tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652084782125897918.post3684490485456674333..comments2023-10-29T10:42:52.369-04:00Comments on Love is not a triangle: Dual Review: The Hollow Kingdom by Claire B. Dunkle & Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. JensenLauren @ Love is not a trianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15388832613855107816noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652084782125897918.post-70628753505112202092014-04-16T14:09:55.422-04:002014-04-16T14:09:55.422-04:00It was definitely very interesting to see how you ...It was definitely very interesting to see how you felt about both The Hollow Kingdom and Stolen Songbird. I will admit that I was skeptical of Stolen Songbird (trolls?), but I've been hearing quite a few great things about it. I think I might check it out of the library!Alexa S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13185723439360170259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652084782125897918.post-35621224026398426382014-04-15T18:09:45.912-04:002014-04-15T18:09:45.912-04:00I must confess to being very skeptical about this ...I must confess to being very skeptical about this book. The title is a little cheesy and ... Trolls? But I should always keep an open mind because I've read a lot of positive reviews of this. I'm in!!<br /><a href="http://jenryland.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Jen @ YA Romantics</a><br />Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04756695137600895936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652084782125897918.post-34110244239616654632014-04-11T13:05:07.799-04:002014-04-11T13:05:07.799-04:00I loved loved loved Stolen Songbird. I fell in lo...I loved loved loved Stolen Songbird. I fell in love with the main characters, Cécile and Tristan. Cécile is such an amazing heroine, she's strong, but it's an inner strength, and she really wants to help people even when doing so risks her own safety. She's not perfect, she makes mistakes, but she doesn't whine and she takes responsibility for her actions. And Tristan...love love love this guy. He starts off being cold and uncaring, sly and a bit snarky, but as you get to know him you realize there's so much going on that he has to hide his true feelings from everyone. The politics of this world are so well done, with different factions having their own agendas and Tristan walking a fine line, keeping secrets in order to do what he believes is right. I loved that we get a few chapters from his POV, knowing his thoughts made me just love him even more. The romance is not insta-love, it's slow building with tons of chemistry and the progression of their relationship was just perfect. And not even a hint of a love triangle. Even the secondary characters are well developed and memorable. I became so invested in these characters.<br /><br />I can't rave enough about this book. Glad you enjoyed it too! ~Pamyaescapefromrealityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08200254719073248981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652084782125897918.post-57910519703727134892014-04-11T09:37:19.022-04:002014-04-11T09:37:19.022-04:00First, I have to point out that you were JUST tell...First, I have to point out that you were JUST telling me you were reading The Stolen Songbird (a week, a few days ago?) and now you have a review posted with a comparison of the two books. *applauds* GO LAUREN. Now, for the books, I really really like the sound of them. I agree that usually when arranged marriages are in place, it turns into a love triangle. I don't read MG, but I think I could bend that to read the Hollow Kingdom. Except for that part where it leaps over something. As for the Stolen Songbird....GIMME GIMME. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00343758249538361290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652084782125897918.post-56628429058366677812014-04-11T08:48:31.818-04:002014-04-11T08:48:31.818-04:00Yay, I'm glad you enjoyed Stolen Songbird. Th...Yay, I'm glad you enjoyed Stolen Songbird. The ending was a bit tough on us, but I'm excited to see where their relationship goes. I'm really want to know more about the mystery behind the curse placed on the Trolls.<br /><br />I also really enjoyed your idea of comparing stories. Even though I've only read Stolen Songbird, I can totally get a feel for both stories. Wonderful review, Lauren :) Book Swoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10065445455788158131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652084782125897918.post-49893066417233176982014-04-11T07:36:28.966-04:002014-04-11T07:36:28.966-04:00I must read these since all I ever wanted in the N...I must read these since all I ever wanted in the Nightshade trilogy was for the girl to be with her chosen mate, but nope. That was not happening. At first right these two sound very similar. I'm sorry The Hollow Kingdom lost you for a while and even thoug it was an amazing story, I'm sorry you weren't that emotionally connected with it. As for Stolen Songbird, I'm so happy that you enjoyed the main relationship in this book. It has me very itrigued and ha! You're probably the 5th person who says they want more Tristan narrative in book 2 :D These two sound wonderful nevertheless and I wouldn't mind reading them. Nope, wouldn't mind at all :) Siirihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18265532869057616598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652084782125897918.post-11053077525709415062014-04-10T10:07:16.067-04:002014-04-10T10:07:16.067-04:00YAY LAUREN!!! Yes the cliffhanger in Stolen Songbi...YAY LAUREN!!! Yes the cliffhanger in Stolen Songbird wasn''t fun, but it wasn't too awful right? Especially since you know how they feel for one another. If she had snuck out in the night or something and left him "for his own good" (I hate, hate, hate that excuse) without every telling him how she felt, then the cliffhanger would have been miserable for me. I'm definitely hoping for more of Tristan's narrative in book two as well, which I'm guessing we'll get since they'll presumably be separated for some time, I really liked the glimpses we got into his character!<br /><br />Beautiful reviews as always my friend:)Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14199685365145765394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652084782125897918.post-72802911568644896392014-04-10T08:46:20.364-04:002014-04-10T08:46:20.364-04:00I love love love the way you've written these ...I love love love the way you've written these reviews Lauren. I do like my stories where two characters start off forced into a situation and then slowly a relationship develops between them. The Hollow Kingdom greatly reminds me of a book which I adored called Greta and the Goblin King, before this book I had the image of goblins similar to those in Gringott's bank in Harry Potter, but just like Tristan, the goblin in this story wasn't immediately hot, but he slowly works his charm onto you. Also I'm really intrigued about this cliffhanger in Stolen Songbird, I've probably mentioned before how I enjoy books which end in cliffhangers, so I will certainly be adding both books to my tbr! Jasprithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11346050783201302967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652084782125897918.post-5590965735693394042014-04-10T08:30:00.876-04:002014-04-10T08:30:00.876-04:00I'm so happy that yet another blogger I know l...I'm so happy that yet another blogger I know loved Stolen Songbird. I'm planning on reading the book next week and I'm very excited. Tristan and Cecile sound like a great couple and I actually like that there are some struggles and secret-keeping. That would be very realistic especially considering their situation. Cecile sounds like she also grows throughout the book. I love transitioning heroines more than anything in YA books. <br /><br />I'm not sure if Hollow Kingdom would be for me. It seems to be lacking in the romance department and I'm all for the romance, so it might disappoint me. Still though, it sounds like the beginning of their relationship was strong. <br /><br />Lovely reviews, Lauren.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652084782125897918.post-14390302858881921942014-04-10T08:07:07.049-04:002014-04-10T08:07:07.049-04:00Ooh, I like how you did this! I always seem to pic...Ooh, I like how you did this! I always seem to pick the "wrong" guy for the girl, too. Usually, it's the naughtier of the two or the destined one. Don't fight your destiny! I've heard really good things about Stolen Songbird and, even though she's basically kidnapped and forced into this, how her attachment to Tristan is growing and evolving.Mary @ BookSwarmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04099395167194720599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6652084782125897918.post-7681430017999897732014-04-10T06:44:38.449-04:002014-04-10T06:44:38.449-04:00I'm really glad you enjoyed Stolen Songbird, L...I'm really glad you enjoyed Stolen Songbird, Lauren - I had a feeling the romance would work out well for you after your struggles with The Hollow Kingdom. For me, Kate and Marak are far more complex, flawed, and intriguing characters to read about. Since we were able to get into Tristan's head with Stolen Songbird, I didn't find myself overtly compelled by his personality in the least. Or maybe I read this at a time when I was in the mood for a more complex romance than I got? Not sure but the characters in Stolen Songbird didn't fulfill me the way Kate and Marak did. Both books have their flaws, especially the ending of Hollow Kingdom, but I'm glad you were able to enjoy these and I love this comparison piece! :)Keertanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01071392026876644282noreply@blogger.com