The Unseen Market

The Good Goblin #2

by David McElroy

Not all goblins are bad.

Even so, Ben is not trusted in his new home of Saint Louis. The Green Watch is following him, humans make a wide path as he walks by, and he’s not even allowed inside the city library. However, even though most of the city is wary of him, Ben’s life among humans is a vast improvement over his old one.

When he finds a book that may hold the secret to his abnormality, Ben will stop at nothing to get a look at it. With the help of two new friends, he soon discovers, however, that his search is hopeless. His only option is to travel out of the relative safety of his new home to a mysterious market known, among certain circles, for harboring rare and mystical goods.

But what Ben finds is even more startling than he expected.

The second in a series of short novels set in Saint Louis in the early 1900s and based on the 13th century Latin tale, The Benevolent Goblin.

184 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 22, 2018

About the author

David McElroy is a writer and designer who has been creating stories in one way or another since childhood. A chance pickup at an elementary school book fair began his fascination with goblins, and he’s always believed they could be more than simple fodder for stalwart adventurers.

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful read. I enjoyed the first book of the series, but this one was so much more. The characters were wonderfully developed, the places had awesome descriptions, there were several big surprises built into the plot, and the story ended on a really compelling note. I particularly recommend this to people from the greater St. Louis area, as you'll recognize a lot of the settings mentioned. But either way, it's worth reading just to hear what Ben's been up to since the last story.

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben, the good goblin, returns in David McElroy’s The Unseen Market. I love Ben and the way he embodies the struggle many people face. This time Ben tries to solve his problems of searching for acceptance in an unaccepting world by searching for a mysterious and secretive book. This tale is action packed, but also full of heart which I really appreciate. I enjoyed a second outing with the good goblin and hope there’s more in store for Ben down the road!

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical fiction, but I don’t often read books with a lot of fantasy elements. I enjoy the subtle mix of the two genres in these books and also the unique plots twists. Being familiar with the St. Louis area, I appreciate the references. Ben is a sweet-hearted character, who just wants a peaceful life and to know who he is. I feel relief and gratitude each time he finds an unlikely friend, willing to help him find his way in his new (often hostile) environment. I really enjoyed the new characters in this one, as well as the description of the Unseen Market. The short length is great for anyone who is short on leisure time or who likes to cozy up and read a full story in one sitting.

[Virginia Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but I know for certain that if I had read it sooner and not left such a gap of time between this and the first book, that I would of enjoyed it tons more and would have appreciated the references. I remembered the main plot and characters, but was left scratching my head and wondering things like, who's Clara and what exactly went down between Ben and Jacob and why are goblin wings a big deal?

Aside from that, this was a really fun and relaxing read. The writing style and flow are great and Ben's character is so likable and sweet. I wish Maribel had a larger part in the story. Very much enjoyed the shocking plot twists toward the end!!

Can't wait to see how book 3 turns out! Wish more people would give this series a try. Highly recommend.