*This was a book club selection (it happens to be my selection for the club this year.)
I was introduce to Jim C. Hings through his Princess books. (A good series. Start with The Stepsister Scheme
.) So, when I picked up Goblin Quest
, I expected a bit of tongue-in-check to the genre. There were some humorous moments, certainly, but I feel like any person who has ever played Dungeons and Dragons would enjoy this twist on the typical D&D adveture, a bit more than those who hadn't played the game, or read the books set in that style.
Our hero (or anti-hero) is Jig, a goblin (hence the book title). While we are constantly hit over the head with the fact that Jig is pathetic even for a goblin (in normal goblin traits), he's certainly a fun protagonist to follow. He may be near-sighted, cowardly, small, and inexperienced, but he's intelligent (or perhaps just more imaginative.) Now that I'm thinking about it, he does tend to approach things with a child like mind - not stupid, or dull witted, but instead everything for him is full of wonder, and he therefore thinks more "outside the box" than the "more experienced" and single minded characters who are billed as the "heroes." (Your typical adventuring party: The Noble Prince on a Quest, the Powerful Wizard, the Dwarven Cleric and the Elven Thief.)
Jig also has a small companion, a Fire Spider named Smudge who is a very useful pet. Jig's care of the creature shows more about his character than all his negative thoughts about himself and his race. Jig may not be perfect, but he's certainly shown to be more than just another Monster. While this type of story certainly isn't new, I think Goblin Quest does a really good job of telling a fun "adventure" story with a fun POV character. However, there are serious dark overtones, especially considering the character that Jig deals with - there's certainly a quality about it that makes you think - the winners are the Heroes, but I think we all tend to associate "good" qualities with those that claim to be heroes. Goblin Quest turns that on it's head a bit in a way that makes you think about what "good" and "evil" really mean: Who's the hero and who is the Monster?
While this certainly isn't a MUST READ NOW kinda book, I do think it's one any fantasy lover should consider adding to his or her library. Goblin Quest is the first book in a trilogy, but it can certainly be read and enjoyed on it's own. But, I think I see Goblin Hero
in my future.
I was introduce to Jim C. Hings through his Princess books. (A good series. Start with The Stepsister Scheme
.) So, when I picked up Goblin Quest, I expected a bit of tongue-in-check to the genre. There were some humorous moments, certainly, but I feel like any person who has ever played Dungeons and Dragons would enjoy this twist on the typical D&D adveture, a bit more than those who hadn't played the game, or read the books set in that style. Our hero (or anti-hero) is Jig, a goblin (hence the book title). While we are constantly hit over the head with the fact that Jig is pathetic even for a goblin (in normal goblin traits), he's certainly a fun protagonist to follow. He may be near-sighted, cowardly, small, and inexperienced, but he's intelligent (or perhaps just more imaginative.) Now that I'm thinking about it, he does tend to approach things with a child like mind - not stupid, or dull witted, but instead everything for him is full of wonder, and he therefore thinks more "outside the box" than the "more experienced" and single minded characters who are billed as the "heroes." (Your typical adventuring party: The Noble Prince on a Quest, the Powerful Wizard, the Dwarven Cleric and the Elven Thief.)
Jig also has a small companion, a Fire Spider named Smudge who is a very useful pet. Jig's care of the creature shows more about his character than all his negative thoughts about himself and his race. Jig may not be perfect, but he's certainly shown to be more than just another Monster. While this type of story certainly isn't new, I think Goblin Quest does a really good job of telling a fun "adventure" story with a fun POV character. However, there are serious dark overtones, especially considering the character that Jig deals with - there's certainly a quality about it that makes you think - the winners are the Heroes, but I think we all tend to associate "good" qualities with those that claim to be heroes. Goblin Quest turns that on it's head a bit in a way that makes you think about what "good" and "evil" really mean: Who's the hero and who is the Monster?
While this certainly isn't a MUST READ NOW kinda book, I do think it's one any fantasy lover should consider adding to his or her library. Goblin Quest is the first book in a trilogy, but it can certainly be read and enjoyed on it's own. But, I think I see Goblin Hero
in my future. 
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