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Goblins #1
Goblins
The squabbling goblins who live in the great towers of Clovenstone spend their time fighting and looting. Only clever young Skarper understands that dark magic created by a vanquished sorcerer is rising again.
306 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2012
About the author
Philip Reeve
133 books2,635 followersPhilip Reeve was born and raised in Brighton, where he worked in a bookshop for a number of years while also co-writing, producing and directing a number of no-budget theatre projects.
Philip then began illustrating and has since provided cartoons for around forty children's books, including the best-selling Horrible Histories, Murderous Maths and Dead Famous series.
Railhead, published by Oxford University Press, will be published in the UK in October 2015
Pugs of the Frozen North, written with Sarah McIntyre, is out now.
Philip then began illustrating and has since provided cartoons for around forty children's books, including the best-selling Horrible Histories, Murderous Maths and Dead Famous series.
Railhead, published by Oxford University Press, will be published in the UK in October 2015
Pugs of the Frozen North, written with Sarah McIntyre, is out now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
January 30, 2013
It EXISTS. I found it! Six months searching, and I finally found the perfect fantasy children's book.
To begin with, the book is such a lovely shade of green. Even the edges of the pages are green. Scoff all you want, it's a delightful detail.
And then there's the story itself. Scarper is an adorable goblin, and Henywn and the others are proper three dimensional characters. The storyline is great, full of adventures and dangerous evil creatures and old magic, happy crazy mad things that are fun to read about. And the story is peppered with silly lines and funny tidbits that add to the humor of the story, if you notice them. My only gripe with the book was that the Keep wasn't explored properly, we never got a chance to read about it's insides.
Bottom line, I'm so glad I bought this. I can't wait to give it to my brother, he better enjoy it.
To begin with, the book is such a lovely shade of green. Even the edges of the pages are green. Scoff all you want, it's a delightful detail.
And then there's the story itself. Scarper is an adorable goblin, and Henywn and the others are proper three dimensional characters. The storyline is great, full of adventures and dangerous evil creatures and old magic, happy crazy mad things that are fun to read about. And the story is peppered with silly lines and funny tidbits that add to the humor of the story, if you notice them. My only gripe with the book was that the Keep wasn't explored properly, we never got a chance to read about it's insides.
Bottom line, I'm so glad I bought this. I can't wait to give it to my brother, he better enjoy it.
March 27, 2022
3.5 ⭐
Och okay, więc sprawa wygląda tak. Dawno dawno temu, gdzieś w czasach podejrzewam gimnazjalnych trafiłam na "Kosmiczny dom Larklight" i mimo, że już dziś nic z tej książki nie pamiętam, zapałałam miłością do autora i pamiętam, że w trakcie świetnie się bawiłam! Potem były Zabójcze Maszyny - pierwszy tom, który jest jednym z moich ulubieńców i coraz gorsze kolejne. Ale jestem człowiekiem o oślim uporze i nie dałam się, więc przychodzi czas na Gobliny!
I cóż. Nie będę kłamać, że na początku nie przypadliśmy sobie do gustu. Odbiłam się od początku i poszłam sobie w siną dal na długo, nie wiedząc, czy coś z tego będzie. Ale im więcej czasu mijało, tym mnie coraz bardziej ciągnęło z powrotem i w końcu jestem, pukam po raz kolejny do tych samych drzwi i mam nadzieję, że tym razem się uda.
No i się udało! Nie zostaniemy przyjaciółmi aż po grób, ale kilkukrotnie się uśmiałam, a Skarper to naprawdę kawał porządnego goblina, z którym żadna przygoda nie jest straszna. I choć brzydki jak noc, to jest naprawdę uroczym stworzonkiem i w pewnym momencie nawet zaczęłam mu kibicować.
Nie jest to książka idealna, choć ma klimat starych baśni braci Grimm, które tak bardzo lubię. No i powiedzcie mi, czy znacie jakąś inną historię, w której głównym bohaterem jest goblin? Ja nie, więc tym bardziej na plus! Syn serowara, który mu towarzyszył w tejże podróży, piękny młodzieniec, którego marzeniem jest zostać Bohaterem przez duże B również dostarczył mi mnóstwa zabawy, podobało mi się, jak rozwinął się ten wątek.
Mam wrażenie, że Reeve garściami czerpie z motywów, które doskonale znamy, a do tego okrasza je sporą dawką dobrego humoru. Gdybyśmy się od początku polubili, zapewne moja ocena byłaby zupełnie inna, a tak pierwsza połowa szła mi dość opornie, za to ta druga już bardziej mi się przypodobała. Skarper, kochany, widzimy się w drugim tomie! :)
Och okay, więc sprawa wygląda tak. Dawno dawno temu, gdzieś w czasach podejrzewam gimnazjalnych trafiłam na "Kosmiczny dom Larklight" i mimo, że już dziś nic z tej książki nie pamiętam, zapałałam miłością do autora i pamiętam, że w trakcie świetnie się bawiłam! Potem były Zabójcze Maszyny - pierwszy tom, który jest jednym z moich ulubieńców i coraz gorsze kolejne. Ale jestem człowiekiem o oślim uporze i nie dałam się, więc przychodzi czas na Gobliny!
I cóż. Nie będę kłamać, że na początku nie przypadliśmy sobie do gustu. Odbiłam się od początku i poszłam sobie w siną dal na długo, nie wiedząc, czy coś z tego będzie. Ale im więcej czasu mijało, tym mnie coraz bardziej ciągnęło z powrotem i w końcu jestem, pukam po raz kolejny do tych samych drzwi i mam nadzieję, że tym razem się uda.
No i się udało! Nie zostaniemy przyjaciółmi aż po grób, ale kilkukrotnie się uśmiałam, a Skarper to naprawdę kawał porządnego goblina, z którym żadna przygoda nie jest straszna. I choć brzydki jak noc, to jest naprawdę uroczym stworzonkiem i w pewnym momencie nawet zaczęłam mu kibicować.
Nie jest to książka idealna, choć ma klimat starych baśni braci Grimm, które tak bardzo lubię. No i powiedzcie mi, czy znacie jakąś inną historię, w której głównym bohaterem jest goblin? Ja nie, więc tym bardziej na plus! Syn serowara, który mu towarzyszył w tejże podróży, piękny młodzieniec, którego marzeniem jest zostać Bohaterem przez duże B również dostarczył mi mnóstwa zabawy, podobało mi się, jak rozwinął się ten wątek.
Mam wrażenie, że Reeve garściami czerpie z motywów, które doskonale znamy, a do tego okrasza je sporą dawką dobrego humoru. Gdybyśmy się od początku polubili, zapewne moja ocena byłaby zupełnie inna, a tak pierwsza połowa szła mi dość opornie, za to ta druga już bardziej mi się przypodobała. Skarper, kochany, widzimy się w drugim tomie! :)
October 24, 2019
Много свежо и забавно детско фентъзи с гоблини, оказа се наистина суперска книжка. Чете се на един дъх, разбива всевъзможни клишета и повдига какви ли не въпроси по пътя.
Моята предоволна читателска главица си обещава да потърси и другите две части, за съжаление неиздавани на български, и да си ги изчете прилежно в някой хубав следобед.
Моята предоволна читателска главица си обещава да потърси и другите две части, за съжаление неиздавани на български, и да си ги изчете прилежно в някой хубав следобед.
April 19, 2021
It s sooo fantasy
July 15, 2013
Review originally posted at: Views from the Tesseract
http://shanshad1.wordpress.com/2013/0...
Note: An advanced reader copy was provided by the publisher.
Anyone reader who has read some fantasy is bound to have encountered goblins at some time. They are one of fantasy’s most commonplace small time villains. They feature in Tolkien’s Middle Earth, often show up in fantasy games and fantasy movies and the most common vision of goblins is one of oddly shaped, often ugly critters with a penchant for fighting and raiding and squabbling. They often land on the pages of fantasy world fiction with hardly a thought. They’re the pawns on the black side of the chessboard– the henchmen for the big villains . Now sometimes a book comes along to challenge that notion–as did Goblin Secrets by William Alexander, where a goblin is quite another thing altogether. Philip Reeve’s book doesn’t do this. It takes the cliched image of goblins full force . . . and runs with it. The result is a sort of fractured Dungeons and Dragons game that turns out to be a very entertaining story.
For my adult readers, picture Jim Hines’ Jig the Goblin series only written for a middle grade audience and you’ve got an idea of what to expect.
In the ancient ruins of Clovenstone, the goblins live in their run down towers, fighting and raiding and stealing treasures. Skarper is an unusually thoughtful goblin (since most goblins don’t progress beyond bashing each other over the head, this isn’t hard) whose brains and interest in reading and maps lands him in a whole heap of trouble. In fact, it very nearly gets him killed–and that’s only the beginning of the story. A young hero looking for adventure (preferably one without cheese), some semi-dark minions of the Lych Lord, a pragmatic princess and a host of other creatures all populate this richly imagined world. Adventure awaits around every corner here . . . but it’s not always the one that our heroes would expect.
Philip Reeve is certainly no slouch when it comes to deft writing. This tale comes packed with a great opening that manages to conjure the feeling of an aging fantasy land, or setting for gamers on a Dungeons and Dragons style quest–and then quite happily catapults readers expectations out the window. While younger readers may not be familiar with D&D campaigns, they likely are familiar with the online games full of quests and monsters and every sort of fantasy trope imaginable. Philip Reeve taps into this beautifully. There are brilliant moments where the writing manages to be both grand and funny in the same passage “she remembered how, when the tide was high, the foam came feathering out of blowholes in the cliff tops with a great Ker-chooof! and the spray drifted across the harbor, filled with rainbows. That was how the town had got its name: Porthstrewy, which meant sneeze harbor in the olden tongue.” And my particular favorite is the “Bumwipe Heaps”. Which is what the goblins term the pile of books and scrolls that have accumulated over the years. Reeve doesn’t just supply his world with fantasy creatures, but gives them a history and an origin that captures the reader and pulls them in.
Rather than an overtly comic story where everything is done with slapstick and over the top comedy, here the general tone is more serious, with the humor gently woven in. In some ways, the author’s work reminds me of Terry Pratchett (though without the footnotes). Despite the humor, there are some serious themes here about the price of power and what things truly count as treasure. A magical adventure that should appeal to boys and girls, especially those already familiar with fantasy tropes and traditional stories. This may not appeal to those who prefer more in-depth character exploration and growth as the author does tend to keep the characters at arm’s length, but this appears to be intentional in the design of the story. An excellent lighthearted middle-grade fantasy.
My small concerns are actually with the book’s title and cover art. While it’s not a terrible title, the single word is fairly vague and generic–sort of like calling a book “Elves” or “Giants” (of course, if this is Philip Reeve’s general idea for a title progression in a series of books, I may take back my complaint). I just don’t feel like the title is distinctive enough, nor does it really capture anything of the tone of the book. Without a unique wording, it becomes harder to remember and locate the title, though I hardly think this will sink the book. As to covers, I’m a bit mixed on the art. This novel was released in Britain last year with a green cover and cartoonish looking goblins on the top and bottom.
The Brit cover captures the humor of the book, but may oversell the comedy aspect for a story that’s also pretty thoughtful. The U.S. cover may go overboard in the other direction. While it gives us a great depiction of our two main protagonists, the story comes across as more dramatic adventure than comic. Both covers have their appeal, but I’m not certain either quite nails the tone.
Readers who enjoy Patricia Wrede’s Dealing With Dragons, The Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones and Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett will likely want to check this one out!
http://shanshad1.wordpress.com/2013/0...
Note: An advanced reader copy was provided by the publisher.
Anyone reader who has read some fantasy is bound to have encountered goblins at some time. They are one of fantasy’s most commonplace small time villains. They feature in Tolkien’s Middle Earth, often show up in fantasy games and fantasy movies and the most common vision of goblins is one of oddly shaped, often ugly critters with a penchant for fighting and raiding and squabbling. They often land on the pages of fantasy world fiction with hardly a thought. They’re the pawns on the black side of the chessboard– the henchmen for the big villains . Now sometimes a book comes along to challenge that notion–as did Goblin Secrets by William Alexander, where a goblin is quite another thing altogether. Philip Reeve’s book doesn’t do this. It takes the cliched image of goblins full force . . . and runs with it. The result is a sort of fractured Dungeons and Dragons game that turns out to be a very entertaining story.
For my adult readers, picture Jim Hines’ Jig the Goblin series only written for a middle grade audience and you’ve got an idea of what to expect.
In the ancient ruins of Clovenstone, the goblins live in their run down towers, fighting and raiding and stealing treasures. Skarper is an unusually thoughtful goblin (since most goblins don’t progress beyond bashing each other over the head, this isn’t hard) whose brains and interest in reading and maps lands him in a whole heap of trouble. In fact, it very nearly gets him killed–and that’s only the beginning of the story. A young hero looking for adventure (preferably one without cheese), some semi-dark minions of the Lych Lord, a pragmatic princess and a host of other creatures all populate this richly imagined world. Adventure awaits around every corner here . . . but it’s not always the one that our heroes would expect.
Philip Reeve is certainly no slouch when it comes to deft writing. This tale comes packed with a great opening that manages to conjure the feeling of an aging fantasy land, or setting for gamers on a Dungeons and Dragons style quest–and then quite happily catapults readers expectations out the window. While younger readers may not be familiar with D&D campaigns, they likely are familiar with the online games full of quests and monsters and every sort of fantasy trope imaginable. Philip Reeve taps into this beautifully. There are brilliant moments where the writing manages to be both grand and funny in the same passage “she remembered how, when the tide was high, the foam came feathering out of blowholes in the cliff tops with a great Ker-chooof! and the spray drifted across the harbor, filled with rainbows. That was how the town had got its name: Porthstrewy, which meant sneeze harbor in the olden tongue.” And my particular favorite is the “Bumwipe Heaps”. Which is what the goblins term the pile of books and scrolls that have accumulated over the years. Reeve doesn’t just supply his world with fantasy creatures, but gives them a history and an origin that captures the reader and pulls them in.
Rather than an overtly comic story where everything is done with slapstick and over the top comedy, here the general tone is more serious, with the humor gently woven in. In some ways, the author’s work reminds me of Terry Pratchett (though without the footnotes). Despite the humor, there are some serious themes here about the price of power and what things truly count as treasure. A magical adventure that should appeal to boys and girls, especially those already familiar with fantasy tropes and traditional stories. This may not appeal to those who prefer more in-depth character exploration and growth as the author does tend to keep the characters at arm’s length, but this appears to be intentional in the design of the story. An excellent lighthearted middle-grade fantasy.
My small concerns are actually with the book’s title and cover art. While it’s not a terrible title, the single word is fairly vague and generic–sort of like calling a book “Elves” or “Giants” (of course, if this is Philip Reeve’s general idea for a title progression in a series of books, I may take back my complaint). I just don’t feel like the title is distinctive enough, nor does it really capture anything of the tone of the book. Without a unique wording, it becomes harder to remember and locate the title, though I hardly think this will sink the book. As to covers, I’m a bit mixed on the art. This novel was released in Britain last year with a green cover and cartoonish looking goblins on the top and bottom.
The Brit cover captures the humor of the book, but may oversell the comedy aspect for a story that’s also pretty thoughtful. The U.S. cover may go overboard in the other direction. While it gives us a great depiction of our two main protagonists, the story comes across as more dramatic adventure than comic. Both covers have their appeal, but I’m not certain either quite nails the tone.
Readers who enjoy Patricia Wrede’s Dealing With Dragons, The Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones and Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett will likely want to check this one out!
March 25, 2015
This clever story pokes fun at common fantasy conventions and tropes while appealing to young readers with its scatological humor. If you liked Christopher Healy's satire on fairy tales in "The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom" then you'll enjoy this one. Meet goblin Skarper, a whippersnapper that teaches himself to read and makes the mistake of correcting the King Goblin, Knobbler, about the definition of a pirate. Even though Skarper's right, but no one likes a smartypants, especially a cranky king goblin. Skarper's catapulted off the "bratapult" winding up outside the castle ruins of his home and in the company of Hewyn, a cheesewright, who wants to be a hero instead of taking over his family's cheese business. Hewyn, who is a bit of a cheese brain, is on his way to saving a princess from a giant when Skarper saves his life from a troll.
Hewyn accidentally blew up his dad's cheese factory and he thinks he can redeem himself by becoming a hero. His cheese disaster reminded me of Big Anthony in Strega Nona. On their way Skarper and Hewyn are intercepted by three sorcerers that capture them and make Skarper lead them back to his home at Blackspike Tower in Clovenstone so they can reclaim the evil Lych Lord's power. A comet is nearing their planet and magic is stirring. Lych Lord has been dead for "years without numbers," sealing up his tower. By the way, lych, means corpse. Between friendly giants, boglins (froggy-goblin hybrids), goblins, a middle-aged princess, dragons, a prophecy, amulets, and more, this action-packed fun ride will satisfy many fantasy lovers.
The play on names pokes fun at a gazillion fantasy conventions. Okay, maybe not a gazillion, but a lot. King Arthur had Excalibar. King Knobbler has Mr. Chop-U-Up. J.R.R. Tolkien had Bilboa Baggins of Bag End where he made Frodo Baggins his heir to the disappointment of the Sackville-Baggins. Here, there is King Lusuenn's daughter, Princess Eluned from Porthstrewy who is to be married to Colvennor of Choon. It's on the Northerly Gate of Colvenstone along the Nibbled Coast by Oeth Moor. Sounds like Tolkien drunk on Dr. Seuss. Tolkien liked to use "Dor" such-and-such, like Dor-Lomin of Hithlum by the Mountains of Mithrim. Reeve has the plain of Dor Koth and the Battle of Dor Koth by the Bonehill Mountains. Are you laughing yet? Or maybe you are cross-eyed.
When Hewyn finally reaches his princess he is going to rescue, he discovers it's been forty years and she is grey, middle-aged, and very happy living with her friendly giant and on a ship that sits atop the high tower where the battlements of the Westerly Gate arise. Oof. This is one silly tale that I know my students will like. There's the bumwipe heap where the goblins use book papers to wipe their bums. There's the King Knobbler that secretly wears pink undies and is terrified his subjects will discover the fact making him the butt, I mean brunt of jokes. Last month my third graders changed the html code on Follett catalog to "Poop is awesome." Hoorah. They'll love all the poop references. The kindergarteners are into "Booboo butt" thanks to "The Book with No Pictures" by P.J. Novak. It will be a while before those mini goblins can read this chapter book but it will be a hit when they do.
There are several villains, invisible ink, treasure hunters, beserkers, cloud maidens, and creepy batlike men. Skarper, who chooses friendship over power and treasure, is the real hero. He wants treasure but resists the urge when he sees how the person with power lavishes gifts only to turn toward punishment when people disagree with him or her. Power can destroy a person as well as ruin friendships and isolate the person in power - as it does to one of the characters in this tale.
The plot has a quest and follows the Hero's Journey or monomyth as Skarper sets forth to get into the castle and find the hidden treasure. Skarper encounters obstacles before facing an ultimate challenge that changes him in the end; that being his discovery of true friendship. From the opening sentence the reader is immediately clued in that this is a high fantasy novel with its funny, melodramatic tone, "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 ruins of a castle is described and it sounds quite serious until the second page where Skarper is screaming "Aaaaaah!" as he is catapulted off the tower. Get ready to scream folks. This one is a hoot. The end suggests a sequel as the two adventurers muse over how dull life is once the excitement is over. Get thee to a bookstore to purchase thy grand "Goblins" book.
Hewyn accidentally blew up his dad's cheese factory and he thinks he can redeem himself by becoming a hero. His cheese disaster reminded me of Big Anthony in Strega Nona. On their way Skarper and Hewyn are intercepted by three sorcerers that capture them and make Skarper lead them back to his home at Blackspike Tower in Clovenstone so they can reclaim the evil Lych Lord's power. A comet is nearing their planet and magic is stirring. Lych Lord has been dead for "years without numbers," sealing up his tower. By the way, lych, means corpse. Between friendly giants, boglins (froggy-goblin hybrids), goblins, a middle-aged princess, dragons, a prophecy, amulets, and more, this action-packed fun ride will satisfy many fantasy lovers.
The play on names pokes fun at a gazillion fantasy conventions. Okay, maybe not a gazillion, but a lot. King Arthur had Excalibar. King Knobbler has Mr. Chop-U-Up. J.R.R. Tolkien had Bilboa Baggins of Bag End where he made Frodo Baggins his heir to the disappointment of the Sackville-Baggins. Here, there is King Lusuenn's daughter, Princess Eluned from Porthstrewy who is to be married to Colvennor of Choon. It's on the Northerly Gate of Colvenstone along the Nibbled Coast by Oeth Moor. Sounds like Tolkien drunk on Dr. Seuss. Tolkien liked to use "Dor" such-and-such, like Dor-Lomin of Hithlum by the Mountains of Mithrim. Reeve has the plain of Dor Koth and the Battle of Dor Koth by the Bonehill Mountains. Are you laughing yet? Or maybe you are cross-eyed.
When Hewyn finally reaches his princess he is going to rescue, he discovers it's been forty years and she is grey, middle-aged, and very happy living with her friendly giant and on a ship that sits atop the high tower where the battlements of the Westerly Gate arise. Oof. This is one silly tale that I know my students will like. There's the bumwipe heap where the goblins use book papers to wipe their bums. There's the King Knobbler that secretly wears pink undies and is terrified his subjects will discover the fact making him the butt, I mean brunt of jokes. Last month my third graders changed the html code on Follett catalog to "Poop is awesome." Hoorah. They'll love all the poop references. The kindergarteners are into "Booboo butt" thanks to "The Book with No Pictures" by P.J. Novak. It will be a while before those mini goblins can read this chapter book but it will be a hit when they do.
There are several villains, invisible ink, treasure hunters, beserkers, cloud maidens, and creepy batlike men. Skarper, who chooses friendship over power and treasure, is the real hero. He wants treasure but resists the urge when he sees how the person with power lavishes gifts only to turn toward punishment when people disagree with him or her. Power can destroy a person as well as ruin friendships and isolate the person in power - as it does to one of the characters in this tale.
The plot has a quest and follows the Hero's Journey or monomyth as Skarper sets forth to get into the castle and find the hidden treasure. Skarper encounters obstacles before facing an ultimate challenge that changes him in the end; that being his discovery of true friendship. From the opening sentence the reader is immediately clued in that this is a high fantasy novel with its funny, melodramatic tone, "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 ruins of a castle is described and it sounds quite serious until the second page where Skarper is screaming "Aaaaaah!" as he is catapulted off the tower. Get ready to scream folks. This one is a hoot. The end suggests a sequel as the two adventurers muse over how dull life is once the excitement is over. Get thee to a bookstore to purchase thy grand "Goblins" book.
August 5, 2013
I got a copy of this book through Netgalley(dot)com to review. This book has a companion novel called Goblins vs. Dwarves; Goblins was originally released in the UK in 2012...I haven’t seen a US release date for Goblins vs. Dwarves yet. This was a super fun read that is appropriate for all ages; me and my family absolutely loved it.
This story is about a goblin named Skarper who doesn't fit in with the rest of the goblins at Clovenstone; he’s just too smart to be a goblin. When he is kicked out of the tower...or uh more like catapulted out, he runs into a cheesewright named Henwyn who wants to become a hero. Skarper and Henwyn part ways but not for long. It looks like changes are coming to Clovenstone and that the Lych Lord might be ready to awaken.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read it with my six year old son (and husband who listened in) and it was a great read. It was full of good ole fantasy adventure, battles, lots of humor, lessons in friendship and lessons in what happens when someone gets too much power.
We laughed out loud a number of times and enjoyed the irony of a little goblin being the most sensible of a bunch of heroic (or not so heroic) humans.
Skarper is an excellent character. He just wants to be left alone to read pages of paper he finds in the goblins bumwipe piles (yep, you can guess what the goblins usually use that paper for). However when he gets too smart for his own good he is catapulted into the world beyond...literally. Still determined to see what there is to see of the world he sets off, only to run into Henwyn.
Upon their meeting Henwyn is convinced that Skarper is a troll...that is until a troll attcks him and Skarper. Henwyn is a cheesewright with aspirations of becoming a hero. Henwyn is a bundle of good intentions, but isn’t so gifted in the brains department.
Both heros met unlikely princesses, giants, and sorcerers along the way. None of these characters are what they first appear to be leading to the assumption that...my dear reader...appearances can be very deceiving.
When boglins get involved things get sticky and then lots of adventures and breathtaking fights ensue. Things are looking up until we get involved with the Lich Lord and then...well...have you ever meet a good Lych Lord?
This book was absolutely tons of fun to read and has lots of great lessons. It's a good old swords and sorcery fantasy with a lot of humor and a lot of heart; something that’s hard to find. My son loved it and looked forward to reading it with me every night. My husband would get upset if we started without him because he had to know what was going to happen next.
The story has a lot of twists and turns and is very well written. This is one of those wonderful books that assumes children are intelligent and can follow a somewhat complicated story.
Overall I absolutely loved this story and so did my 6 year old and husband. It’s a good old swords and sorcery fantasy with tons of humor, irony, heart, and even good life lessons (absolute power corrupts absolutely and don’t judge a book by its cover). I wholeheartedly recommend this book to fantasy fans of all ages. It is a fun read, never gets too scary, and has excellent action and adventure in a wonderful world. I will definitely be picking up Goblins vs Dwaves when it releases in the US (or I might even buy it from the UK).
This story is about a goblin named Skarper who doesn't fit in with the rest of the goblins at Clovenstone; he’s just too smart to be a goblin. When he is kicked out of the tower...or uh more like catapulted out, he runs into a cheesewright named Henwyn who wants to become a hero. Skarper and Henwyn part ways but not for long. It looks like changes are coming to Clovenstone and that the Lych Lord might be ready to awaken.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read it with my six year old son (and husband who listened in) and it was a great read. It was full of good ole fantasy adventure, battles, lots of humor, lessons in friendship and lessons in what happens when someone gets too much power.
We laughed out loud a number of times and enjoyed the irony of a little goblin being the most sensible of a bunch of heroic (or not so heroic) humans.
Skarper is an excellent character. He just wants to be left alone to read pages of paper he finds in the goblins bumwipe piles (yep, you can guess what the goblins usually use that paper for). However when he gets too smart for his own good he is catapulted into the world beyond...literally. Still determined to see what there is to see of the world he sets off, only to run into Henwyn.
Upon their meeting Henwyn is convinced that Skarper is a troll...that is until a troll attcks him and Skarper. Henwyn is a cheesewright with aspirations of becoming a hero. Henwyn is a bundle of good intentions, but isn’t so gifted in the brains department.
Both heros met unlikely princesses, giants, and sorcerers along the way. None of these characters are what they first appear to be leading to the assumption that...my dear reader...appearances can be very deceiving.
When boglins get involved things get sticky and then lots of adventures and breathtaking fights ensue. Things are looking up until we get involved with the Lich Lord and then...well...have you ever meet a good Lych Lord?
This book was absolutely tons of fun to read and has lots of great lessons. It's a good old swords and sorcery fantasy with a lot of humor and a lot of heart; something that’s hard to find. My son loved it and looked forward to reading it with me every night. My husband would get upset if we started without him because he had to know what was going to happen next.
The story has a lot of twists and turns and is very well written. This is one of those wonderful books that assumes children are intelligent and can follow a somewhat complicated story.
Overall I absolutely loved this story and so did my 6 year old and husband. It’s a good old swords and sorcery fantasy with tons of humor, irony, heart, and even good life lessons (absolute power corrupts absolutely and don’t judge a book by its cover). I wholeheartedly recommend this book to fantasy fans of all ages. It is a fun read, never gets too scary, and has excellent action and adventure in a wonderful world. I will definitely be picking up Goblins vs Dwaves when it releases in the US (or I might even buy it from the UK).
May 10, 2012
A new book from Philip Reeve is always something to be excited about. For me, he is on a par with Tolkien or Pratchett. The Mortal Engines quartet, its prequel, Fever Crumb series and the magnificent Larklight trilogy are amongst my favourite books, as is Here Lies Arthur. So I was expecting very good things from Goblins.
For the most part, I was not disappointed. The book is a very humorous and imaginative tale, lovely characters, the lead, Scarper the goblin, is particularly good; an element of Rincewind about him I thought. Reeve writes superbly, always, and this book is no exception, clever turns of phrase and deft timing throughout, he can hold suspense well and if there is action you can hear the clash of steel in your mind.
I have given the book 4/5, as I thought it was not quite as wonderful as his previous books. But then, this is a book especially targeted at children, not a problem for me, I usually read kids books, but it did not have the darkness and deep philosophy I often enjoy from Reeve, and felt a little lightweight as a result. This is compared to his own work, rather than that of others; really it should be a straight 5/5 and would probably be from any other author.
Pleased to see that a film company has optioned this book for an animated feature, as it really would lend itself to that. The whole time I was reading it, I kept thinking it reminded me of the cartoon series, The Dreamstone, a childhood favourite of mine. The humour seemed similar and the slightly slapstick lifestyles the goblins lead reminded me of the Urpneys, not to mention the missing Lych Lord on his stone throne, much like Zordrak. Not suggesting it is in any way a copy of the idea, they are very different, just a fond memory rekindled.
For the most part, I was not disappointed. The book is a very humorous and imaginative tale, lovely characters, the lead, Scarper the goblin, is particularly good; an element of Rincewind about him I thought. Reeve writes superbly, always, and this book is no exception, clever turns of phrase and deft timing throughout, he can hold suspense well and if there is action you can hear the clash of steel in your mind.
I have given the book 4/5, as I thought it was not quite as wonderful as his previous books. But then, this is a book especially targeted at children, not a problem for me, I usually read kids books, but it did not have the darkness and deep philosophy I often enjoy from Reeve, and felt a little lightweight as a result. This is compared to his own work, rather than that of others; really it should be a straight 5/5 and would probably be from any other author.
Pleased to see that a film company has optioned this book for an animated feature, as it really would lend itself to that. The whole time I was reading it, I kept thinking it reminded me of the cartoon series, The Dreamstone, a childhood favourite of mine. The humour seemed similar and the slightly slapstick lifestyles the goblins lead reminded me of the Urpneys, not to mention the missing Lych Lord on his stone throne, much like Zordrak. Not suggesting it is in any way a copy of the idea, they are very different, just a fond memory rekindled.
May 6, 2014
This is a speculative 2 star and I may go back to edit this review in a few years. I like Philip Reeve and I love Mortal Engines. I think the idea is wacky and different. I was looking forward to this book when it appeared in my school as a possible KS3 text. I couldn't wait to read it.
Unfortunately, it's clearly not KS3 but a far lower age group entering fantasy for the first time. Reeve wrote it for his 8 year old son and he loved it. My son is just 2 and so I can't even relate to this currently...but I will in the future and change my rating if I have got it wrong. It's just not a text for me currently.
The problem for me is that it feels very juvenile. I got as far as bumwipe back in October and then abandoned the book. I started reading it this week and I feel the same. It's a great idea for a book but it's just not my flavour. It's mainly toilet humour and the story sort of plods along in a very small corner of a much larger world.
I would, naturally, read all of Reeve's books and I do rate him highly as an author but this felt like a personal project for him (his own words off his site) and I couldn't relate to where it was coming from.
I promise to read the book again when my son is old enough and change my review if need be -happy to be proven wrong!
Unfortunately, it's clearly not KS3 but a far lower age group entering fantasy for the first time. Reeve wrote it for his 8 year old son and he loved it. My son is just 2 and so I can't even relate to this currently...but I will in the future and change my rating if I have got it wrong. It's just not a text for me currently.
The problem for me is that it feels very juvenile. I got as far as bumwipe back in October and then abandoned the book. I started reading it this week and I feel the same. It's a great idea for a book but it's just not my flavour. It's mainly toilet humour and the story sort of plods along in a very small corner of a much larger world.
I would, naturally, read all of Reeve's books and I do rate him highly as an author but this felt like a personal project for him (his own words off his site) and I couldn't relate to where it was coming from.
I promise to read the book again when my son is old enough and change my review if need be -happy to be proven wrong!
January 21, 2015
Great MG fantasy :)
July 13, 2018
It was easy to read, well written, amusing at times, but not unputdownable. Not one of his best, but still a good read.
July 22, 2017
Goblin-world of adventure, lost my interest but target market will enjoy
I listened to the audiobook, and had to concentrate hard to keep abreast of plot developments, as I found this rather lacking in humour and didn't find it stood out against other similar fantasy books I've read recently.
I have read Reeve before and enjoyed him, this has never been my favourite genre, and as a thirty-something woman, I'm really not the reader he envisaged, so please don't let me put you off!
There are goblins and humans, funny words and a plot of adventure. It felt like a less-funny Muddle Earth, with a human and goblin joining forces. Skarper, the downtrodden goblin, manages to overcome his lowly status and learn to read, something goblins don't do.
This will be one to recommend to male readers particularly, as part of a series, and with lots of fantasy staples, this could be a comfortable read that feels familiar but offers a decent level of challenge.
The audiobook is clearly read, I just might have done better with the paper copy. In a few years, I might see if my sons enjoy this.
I listened to the audiobook, and had to concentrate hard to keep abreast of plot developments, as I found this rather lacking in humour and didn't find it stood out against other similar fantasy books I've read recently.
I have read Reeve before and enjoyed him, this has never been my favourite genre, and as a thirty-something woman, I'm really not the reader he envisaged, so please don't let me put you off!
There are goblins and humans, funny words and a plot of adventure. It felt like a less-funny Muddle Earth, with a human and goblin joining forces. Skarper, the downtrodden goblin, manages to overcome his lowly status and learn to read, something goblins don't do.
This will be one to recommend to male readers particularly, as part of a series, and with lots of fantasy staples, this could be a comfortable read that feels familiar but offers a decent level of challenge.
The audiobook is clearly read, I just might have done better with the paper copy. In a few years, I might see if my sons enjoy this.
October 10, 2017
In this inventive fairy-tale-gone-wrong narrative, Mr. Reeve glibly turns various tropes on their knobby heads. Goblins aren’t always stupid, head-banging fortune hunters. Heroes find heroing to be disappointing as damsels in distress are rather thin on the ground and magic, like the tide, comes and goes…often for very long periods of time.
Mr. Reeve gives the bulk of the novel from the viewpoint of one Skarper, a clever and unusual goblin, one who much prefers reading and thinking to fighting his various siblings for shares in treasure and food. Like many educated people, he lets his mouth run away with him once too often…which is why the novel begins with Skarper being catapulted off a very tall tower.
Filled with friendly giants, bossy twig creatures, an aging princess in no need of being rescued (thank you very much), a clueless hero with no battle training and a nocked sword, cowardly black sorcerers (ha, they wish!) and the troublesome re-awakening of magic, Goblins is funny, innovative, adventurous and filled with lively characters and dialogue. It’s a treat for anyone who prefers their fantasy novels quirky and off kilter.
Mr. Reeve gives the bulk of the novel from the viewpoint of one Skarper, a clever and unusual goblin, one who much prefers reading and thinking to fighting his various siblings for shares in treasure and food. Like many educated people, he lets his mouth run away with him once too often…which is why the novel begins with Skarper being catapulted off a very tall tower.
Filled with friendly giants, bossy twig creatures, an aging princess in no need of being rescued (thank you very much), a clueless hero with no battle training and a nocked sword, cowardly black sorcerers (ha, they wish!) and the troublesome re-awakening of magic, Goblins is funny, innovative, adventurous and filled with lively characters and dialogue. It’s a treat for anyone who prefers their fantasy novels quirky and off kilter.
October 5, 2017
This is a great fantasy book in a fictional dimension of earth. In a fairly advanced medieval world, there are creatures of all shapes and sizes. Enter Scarper, the runt of his goblin litter, and more intellectual than his entire clan of numbskulls. He gets kicked out of his clan, much to his relief, and meets a human with ambitions to be a hero. Join them and other characters as the journey to restore magic to the lost stronghold known as the keep, where the ancient warlock Lych Lord's body lies, awaiting a successor...
I have read this book about 5 times, and I always am able to find a new meaning and relive the adventure like I never had before.
I have read this book about 5 times, and I always am able to find a new meaning and relive the adventure like I never had before.
September 21, 2019
Какво ви идва на ум като чуете името Филип Рийв? „Смъртоносни машини”, разбира се! Е, пригответе се за нова книжна асоциация, при това доста различна от постапокалиптичния стиймпънк, който неотдавна завладя и кина, и книжарници (отново). С логото на „Дуо Дизайн” до нас пристигат „Гоблини” - едно шашаво фентъзи за подрастващи. И за непораснали също. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
October 31, 2019
This book was a flash a light in a sea of so-so books I've read lately! <3
It was cute as well as hilarious, with a great pace of action that did not avoid pauses for internal reflection. I loved the various characters' voices, as well as the whimsical setting and background world.
I will absolutely be getting the next in the series out of the library.
It was cute as well as hilarious, with a great pace of action that did not avoid pauses for internal reflection. I loved the various characters' voices, as well as the whimsical setting and background world.
I will absolutely be getting the next in the series out of the library.
July 25, 2017
This funny adventure story turns all the fantasy conventions on it's head, starting with giving the small goblin minion the narrator's duties. My husband is a huge Philip Reeve fan, and this stands out as one of his favorites.
December 22, 2018
This is a great book for any young readers that enjoy, or are exploring, the fantasy genre. It’s also a great start to the series with imaginative & strangely endearing characters. Definitely worth recommending for book groups or readers that enjoy Fantasy novels.
May 18, 2019
The unlikely pair of a cheese write hero and a goblin. It started slow, but the adventure trailed on and soon I was hooked in the story. If you're tired of the same old formula for adventure and magic, then this book the perfect book for you.
May 31, 2017
It is a very good book. It is like Hobbit but less serious especially in the start. It feels similar but different at the same time.
April 5, 2018
The ending could have been better.
October 24, 2019
I loved this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fantasy book about things that don't exist.
January 9, 2020
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April 21, 2020
Between Pratchett and Tolkien? No.
But an easy read for one-two evenings, mostly for younger readers.
But an easy read for one-two evenings, mostly for younger readers.
December 30, 2020
This is the first part of a Goblins trilogy. I really enjoyed the characters in this novel. The adventures and dialogue carried the day. I would love to read parts 2 and 3 as soon as possible. Highly recommended.
February 24, 2021
good book
November 1, 2021
Endelig en bog som fik mig til at grine flere gange, og som på nogle måder minder mig om diskverden.
February 10, 2022
Well, kids book, what else could you expect. A tiny bit too much deus ex machina, but fun.
August 11, 2022
I loved this book and I think its perfect for kids that like adventure. This book combined a lot of generes that kids like,perfectly! I recomand this book from all my heart!😍
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