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Goblin Wood #1
The Goblin Wood
For one to succeed, the other must fail... Before the Decree of Bright Magic passed, hedgewitches, far-seers, and even goblins had been tolerated by the church. Now working magic carries a death sentence, and when Makenna's mother is drowned for her work as a hedgewitch, Makenna wreaks revenge on her village and flees into the wilderness. As she wanders north, Makenna rescues and befriends the goblins who are being burned out of their homes. She may be only a half-trained hedgewitch, but Makenna believes that with courage and cleverness they can create their own kingdom in the great northern woods, and repel any humans who seek to settle there. Sir Tobin has spent the last three years fighting the barbarian armies that attack the realm's southern border each winter-every year their numbers are greater, and their magic grows stronger. So when a powerful priest tells Tobin that the realm's only hope of survival is to move everyone into the northern woodlands, Tobin sees why this impossible feat is necessary. However the relocation can't even start, because all the refugees who try to settle in the woods have been driven out by a powerful sorceress and her goblin army. Tobin has no magic himself, but he might be able to plant a charm in the sorceress' lair that would allow the priests to find and destroy her-and the realm's survival depends on his success. And the battle for the Goblin Wood begins.
228 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2003
62 people are currently reading
3895 people want to read
About the author
Hilari Bell
99 books645 followersAs 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
June 28, 2015
Some history: this was the first book I pulled off the library YA shelves when I was twelve. It was a good one to start with.
I reread it today for the first time in a while, and I was struck again by something that struck me when I was twelve, too: The Goblin Wood is an excellent fantasy novel. There's a lot of nuance. If anything, I think I appreciate that more now than when I was twelve, because I've since read so many books without this degree of thoughtfulness.
This is a book where everyone's lives are complicated. Where people are hemmed into situations with difficult choices and no easy solutions - no solutions at all, in most cases, because life isn't a problem that can be solved neatly. This is about a political situation with people hurt on both sides. This is about family obligations and influence and how family complicates choices and obligations. This is about two characters who parallel each other, but never neatly, and never realizing it, even when they're in the same room.
This is a book that examines humanity. It has a great, direct story and a fabulous ending that moves from straight fantasy to tie into classic myth.
It's really comforting to know you don't grow out of really good books.
I reread it today for the first time in a while, and I was struck again by something that struck me when I was twelve, too: The Goblin Wood is an excellent fantasy novel. There's a lot of nuance. If anything, I think I appreciate that more now than when I was twelve, because I've since read so many books without this degree of thoughtfulness.
This is a book where everyone's lives are complicated. Where people are hemmed into situations with difficult choices and no easy solutions - no solutions at all, in most cases, because life isn't a problem that can be solved neatly. This is about a political situation with people hurt on both sides. This is about family obligations and influence and how family complicates choices and obligations. This is about two characters who parallel each other, but never neatly, and never realizing it, even when they're in the same room.
This is a book that examines humanity. It has a great, direct story and a fabulous ending that moves from straight fantasy to tie into classic myth.
It's really comforting to know you don't grow out of really good books.
July 25, 2011
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 dimwits out to get in trouble -- I'd like to see a lot more of that in the media and popular fiction.
I picked it up because I was hoping to find a book suitable for my 4th grade daughter, who is a very advanced reader but not old enough for the mature themes found in some young adult books. I read it first, myself, mainly to judge the level of sex/violence/adult themes before letting her read it. But I soon found myself eagerly turning pages. I finished it within two days and would love to see a movie version!
For fellow parents: There's no sex at all, not even hints of it. The "romance" in the book is very understated and subtle. It's more about two people fighting for their respective causes and really getting to know each other, and not about fleeting sexual attraction. That was refreshing. The violence wasn't excessive, in my opinion, though others might disagree. Some characters fight, there are swords, deaths and wounds occur, but as essential parts of the plot, and not in any great detail.
I thought this was a wonderful book, but if you don't like moral ambiguity (good characters are not all good, bad characters are not all bad), and if you don't agree that sometimes people do a lot of evil in the name of good, then you won't like this. The exploration of what really defines good and evil is central to the story, and worth thinking about in real life, as well.
I picked it up because I was hoping to find a book suitable for my 4th grade daughter, who is a very advanced reader but not old enough for the mature themes found in some young adult books. I read it first, myself, mainly to judge the level of sex/violence/adult themes before letting her read it. But I soon found myself eagerly turning pages. I finished it within two days and would love to see a movie version!
For fellow parents: There's no sex at all, not even hints of it. The "romance" in the book is very understated and subtle. It's more about two people fighting for their respective causes and really getting to know each other, and not about fleeting sexual attraction. That was refreshing. The violence wasn't excessive, in my opinion, though others might disagree. Some characters fight, there are swords, deaths and wounds occur, but as essential parts of the plot, and not in any great detail.
I thought this was a wonderful book, but if you don't like moral ambiguity (good characters are not all good, bad characters are not all bad), and if you don't agree that sometimes people do a lot of evil in the name of good, then you won't like this. The exploration of what really defines good and evil is central to the story, and worth thinking about in real life, as well.
January 26, 2016
Goblin Wood came out on 2003. Somehow I missed it. Now I have a new author to read. To quote a goblin there's no way to know where the skill leaves off and the magic begins. This applies to good writing and Hilari Bell.
November 17, 2015
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 Goblin Wood, by Hilari Bell.
The main character, Makenna, is a hedgewitch, as was her mother, whom the townspeople put to death for practicing magic. Makenna exacts her revenge, and then flees for the forest, where she forms an alliance with the misunderstood goblins.
Soon she has become leader of a goblin army that must defend themselves against the ruling Hierarchy that is leading the humans into goblin territory. The only way the Hierarchy can fight back is to send in a spy--a knight who needs to reclaim his honor. But will Sir Tobin follow through with his orders after meeting Mackenna and the goblins?
The world Hilary Bell has created is vivid and fascinating. Nothing on the cover indicated that the book was the first in a series, but the ending left a wide door open (still a satisfying ending).
UPDATE:
I'm adding to this review because I've read this book again. I can honestly say I loved it every bit as much this time around. I adore the characters--Makenna and Tobin, and all of the goblins. Seriously, this is going to be a series I keep and read over and over.
My Website
Find me on Facebook
My YA fantasy series:
book 1
book 2
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 Goblin Wood, by Hilari Bell.
The main character, Makenna, is a hedgewitch, as was her mother, whom the townspeople put to death for practicing magic. Makenna exacts her revenge, and then flees for the forest, where she forms an alliance with the misunderstood goblins.
Soon she has become leader of a goblin army that must defend themselves against the ruling Hierarchy that is leading the humans into goblin territory. The only way the Hierarchy can fight back is to send in a spy--a knight who needs to reclaim his honor. But will Sir Tobin follow through with his orders after meeting Mackenna and the goblins?
The world Hilary Bell has created is vivid and fascinating. Nothing on the cover indicated that the book was the first in a series, but the ending left a wide door open (still a satisfying ending).
UPDATE:
I'm adding to this review because I've read this book again. I can honestly say I loved it every bit as much this time around. I adore the characters--Makenna and Tobin, and all of the goblins. Seriously, this is going to be a series I keep and read over and over.
My Website
Find me on Facebook
My YA fantasy series:
book 1
book 2
July 29, 2019
I've loved this book for years. This morning it popped into my head for absolutely no reason, and I started to really think about why I love it so much. Our heroine, despite being a witch, is virtually powerless. She's not the special chosen one. She's just different - a genuine outcast. With a teeny bit of magic, a lot of clever planning, a deep well of compassion, and some extraordinary willpower, she does the extraordinary.
I think I'll reread it.
I think I'll reread it.
April 25, 2017
The battle between magics and humans and goblins is being waged and a Hedgewitch is leading the Goblins in battle. An enchanting tale of fierce determination and the pain of uncertainty and the humor that only innocent children are able to bring!
June 2, 2009
I had high hopes for this book, but I didn't find the characters compelling enough, and I felt like I was reading a take-off of a Patricia Wrede book that wasn't quite up to Patricia's standards.
November 8, 2016
Read for the 2016 YA/MG Book Battle.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy adventure, filled with interesting characters, magical creatures, and a high-stakes plot. At age 12, Makenna witnesses her mother’s murder by the townspeople she thought were their friends. Her mother, a hedgewitch, had very little magical power by comparison to the priests, but the ruler, called the Hierarch, decreed that anyone using magic who wasn’t a priest must be in league with evil. Makenna flees with her mother’s magic books and makes her way northward, but accidentally has a run-in with goblins—magical creatures now also under the Hierarch’s interdict. After finally befriending them, and swearing vengeance against all humans—because why would she want kinship with anyone who could kill innocents?—Makenna sets about making her intentions real.
Fast-forward five years, and we meet Tobin, a knight whose care for his younger brother gets him into serious trouble. Offered the chance to reclaim his status and good name, Tobin is sent to find and capture the sorceress plaguing the northern forests. The sorceress, of course, is Makenna, but neither of them is what the other expected, and the story picks up the pace further from there.
I had the same problem with this book I had with the last Hilari Bell book I read, Shield of Stars, which is that it’s neither young adult nor middle grade. The content is solidly YA, but the way it’s told is very much MG. (It’s also shelved in the JF section of my library.) Which is not to say it’s badly written; the descriptions are excellent and the characterization, with a few exceptions where Bell goes for the obvious bad-guy tropes, is lovely. But I really think this book would have been much, much better if it had been written for a YA audience. One spoilery example: Add to this that the main characters are teenagers given adult responsibilities, and you have a strong YA novel. Except it isn’t. My biggest frustration with the book was my desire to see a deeper exploration of the characters and issues, particularly the Hierarch and the priests who ruled the country. Their actions are based on the fact that their country is being overrun, which is fairly nuanced, but all of that is barely mentioned where it could have been a strong part of the story. It was disappointing.
But enough of the criticism. I really did enjoy this book. The conflict between Makenna and Tobin was excellent. Both of them have opposing goals, both of them have misperceptions of the other, and both grow toward a mutual understanding that doesn’t include romance. (Though the ending implicates that it’s where they’re headed—have to be headed, in fact.) I found Tobin’s character arc slightly more compelling than Makenna’s, which was kind of squishy and ill-defined. And the event that set him off on this path was simply infuriating, in a good, I’m-engaged-in-this-novel way. Both of them behaved exactly as they should, given their circumstances, and the tension was excellent.
The plot revolves around false assumptions—humans’ assumptions about goblins, goblins about humans, the government’s assumptions about Tobin, the villagers’ assumptions about Makenna’s mother, the Hierarch’s assumptions about why his country’s being overrun. The surprise is that none of this becomes annoying. All the assumptions made arise naturally from either observation or the word of someone “trustworthy,” and nobody hangs on to their misapprehensions in the face of counter evidence. It was especially interesting to see Tobin rearrange his thinking as the “facts” the priest gives him turn out to be false. Makenna’s change of heart is, again, more squishy, but just as solid.
I think my favorite part is when Makenna finally faces Master Lazur: Lazur rearranges his thinking far more rapidly than Makenna or Tobin, and is not at all the smug, arrogant priest he might have been, for all he still has flaws. He was a fascinating character.
I’m not totally happy with the ending, which struck me as unsatisfying: I’m glad that Makenna and Tobin have the chance to develop a stronger relationship, and I can’t say it isn’t supported by the text, but it was unsatisfying.
I didn't know as I was reading it that it was the first of a trilogy, and honestly, it doesn't feel like one. Makenna and Tobin's choice at the end seems pretty final, and the truth is I'm not sure I'm committed to the story enough to want to read more. My dissatisfaction with the whole MG/YA problem is almost certainly at the heart of this; I don't like reading books when I wish the author had written them differently.
Overall, though, it was a captivating read, and I think I’ll have to search out some of Bell’s actual YA books.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy adventure, filled with interesting characters, magical creatures, and a high-stakes plot. At age 12, Makenna witnesses her mother’s murder by the townspeople she thought were their friends. Her mother, a hedgewitch, had very little magical power by comparison to the priests, but the ruler, called the Hierarch, decreed that anyone using magic who wasn’t a priest must be in league with evil. Makenna flees with her mother’s magic books and makes her way northward, but accidentally has a run-in with goblins—magical creatures now also under the Hierarch’s interdict. After finally befriending them, and swearing vengeance against all humans—because why would she want kinship with anyone who could kill innocents?—Makenna sets about making her intentions real.
Fast-forward five years, and we meet Tobin, a knight whose care for his younger brother gets him into serious trouble. Offered the chance to reclaim his status and good name, Tobin is sent to find and capture the sorceress plaguing the northern forests. The sorceress, of course, is Makenna, but neither of them is what the other expected, and the story picks up the pace further from there.
I had the same problem with this book I had with the last Hilari Bell book I read, Shield of Stars, which is that it’s neither young adult nor middle grade. The content is solidly YA, but the way it’s told is very much MG. (It’s also shelved in the JF section of my library.) Which is not to say it’s badly written; the descriptions are excellent and the characterization, with a few exceptions where Bell goes for the obvious bad-guy tropes, is lovely. But I really think this book would have been much, much better if it had been written for a YA audience. One spoilery example: Add to this that the main characters are teenagers given adult responsibilities, and you have a strong YA novel. Except it isn’t. My biggest frustration with the book was my desire to see a deeper exploration of the characters and issues, particularly the Hierarch and the priests who ruled the country. Their actions are based on the fact that their country is being overrun, which is fairly nuanced, but all of that is barely mentioned where it could have been a strong part of the story. It was disappointing.
But enough of the criticism. I really did enjoy this book. The conflict between Makenna and Tobin was excellent. Both of them have opposing goals, both of them have misperceptions of the other, and both grow toward a mutual understanding that doesn’t include romance. (Though the ending implicates that it’s where they’re headed—have to be headed, in fact.) I found Tobin’s character arc slightly more compelling than Makenna’s, which was kind of squishy and ill-defined. And the event that set him off on this path was simply infuriating, in a good, I’m-engaged-in-this-novel way. Both of them behaved exactly as they should, given their circumstances, and the tension was excellent.
The plot revolves around false assumptions—humans’ assumptions about goblins, goblins about humans, the government’s assumptions about Tobin, the villagers’ assumptions about Makenna’s mother, the Hierarch’s assumptions about why his country’s being overrun. The surprise is that none of this becomes annoying. All the assumptions made arise naturally from either observation or the word of someone “trustworthy,” and nobody hangs on to their misapprehensions in the face of counter evidence. It was especially interesting to see Tobin rearrange his thinking as the “facts” the priest gives him turn out to be false. Makenna’s change of heart is, again, more squishy, but just as solid.
I think my favorite part is when Makenna finally faces Master Lazur: Lazur rearranges his thinking far more rapidly than Makenna or Tobin, and is not at all the smug, arrogant priest he might have been, for all he still has flaws. He was a fascinating character.
I’m not totally happy with the ending, which struck me as unsatisfying: I’m glad that Makenna and Tobin have the chance to develop a stronger relationship, and I can’t say it isn’t supported by the text, but it was unsatisfying.
I didn't know as I was reading it that it was the first of a trilogy, and honestly, it doesn't feel like one. Makenna and Tobin's choice at the end seems pretty final, and the truth is I'm not sure I'm committed to the story enough to want to read more. My dissatisfaction with the whole MG/YA problem is almost certainly at the heart of this; I don't like reading books when I wish the author had written them differently.
Overall, though, it was a captivating read, and I think I’ll have to search out some of Bell’s actual YA books.
August 29, 2021
This has been on my shelf ever since I got it at a book fair in high school. I can definitely see why I gravitated towards it. Action, adventure, and innocent friendships. This is a very heart warming tale that I'm glad I finally read. It would have been a 5 star but it did get a little repetitive at parts.
July 28, 2015
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 off reading it for as long as I did because this book was amazing.
I'm sure everyone comes across that one book that, even if you've read a ton in that genre, just reaffirms your love for the genre and grabs you from the get go and makes you want/need more like it. Well that is just what The Goblin Wood did for me.
I love fantasy books, yet sometimes they have a tendency to run together and get a little old. That is not the case at all with The Goblin Wood because the plot is chock-full of twists and turns and that characters are brilliantly different and not what you would typically see in a fantasy book.
One of the things I loved the most about The Goblin Wood was how it was told from alternating view points, that of Makenna and Tobin. I thought that it brought an interesting perspective to the story because they both stood on complete opposite sides when it came to their views on the Goblins and rules of the realm.
I thought one of the most interesting points of the plot was why the Decree of Bright Magic in that it was to protect the citizens and help to push forward the movement to get the inhabitants of the realm to move into the Goblin Woods. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more about the political aspect of the story in the next book.
Makenna has to be one of the oddest main female characters that I have ever read in a fantasy book. Why, because she has an overwhelming thirst for vengeance against the humans that murdered her mother and forced her to flee from the life she knew; and that the further along you get into The Goblin Wood you see how she has basically divorced herself from the human race. She was definitely one interesting character to read about.
Tobin (weird name), has to be one of my favorite characters that's a knight. I absolutely loved how he was willing to do anything to protect his willful younger brother Jeriah.
You would have to read The Goblin Wood to fully understand why I liked both Makenna and Tobin so much, because I cannot properly put into words why I think they are both such great characters.
The Goblin Wood just blew me away, so asking me to pick my favorite thing is just plain cruel. I will say this however, Ms. Bell's writing was phenomenal and pulled me right into the story and her characters were some of the best I've read about. Love this book so much.
The only thing I did not like about The Goblin Wood was that the first chapter seemed to have a slightly abrupt beginning and seemed to come in kind of mid-thought. while that kind of threw me for a second I was glad to find out that the story backtracks a bit and gets you caught up on what happened to Makenna and her mother. So in the end, I guess I do not have any true complaints.
Final Verdict: The Goblin Wood was one of the best fantasy books I've read this year.
The Goblin Wood earns 5 of 5 pineapples.
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 off reading it for as long as I did because this book was amazing.
I'm sure everyone comes across that one book that, even if you've read a ton in that genre, just reaffirms your love for the genre and grabs you from the get go and makes you want/need more like it. Well that is just what The Goblin Wood did for me.
I love fantasy books, yet sometimes they have a tendency to run together and get a little old. That is not the case at all with The Goblin Wood because the plot is chock-full of twists and turns and that characters are brilliantly different and not what you would typically see in a fantasy book.
One of the things I loved the most about The Goblin Wood was how it was told from alternating view points, that of Makenna and Tobin. I thought that it brought an interesting perspective to the story because they both stood on complete opposite sides when it came to their views on the Goblins and rules of the realm.
I thought one of the most interesting points of the plot was why the Decree of Bright Magic in that it was to protect the citizens and help to push forward the movement to get the inhabitants of the realm to move into the Goblin Woods. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more about the political aspect of the story in the next book.
Makenna has to be one of the oddest main female characters that I have ever read in a fantasy book. Why, because she has an overwhelming thirst for vengeance against the humans that murdered her mother and forced her to flee from the life she knew; and that the further along you get into The Goblin Wood you see how she has basically divorced herself from the human race. She was definitely one interesting character to read about.
Tobin (weird name), has to be one of my favorite characters that's a knight. I absolutely loved how he was willing to do anything to protect his willful younger brother Jeriah.
You would have to read The Goblin Wood to fully understand why I liked both Makenna and Tobin so much, because I cannot properly put into words why I think they are both such great characters.
The Goblin Wood just blew me away, so asking me to pick my favorite thing is just plain cruel. I will say this however, Ms. Bell's writing was phenomenal and pulled me right into the story and her characters were some of the best I've read about. Love this book so much.
The only thing I did not like about The Goblin Wood was that the first chapter seemed to have a slightly abrupt beginning and seemed to come in kind of mid-thought. while that kind of threw me for a second I was glad to find out that the story backtracks a bit and gets you caught up on what happened to Makenna and her mother. So in the end, I guess I do not have any true complaints.
Final Verdict: The Goblin Wood was one of the best fantasy books I've read this year.
The Goblin Wood earns 5 of 5 pineapples.
September 9, 2010
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.
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.
February 20, 2016
I see that mostly this is marked as YA fantasy, but it read as more MG fantasy to me, which is a genre that just doesn't spark for me a lot of the time.
I did like Makenna and the goblins a lot, but didn't care a lot about Tobin. And I guess . . . I wanted to know more about the world and these barbarians and I know some of this must be addressed in the sequels, but this didn't make me interested enough to read one.
I did like Makenna and the goblins a lot, but didn't care a lot about Tobin. And I guess . . . I wanted to know more about the world and these barbarians and I know some of this must be addressed in the sequels, but this didn't make me interested enough to read one.
November 20, 2016
The Goblin Wood is a fantasy novel dealing with religion, politics, revenge, and good old fashioned subterfuge. It is categorized as YA. It is all around a good fantasy read. There's solid world building, strong characterization, and well paced narrative flow.
Makenna is a character who isn't the strongest in magic but she is resourceful. She isn't a blank personality. She is ambitious in her goals and ruthless when she needs to be.
Tobin is an idealistic character and to see his growth through the novel is intriguing.
Overall, I found this novel to be awesome.
Makenna is a character who isn't the strongest in magic but she is resourceful. She isn't a blank personality. She is ambitious in her goals and ruthless when she needs to be.
Tobin is an idealistic character and to see his growth through the novel is intriguing.
Overall, I found this novel to be awesome.
February 1, 2017
3.5 stars. It was a refreshing read. Light, well written and I did like Tobin and the goblins a lot.
My BIG problem now is that I cannot find books 2 and 3 either in Kindle format or in paper format. How is that even possible Amazon ? *sigh* (I'll have a look at the english library in Paris tomorrow just in case #hopespringseternal )
My BIG problem now is that I cannot find books 2 and 3 either in Kindle format or in paper format. How is that even possible Amazon ? *sigh* (I'll have a look at the english library in Paris tomorrow just in case #hopespringseternal )
October 17, 2016
I really enjoyed this book because not only was the story well written, but also the characters were well developed. There was a clear path for the story, and yet it still offered surprises. It's a great read, and I would certainly recommend it to young audiences.
March 2, 2010
strangely defeatest
June 26, 2015
So good!
April 23, 2017
Great story. I loved that it was something that I haven't read before. It was fun and kept me on my toes. I really enjoyed it.
June 23, 2021
Quick note: This is the second time I've tried posting this. The first time something happened with my computer and it didn't post the full review. We'll see if it works this time.
"Of course, those with power blaming those without isn't exactly a new thing in the world."
Ok, first thing first, the book has a map. All good fantasy books have a map. I see a map and I know it'll probably be a good book. And it was!
This book is told from alternating points of view in third person pov. It'll be either titled The Hedgewitch for Makenna, and The Knight for Tobin.
The story starts with Makenna, the daughter of a hedgewitch, running for her life. It was just decreed through the land that hedgewitch's work for the Dark One and must be put to death. Young Makenna follows her mom's orders and runs away with the spellbooks. She has a few run-ins with goblins.
Makenna sees how badly the goblins are being treated (the church says they are spawns of the Dark One and therefore evil). She hatches a plan to save them. Through this act she becomes their leader and is called "general".
We also learn about how goblins make payments. Food or goods are used for trades. But if you become friends, then it's buttons, stones, and such things. I really enjoyed seeing this throughout the book.
Flash forward five years. Tobin is a knight who wakes up to find his younger brother, Jeriah (or Jeri for short), is missing once again from the barracks. Tobin goes out to look for Jeri only to find that he's been involved in something treasonish. Being the duty-bound brother that he is, Tobin leads the hounds that were tracking Jeri away. And gets captured.
His mom visits him with a plan that I hated. I do not trust his mom as far as I could throw her, and I wouldn't want to be near enough to throw her. Especially after the tea incident. I cannot express how suspicious the mom is. I think she's way more involved in things than we know.... anyway....Tobin is later tried and says he's guilty to protect his brother. Then his father disowns him.
"Tobin, you just lost your home, your family, your rank, and your honor. Would you be interested in a chance to win them back?"
So the priest, Master Lazur, strikes Tobin a deal. Kill the sorceress who has an army of goblins she's controlling and you can have all of that back. Tobin doesn't want to kill anyone. If he HAS to he will. But that's a last resort.
Incidentally, I don't trust Lazur. He's friends with Tobin's mom and therefore I distrust him on that fact alone.
When Makenna and Tobin meet.... Gosh that was good!
There's more that happens (clearly) but that would just be me rambling even more about everything. So, moving on...
I am an absolute sucker for a good goblin story and this delivered! There's something about goblins that absolutely fascinates me, and I don't know why. But goblins in folklore are extremely interesting to me.
So.... characters...
Makenna wasn't a powerful hedgewitch but she was a great tactician which made me really happy. Tobin, the eldest sibling, was relatable in doing what he could for his sibling. He had a good sense of humor when things weren't going his way. The two of them together was great!!! That goblins were fantastic. The world building was also great--how the magic system is different for humans and goblins, how some barbarian force is coming up from the South so the kingdom needs to move beyond the Goblin Wall.
It also had a good theme of how it isn't good to see things only in good and bad. Where the thing you're fighting for is good, and no matter what things you do to achieve this good thing, they can't be BAD. Only the people who are against you are bad.
"It's a trap, you know, thinking all the right's on your side, and none on the other. A trap of the mind..."
All in all, this was a super fun read. I loved the characters, I really enjoyed the goblins, the world building with the barbarians starting to invade parts of the kingdom was interesting, and hearing about the Otherworld was tantalizing. The only thing I didn't like was that it ended. It wasn't how the book ended, it was that I wanted more of that world. Which I will get when I visit my friend again and she lends me the second and third book (thank you, friendo!).
I'm really excited to see how the series will progress, especially with how the book ended!
"But let me tell you a bit of truth--sometimes honor doesn't get it done."
"Of course, those with power blaming those without isn't exactly a new thing in the world."
Ok, first thing first, the book has a map. All good fantasy books have a map. I see a map and I know it'll probably be a good book. And it was!
This book is told from alternating points of view in third person pov. It'll be either titled The Hedgewitch for Makenna, and The Knight for Tobin.
The story starts with Makenna, the daughter of a hedgewitch, running for her life. It was just decreed through the land that hedgewitch's work for the Dark One and must be put to death. Young Makenna follows her mom's orders and runs away with the spellbooks. She has a few run-ins with goblins.
Makenna sees how badly the goblins are being treated (the church says they are spawns of the Dark One and therefore evil). She hatches a plan to save them. Through this act she becomes their leader and is called "general".
We also learn about how goblins make payments. Food or goods are used for trades. But if you become friends, then it's buttons, stones, and such things. I really enjoyed seeing this throughout the book.
Flash forward five years. Tobin is a knight who wakes up to find his younger brother, Jeriah (or Jeri for short), is missing once again from the barracks. Tobin goes out to look for Jeri only to find that he's been involved in something treasonish. Being the duty-bound brother that he is, Tobin leads the hounds that were tracking Jeri away. And gets captured.
His mom visits him with a plan that I hated. I do not trust his mom as far as I could throw her, and I wouldn't want to be near enough to throw her. Especially after the tea incident. I cannot express how suspicious the mom is. I think she's way more involved in things than we know.... anyway....Tobin is later tried and says he's guilty to protect his brother. Then his father disowns him.
"Tobin, you just lost your home, your family, your rank, and your honor. Would you be interested in a chance to win them back?"
So the priest, Master Lazur, strikes Tobin a deal. Kill the sorceress who has an army of goblins she's controlling and you can have all of that back. Tobin doesn't want to kill anyone. If he HAS to he will. But that's a last resort.
Incidentally, I don't trust Lazur. He's friends with Tobin's mom and therefore I distrust him on that fact alone.
When Makenna and Tobin meet.... Gosh that was good!
There's more that happens (clearly) but that would just be me rambling even more about everything. So, moving on...
I am an absolute sucker for a good goblin story and this delivered! There's something about goblins that absolutely fascinates me, and I don't know why. But goblins in folklore are extremely interesting to me.
So.... characters...
Makenna wasn't a powerful hedgewitch but she was a great tactician which made me really happy. Tobin, the eldest sibling, was relatable in doing what he could for his sibling. He had a good sense of humor when things weren't going his way. The two of them together was great!!! That goblins were fantastic. The world building was also great--how the magic system is different for humans and goblins, how some barbarian force is coming up from the South so the kingdom needs to move beyond the Goblin Wall.
It also had a good theme of how it isn't good to see things only in good and bad. Where the thing you're fighting for is good, and no matter what things you do to achieve this good thing, they can't be BAD. Only the people who are against you are bad.
"It's a trap, you know, thinking all the right's on your side, and none on the other. A trap of the mind..."
All in all, this was a super fun read. I loved the characters, I really enjoyed the goblins, the world building with the barbarians starting to invade parts of the kingdom was interesting, and hearing about the Otherworld was tantalizing. The only thing I didn't like was that it ended. It wasn't how the book ended, it was that I wanted more of that world. Which I will get when I visit my friend again and she lends me the second and third book (thank you, friendo!).
I'm really excited to see how the series will progress, especially with how the book ended!
"But let me tell you a bit of truth--sometimes honor doesn't get it done."
April 28, 2019
I really enjoyed this YA / MG fantasy novel. The story was interesting - it is set in a fictional world where magic is commonplace but reserved mostly for the priests. Due to conflicts in other parts of the country, the decision has been made that goblins and hedgewitches are no longer to be tolerated in their society. There is an attempt at systematic extermination in order to take over their lands. Makenna, a young hedgewitch, and Tobin, a young knight, are eventually thrown into each other's worlds and come to realize that their beliefs may be in doubt. I liked that both Makenna and Tobin were strong, compassionate characters with a good motivation for their actions. It wasn't just standard fare. The goblins were a humorous touch as well. It was also nice to see a book where teenagers were not driven by their hormones. This is part of a series but the novel is complete and there is no cliffhanger (yay!).
June 19, 2022
The water would rise gradually. Only a few might drown. But fields under water would grow no crops, and much of the livestock that made it to shore would escape. They would all be left with nothing. All would suffer. All would grieve. The thought warmed the chilled place inside her, and Makenna smiled.
I loved Makenna's ruthlessness. She is a great character, strong leader, with just enough grey morality to make things interesting. WTF that ending put me in a bit of a pout tho!! Without giving anything away, it's simultaneously lovely and heart-wrenching.
This was a fast-moving plot that laid a foundation for romance in the sequel, though the romance takes a backseat for subterfuge and magic in this one. A complex fantasy, with likable characters and a convincing storyline made this a satisfying read, for me.
I loved Makenna's ruthlessness. She is a great character, strong leader, with just enough grey morality to make things interesting. WTF that ending put me in a bit of a pout tho!! Without giving anything away, it's simultaneously lovely and heart-wrenching.
This was a fast-moving plot that laid a foundation for romance in the sequel, though the romance takes a backseat for subterfuge and magic in this one. A complex fantasy, with likable characters and a convincing storyline made this a satisfying read, for me.
July 29, 2021
A great middle-grade fantasy read!
January 21, 2025
This was a revisit of an old favorite. I wanted to know if it was as good as I remembered. It was better.
December 21, 2021
Great YA fiction.
January 30, 2013
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.
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.
August 17, 2011
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.
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.
March 21, 2012
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.
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.
March 30, 2016
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 of the subtext here. Hilari Bell's strongest work has always been with characterization, and in Makenna's case it really shows.
Tobin's half of the story is not to be neglected, though, and again here we see Bell's expertise with sympathy and perspective come into play. I think the advantage of splitting the story in two like this is that it allows us to see both sides of the struggle and thus, as John Green always says, "imagine people complexly." That is essentially the struggle here: two characters, set at odds, both have valid and understandable positions in a grander conflict, and both must be understood in the context of their experiences.
Hilari Bell does an excellent job at addressing all of these themes, but then doesn't forget to come through with an action-packed conclusion. In fact, the book resolves itself so well that I was not even honestly aware that this was the first of a series until recently. I'm not sure whether I ought to read the others. On the one hand, if they continue in the vein of this book, they are certain to be excellent, but on the other this book clearly functions well as a standalone story.
At any rate, I recommend this to anyone of any age who enjoys fantasy, is interested in imagining people complexly, or has ever felt that they no longer belong to the human race. I may or may not read the sequels, but this book will always remain a favourite.
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 of the subtext here. Hilari Bell's strongest work has always been with characterization, and in Makenna's case it really shows.
Tobin's half of the story is not to be neglected, though, and again here we see Bell's expertise with sympathy and perspective come into play. I think the advantage of splitting the story in two like this is that it allows us to see both sides of the struggle and thus, as John Green always says, "imagine people complexly." That is essentially the struggle here: two characters, set at odds, both have valid and understandable positions in a grander conflict, and both must be understood in the context of their experiences.
Hilari Bell does an excellent job at addressing all of these themes, but then doesn't forget to come through with an action-packed conclusion. In fact, the book resolves itself so well that I was not even honestly aware that this was the first of a series until recently. I'm not sure whether I ought to read the others. On the one hand, if they continue in the vein of this book, they are certain to be excellent, but on the other this book clearly functions well as a standalone story.
At any rate, I recommend this to anyone of any age who enjoys fantasy, is interested in imagining people complexly, or has ever felt that they no longer belong to the human race. I may or may not read the sequels, but this book will always remain a favourite.
February 1, 2012
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 in the fight to keep humans from settling in their land. Flash forward five years and we're introduced to Tobin, a dishonored knight offered a chance to regain his post, if he can help rid the Northern woods of it's goblin inhabitants to make way for human migration. Captured by Makenna and her goblin army, Tobin is forced to see them as the peaceful, victimized beings they are, dividing his loyalties. Now, it's all-out war, and Tobin has to pick a side. To side with the goblins would be the "right" thing to do, but his friends, family, and a comfortable life as a lord await him should he help the humans exterminate the goblins.
I thoroughly loved this novel! The characters are all very liable and complex, and the society the author created for the goblins is just as magical as the creatures themselves. She gives them a myriad of abilities, creating sub-cultures to complicate a normally cut-and-dried fantasy species.
I found the ending aggravating, though appropriate to allow for a sequel. Told from both Makenna and Tobin in alternating chapters, the reader can appreciate the internal conflicts for both main characters, and sympathize with their struggles. I gave this book a full five of five stars and plan to read the sequel!
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 in the fight to keep humans from settling in their land. Flash forward five years and we're introduced to Tobin, a dishonored knight offered a chance to regain his post, if he can help rid the Northern woods of it's goblin inhabitants to make way for human migration. Captured by Makenna and her goblin army, Tobin is forced to see them as the peaceful, victimized beings they are, dividing his loyalties. Now, it's all-out war, and Tobin has to pick a side. To side with the goblins would be the "right" thing to do, but his friends, family, and a comfortable life as a lord await him should he help the humans exterminate the goblins.
I thoroughly loved this novel! The characters are all very liable and complex, and the society the author created for the goblins is just as magical as the creatures themselves. She gives them a myriad of abilities, creating sub-cultures to complicate a normally cut-and-dried fantasy species.
I found the ending aggravating, though appropriate to allow for a sequel. Told from both Makenna and Tobin in alternating chapters, the reader can appreciate the internal conflicts for both main characters, and sympathize with their struggles. I gave this book a full five of five stars and plan to read the sequel!
February 27, 2013
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, and his rights as firstborn. When given the chance to reclaim these lost parts of his life by killing the great sorceress who leads the goblin rebelion in the North he reluctantly takes the offer. His actions will he believes allow the goblins to disperse and free the Northern lands for resettlement by his own people as they are forced to leave their homes due to barbarian invasion.
However, when Makenna catches Tobin, he is forced to spend time with the goblins. As he gets to know the goblins he is forced to face the facts that perhaps his actions will lead to the destruction of a magical race. in order to save his own people, can he cause the destruction of another people, even if they are not human? Can he force the goblins from their homes the same way the barbarians are forcing his people from their own homes?
Hilari Bell's The Goblin Wood is an engaging fantasy story. It introduces reader's to and draws them into a realm of conflict. Ifound this story short, but sweet and look forward to reading the next chapter in Makenna and Tobin's adventures together as they try to help their goblin friends.
Tobin is a knight who has lost everything. In order to save his brother he has been stripped of his title, his responsability, and his rights as firstborn. When given the chance to reclaim these lost parts of his life by killing the great sorceress who leads the goblin rebelion in the North he reluctantly takes the offer. His actions will he believes allow the goblins to disperse and free the Northern lands for resettlement by his own people as they are forced to leave their homes due to barbarian invasion.
However, when Makenna catches Tobin, he is forced to spend time with the goblins. As he gets to know the goblins he is forced to face the facts that perhaps his actions will lead to the destruction of a magical race. in order to save his own people, can he cause the destruction of another people, even if they are not human? Can he force the goblins from their homes the same way the barbarians are forcing his people from their own homes?
Hilari Bell's The Goblin Wood is an engaging fantasy story. It introduces reader's to and draws them into a realm of conflict. Ifound this story short, but sweet and look forward to reading the next chapter in Makenna and Tobin's adventures together as they try to help their goblin friends.
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