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The Goblin Wood (Goblin Wood #1)

by Hilari Bell (Goodreads Author)

3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 · rating details · 1,901 ratings · 132 reviews

" It began with the chiming of the tiny copper bell on the mantel, warning them someone was passing the ward stone her mother had placed on the path to their house ..." One terrible day, Makenna, a young hedgewitch, witnesses her mother's murder at the hands of their own neighbors. Striken with grief and rage, Makenna flees the village that has been her home. In the wilds...more

Hardcover, 294 pages

Published April 15th 2003 by Eos

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Feb 27, 2013 nimrodiel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-books-read, ebooks, fiction, sci-fi-fantasy, young-adult

Makenna is a young hedgewitch who watched her mother die at the hands of the villagers she had helped with her small magical ability. Unable to cope with the laws abolishing magic practiced outside of the church, Makenna strikes off into the wilderness of the north. On her travels, she saves the life of a goblin, who teaches her of the goblins sense of debt and loyalty.

Tobin is a knight who has lost everything. In order to save his brother he has been stripped of his title, his responsability, a...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Dawn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is book one of a fantasy trilogy which my son and I discovered last Fall. There is a lot of second-rate fantasy out there, so finding these books was a pleasant surprise. They are really quite good. The setting is a land where the ruling theocracy has outlawed magic use by anyone except the priests. Thus the government is trying to exterminate or at least drive out all minor magic users and all magical creatures. The main character is a young hedgewitch named Makenna, whose mother was murde...more

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Jul 25, 2011 J.L. Hilton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Surprisingly good book for all ages. I've read A LOT of fantasy books over the past three decades, and I've become a bit cynical about them. But this one was refreshing, easy to read, and engaging. It avoided cliches, it had a strong, intelligent but not overdone heroine (this is NOT Xena Warrior Princess), and the hero was not your usual Brad Pitt in shining armor. And the fact that it portrayed teenagers as deeply loyal, capable, family-loving, and intelligent -- not just shallow, sex-driven d...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Sue Donym rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

This is easily one of my favourite fantasy novels. It is one that has a plot that keeps you interested, but also possesses enough depth to reward close-reading.

Makenna's struggle with the goblins is a fairly obvious metaphor for environmentalism, but what is most interesting about her side of the story is the way she continues to distance herself from humanity until she entirely no longer sees herself as a part of society. It is the realization that this is impossible which provides a good part...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Aisha Oaktree rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This story is about the hedgewitch Makenna, who's life is turned upside down when her mother is killed for practicing witchcraft. Makenna is then left to fend for herself in a world where she no longer belongs. She makes an unlikely friend in a goblin, by entrapping him with no real magical intent, and becomes a good ally with him and his people. It's a story about what happens to the inhabitants of the Goblin wood when humans are forced from their own homes by barbarians intent on settling thei...more This story is about the hedgewitch Makenna, who's life is turned upside down when her mother is killed for practicing witchcraft. Makenna is then left to fend for herself in a world where she no longer belongs. She makes an unlikely friend in a goblin, by entrapping him with no real magical intent, and becomes a good ally with him and his people. It's a story about what happens to the inhabitants of the Goblin wood when humans are forced from their own homes by barbarians intent on settling their lands. It's funny to read and see how quickly people are willing to look away from another's suffering if it means they live to see another day. This is Makenna's attempt to right that wrong and of course get vengeance for her mother.

It very much mirrors a lot of our own human history and I believe that's what makes it so heart-wrenching real. The author writes a character that is flawed, lovable, and so human in her reactions, that you can't help but feel as she feels throughout the book. The story only gets more interesting as she meets Sir Tobin a knight bent of gaining back his place and honor, among his people. And the battle between the two ensue. How far would you go to protect your people, and who is worth dieing so another might live??

I enjoyed reading this book, even though some would consider it YA i have to wonder, how is it these are young adult books, they defiantly deal with more adult mores and issues that books when i was younger. I remember my mom getting upset about me reading Judy Blume's Forever, (gods I just aged myself didn't i, the fervor wasn't as strong in the 90s as it was in the 70s but for a Church going woman this book was akin to blaspheme, with it's premarital sex and relationships. ) she'd have a coronary about these books now. But then again she let an 11 year old read Anne Rice, (of course I didn't tell her everything about the books) so..... Anyhoo, check this one out my loves it's actually pretty good. And the ending, well it totatlly explains so much, like why my things go missing all the time. Excuse me while i go put a bowl of milk out. Lol
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Aug 17, 2011 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-read

The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell

My Summary:

When Makenna is eleven, her mother is killed before her hiding eyes for being a sorceress. Though her mother is really just a hedgewitch, the Priests of the church are looking for absolute power. Makenna seeks her revenge on the village of human who had been healed and cared for by her mother only to turn against her at the Priests request. But the Goblins in the woods won’t leave her alone as she retreats. They steal everything she has and she must find...more The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell

My Summary:

When Makenna is eleven, her mother is killed before her hiding eyes for being a sorceress. Though her mother is really just a hedgewitch, the Priests of the church are looking for absolute power. Makenna seeks her revenge on the village of human who had been healed and cared for by her mother only to turn against her at the Priests request. But the Goblins in the woods won’t leave her alone as she retreats. They steal everything she has and she must find a way to survive with them. Meanwhile, Tobin is growing up and becoming a knight for the Hierarch. Both Tobin and his younger brother, Jeriah, fight to protect the human settlements from the barbarians to the south but the fight goes badly. Every winter the barbarians increase their numbers regardless of how many are killed. Then Jeriah makes a critical error forcing Tobin to take his place or see him killed. Trying to find some way to get out of the mess his brother has made, Tobin agrees to go to the Goblin woods looking for the now older sorceress, Makenna. It is a battle of wits that neither side may win as no one truly understands all of the secrets that are hiding.

My Thoughts:

4 Stars – A great read

The Goblin Woods is a classic fantasy tale. There is great world building including an interesting “cast” system among magical creatures. Some magic is considered good and some bad. I enjoyed the goblin society with payment required in trade for any service or knowledge given. What I really liked was that the world wasn’t so complicated that it weighed down the story. I often get overwhelmed with fantasy books that take so much explication that I can’t enjoy the story.

The characters were interesting and complicated. Makenna has a rough start but she manages to get through it with some of her humanity in tack. Tobin was been dealt a raw deal but his sense of right and wrong is still there. One of the best parts of the story is the way the author shows both points of view of a very complex issue. What seems clear to one side is muddled by the other. Who is really right and who is wrong? Can solutions only be found when complete understanding is to be had? It was quite interesting.
I would recommend this for the younger side of YA fantasy book lovers.
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May 08, 2009 Kaitlyn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I picked this book up at the school bookfair- not really knowing why. Maybe because there was nothing else there but... Well, after reading it- I definitely don't regret buying it. This book didn't seem all that long while I was reading it, but when I thought about it- the author really took you for a long ride. But this was a page turner, and it just flew by! I thought Bell's description of the goblins was PERFECT with all the different varieties and heights. I especially loved the goblin chil...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Samantha Jacobus rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review is a little spoilery, but not much more so than a jacket cover might be.

I am predictably a sucker for books about rebellious, kick-ass, resourceful, and stubborn female protagonists. And this book doesn't disappoint! Makenna starts off the book with a bang, striking off on her own after circumstances have forced her into dire action, and almost immediately she finds herself at odds with some goblins. Her despair is brief, and they eventually reach an understanding which ultimately leads...more

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Aug 17, 2010 Jessi Hafeman rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Very enjoyable read with a strong plot not always found in young adult fantasies and an insightful message. Strong parallels to World History with mankind pushing aside and persecuting those who are different from them in order to take over their lands. The characters develop well in the story. Makenna, leader for the goblins against mankinds cruelty, comes to realize the world is not so simple/black and white. She sees that her enemies are just leaders like her doing what they have to to help t...more

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Aug 09, 2010 Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, reviewed

This was the first novel I pulled off the YA bookshelves at age twelve. I checked it out of the library, inhaled the book, and bought my own copy two days later.

The writing is concise and measured in a way that few books are. It is strong in that it carries the story; you don't pay the writing any special notice because with its precise word choice, the story just flows.

The characters are well-developed. No one is completely good or evil; everyone has a motive of personal gain. Their flaws and...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Katrina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, knights-and-princesses-and-dragons, read-more-than-once

I bought this book in middle school, and I vaguely remember being enchanted with the heroine, Makenna. Years later, I found it amongst stacks of books recently brought out of storage, and was too curious not to read it again.

This book is fabulous. It has a strong, scrappy main character who really has to keep her wits about her. The male lead, Tobin, seemed like a decent guy to start off with, but by the end I found myself getting more and more invested in his fate as well.

But what impressed me...more

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Sep 05, 2011 Orchid rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, contest-wins

Review taken from my blog, The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia.

First Sentence:

Makenna had to stretch onto her toes to reach the small stone lamp, for the shelf that held it was higher than a grown woman's head, and she was only eleven.

The Goblin Wood had been sitting on my TBR pile for maybe two months when I picked it up out of the blue a few days ago. I could not put it down at all because I was just so caught up in the world, characters, and writing of Ms. Bell.

I'm wishing that I had not put of...more

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Sep 08, 2010 Evanhatch rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For our first book review assignment, I decided to read and review The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell. The first thing I have to say about the book is that it was definitely a good read. In the first few chapters I, to say the least, was bored. However, after Makenna formed the alliance with the goblins, I could not put this book down. I felt that through the book, Makenna became less and less of a main character as it progressed. For example, when the book skipped 5 years I felt like Hilari Bell c...more For our first book review assignment, I decided to read and review The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell. The first thing I have to say about the book is that it was definitely a good read. In the first few chapters I, to say the least, was bored. However, after Makenna formed the alliance with the goblins, I could not put this book down. I felt that through the book, Makenna became less and less of a main character as it progressed. For example, when the book skipped 5 years I felt like Hilari Bell could have added much more detail about how things were progressing in Makenna's life. Simply put, this book could have been written a lot better than it was. The premise and world that was created deserved a lot better.

The book starts with a girl named Makenna, she is a hedgewitch as is her mother. The townspeople murder her mother for use of magic and Makenna is forced to leave her town. Makenna is harassed by goblins and attempts to catch one. She catches a goblin named Cogswhallop and sets him free for no reason. Cogswhallop soon becomes angry with Makenna because he is now in her debt. The goblins stop harassing Makenna and she meets more of Cogswhallop's goblin friends. They tell Makenna of the humans' ways and Makenna forms an alliance with them to destroy the humans. The hierarchy soon realizes Makenna's trouble making and sends a knight named Tobin to capture her. Tobin was falsely accused of treason and accepts punishment which is to capture Makenna. Tobin comes into the goblin wood to reclaim his honor, and capture Makenna. Tobin's plans are foiled though when he tries to plant a stone in the goblin's lair near Makenna to spy on her given to him by a priest of the bright ones far in a northern village near Makenna.The goblins put Tobin in a jail cell and chained to a post. There, he watches and learns the customs of the goblins and finds that human and goblin children are very similar. Makenna visits Tobin one day and casts a spell on him to find out any information that he might hold. Tobin is released to walk around town with the goblin children. Tobin becomes fond of the goblins as do they of him. That night, the village is raided by knights from the outpost where Tobin met the priest of the bright ones, Tobin helps the goblins fight but the knights are too strong and the goblins flee. Makenna sneaks into the village as a servant and saves a child from choking to death and the hiring family accepts her because of this. She flees that night and meets up with the goblins to plan their attack. The next night, Tobin and Makenna try to sneak back in to the village but Tobin gets caught trying to steal the priest's spell books in hopes of leading the goblins to a new world. Makenna jumps in after him and they soon escape the tents with the spell books. They find a spell that can lead the goblins to a new world and using a magical wall, they perform the spell and create a portal into a new world. Right as the army comes over the hill, Makenna, Tobin, and the goblins disappear into the portal and Cogswhallop and some of the other goblins stay and fight the humans.

Overall, the book was ok and I think if there is nothing else to read, this is a good read for readers who are beyond boredom.(less)

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Jul 12, 2007 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: most people

This was a really good book because it was interesting and it was a "page turner". I read it when I was in about 5th grade and I'm sure if I read it again I would still love it. It was a very original story from my point of view and I would recommend it to any who like fiction set in this time period.

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Dec 03, 2012 Oneida rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a book that I just happened to pick up one day on a pile of free books and I am so glad I did..........! I found this book to be so amazing! I laughed, I cried, I feel in love with the goblins, Tobin and Makenna. It left me wanting to know more about them and what else happens, so I was very happy to find out there are more books to the series, I can not wait to read them and more by the author Hilari Bell.

In this captivating fantasy adventure, the difference between Bright and Dark ma...more

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Mar 30, 2010 Lisa (Bookworm Lisa) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Makenna is twelve when she watches the villagers drown her mother because she is a hedgewitch. The religion of the land decrees that anyone who has magical abilities and is not a priest is getting their power from evil sources.

As she escapes her village she is followed and harassed by goblins. She captures one, and quickly learns the ways and persecution of the goblins. She then becomes a defender for their cause.

Tobin is a knight who is falsely accused of treason. He takes the punishment to pro...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Ms. Library rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pretty-good, owned, ya-fantasy

So, I really enjoyed this book. I just had so much fun reading it, and I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to find out what happened to Makenna. I needed to know if the goblins survived. There was something about this that just captured my interest.

The writing style is fairly standard. There wasn't really anything about it that captured my interest, and where I thought "Wow that is beautiful." However, I did enjoy myself. I think the plot really drew me in, and the author crafted her story so...more So, I really enjoyed this book. I just had so much fun reading it, and I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to find out what happened to Makenna. I needed to know if the goblins survived. There was something about this that just captured my interest.

The writing style is fairly standard. There wasn't really anything about it that captured my interest, and where I thought "Wow that is beautiful." However, I did enjoy myself. I think the plot really drew me in, and the author crafted her story so well. I think it was interesting how she set up the goblin versus human war, and how the priests really instigated this struggle. I think the idea that the people had to move because of the war in the south, so they simply had to take over the goblin's land and make them the enemy seemed all too familiar. There was something about this that rang very true. Both sides seemed so desperate. The goblins just want to be left alone, but that really isn't an option. They have to deal with change, and they have to figure out that standing and fighting for their land is getting harder and harder.

Makenna is a strong leader, but I liked that she wasn't perfect. She has to learn to be human again, because there is that part of her. She is lonely in a way, and she needs someone to remind her of her own humanity. I liked that the main focus in this book wasn't romance. I liked that she didn't simply give up on her war because of love, and I liked that although a male character was introduced, the main goal of his character was not to fall in love with the hedge witch. Though there are hints of something there, I think it makes sense that it wasn't developed yet.

I was really excited to hear that this was a series, and yes, I have already finished the second one as of this review. I'm happy that it continues to be entertaining and to explore the same themes that this one did. Though its a fairly basic story, I found it to be really wonderful and exactly what I was in the mood for at the moment. If you're looking for a quick read with a little bit of magic, I would recommend this book.(less)

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Jun 21, 2012 Alyssa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I picked this up thinking it would be a (to put it politely) a throwaway read. Some light, fantasy-type literary junk food to pass the time with. I was very wrong.

The characters really drew me in, as did the pacing of the story, which was refreshingly brisk without rushing. And I loved that it was wrapped up with the option of continuing, instead of being another "SURPRISE! PART ONE OF A TRILOGY".

I also really enjoyed the fact that although there were some unscrupulous characters, there were no...more

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Apr 11, 2010 Mical rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I have to hand it to this author, when she chooses to express an opinion on something, she really follows through.
I actually enjoy her writing style, and I was able to make connections to the characters fairly easily, but something about the story was too cut-and-dry. It focused on one or two objectives, the over-all metaphor or points that I felt she was using the story to illustrate to the reader to a degree that sacrificed character development.
This struck me as lamentable because I felt th...more

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Jun 01, 2011 Maxine McLister rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Twelve-year-old Mckenna is a hedge witch (albeit not a very good one). She witnesses her mother, also a hedge witch murdered by the villagers she has always helped. Thus begins an adventure that takes MxKenna and the reader into the Goblin Wood to learn the secrets of the goblins.

The Goblin Wood, is a fast-paced, stand-alone fantasy YA novel by Hilari Bell. It has a strong message about prejudice and intolerance but it doesn't pound the reader over the head with it. Instead, it keeps the reader...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Sharlene rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

I enjoyed this as a fun read, but... This book starts out with a horrible scene, which is attention-grabbing, but never quite resolved in my mind. The ending is a bit unsatisfactory to me as well. Perhaps this is resolved in the sequels, but it just doesn't feel quite complete. Timothy enjoyed this series. It has a lot of evil and death and such, which would be way beyond the comfort level of my 9-year-old (probably forever), which is probably why it is disturbing to me too. I like happy endings...more

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Jun 11, 2011 Amanda Lee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-ya, fantasy

This is a book I remember reading in middle school. I'm glad I decided to re-read it, in preparation for reading the sequel. What I really like about it is that it has interesting characters and character development (both Makenna and Tobin struggle to come to terms with the world in shades of grey). The goblins are my favourite, and I would have liked to see more of them. I wish that the book covered more of the five years that Makenna spent with the goblins, and how she started out as their ge...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reading

In what turned out to be an addicting fantasy novel, Hilari Bell shows love and compassion for goblins, a race often seen in a negative light in fantasy novels.

Betrayed by her own human race, Makenna, a young hedgewitch, flees her village after her mother's execution and finds herself in the company of goblins. With a decree demanding all independent magic wielders are in league with dark forces, a crime demanding execution, she finds refuge among these magical creatures and becomes their leader...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Makenna is only a hedgewitch, less powerful than her mother and a threat to no one. But when the Decree of Bright Magic causes the village to murder her mother, Makenna has no choice but to flee into the woods. It is there she forms an unlikely alliance with the goblins, who are just as unwanted as she. Together, with them and her desire for vengeance, she defends their home in the north against any humans who come their way.

Tobin is a knight fallen from grace, and as Makenna’s threat grows, he...more Makenna is only a hedgewitch, less powerful than her mother and a threat to no one. But when the Decree of Bright Magic causes the village to murder her mother, Makenna has no choice but to flee into the woods. It is there she forms an unlikely alliance with the goblins, who are just as unwanted as she. Together, with them and her desire for vengeance, she defends their home in the north against any humans who come their way.

Tobin is a knight fallen from grace, and as Makenna’s threat grows, he heads into the Goblin Woods to regain his honor back. Makenna has evaded every trap set for her, and her hatred for humans has only grown over the years, but Tobin is different from all the rest, and the stakes are higher than ever before. If there ever was a time to rid the country of the sorceress, it is now. But Makenna’s cause is not wholly unjust.

This book is well written, and I enjoyed it very much. I loved seeing the world through first Makenna’s eyes, and then switching between her and Tobin. Nothing is over explained, but neither am I left confused, with the magic system, the religion, and the political/military things going on. I felt as if I was given the right balance when it came to all of those things. I have a few questions about some of the stuff, but I get the sense those questions will be answered in the next book, which I do plan on reading.

The one area of confusion I had was the first chapter. It felt kind of jumbled, as it was full of little flashbacks to help explain what was going on. I can’t recall any other book where the introduction is spent going back and forth between the present and little snippets of the past. Since I wasn’t familiar with the world or the characters, it felt like a little much.

Also, I can’t say I was a big fan of Makenna for most of the book. I know that I’m supposed to sympathize with her, but her hatred is so strong that it pushes me away. I did like her character arc, and how she slowly changes, but I just found it hard to connect with her. I felt like Tobin was handled a little better. His flaws didn’t push me away from him, but just made me like him all the more.

This book was also pretty predicable, when it came to Makenna and Tobin. Especially with Makenna’s declaration right before the time skip… That last paragraph before then I felt was bad writing, because it basically gave everything away, regarding the two of them. Not that it wasn’t too hard to guess at, but her declaration was WAY too obvious about it.

But even with those few nitpicky things, I really did enjoy this book. Tobin was great, the world felt real and immense, and the goblins were just plain awesome. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.(less)

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Sep 08, 2010 Talulah Mankiller rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Makenna and her mother and both hedgewitches, which is really unfortunate, because the Hierarch (the religious/political leader of the land) has just declared them abominations. Makenna, being only eleven, isn’t so easy for the villagers to “exterminate” (I mean, she’s a kid), but they go right on ahead and wrap her mom in a bunch of chains and then throw her in the lake.

Not surprisingly, the poor woman drowns.

Makenna manages to escape, and here’s where things started to get interesting and enjo...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Kat Heckenbach rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-reads

The Scholastic Book Warehouse Sale comes to our neck of the woods once or twice a year. I normally leave with a few easy readers for my kids and a couple of YA fantasy titles for myself. More often than not, the YA fantasy books are mediocre, but I'm only paying a dollar or two for each of them. It's a gamble.

Once in a while, though, I grab a book that makes me feel like I got a true bargain--a great book that I enjoy from cover to cover. That's happened on my last trip, when I picked up The Gob...more

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Jun 05, 2008 Terra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell is the perfect summer read for your Young Adult reader. Actually a cute read for anyone.

Makenna is a hedgewitch and a young inexperienced one at that. Having lost her mum to hatred of witches sets young Makenna off on her own with only her wits and anger to keep her alive.

Tobin is a young knight who has done no wrong but try and save his brother's life. He is stripped of his title, flogged and then sent off on a mission to find the great sorceress in the North who...more

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Jun 28, 2007 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who loves stories with open endings

Absolutely fab! 12-year-old Makenna has just witnessed the murder of her mother, the local hedgewitch, by decree of a priest of the Hierarch, aided by the villagers whom Makenna's mother had always helped. Angry and bitter, the grieving girl seeks revenge on the village and runs away into the woods, where she encounters and befriends the goblins-a small, magical race of people who are being systematically exterminated by the Hierarch. Advance five years to another part of the Hierarch's territor...more

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Aug 21, 2010 Shayda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

A fun, fast-paced read.

THE GOBLIN WOOD was a bit more tame than I'd anticipated, but the I liked the tone and mood that Bell created with this novel. It was at once exciting and endearing. I felt like the scope of the novel could've been broader, especially for what I'd consider epic fantasy, but Bell set up a great ensemble of characters that were both intriguing, compelling, and flawed.

Overall, a great book. I particularly think it would appeal to younger YA readers, but it's good fun for eve...more

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Sep 13, 2011 Bookworm rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

to me the bookworm i thougt this book was a good book it was all about how ttis girl who is a hedgewitch watch her mother die because she was one too . she runs of and tries to survive she meets these goblins and they learn to live together . but this boy comes into her life and tries to gain his honor from a crime witch he was not resposibe for but his fifteen year old brother did commit ........................ so this is a must read

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About Hilari Bell

As far as writing is concerned, I call myself the poster child for persistence. Songs of Power, the first novel I sold, was the 5th novel I'd written. When it sold I was working on novel #13. The next to sell, Navohar, was #12, and the next, A Matter of Profit, was #9. The Goblin Wood was #6, and the first Sorahb book, Flame (later renamed Farsala: Fall of a Kingdom), will be #15. You get the pict...more As far as writing is concerned, I call myself the poster child for persistence. Songs of Power, the first novel I sold, was the 5th novel I'd written. When it sold I was working on novel #13. The next to sell, Navohar, was #12, and the next, A Matter of Profit, was #9. The Goblin Wood was #6, and the first Sorahb book, Flame (later renamed Farsala: Fall of a Kingdom), will be #15. You get the picture.

My reviews: Mea culpa! I got onto Goodreads years ago, and haven't been reviewing--but I now mean to start! I should add that as writer, I tend to read a bit more critically. Or at least, when I think a book is going off the rails I usually see technical, writer problems with it. In short, any time a book stops working for me, that author becomes an honorary member of my writing critique group--whether they want to or not! So I apologize in advance for any technical critiques my fellow writers may recieve.

Biography: My personal life? I was born in Denver in 1958—you can do the math. I'm single and live with my mother, brother and sister-in-law. I used to be a part time reference librarian for a mid-sized public library, but in the beginning of ’05 I achieved a writer’s dream and quit the day job. Librarian turned writer is a very schizophrenic state—when I try to urge people to buy my books, I have to beat down a lifetime of professional reflexes demanding that I tell them to check them out at the library instead.

I enjoy board gaming and fantasy gaming, both table top and live. But my favorite thing to do is the decadent version of camping my mom and I practice. We have a pop-up trailer with a fridge, a sink, a stove and (if electrical hookups are available) a space heater, heating pads and a toaster. Our motto is "No unnecessary work." We don't cook, we don't wash dishes, we don't...you name it. What we do is spend all day, every day, reading and hiking and reading some more. Camping is the only time I can get in enough reading. Well, I take that back—when it comes to reading, there's no such thing as enough.(less)

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Books by Hilari Bell

Fall of a Kingdom (The Farsala Trilogy, #1)

Rise of a Hero (The Farsala Trilogy, #2)

Forging the Sword (The Farsala Trilogy, #3)

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Quotes from The Goblin Wood

“As if she had summoned them, a flurry of stones flew out of the darkness, striking his mail, pinging off his helm. One hit his unprotected leg and he yelped and clutched it. That was a mistake. The second barrage was entirely directed at his legs.” — 8 people liked it

“Cogswhallop glanced skeptically at the complex runes. "Are you sure this'll work, gen'ral?"
"Of course I'm sure-"
Ping. The silvery note echoed in the cramped room. Makenna felt her face turn scarlet.” — 7 people liked it

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The Goblin Wood (Goblin Wood #1)

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