Nine Goblins

What do we do, friends, when the other books we've been reading disappoint?

We read T. Kingfisher!

Honestly, it's just the thing to cleanse your palet of grimy dark romance and poorly written sentences because Kingfisher is a master of both cheerful, cheeky humor and well-balanced prose.

And she knows how to use single-line emphasis properly.

This particular book is a novella that lives somewhere between cozy comic fantasy and light horror (remember, it's Kingfisher, so the genres don't hold still when you poke them) and features the titular nine goblins, hapless and stinky and endearing, led by their practical sergeant. When they find themselves deep within enemy territory, she's the one to lead them out and solve a creepy mystery along show more the way. With the help of a teddy bear, an elvish veterinarian, and some earnest trolls.

This was actually one of the first books that Ursula Vernon self-pubbed under the Kingfisher name and I'm so pleased that Tor.com has reissued it in fine form. There are no bad Kingfisher books and this one is such a delight, especially after the fiasco that was my previous read. Not everything is cozy here; there is battle and death aplenty. But if you want a good example of how to actually balance humor with a touch of mass murder, you can't go wrong with TK.

I also really love that, with a light but clear touch, she gives us some things to think about regarding how we treat people who look or speak differently from ourselves. Never has that message been more necessary. A quick read, but rich in description, story, and ideas. You simply can't ask for better. show less

In the midst of the endless Human/Goblin War, a troop of goblins has an encounter with a wizard that whisks them 40 or so miles behind enemy lines. Moreover, there's something weird going on in the nearest town, where all of the people and livestock have been drawn away by some deadly force. Can the goblins, with the help of an earthy elvish veterinarian, get back to their territory without succumbing to the same fate?

I really enjoyed this novella -- I just wish it had been longer! Sgt. Nessilka and her little band of misfits are a real delight. This is definitely on the more humorous/less horrific end of Kingfisher's oeuvre, as one might have guessed from the cover and title. Recommended. The audiobook is good, as well.

A nostalgic re-read!

Back in the day, this was my first story by T. Kingfisher, and I said ”oh, I want more!” (I have read quite a lot more since then.)

There is a war between goblins and elves/humans, and we meet a goblin regiment. There are many chuckles in the first two pages, but this is really about human colonialism, so there is darkness behind all the fun stuff.

We meet Sergeant Nessilka.
”She was built like a chunk of granite, and she could carry a live boar under one arm.”

”Not daring to look behind for fear of finding that she was making a suicide charge all on her own, she continued forward.”

What’s not to love, I ask you?

We meet Sings-to-Trees, while he is helping a unicorn give birth. (Don’t try this at home.) show more He is an elvish Dr Doolittle and he is adorable.
”The destructive capacity of small cute animals was really quite astonishing.”

In the midst of a battle, Nessilka and some of her “boys” happen to get transported to a faraway place (magic happens, that’s why).
”Travelling through thick woods with a troop of goblins is not unlike a nature hike with a group of grumpy toddlers with weapons.”

Naturally, the goblins meet Sings-to-Trees. Great conversations and interactions happen. But there is something very mysterious and very, very, very dark going on...

The idea of magic abilities as AMD - Arcane Manifestation Disorder was very interesting. In other words, the wizards of this universe are neurodiverse. I wish this was explored more, the novella length wasn’t enough. Also, on a re-read I felt that as far as representation went, this wasn’t top-notch at all.

The ending is quite satisfying. I am keeping my five stars.

P.S. Trolls are wonderful. Trolls are awwww. Unicorns are pieces of shit. Now you know. show less

This is my first T. Kingfisher book that doesn't contain at least a hint of romance (after masterpieces like [b:Swordheart|42747739|Swordheart|T. Kingfisher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542983306l/42747739._SX50_.jpg|66478946] and [b:Clockwork Boys|36618062|Clockwork Boys (Clocktaur War, #1)|T. Kingfisher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511019840l/36618062._SY75_.jpg|58376790]) but I still loved it. She managed to make me care about what happens to a ragtag band of nine goblins, who cheerfully agree that some of the nicest ways others describe them include stinking, obnoxious, rude, cowardly and lazy ("Goblins have lots of flaws, but few illusions."). There show more is lots of low humor, insights into the elf/human/goblin dynamic, and a surprisingly dark turn towards the end that is a strange but effective mix with characters like Blanchett, a goblin who only speaks through his teddy bear and Algol, who desperately wants to adopt a stray kitten. Their capable and exasperated sergeant Nessilka tries to put Algol straight:

"Corporal, we're goblins. The scourge of the night! Stealers of children! Marauders of the dark! The terror of...well, fairly terrible anyway....We aren't kitten people!"

Never stop writing, Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher. show less

Right, well, if there were six stars, or ten, or eleventy million, I would give it all the stars.

Nine goblins, in a war they never wanted to fight, find themselves on the other side of hole they never wanted to fall through, trying to solve the mystery of a dead town with the help of an overly realistic elfin veterinarian. My dad's a veterinarian, and I can attest to the level of gross fluids and exhaustion as being right on the money.

Compassionate, hilarious, and utterly satisfying. Read it again, loved it again.

Great story - very Ursula. Nine goblins - Sergeant Nessilka and part of her squad, all the odd ones - get snatched off a battlefield and into peaceful lands far behind the lines of the Goblin War. Where they have to figure out how and what and why and how they're getting back home, with the help of an elven veterinarian and some of his allies and the hindrance of a couple wizards (a new, and fascinating, take on magic, as well) and a squad of elven rangers. I do love Ursula's work - the _concreteness_ of everything is amazing. Habits and traits of the different races, and of different individuals; all the details of their varied lives... I enjoyed this tremendously and really hope we get to meet Sings-to-trees and Nessilka, and many of show more the others, again. show less

An older novella from Kingfisher, now being released by Tor, this has her characteristic humor, practicality, skewed look at familiar fantasy elements, and way with words. In short, it's a lot of fun. The characters are all deftly drawn, and appealing in their own ways. Standouts include Nessilka, Murray, the bear, and eleven veterinarian Sings-to-Trees.

Highly recommended.