Book Review: Goblins by Philip Reeve

Skarper isn’t like the other goblins. Well, he does have the same love of treasure and the tendency to steal to accumulate more treasure. But unlike others of his kind, he has intelligence and a thirst for knowledge. In Philip Reeve’s Goblins, it is this brain that gets him into trouble – very amusing, imaginative trouble.

Along with Skarper, the book focuses on Henwyn, a young man who dreams of something bigger than cheese (he is apprenticed as a cheesewright in his father’s cheesery). When Skarper is kicked out of the goblin tower - or more accurately, catapulted out- for questioning the goblin king, and Henwyn is driven out of his town after an unfortunate incident with a magical cheese monster, the two misfits find each other. And soon, adventure finds them. There is old magic awakening in the land of Clovenstone, and it could spell danger if that power falls into the wrong hands.

www.goodreads.com

Skarper and Henwyn both struggle with internal conflicts in addition to dealing with the violent goblins, angry stick-creatures, and black magic that they encounter in the outside world. This adds depth, makes the book more varied and interesting, and the characters easier to connect with. The plot is complex without being confusing. There are multiple conflicts the main characters must overcome, and Reeve takes the time to develop these obstacles without giving the characters easy ways out of their problems. The characters are neither strictly good nor evil; even the supporting characters are developed, with both flaws and positive qualities.

The best part of this book though is the humor. From the first page, almost every sentence is infused with wit, from clever wordplay to jokes about the evil goblin king’s frilly underwear.  Even when things get darker towards the end, the humor remains. The overall tone of the book is light and fun, which makes it an amusing and engaging read.

Goblins is a book about friendship, knowledge, and of course, adventure. It is written in a way that young children can understand and enjoy, but older readers will not feel talked down to or be bored. The vivid descriptions, unique characters and plot, and imaginative world building make it a fun escape for anyone.

By: Courtney Burke