I'm a pretty big Philip Reeve fan. I've read a lot of his novels--really liking the Mortal Engines (Hungry City Chronicles) and his younger reader book, Larklight. So when Brynnen brought home Goblins, I thought I would scoop her book.
This is for younger readers, and is in a clear fantasy vein (so the Victorian-steam-punk infused sci-fi I like of his other books is not part of this).
This is a novel of overcoming appearances and the way our stories lead us to take certain paths. But goblins who like to read, cheesewrights who want to be heroes, princesses who don't want to be rescued, giants, and sorcerers without magic come together in interesting ways, arguing that we can unlearn our prejudices and work together for good. Younger readers--10-13--will appreciate the straightforward plot, the compelling characters (both good and bad), and ripping encounters between our heroes and the various bad guys.
Once again, however, do not be swayed by the cover:
In the lands of the West, where Men are few, and some of the Old Magic lingers still, there stands the ancient fortress of Clovenstone...
The cover will make you think this is a darker book, more towards horror. This is an often amusing world, where even the scary goblins have sillinesses about them occasionally.
(And lest you think I've been slacking, I've just been reading too many books by authors whose last names I've already blogged. But I'm making an effort now to choose books by letter.)
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