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oxlabyrinthxo's review
4.0
It's okay. The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy isn't the best I've ever read but it's not the worst. That spot is saved for the Twilight series. However I'm the kind of person once you start a series, I must finish it. No matter how bad it is (i.e. Twilight series, but as a plus I can bash it with a clear conscious because I know first-hand how terrible it is). But I digress. The Hollow Kingdom books are a good read if you're not looking for much thought provoking reading.
kraley's review
3.0
This wasn't AS intriguing as the first book (Hollow Kingdom), but I did still stay up all night reading it. I really enjoy Ms. Dunkle's writing style. I wanted more of the Queen's golden snake, but maybe the third book will have more. :)
themarnacle's review
3.0
I enjoyed the first one of the trilogy but this sequel wasn't as good. I kept expecting something more to happen but it falls flat. I did enjoy sables storyline though.
bookishblond's review
2.0
I really enjoyed The Hollow Kingdom and ordered the sequel a couple of weeks after finishing it. I really wish I hadn't. I should have let that book exist as a stand-alone!
Close Kin is the sequel to The Hollow Kingdom, about Kate's little sister, Emily, and Seylin, the boy who can turn into a cat. Emily and Seylin were pals in the first book but now they're all grown up (in their teens, at least). And since the goblin culture revolves around child marriage and bride stealing, Seylin asks Emily to marry him. She completely misses the hint and poor Seylin decides to go on a quest to find any surviving elves (he's part elf but elves are rumored to be extinct). Emily, learning of his departure, sets off on her own adventure.
The creepy bride-stealing culture worked in The Hollow Kingdom because that book's plot focused on Kate and the goblin king, a clearly recognizable re-telling of the princess and the goblin fairy tale. The sequel tries to re-use this plot devise but it's incredibly creepy. In the first book, Kate was at least a "strong" character, but here all the female characters are vapid and exist only as marriage material. Emily, for example, is incredibly immature and it's disturbing that she has to get married because that is the goblin way.
I see that this is a trilogy but I probably won't read the last book.
Close Kin is the sequel to The Hollow Kingdom, about Kate's little sister, Emily, and Seylin, the boy who can turn into a cat. Emily and Seylin were pals in the first book but now they're all grown up (in their teens, at least). And since the goblin culture revolves around child marriage and bride stealing, Seylin asks Emily to marry him. She completely misses the hint and poor Seylin decides to go on a quest to find any surviving elves (he's part elf but elves are rumored to be extinct). Emily, learning of his departure, sets off on her own adventure.
The creepy bride-stealing culture worked in The Hollow Kingdom because that book's plot focused on Kate and the goblin king, a clearly recognizable re-telling of the princess and the goblin fairy tale. The sequel tries to re-use this plot devise but it's incredibly creepy. In the first book, Kate was at least a "strong" character, but here all the female characters are vapid and exist only as marriage material. Emily, for example, is incredibly immature and it's disturbing that she has to get married because that is the goblin way.
I see that this is a trilogy but I probably won't read the last book.
amara_jordan's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
claire_loves_books's review
2.0
I didn't really like how women were characterised in this.
The all seem fairly stereotyped and their life for the most part seems to revolve around men, Emily was a carefree and childish but when Seylin runs off she realises that she does care for him, and drops everything in her life to run after him, it just felt like the book was telling women to be appreciative of men and value relationships. Sable managed to make some of her own choices but was still thoroughly under the thumb of an abusive partner. Irina was just a terrible character.
I wish that the women in these books had more autonomy and freedom.
The all seem fairly stereotyped and their life for the most part seems to revolve around men, Emily was a carefree and childish but when Seylin runs off she realises that she does care for him, and drops everything in her life to run after him, it just felt like the book was telling women to be appreciative of men and value relationships. Sable managed to make some of her own choices but was still thoroughly under the thumb of an abusive partner
Spoiler
and in the end her salvation was a forced marriage (she had to marry someone even if she did get to choose who).I wish that the women in these books had more autonomy and freedom.
snipequeen's review
3.0
These are not necessarily objectively great books. But I really, really enjoy them every time I come back to them -- especially the first and third books.
eahk1996's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
michelefortie's review
3.0
I enjoyed being back in this world but this story just didn't work for me the way the first one did. The story arc didn't work super well for me, and would have liked more development in Syelin and Em's relationship and journey.
catladylover94's review
5.0
good about the next generation of characters and their love for each other