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sophia_sol) wrote2016-05-09 07:51 pm
sophia_sol) wrote2016-05-09 07:51 pm
Nine Goblins, by T. Kingfisher
Sings-to-Trees!!! Gosh I love the dude. I was first introduced to him when Ursula Vernon* posted about him to her livejournal, lo these many years ago. And now he's in book form! Along with a bunch of goblins.
(Here's a round-up of what Vernon posted about Sings-to-Trees back in the day, all of which is definitely worth reading; incidentally, my god, I've been following Vernon's online activity for more than a DECADE. )
Unfortunately I was not as invested in the goblins as I was in Sings-to-Trees, but he's great enough to make up for a lot. I was also intrigued by the wizard, John, and the choice of antagonist was interesting and sad. I hope John's okay in the middle of nowhere with his sister; at least he can easily escape if things go wrong! And the bone deer who Sings-to-Trees helps (and help him in return) are really neat.
I think part of my problem with the goblins was that the worldbuilding didn't seem quite consistent. Like for instance complaining being a good thing - that held true for food (mostly) but even though we were told by the narrative that this tendency has broad application, it still didn't seem to be the way things worked in any other parts of their lives. Or how officers are generally characterized as pretty dumb, but the one officer we actually get an example of is actually very competent. And her perspective on the behaviour of her troops didn't seem quite right for troops who we are told behave entirely as goblin troops are generally expected to behave.
Oh well. Even a lesser Ursula Vernon work is still pretty quality, and I certainly enjoyed reading this book.
*T. Kingfisher is a pen-name for Ursula Vernon
(Here's a round-up of what Vernon posted about Sings-to-Trees back in the day, all of which is definitely worth reading; incidentally, my god, I've been following Vernon's online activity for more than a DECADE. )
Unfortunately I was not as invested in the goblins as I was in Sings-to-Trees, but he's great enough to make up for a lot. I was also intrigued by the wizard, John, and the choice of antagonist was interesting and sad. I hope John's okay in the middle of nowhere with his sister; at least he can easily escape if things go wrong! And the bone deer who Sings-to-Trees helps (and help him in return) are really neat.
I think part of my problem with the goblins was that the worldbuilding didn't seem quite consistent. Like for instance complaining being a good thing - that held true for food (mostly) but even though we were told by the narrative that this tendency has broad application, it still didn't seem to be the way things worked in any other parts of their lives. Or how officers are generally characterized as pretty dumb, but the one officer we actually get an example of is actually very competent. And her perspective on the behaviour of her troops didn't seem quite right for troops who we are told behave entirely as goblin troops are generally expected to behave.
Oh well. Even a lesser Ursula Vernon work is still pretty quality, and I certainly enjoyed reading this book.
*T. Kingfisher is a pen-name for Ursula Vernon