Build our business, beat the competition, and fall for a goblin girl (or three).
My life definitely wasn’t going according to plan, but that all changed the moment I died unexpectedly. Now I’ve been reborn into the fantasy metropolis of Dragonmont City, where I get a second chance to flourish.
A twist of fate brings me into contact with Paulina, the proud but troubled owner of Goblin Girl Maid Service. Together with her slightly crazy best friend Kennedi, these two insanely beautiful goblin girls are trying to get their struggling business off the ground.
But the competition, in the form of bearded dwarf ladies with a serious attitude problem, has never been stiffer.
I’m going to do everything I can to help these lovely green ladies build the life of their dreams. Maybe I just might find something that always eluded me in my old life—a place to call home.
Sooooooooo yeah. the book is called "Goblin girl maid service". Sue me. i wanted to read a goblin girl book. i've read one already with "Harem of a Healer" and wanted to try this one out. How was it?
Well....it wasn't bad. i have to say. There were a few things i did and didn't like about it, so i'll get right into it.
First off, it's an isekai. guy dies and gets transported to be "reborn" in this fantasy world which, oddly enough is incredibly similar to our world, with the exception of magical creatures running around, is similar to our own world (Think Pixar's Onward essentially)
He ends up staying with a Goblin Girl Paulina who runs a maid service and he and her roommate work together to save the failing company.
So.... okay, here's where i need to go over some things. First of all, the writing style. In and of itself, i enjoyed the writing style. It was easy to follow, not too complicated, and conveyed the details in such a way that i got it without being confused.
The one main problem i had with the writing style were the references. Normally i'm not a fan of pop culture reference in books, and this one is no exception. If you're going to have video game or movie references, please don't title drop. it's extremely cringy to read "Let's play Mario Kart! i'm going to be Yoshi!" like...just say "we played a racing game." i swear if i took a shot every time they made a reference to an actual game or movie with a title or quote, i'd be dead. i'd say it was a nitpick if it wasn't so prevalent in the book. it wasn't like it happened once or twice, it was throughout the entire story.
The characters themselves are fine. The three main goblin girls, Sadie, Paulina and... God i forgot her name, the horny gamer one are all okay characters. they all have distinct enough personalities and are fine on their own. They all have their cute moments even if they drop 4000 references. The main guy....he's fine. he's a vanilla, milk toast character who has a decent enough personality if not generic. Like you couldn't pick him out of a lineup based on personality. he's serviceable, if not a bit dull.
No, the biggest issue i have when it comes to characters is the world building. During the entire book it seems very closed off. He mentions a dragon, a few female dwarves, fairies, and a centaur, but he doesn't really go into detail about the different races and such as the writer is so focused on the goblin girls that he doesn't really explore the world. maybe he will more in the sequels, but the first one left a little lacking.
Also when it came to the goblins themselves, i wasn't very satisfied with their description. Like, yes, he mentioned they were green and with some pointy ears, but he never really went further than that. in fact if he didn't mention the word "green" every now and then, you'd forget they were goblins. A big reason for this is because of height. You see, typically goblins (Whether it be in Warcraft, Dungeons and dragons, lord of the rings), are pretty much standardly accepted to be about 3 feet tall. but in the book he basically says "oh, they're around 5 feet" which...doesn't make them goblins, it just makes them shorter to normal sized green humans. You'd think that goblins wanting to be maids would have some fun ramifications if they were 3 feet as it could lead to some fun moments, but the author's like "nah, let's just make them 5 feet". So if i had to make one major complaint about the characters, it's that the goblins aren't really goblins, they're shorter-yet-average green humans.
Now onto the actual plot. So, the biggest issue with the plot was that there was no sense of urgency. when our MC shows up, we see that the goblin girls aren't doing so hot with their business, and they had to take out a few loans and lost some items in pawn, but i don't really FEEL that their business is on the brink. they still have a place to live, they don't have debt piling up, they're not malnourished from stress or anything, they're just fine. I feel like the story would have had more merit if our MC showed up and the characters were in much worse shape they were in. maybe they were in danger of being foreclosed on, or could barely scrounge enough money together for food or something. when the MC's first main contribution is to fix their hot tub, i don't really feel like there's a sort of urgency. What the author should have done was set up the goblins roommates as doing awfully. maybe they just lost their very last client thanks to him and they have no money and are in super debt. they can't afford food but still take him in. our MC has to go out and work a part time job or something to keep their dream afloat and helps them get on their feet. Something like that. I just felt like the stakes were very low as i never felt like these guys were in any real danger. bump up the stakes in the beginning.
of course this is also a romance story and by that, i mean copious amounts of smut. I don't mind smut in my book, but i feel there was a tad too much of it. I came here for a book about building a goblin maid girl business first and foremost. Sure some smut is fine, but spread it out bro. The romances also came too fast. even though Paulina lampshades this by saying "i only met you last week!" doesn't make the fact that it's too fast okay. slow it down a little. you don't need to have an anime level slow burn where it takes 1000 episodes to get together, but you don't need them doing the nasty within 4 days of meeting each other. there's a thing called pacing.
Yes, i know i've written a lot for a review of a book called "Goblin Girls Maid Service" but i had a lot i wanted to say.
That all said and done, it sounds like i had a lot of problems with this book, but i actually still enjoyed it. i read the whole thing over 3 days and actually do want to read the sequel so there's that. I just wish the author could have dropped the references, made the goblin girls more accurate to goblin size, slowed down on the romance, and gave me more stakes to care about. Still though, solid 3.5 out of 5.
I will however round it up to a 4 as i'm excited to read book #2. So, in the end, Goblin Girls Maid Service Volume 1 gets a 3.5 out of 5 rounded up to a 4.
Goblin Girl Maid Service: A Slice of Life Fantasy Adventure – A Frost-Clad Howl from Kiba Snowpaw
Reviewer: Kiba Snowpaw – Alpha Ice Wolf from the frozen tundra of HowlStrom, master of dungeon dives and harem hijinks. With over 5,000 games played and 400+ audiobooks consumed, I’m here to share my frosty take on Goblin Girl Maid Service by Marcus Sloss. Let's dive in, paws first!
🌨️ Introduction: Welcome to Dragonmont City—a bustling metropolis where goblin girls in maid uniforms hustle to keep their struggling business afloat. In this slice-of-life isekai harem romp, we follow a protagonist who gets a second shot at life after an unexpected death. Now reborn in a magical world where goblins run cleaning services and dwarf ladies form the competition, our hero teams up with the lovely Paulina to save her business, all while navigating a world brimming with charm, humor, and *ahem* steamy romance.
It’s like mixing Stardew Valley with a dash of Monster Musume, served with a side of entrepreneurial grind. As a frosty wolf who’s spent years traversing virtual worlds and countless audiobooks, this story hit me right in the tail with its whimsical charm and relatable themes of finding a home.
📚 Basic Plot Summary: The story kicks off with our nameless protagonist waking up in Dragonmont City, a place that blends modern life with fantasy races. Think of it as if someone ported Skyrim into a bustling cityscape. After stumbling upon Paulina’s struggling maid service, he decides to help her out. Together with Kennedi—Paulina’s eccentric and slightly wild roommate—they embark on a quest to build the best cleaning service in town while fending off fierce competition from dwarf ladies with beards sharper than axes.
The plot mixes slice-of-life elements with business management, dungeon diving, and, of course, harem romance. Each chapter brings a mix of heartfelt moments, quirky humor, and occasional smut.
🎨 Originality: While the “reborn in a fantasy world” trope is well-trodden in isekai, what sets this book apart is its focus on building a business rather than saving the world. Instead of defeating demon lords, our hero is more concerned with fixing hot tubs and winning over clients. It’s refreshing, and it adds a grounded, relatable element to the story.
Paws Up: The slice-of-life approach with a focus on relationships and daily struggles makes the story stand out. Paws Down: The harem elements could use more nuance. While fun, they occasionally feel rushed.
✍️ About the Author: Marcus Sloss is no stranger to the LitRPG and harem genres. Known for works like Dinosaur Warlord and Lord of the Dragon Riders, Sloss has built a reputation for crafting stories that blend humor, heart, and harem dynamics. His writing often explores themes of redemption, personal growth, and the importance of community—all wrapped up in a fantasy setting.
🔎 Analysis/Evaluation:
🦊 Character Development: Main Characters: - Paulina: The proud and hardworking owner of Goblin Girl Maid Service. Her determination to succeed despite the odds makes her an endearing character. - Kennedi: The wild and chaotic best friend with a penchant for gaming and troublemaking. - The Protagonist: While he starts as a somewhat bland isekai lead, his growth throughout the story adds depth to his character.
Supporting Cast: From grumpy dwarves to mischievous fairies, the supporting characters add flavor to the world. However, some could use more development.
📚 Structure and Mechanics: The pacing is steady, with moments of humor and action balanced by quieter, more reflective scenes. The business management aspect adds a unique gameplay-like element, reminiscent of managing a guild in MMORPGs.
Paws Up: The story flows well and keeps readers engaged. Paws Down: The romance pacing could be better. Relationships form a little too quickly.
💥 Impact: The book’s themes of finding one’s place in the world, building a community, and pursuing dreams resonate deeply. For furries, the anthropomorphic races and their interactions add an extra layer of immersion.
🎣 Hook and Thesis: At its core, this book asks: *What makes a house a home?* For the protagonist, it’s not just about fixing hot tubs or cleaning rooms—it’s about forming bonds, finding love, and building something meaningful. This emotional core keeps the story engaging, even during its more mundane moments.
👍 Praise and Critique:
Praise: - **Wholesome Characters:** The goblin girls are endearing and relatable. - **Unique Setting:** The urban fantasy metropolis adds a fresh twist to the isekai genre. - **Humor and Heart:** The story balances lighthearted moments with emotional depth.
Critique: - **Romance Pacing:** The relationships feel rushed at times. - **World-Building:** More details about the various races and their cultures would enhance immersion.
🐾 Personal Opinion: As a frost-covered wolf from HowlStrom, I found this book to be a cozy, heartwarming read. The themes of belonging and finding a family hit home for me. The mix of humor, romance, and slice-of-life elements made for an enjoyable experience, though I wish the world-building had been more thorough.
✨ Highlights and Drawbacks: Highlight: The charming relationship dynamics between the protagonist and the goblin girls. Drawback: The lack of urgency in the plot reduces the stakes.
📖 Comparison: Fans of Goblin Adventurer by Micky Carre and Suburban Warlock by Noah Layton will enjoy this whimsical tale of slice-of-life fantasy. However, those looking for more action-packed adventures might find it a bit slow.
📊 Overall Conclusion: Goblin Girl Maid Service is a delightful slice-of-life fantasy that combines humor, heart, and harem dynamics in a unique urban fantasy setting. While it has its flaws, the charm of its characters and the warmth of its themes make it a must-read for fans of the genre.
Final Howl: If you��re a fan of harem antics, entrepreneurial underdog stories, or just love goblin girls, this book is for you. Kiba Snowpaw says: *Grab a mug of hot chocolate, curl up by the fire, and let this story warm your paws!*
The universe is fresh, the characters are sweet, sexy, and very lovable. The story is flowing well and pleasant to read.
I've got some reservation about the sex scenes, though and a few other character's interaction. The girls are sweet and the intense, but the interaction don't feel realistic, natural, and detailed. Sex looks more porn-like than lovemaking-like, male pleasure oriented and much less female oriented. (Another series with human/goblin relationships/harem is Goblin Apocalypse by Michael Dalton, where the sex scenes are much more realistic and detailed, hot, sweet and much more impactful, as far as I'm concerned).
This said, this is a pleasant read and an entertaining story, hence the four stars.
An easy to read story with a happy ending. The characters fit the storyline perfectly. Although the background was highly unbelievable, making this more like a fairy tale than fantasy fiction, it worked well for me. With a little judicious editing to remove the harem aspects, this could easily be successful as a children’s story.
The characters are warm, inviting, and genuinely fun people to get to know. I am very happy to find a book that doesn't involve lots not killing, but still shows the characters growing and building something together.
While ridiculously horney and erotic this actually turned out to be a sweet story. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and it's ending and can't wait to read the next one.
This book is a fantastic read. The characters are engaging and loveable. The fantasy environment is just enough to help pull the reader in without overwhelming the reader. I highly recommend this book and am definately going to continue with the series.
Book one was interesting. It involved some setup, but the world building is there, I enjoyed the read, and the pacing was great for the size of book 1. Looking g forward to volume 2 and look forward to see further world building beyond the hot tub and bed room lol it's a good read you will like
A somewhat different opening but will not be described. The story line closely follows the MC as he becomes Very close to the SC's. I liked it and am getting the second book.
A fun and good introductory book in this new series with fantasy, action, adventure, drama, humor, trials, science fiction, and romance. Eager for next book.
This story was a nice quick read. I liked the Goblin Girls, the main character was kind of naive. This story delivered what was expected. I look forward to continuing this series.