Elisabeth Greenberg (Children's Literature)
This fantastical romance between a girl, who turns out to be something else entirely, and a goblin king who insists on capturing her is, by turns, beautiful and horrifying. The descriptions of the goblins indicate a world which is turned topsy-turvy and rather disturbing, but the heroine Kate is a spunky generous courageous girl. Attempting to outwit her human guardian, she outwits herself and surrenders her life to the Goblin King in order to rescue her sister from imprisonment. She discovers the true bargain she has made as her guardian is first treated to a magic spell that forces him to speak the truth always, and then punished for his misdeeds by more magic; he is forced to walk upside down for the rest of his short life. A terrifying wedding ceremony reveals Kate's secrets and imprints her with a golden protector snake. When the Kingdom is threatened and the Goblin King Marak's spirit goes forth to rescue his fellow goblins, caught under the spell of a sorcerer, Kate and her protector snake discover a way to rescue King and Kingdom. Since it's a romance, albeit an unusual one, Kate learns to love her husband and, indeed, the first-born son at whose sight, despite her determination not to, she cries! For the girl who loves fantasy and is beginning to wonder about love, this story will take her on a fascinating journey. 2003, Henry Holt and Company, $16.95. Ages 12 up.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, October 1, 2003 (Vol. 71, No. 19))
Dunkle pens an inconsistent fantasy. Orphaned Kate and Emily have come to live in the family home, Hallow Hill. Kate thinks she's being watched, and she's right: the king of the goblins-grotesque, but strangely appealing-wants to carry her away to be his wife. Wickedly taunting, King Marak never quite prevails over the resourceful Kate, until Emily disappears and Kate bargains away her freedom in return for Emily's safety. Alas, it was not the honorable and smitten Marak who was the kidnapper, but the girls' wicked guardian. Nonetheless, Kate and Marak are married in a bizarre ceremony. Emily's gleeful at living underground among goblins, but Kate misses the stars. When a wicked sorcerer steals the spirits of Marak and his subjects, it is up to the unwilling bride to save them all. Frequently magical, with compelling plot twists, but weakened by awkward timing and uneven structure. 2003, Henry Holt, $16.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 11 to 15. © 2003 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Janice M. Del Negro (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, February 2004 (Vol. 57, No. 6))
Kate and Emily Winslow are orphaned nineteenth-century sisters sent to live with elderly aunts on Kate’s newly inherited estate. Hallow Hill is an isolated area with a history of strange supernatural doings, including the periodic disappearance of local maidens. Shortly after their arrival the two girls meet Marak, the goblin king, who seeks "an ideal King’s Wife." That ideal is none other than Kate, the elder of the two sisters. Kate, however, has no intention of marrying Marak, and by wit and by nerve she manages to avoid the fate he has planned for her--until the night Emily disappears. Kate assumes Emily has been kidnapped by the goblins, and she ventures into the goblin kingdom and bargains for Emily’s safe return with the surprisingly witty Marak. Emily is rescued, but not quite the way Kate assumed, and Kate descends underground to fulfill her side of the bargain. How the reluctant girl becomes a true queen and saves her husband and her people is the crux of this involving story, which suggests Christina Rossetti’s "Goblin Market" writ large. Dunkle creates a weirdly attractive otherworld with touches of humor that make it fully dimensional. Characterizations are solid with intriguing complications: Kate is a wispy blonde with a backbone of steel and Marak is an ironic monster with oddly tender sentiments. The author takes the fairy-tale idea of equating beauty with goodness (and wispiness with frailty) and turns it on its head, while offering (for the era) a "shockingly overeducated" protagonist who is able, through her own intelligence, to come to terms with the consequences--and rewards--of her own endeavors. Smooth writing and clever dialogue spark the action and make this an unusually wry look at the fantasy world beneath the ground. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2004, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2003, Holt, 230p, $16.95. Grades 7-10.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2004)
Kate Winslow reluctantly agrees to marry hideous Marak, the King of the Goblins, in exchange for her sister's safety. She discovers her love for him when she rescues him from an evil sorcerer. Beginning like Tam Lin and ending like Beauty and the Beast, this ultimately entertaining fantasy overcomes a clichéd start and a poorly shaped plot to finish satisfyingly. Category: Older Fiction. 2003, Holt, 230pp, $16.95. Ages 12 to 14. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws.

Marsha W. Harper (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 16, No. 2))
An amazing story of goblins, elves, and humans, THE HOLLOW KINGDOM borrows from Lloyd Alexander's fantasies (as the author acknowledges) and from English folklore but with many original constructions for a tale that will captivate fantasy lovers. Kate and Emily are two orphan sisters in nineteenth century England who have come to live with their great-aunts under the guardianship of their mother's cousin--all relatives they have never seen--in a place they own but have never visited. It's a perfect set-up for mysterious doings, tales of tragedy and enchantment, horrors and fascinations. Kate is the one most affected, as she is the one chosen to become the captive wife of the Goblin King. Yes, a goblin is the hero (or is he?) of the story--but a hero unlike any in the fairy tales. His underground kingdom is a richly imagined Neverland. In spite of her revulsion, fear, and determination to resist, Kate falls under his spell. Then, when a crisis arises, it is up to her as the Goblin Queen to save her newly found kingdom. This is high adventure mingled with magic of a most un-human kind. Clare B. Dunkle is from North Texas and is a former librarian. It is not hard to believe that her favorite books are fantasies. This is her first novel; we must hope it is not her last. Fiction, Highly Recommended. Grades 7-12. 2003, Holt, 230p., $16.95. Ages 12 to 18.

Sarah Cofer (VOYA, April 2004 (Vol. 27, No. 1))
Newly orphaned Kate and Emily have moved to Kate's inherited estate of Hollow Hill. Their guardian is their great-uncle, who has been living quite happily at the estate for years. One day the girls come upon a druid's circle that their uncle had mentioned, and Kate instantly feels more at home there than anywhere else. Soon after Kate and Emily become lost in a storm on their way home from exploring. Although Kate is wary, Emily fearlessly approaches a band of gypsies to ask for help. Upon arriving home Emily runs inside, and Kate is left alone with the gypsy. He mocks Kate's fear, and she speaks sharply to him, after which he throws backs his hood to reveal himself as the goblin, Marak. Kate is soon immersed in the adventure of a lifetime, filled with family secrets, betrayal, and revenge. Marak plans to have Kate for his bride and takes her underground for the rest of her life. Calling to mind aspects of Persephone as well as Beauty and the Beast, Dunkle develops her characters in such a way that readers sympathize not only with the sisters but also with the Goblin King and his subjects. Librarians will have to push readers past the bland cover that belies the treasure within. Once fantasy fans begin this story, they will be unable to put it down. VOYA CODES: 5Q 3P J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Will appeal with pushing; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Henry Holt, 240p., $16.95. Ages 12 to 18.