Goblin Quest

Goblins #3

by Philip Reeve

The goblins have a visitor. Prince Rhind is on some sort of quest to be a hero, desperate for his place in the hall of fame.

But Skarper and his troop of goblins know the prince's plan is a bad one, even if they don't quite know why. Now they must go on a quest of their own to stop him - but Rhind isn't about to let a bunch of pesky goblins get in his way...

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction

324 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2014

About the author

Philip Reeve was born and raised in Brighton, where he worked in a bookshop for a number of years while also co-writing, producing and directing a number of no-budget theatre projects.

Philip then began illustrating and has since provided cartoons for around forty children's books, including the best-selling Horrible Histories, Murderous Maths and Dead Famous series.

Railhead, published by Oxford University Press, will be published in the UK in October 2015

Pugs of the Frozen North, written with Sarah McIntyre, is out now.

Reviews

[Kasia (kasikowykurz) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Godne zakończenie trylogii, choć fabularnie chyba najsłabiej ze wszystkich trzech. Miło było znów spotkać gobliny, ale zabrakło mi tej iskry, którą zaoferowały poprzednie dwa tomy. Sama przygoda, czy też tytułowa wyprawa trochę rozczarowująca. Fajnie się bawiłam, ale jednak w dwóch poprzednich tomach było więcej akcji, więcej humoru i więcej tego wszystkiego, za co pokochałam serię.

[Karl Orbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The master, Philip Reeve, is back with the third instalment from the Goblins of Clovenstone (and miscellaneous softlings, dwarves, giants and cushions).

Taking place a few months or a year or something of that order after the war against the dwarves from the last book, everything is fairly slow and subdued at Clovenstone. They mostly just make cheese now. Up until a prince from the Woolmark turns up demanding a back scratcher with menaces. Through subterfuge, drawings, theft and sewers, the world is endangered by people with good intentions and the goblins decide that the world would be best not endangered, with some persuasion, and set out on a quest to save everything, or at least get back their scratchbackler.



Off they go, busy trying not to get killed or turn in to upholstery at inconvenient moments. Off to save the day, or get incinerated.

It's up to the usual Reeve standard, which is as high as standards go, certainly as fun as the previous Goblins outings. Funny throughout, a good pace, and enjoyable, exciting storyline - perfect for kids in the 7-12 range (or 30-40 range, obviously).



(Not particularly bad spoilers, just not for people who are about to read it any moment soon.)

The only slightly annoying aspect was the inclusion of the "other world" sections of the story, where characters end up in the real world. I've never liked the real world interfering in fantasy, short of perhaps Uncle Travelling Matt's postcards from Outer Space - kinda strips the magic from the make believe world. Even if the battle of the Fire Warriors was pretty amusing.

Lots of ideas borrowed in from a wide bastion of other fantasy writing, which is no bad thing. Prince Rhind put me straight in mind of Prince Rhun from The Castle of Llyr, and there was a comparable scene to the bloodoaks from Beyond The Deepwoods. The sunken elven land to the west is directly akin to The Silmarillion.


NB. Be sure to read, the Goblin's Top Ten Kwesting Tipps , before starting any adventure of your own.

[Alu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have come to a conclusion that middle-grade books have a certain magic to them. Why else am I never disappointed??
I picked out this book out of the hundreds solely because of it name, without checking the rating in goodreads. I picked the book even though I did not enjoy Mortal Engines by the same author, as much as I wanted and I am still mad about the Keralite thing. Hmph.

Every book has a pull. Each of varying strengths. But the pull of this book quite remarkable. Oh god, why do I have lot of duties and why does mother always call for me while I am reading??
Why do I love middle-grade fantsy adventure so much?

Why can't I join these muddled up friendly goblins on their quest to stop Elvensea from rising? Why am I stuck on this bed reading this instead of battling the possibly last dragon and elf of Elvensea? Why am I in this stupid world with technology instead of one with magic?? And why the hell do the story book heroes turned down glory and power??

So many question....
Ok leave those qs. I have decided I will be reading the series. I am older than the expected the audience but I have read books meant for even older people. At the end does it matter?
PS::: DO NOT READ CHAPTER 7 WHILE EATING

------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CURRENTLY READING

14/1/25 7:07 pm
Fraddon the gaint is joining albiet bit late.

[Saskia_madding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this wasn't as good as the first book, it WAS better than the second one, and I thought it wrapped up the series quite nicely.

The author managed to maintain the humour, the activity and excitement, and the questing. In the second book it felt less like a quest and more like a far reaching complaint system, but with this book, our heroes were back to fighting for the good of the world, and it was great fun to take the ride with them. I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled for any more in this series, if the author writes any.

[Edoardo Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philip Reeve is my favourite children's writer today, and 'Goblin Quest' only served to cement his position there. In part its his imagination, both broad and funny, which can create wonderful worlds, ranging from the Victorian steam derring do of 'Larklight' to the predatory cities of 'Mortal Engines', and its warmth and sheer exuberance: who could not warm to a goblin, called Spurtle, who unexpectedly turns into a small sofa at moments of danger or the full moon - he's a were sofa, after all!

The quest takes the goblins, plus a couple of softling companions, to the western oceans and adds Elves to the Dwarves of the previous book, now making a pretty complete set of magical, mythical races. I do hope that Philip Reeve will write some more books in this series though, for he exemplifies for me the enjoyment of pure storytelling, for its own sake and nothing more.

[Shellie Whild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent follow-up title to the previous Goblins books. Good pacing with some wonderful humour. Some new characters and a change of scenery plus a dragon - what's more to want? Highly recommended.

[Charlotte]

So much fun!