not GREAT books, this story was a delight! It was captivating in the beginning in that sort of "I'm not sure why I'm so into this...but I love it," way and developed into "I'm really enjoying these characters and their interactions, etc." into an amazing adventure that completely blindsided me! The heroine, Kate, is majorly kick-ass, and all the other characters have wonderful depth, and you come to adore most all of them (the exception being, of course! those you are not meant to adore)! I also particularly loved the descriptions. To be honest, I'm not much for descriptions in books. I sort of tend to glaze over them and just make up my own world, but these descriptions really grabbed me and created a breath-takingly beautiful and magic world for me to delve into--and all the little goblin friends had wonderful descriptions as well! The descriptions were not overdone, but gave you a clear and (as said before) wonderfully magical mine picture. To me, that is impressive world building. I was SO sad when this book was over--I wanted to so much more! I'm extremely excited to read the sequels! I highly recommend this book!!