Clare B. Dunkle

The second title in Dunkle's Hollow Kingdom Trilogy, Close Kin follows the dual narratives of Emily, younger sister of Kate, the heroine of the first book, and Seylin, the goblin who loves her. When Emily fails to recognize a marriage proposal from her old friend, the resultant hurt and misunderstanding leads the two on very different quests. As Seylin searches far and wide for the elves that some believe are extinct, Emily and her companion find themselves in the human world...

I was show more impressed by Dunkle's world-building, as she delved much deeper into some of the alien customs of both elves and goblins in this second title, laying bare the bigotry and hatred displayed by all the races towards one another. The "debased" state of the elf survivors was somewhat ironic, given their physical beauty, and seemed to offer an insightful meditation on the fragility of culture.

But although I felt that Dunkle did an excellent job building the history of the goblin-elf conflict, I did not find this as strong a narrative as the first, perhaps because it was split between two story-lines. I continued, moreover, to feel somewhat troubled by the controlling nature of the male characters - both goblin and elf - and the absence of real choice for the women of the story. show less

(Reviewing the advance readers copy.)

I have consistently mixed feelings about this author's work, but WOW, what a fantastically creepy read. So many scenes, so much of the imagery, had my heart racing.

I wonder, though, who is the intended audience? The main character is eleven years old, which would make this a tough sell for teens, but the (lovely) writing is fairly complex, which would make it a tough sell for intermediate readers. I think I'd be most likely to give it to a teen or adult show more fan of classic horror/gothic... if it weren't for the silly ending.

Definitely my favorite Dunkle. show less

”Best if you was dead,” a young boy is informed in this compelling examination of the werewolf legend, for his terrible curse will isolate him from other people, and from his own humanity. ”Don't look on no one again,” he is warned, for ”You're the kind that kills them they love...”

And so begins By These Ten Bones, a short novel by the author of the Hollow Kingdom Trilogy, which follows the story of young Maddie, a weaver's daughter in medieval Scotland, who falls in love with show more the mysterious wood carver who has come to stay in her small village. But Paul is harboring a dangerous secret, and it will take all of Maddie's love and courage to free him...

I greatly enjoyed By These Ten Bones, by turns moved or terrified by it, and will not soon forget the scene in which Maddie confronts the demonic werewolf. I recall feeling almost queasy while reading it, though no actual violence was done. Dunkle is a talented author, and she is at her best here. Highly recommended. show less

A lot of this book was delightful (the first 2/3, and the mini quest at the end), and very funny. Overall I did enjoy it! But it was weirdly very misogynistic for a story with plucky girl heroines. Nothing out of step with the tradition in which it's working, but I still found it unexpectedly, and apparently unwittingly, grim and sad. Apparently, men three times your age, who stalk, harass, and torment you, and attempt to carry you off to be their unwilling child incubator, ultimately know show more what's best for you. Please don't even get me started on the whole gross 'no widows, virgins only' thing, when apparently the King on the other hand can have as many wives as he kidnaps and has die in his care. show less