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wanderlustlover's review
4.0
Doing this one like the last set of three;
2018 Spring:
Book 1 - I was very pleased to see this book focused suddenly on a girl character and not a boy, if in the same family and thus making use of some of the same 'powers.' I found the switching pieces of politics and change a breath of fresh air. I loved the addition of the Oath Maidens. I liked that the ages were different in this one. I do find the reliance on stories/experiences from the earlier trilogy a little too often and heavy-handed in places.
Book 2 - I'm a little disappointed in the same kind of love plot twist happening at the end of this book as happened in the last one. But I did appreciate the Oath Maidens here, again, and I nearly teared up at the point where the entire force was seen for the first time, by the King. That whole scene was divine. I feel a little uninterested in the wizrs, and very certain about what is happening with Morwenna (especially since she's Morgaine in these Arthurian Tales).
Book 3 -
2018 Spring:
Book 1 - I was very pleased to see this book focused suddenly on a girl character and not a boy, if in the same family and thus making use of some of the same 'powers.' I found the switching pieces of politics and change a breath of fresh air. I loved the addition of the Oath Maidens. I liked that the ages were different in this one. I do find the reliance on stories/experiences from the earlier trilogy a little too often and heavy-handed in places.
Book 2 - I'm a little disappointed in the same kind of love plot twist happening at the end of this book as happened in the last one. But I did appreciate the Oath Maidens here, again, and I nearly teared up at the point where the entire force was seen for the first time, by the King. That whole scene was divine. I feel a little uninterested in the wizrs, and very certain about what is happening with Morwenna (especially since she's Morgaine in these Arthurian Tales).
Book 3 -
jebba_debba_doo's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve really been enjoying this series because of how it follows the progression of the characters lives and their families lives. The epilogue made my jaw drop. I totally didn’t expect the twist
excaliburbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
hellobookbird's review against another edition
4.0
"I wrote in my note at the end of The King's Traitor that I thought the children of these main characters needed a turn on the stage."
I was both excited and hesitant when I found out the Kingfountain series had another installment. It is exceptionally hard (or perhaps I'm just exceptionally picky?) to pull off a series that picks up a generation later, shifting the focus to the children of the characters you love while still maintaining the integrity of the original characters in the recent iteration. Too often I find they turn into paper parents - two dimensional characters I no longer know that are just...there.
But boy howdy, was I ever pleasantly surprised that Jeff Wheeler pulled it off and pulled it off well. While The Hollow Crown is considered the fourth book of the Kingfountain series, I consider this book to be the first in a connected trilogy.
The Hollow Crown opens up to introduce Trynne (Owen's daughter) and Fallon (Elyse's son). They've been raised fairly close despite being part of different households because of their parent's friendship. The way they pick on each other instantly reminds me of the saying about adolescent boys, "If he's picking on you it means he likes you."
(I'd be lying if I didn't say this made me a little giddy because while I obviously wasn't able to have Owen+Elyse, maybe I could have that with their children. But I'm getting off track.)
Trynne embodies everything I love about strong female leads. She's suffocating under the yoke of her mother's expectations to become a Wizr. Being a good daughter, she truly tries...but her heart lies not in studying books and magic but in battle and strategy. Despite the pressures she faces both by familial duties and societal expectations, she relentlessly pursues her dreams.
Her dreams become reality when she secretly becomes an Oath Maiden, sworn to serve the Fountain and protect the king. As the threat of an impending invasion sets tensions on edge, the dance between King Drew, Queen Geniveve, Owen, Sinia, Trynne, Fallon, Morwenna, Elwis, and other players (both known and unknown) will keep you riveted to your seat and begging for more.
Note: while the ending doesn't have a cliffhanger, certain events will make you unable to stop once you've finished. You will be compelled to immediately pick up The Silent Shield to continue. Be sure to allot enough time to read both back-to-back (you'll thank yourself later).
Recommended for everyone that loves a well-developed read full of magic, suspense, and intrigue. Two thumbs way, way up!
I was both excited and hesitant when I found out the Kingfountain series had another installment. It is exceptionally hard (or perhaps I'm just exceptionally picky?) to pull off a series that picks up a generation later, shifting the focus to the children of the characters you love while still maintaining the integrity of the original characters in the recent iteration. Too often I find they turn into paper parents - two dimensional characters I no longer know that are just...there.
But boy howdy, was I ever pleasantly surprised that Jeff Wheeler pulled it off and pulled it off well. While The Hollow Crown is considered the fourth book of the Kingfountain series, I consider this book to be the first in a connected trilogy.
The Hollow Crown opens up to introduce Trynne (Owen's daughter) and Fallon (Elyse's son). They've been raised fairly close despite being part of different households because of their parent's friendship. The way they pick on each other instantly reminds me of the saying about adolescent boys, "If he's picking on you it means he likes you."
(I'd be lying if I didn't say this made me a little giddy because while I obviously wasn't able to have Owen+Elyse, maybe I could have that with their children. But I'm getting off track.)
Trynne embodies everything I love about strong female leads. She's suffocating under the yoke of her mother's expectations to become a Wizr. Being a good daughter, she truly tries...but her heart lies not in studying books and magic but in battle and strategy. Despite the pressures she faces both by familial duties and societal expectations, she relentlessly pursues her dreams.
Her dreams become reality when she secretly becomes an Oath Maiden, sworn to serve the Fountain and protect the king. As the threat of an impending invasion sets tensions on edge, the dance between King Drew, Queen Geniveve, Owen, Sinia, Trynne, Fallon, Morwenna, Elwis, and other players (both known and unknown) will keep you riveted to your seat and begging for more.
Note: while the ending doesn't have a cliffhanger, certain events will make you unable to stop once you've finished. You will be compelled to immediately pick up The Silent Shield to continue. Be sure to allot enough time to read both back-to-back (you'll thank yourself later).
Recommended for everyone that loves a well-developed read full of magic, suspense, and intrigue. Two thumbs way, way up!
snowonthebeach_13's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
jmatsumura's review against another edition
5.0
The Song of the Lioness Quartet meets Arthurian legends, The Hollow Crown is the best Kingfountain book so far. Not only is this book well written for it's intended audience of young readers (mid to high school, and um, those with advanced degrees...) with it's realistic and heartwrenching understanding of the pains of growing up, heart ache, insecurity, body image issues, and trying to achieve our parent's wildest dreams. I love Trynne, and for me, she joins a venerated list of heroines who role model for girls what it means to be trustworthy, reliable, strong, vulnerable, and unique. I put her in line with all the heroine's of Tamora Pierce's Tortal Realm, and the women of Robin McKinnley's world of Damar.
Supporting characters return in this series, which switches focus from Owen to his daughter. New characters emerge to varying degrees of success. My heart yearned, I almost cried, and I frequently yelled back at the audiobook in the car. I'm sure my emotional reaction to this book was a show to watch for the others sharing the highway with me. I'm eager to read the next installment.
Supporting characters return in this series, which switches focus from Owen to his daughter. New characters emerge to varying degrees of success. My heart yearned, I almost cried, and I frequently yelled back at the audiobook in the car. I'm sure my emotional reaction to this book was a show to watch for the others sharing the highway with me. I'm eager to read the next installment.
angelic712's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a while to get into these new characters... but I don’t know that it was the writing... I think I probably had a bit of a book hangover.