Greta and the Goblin King

Mylena Chronicles #1

by Chloe Jacobs

While trying to save her brother from the witch three years ago, Greta was thrown into the fire herself, falling through a portal to a dangerous world where humans are the enemy, and every ogre, goblin, and ghoul has a dark side that comes out with the full moon. To survive, 17-year-old Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she's good at what she does. So good, she's caught the attention of Mylena's young Goblin King, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her determination to escape. But Greta's not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. The full moon is mere days away, and an ancient evil being knows she's the key to opening the portal. If Greta fails, she and the boys she finds stranded in the woods will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back . . .

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Magic, Demons, Fae

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 13, 2012

About the author

Chloe Jacobs is a native of nowhere and everywhere, having jumped around to practically every Province of Canada before finally settling in Ontario where she has now been living for a respectable number of years. Her husband and son are the two best people in the entire world, but they also make her wish she'd at least gotten a female cat. No such luck. And although the day job keeps her busy, she carves out as much time as possible to write. Bringing new characters to life and finding out what makes them tick and how badly she can make them suffer is one of her greatest pleasures, almost better than chocolate and fuzzy pink bunny slippers.

Reviews

[Krystle · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Caught the attention of the Goblin King, darkly enticing, Isaac..." Ohuhuhu.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greta saved her brother when she was 13 years old by pushing him out of a witches fire that was really a portal. While saving her brother Greta fell through the portal and entered Mylena. A land of goblins, faeries, horrible snowy weather, and also humans are hunted there. A sprite took her in and trained to her survive and be the great bounty hunter she now is. She hunts the Lost, ghouls that have given into their dark sides. Every eclipse all Mylena's creatures go over to their dark side. When the sprite that took Greta in is murdered she wants revenge. So close to the eclipse, and with the goblin king Isaac on her trail, she must protect the humans she has found, and also stop the evil Aragomon who put the curse on Mylena, abducted humans, and also needs Greta in order to escape.

Greta is, in Issac's words, a very stubborn human. She is unbelievably strong but doesn't stop to think some of her actions through. Desperately home sick she has been searching for another portal to take her home. But for the last four years she has begun making Mylena a home whether or not she wants to admit it. She was lucky enough to have someone take her in, train her, and was able to hide her human identity. Then there is also Isaac. He cares for her even though she is a human and will do anything to ensure her safety. Greta has very strong feelings for him but continues to fight them. That was a little annoying. I thought she should have let him help her.

Isaac is one sexy, funny, sometimes arrogant, yet sweet and caring goblin! Who knew a goblin could be so hot?! As a new king he has a huge duty to protect his people but he is also willing to go against them for Greta. He still has a few secrets but always had Greta's safety in mind. Isaac can Greta's mind through her dreams which he does often. Greta is not a fan lol but he is interested in learning about where she came from. I had a few laughs when he was asking about cars and things from her world. The dreams were my favorite part of the book. Their interactions are so full of sexual tension and swoon worthiness. I was very addicted to Isaac! Every time I wanted to stop reading I decided to keep reading until after his next scene and that mostly continued the entire night until I finished the book. He knows just the right things to say.

Greta doesn't want to give into Isaac so while on her path for revenge she finds a group of humans. She feels a connection and responsibility to them. Wyatt is leading the group and he begins to fall for Greta. I thought he was a really great guy but never felt much chemistry between them. The book is called Greta and the Goblin King not Greta and the Human after all! Greta's mind was often with Isaac as was mine! But Greta was willing to give up her life to help the boys and even rescue more if it was possible. With the eclipse so close she will have to work fast and Isaac is on his way to find and protect her. Mylena was an intriguing and exciting world and I was very caught up in Greta's mission and especially in Isaac. I was on the edge of my seat towards the end but everything wrapped up nicely. No cliffhanger but still a very desperate need to get my hands on the next book!




---
"Maybe you've forgotten, but I don't play nicely with others."
"On the contrary, I think the two of us would play very well together."

"You can put up walls, Greta, but sooner or later, I'll break down every last one. There won't be any secret you can keep or any part of you I don't know..." He leaned forward, his voice lowering to a whisper. "Intimately."

"Would it be so horrible to belong to me, Greta? To give yourself into my keeping and trust me to take control of your happiness?"

"If there was trust between us..." He stopped and took a deep breath. "You could have me."

"No matter who you are or where you come from, we're the same. We were meant to be together."

"Why would you continue to put yourself and your people at risk for me?"
His gaze fell to her mouth. "You know why."

"Don't you understand anything?" He shook her. "It never mattered what you are, or what I should have done. Not since the very beginning. I fought my own uncle to keep you safe. I've fought my own people. I have no intention of letting the demon have you now. You're mine."
---

*I received a free eARC in exchange for an honest review*

[Keertana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enter here to win a copy of Greta and the Goblin King!

Greta and the Goblin King is one of those novels that starts out with a bang, but ends, quite unfortunately, with a whimper. Nevertheless, Chloe Jacobs debut is certainly a novel to look out for and it is a start to a refreshing new series that I can already see myself eagerly following through till the end.

In the harsh, winter land of Mylena, humans are said to be the cause of a centuries-old curse. Hence, they have long been hated and the land is ruled by goblins and sprites, beings who lose themselves and turn into the most hideous versions of themselves every eclipse. Greta, a human girl, has unwillingly been thrown into this land. Upon saving her brother from an evil witch, Greta finds herself in Mylena, forced to fend for herself and survive, keeping her human lineage a secret all while searching for a way back into her own world. When Isaac, the new Goblin King, and an evil demon, Agramon, find out that Greta is, in fact, a human, she is forced to go on the run. Now, with the eclipse looming closer and closer, Greta has only days to find a way out of Mylena. Little does she know, however, that a great evil brews ahead...

Greta and the Goblin King is one of the few examples of Young Adult Fantasy done right. I was astounded by the world-building in this novel and the story of how Greta comes to be in Mylena is very slightly reminiscent of Hanzel and Gretel, which only further drew me into this tale. With its goblins, sprites, rich lore, and beliefs, Mylena is a character of its own, taking on a depth I wasn't expecting and leaving me feeling bereft when I left its land. I definitely look forward to learning more about this land shrouded in the enigma of a portal and although we are given more than enough information to satisfy us in this installment, I am certain that there is even more to this nation that we don't know.

Mylena aside, Greta was a fantastic protagonist. I enjoyed her sarcastic, witty narration and although she is an absolutely kick-ass bounty hunter, she is, at the same time, intensely vulnerable and oh-so-human. I appreciated her struggle to hold on to her humanity as her memories of her human life slowly slipped away and her uncertainty about whether or not to escape back to her own land if she could find a portal was strangely realistic. Greta is a changed woman in Mylena; the land has forced her to resort to some of her most primitive instincts, making a fighter out of her and a girl who would fail to assimilate back to the human world. Nevertheless, Greta's constant determination to let nothing deter her from her task was admirable and truly, she is a heroine that many will love.

Yet, for all its good qualities, Greta and the Goblin King unfortunately lost me when it came to the romance. While I loved the novels breathtaking landscape, intriguing protagonist, heart-pounding pace, and plot full of unexpected twists, turns, and heart-warming characters, Isaac, the Goblin King, failed to woo me as a love interest. When Isaac and Greta first meet, Isaac tricks Greta into allowing him into her dreams and as such, Greta begins to distrust him. Isaac then winds up taking the throne, even when he swore he didn't want to be king, and from there on out, Greta refuses to be taken in by his charms. At around the half-way point to this book though, something changes. Greta and Isaac suddenly begin to make-out as the attraction between them is raised higher and higher. While I definitely felt the chemistry between the two, I was left lost and confused as to why Greta suddenly began to care for Isaac. Isaac redeems himself in Greta's eyes, certainly, but never enough for the type of romance that bloomed between them. Furthermore, there is a hint of a potential love triangle in the sequel which made me cringe, especially as I so evidently love the second romantic interest, not Isaac, who is sure to win the Love Triangle Battle by the end of this series. If there is anything rewarding about the romance in this, it is that it never overpowers the plot. It doesn't make itself very known until the second-half of the novel and even then, Greta's priorities are clear and the plot never veers away from its intriguing premise.

Thus, Greta and the Goblin King is a debut I was immensely impressed by. Although I had a rather major qualm with its romance, that was easily outdone by the superb world-building, fascinatingly original plot, and kick-butt heroine. I am certain that Greta and the Goblin King is bound to make many "favorites" lists by the end of the year for this is a novel  that many will appreciate and even a romance that many will come to love, unlike I have. Now I can only sit back, kick up my feet, and wait eagerly for the sequel to this phenomenal debut to release - I can't wait!

You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.

[Jasprit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vampires, werewolves, shape shifters, dragons what else is really left for paranormal books to delve into? How about goblins? Those crafty shifty looking buggers from Harry Potter immediately came to mind, but in Greta and the Goblin King we are faced with a whole different kind of goblin, a goblin king who’s fierce, arrogant, infuriating, and confident but most importantly when he growls was hot? Yes ladies forget about the preconceived images you already have of short goblins with sharp claws and razor like teeth, because this goblin will leave you in a trembling mess.

As you can already see Isaac the goblin is easily taking up the majority of my thoughts, this is how much of a great impression he left on me. Anyway I digress; I will come back to Isaac in much more detail later. Greta and the Goblin King was a book which took me highly by surprise. As soon as I started this book I knew Jacobs had lured me in a world that I didn’t want to leave any time soon. A world where poor Greta finds herself thrust into. A world she’s the suspecting victim of, with goblins and fairies and who knows what other creatures. Who become even more rabid, and display large amounts of bloodlust during the eclipse that Greta has to be locked away until they calm down, how has Greta managed to survive? And why was she specifically chosen for this insane world? These are the questions that were on my mind throughout. It was such a dangerous and scary world how the heck did a girl of Greta’s age manage to cope?; Losing everything back home I know I would be a complete mess, and realising some of the creatures you actually dreamed about when you were younger actually exist? Greta was lucky as she stumbled out into a crazy world, but she found someone who took her in, knowing about the dislike of humans in Mylena, Luke trained her well, she knew how to defend herself and keep herself hidden and to herself when necessary. But then an unexpected turn of brutal events forces Greta to go on the run, with god knows what after her, she is immediately thrown into a game of cat and mouse with the newly crowned Goblin King Isaac and in the process stumbles across something she never imagined.

The first few pages Greta and the Goblin King was brimming with brilliant face pace and action. But as soon as the unfortunate incident took place, Jacob’s upped the ante a whole another level that I found myself flying through the pages at a frenzied pace with my heart thrumming against my chest at a high accelerated beat. With one particular mission in sights, knowing she had to be willing to sacrifice her own life and with the eclipse looming even closer, Greta had it all to deal with, but I truly admired her strength and stubbornness she displayed. She knew she had the easy option she could take at any time, but she showed the will and courage to battle on. The group of characters which emerged in her path along the way were a nice surprise, in a lot of ways they reminded me of The Lost Boys from Peter Pan, stuck in a world with deadly creatures and no parents but they still showed the will to survive. I was so torn between Greta remaining with this group, because they needed her help the most and the bottom line was that it was the right thing to do. But then there was the infuriating yet hot goblin Isaac who insisted on protecting Greta and threatening to find her anyway. What was his underlying reason for pursuing Greta? Of course all of Mylena disliked humans so could she really trust him?

Greta and the Goblin King is a book sure to keep you on your toes, with its endless surprises, constant questions at the tip of your tongue, it’s positive to keep you fired up. I was torn about which path I wanted Greta to take but was satisfied with the way the majority of things turned out. There are some aspects which were left unanswered but I’m hoping these will get tackled in the next instalment.

I highly praise Jacobs for her alluring and beautiful writing; she was quick to hook you in with her tantalising pace and was also able to throw a few curveballs that further damaged my helpless heart. If you’re looking for something different and want to get lost in a mystifying world of rampage, destruction and addictive characters I hugely recommend picking this book up.

[Morgan E · Rating 4 out of 5]

So is it just me or does the cover chick look like Karen Gillan/ Amy Pond?

Geronimo!
Actually holding the book, not so much. Close though.

You know when you start reading a book and instantly you know it's going to be a favorite?

This is one of those books for me. I was planning of 5 staring it but throughout the book there were little inconsistencies that I just couldn’t overlook. Like every time Greta thinks about home, she mentions how it's fuzzy and she doesn't recall much.

“She couldn’t remember exactly what he looked like, or how he smelled, and she couldn’t remember the timbre of his voice, but she remembered his promise that the tooth fairy would come and leave her a dollar.”

But later on the same page…. “Her hand went to the chain around her neck. Inside was a tiny photograph of her parents, the only thing she had.” How does she not remember their faces when she has a picture?

This is an epic fantasy adventure that delivers a scandalous romance between a human and goblin*. Although at first you do wonder if it will just be a romance novel then after the first 50 pages or so the epic adventure starts. I didn’t mind reading the romance. Chloe Jacobs delivers a juicy romance in this one. Which is funny, I say the romance was a little much in the beginning but after finishing I was wishing there was more throughout the entire book and maybe more towards the end. For some reason I keep thinking that maybe Greta is from Mylena. Throughout the entire book she talks about feeling the creatures around her and also having a feel of the land.

“Greta I’m scared,” The boy whispered. He curled up into a tight ball in the center of the pelts. “Are you going to come back?”
She knelt before him and took his hand. Placing a kiss on his palm, she closed his tiny fingers over it. “Of course I’m coming back, magpie. You keep this safe, because I’ll want it back, do you hear me?”

Greta was great main character. I loved her! She’s smart, sassy, classy, badass, motherly, selfless and loyal. She loves and she learns to put others before herself. I feel like I should mention the fact that in the beginning of the book she is a badass bounty hunter and somewhere towards the middle she turns into the one always needing to be saved. How did that happen? Isaac was also a great character. At times I wished he had a bigger role throughout this book but what I did see of him made me like him.

“His jaw clenched, “You’re mine, Greta. I would bring you back from death itself if I had to.”

This book does have a love triangle but it wasn’t overbearing. I liked Wyatt. I’m not sure if I could really call it a love triangle, though. Wyatt likes Greta but all she sees is Isaac.

“I saw the way he looked at you, Greta. It went beyond the eclipse. He looked at you as if he would defy the law, the moons, and the Great Mother herself to-“
“That’s ridiculous,” she cut him off. “How could you have possibly seen all that? It was pitch dark, for one thing, and-“
“I saw it because I feel the same way. And because I knew even before he showed up that there was something you weren’t telling me.”

I really enjoyed this book even though there were some inconsistencies with the writing and some editing errors. I would still recommend this book to everyone who loves romance and epic adventure!

*It's only scandalous because she is human. No Smut! Sorry Guys! This novel is PG but still amazing!

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars: A kick butt heroine fighting to survive in a cold, dark world.

Greta trudges through the snow. The icy wind bites her fingers, but she ignores the frosty cold, intent on tracking the ghoul that stole the goblin child. Greta is an accomplished bounty hunter. She is seventeen and human. Four years ago she and her brother were lured by a witch into a cave, Greta shoved her brother aside, but fell into the fire. When she awoke, she found herself far from home in a snow covered world inhabited by goblins, gnomes, sprites and more. A sprite bounty hunter, Luke, took her in and trained her well. All the while hiding her humanity. Humans are believed to be the cause for the curse that plagues the land. During the eclipses, the entire population succumbs to their dark side and become blood thirsty monsters. The humans brought the demon into this world and he is the source of the curse. Now, all humans must die. Greta keeps her ears tucked under her long braids to hide her human features. She is fierce and deadly and intent on finding her way home. The only problem is she can't find a portal and there is the little problem of the Goblin King, Isaac,
who constantly pursues her. Does he know her secret? Can Greta find her way home?

What I Liked:
*I thoroughly enjoyed that Ms. Jacobs brought me something new and exciting! Not only did I get an entire new world inhabited by paranormal creatures, but I got to know Isaac the noble and fearsome Goblin King. In the past, books I read on goblins portrayed them as fearsome and ugly ghoulish type creatures. Not this time. Instead they look a lot like humans, and in Isaac's case very attractive. I liked that I was presented with something original.
*I also like a tale that utilizes good, solid world building and Greta and the Goblin King has just that. I liked learning all about the icy, cold world of Mylena with all of its paranormal inhabitants and its eclipse curse. Ms. Jacobs does an excellent job in creating a detailed world.
*I really admired Greta. She is a young lady thrust into a horrible situation, yet she stands tall and perseveres. Through her training with Luke, the sprite, she has achieved some impressive fighting skills. She can wield a sword, or dagger and kick some butt. I loved that she was strong and incredibly brave.
*I liked that this book was jammed packed with thrilling scenes. Greta is caught time and time again in situations where she must fight, and she never fails to impress. This book is packed with action and there are some nail biting fight scenes. There is rarely a dull moment in this one. It comes at you fast and furious and doesn't let up until the final pages.

And The Not So Much;
*While the world building is top notch, the book falters a bit on the explanations of the inhabitants. I never felt like I had a complete picture of any of the creatures that inhabited the world, except the ghouls. The goblins especially left me wondering. What were their powers? Did they all have a human appearance? How was Isaac able to get into people's dreams, is it just by saying his name? The composition of all the creatures in Mylena needed more detail.
*The romance between Greta and Isaac was difficult for me. I think because their first meeting occurred just a few days prior to the opening of the story, and it is retold in a few flashbacks. I think this technique didn't work because I never felt the sparks of attraction nor saw what drew them together to begin with. I did like that for the majority of the book the two were at odds and had an antagonistic relationship that hid the magnetic attraction between them. In all honesty, I felt the way the relationship developed between Wyatt and Greta was much more believable. Yes, this book does utilize a love triangle, but for me it wasn't such an issue because Greta never reciprocated Wyatt's feelings, in her mind she was constantly driven toward Isaac.
*The ending was open. The story draws to an exciting conclusion and it doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but it does leave a bunch of unanswered questions.

Greta and the Goblin King is a solid and unique beginning to a new series. Ms. Jacobs plunges us into the cold and deadly world of Mylena ruled by the Goblin King and under the curse of the eclipse. Greta is a stubborn, fierce and determined young lady who will win you over. This book is packed with action and an antagonistic romance. I enjoyed this original book and will definitely be picking up the next book in the series.
Favorite Quotations:
“You’re deluding yourself if you think you can know who I am or what I want from spying on me in my dreams. Therein lies a realm of fantasy, and while it’s an interesting place to visit every once in a while, we both have to live in the real world, don’t we?”
“I think showing off your sword might distract them from the fact that you have breasts...at least for a little while.”
“No matter who you are or where you come from, we’re the same. We were meant to be together.” He said it with such certainty and finality. “It has been decreed in the stars, and in our blood.”
"The moonlight played with the shadows, giving him deeper hollows in his cheeks and hiding his eyes. He dragged his thumb lightly over her bottom lip, continuing up the slope of her jaw. His hand shook a little bit, but his touch made her feel as if she were being welcomed home after a long absence, as if every good memory of being human was wrapped up in him."

I received a copy of this book for participating in the book tour. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

[The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reads like wholesome FanFic - nothing wrong with that as long as you're expecting it, but this had ZERO to do with the original Goblin King fairy tale. Color me disappointed on both counts.

[Ji Mei · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book. And that is a rare thing since I read through every school book without even using sparknotes for summaries. The first indicator for me was on the first page. "The shadows falling across the blanket of craptastic white stuff were still long" is one of the most idiotic phrases I've ever read. The author could simply say snow instead of making you think the main character is walking through some odd white substance. I understand though what the author was getting at after a few more pages. I realized that she does this weird confusing 3rd person perspective yet uses the thoughts and words of the main character like a 1st person point of view. That combination was weird.

Also, it took me a long time to realize that this main character came from the present into this world of swords and such. I didn't like that I had to deduce this since the summary suggested that Greta saved her brother from a witch's fire in the time period when there were witch trials. Guess not. What was also weird was the ridiculousness of the events that occur just in the first 7 chapters. First she tries to hunt down this ghoul and almost gets killed, she gets home afterwards just to find out her mentor is bleeding to death. Then after the shortest funeral of a couple paragraphs and grabbing a couple of non-food items, it suddenly skips to where she's travelling around in her search to avenge her mentor and, of course, she now has a bounty on her head. And she just has to go into the inn and get into even more trouble. I found it just way too much to have so many events occur in the space of 100 pages. At least spread it out with some more internal, character-building thoughts. Maybe even some revealing things about how the heck Greta got there when she doesn't even mention saving her brother. AT. ALL. The plot was okay, just way too rushed for me.

Mainly though, it was the characters themselves that bothered me the most. It was blatantly obvious with the love relationships in this book. Nothing special. And Isaac, this goblin king, wasn't even described as looking like a goblin until he "turned". Ooh, so scary. Other than that, the guy is practically human. Really stupid to me since I found it just more shallow to give something usually ugly into something more "purple and darkly, enticing, attractive" king. Additionally, Greta is supposed to be the cool, strong heroine. To me, she tries to act strong, but is the weakest character of all. She complains too much about wanting to be weak, which is a weakness in and of itself. Her cursing was unnecessary to me, since it seems at times she just wants to be mature so she throws in 5 cuss words together here and there. She supposedly hates Isaac, but the only thing mentioned about hate was that "Oh, darn. The guy isn't a regular goblin boy, but the king instead". Other than that, basically she has a mega crush on the guy and she can't hide it at all. For a "strong" heroine, she is really bad at looking like one. Plus, so far the strongest thing she has done was............. Hmm...Um...Well, I guess you can count almost dying from paralysis and loss of blood, yet miraculously manage to decapitate a ghoul. Also, what I didn't understand was the time Greta spent in Mylena. First of all, she happens to become a master with a sword after just four years? Really? I think she should still be unable to do this bounty hunting (by the way, Samus Aran is way cooler) on her own. Then, after four years, she can't remember the face of her mom. What? She remembers the sun, hot beach, and those not-so-important things, but not her mother's face? I'm not sure about you, but I don't forget how people look after just four years (without pics of any kind). Heck, I still remember people's faces from 10 years ago! I thought this fact about Greta was just unrealistic.

Overall, I thought this book way too ridiculous for me to stand. I liked the idea of it, but the characters weren't good, the world-building was terrible, and I just felt the author wasn't well educated. I mean, she didn't write Your Highness, she wrote your highness. Everyone I've read had used the correct Your Highness. Plus, it just looks weird when it isn't capitalized. There were just these flaws that build up into one disappointing and terrible story.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review coming soon, but I loved this book sooo much! If you haven't pre-ordered it, do so. The mood she captures is just breathtaking....not to mention my man Isaac :)

[Patrycja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm trying to calm myself down. Just a little bit. I want to scream on the top of my lungs, becouse I LOVE LOVE this book. It's that epic! It's literally so good I'm shaking becouse I finished reading this and knowing my luck I'd have to wait an entire year for sequel. And this thought make me angry. I think I'll have to scream into pillow or break something.

Anyway, Greta and the Goblin King was my first book about Goblins, so I think I just popped a delicious cherry and it was the best way to lose a "Goblin virginity", so you know if haven't... hmmm... Let's say you wouldn't regret ;)

And do you know what's the best of it? I always thought Gobins are... ugly, stupid creatures, and that they just can't be attractive, but boy I was so wrong!!

After every vamp and were, alien or angel, reading a book with sexy, hot as hell Isaac The Goblin King made me melt.

I think I have a new crush!

I can't forget to mention Greta! she was so funny and stubborn, she remind me so much of myslef, that it was like reading a book about me!

I highly recommend Greta and the Goblin King for bored fans of ya paranormal who had enough Edwards, Patches and Lucas. Let's show authors that me can appriciate originality !!

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. Greta falls through a portal to make sure her little brother doesn't fall through and ends up in a world of goblins, sprites, faeries, etc. She lives with a man/sprite, Luke, who claims her as his daughter. In this land of Mylena, humans are not tolerated. They are hunted down and killed or taken to the demon Agramon.

But there is a goblin King named Isaac that invades Greta's dreams. He takes her to the human world where they talk and so forth. She thinks he doesn't know that she is human, as she hides her self as a bounty hunter sprite, but he knows. He seems to know everything. He is a very likable character though.

Some bad things happen and she ends up finding this little band of boys in the woods. They are humans that have been hiding together for different times, 3 years, 1 year etc. They have a little child with them that you just have to feel sorry for, his name is Jacob and he is only five.

Greta describes them as a cross between Lord of the Flies and Boyscouts of America!

OH and Greta has a bounty on her head because the creatures of Mylena found out she is a human some of her human friends and Isaac fight to make sure she is not killed. I won't go into that as I'm not adding any spoilers.

I hope to read the sequel at some point.

www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com

[Lynsey is Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a buddy read with Janice.

So much promise ...

Greta and the Goblin King follows the adventures of Greta, a 17-year old human who 4 years ago fell through a magical portal to Mylena, a world of goblins, Faeries, Giants and Witches. It's also a place where being human is a one-way ticket to an early grave, as they are blamed by the locals for, well, everything. Luckily for Greta, she was found early on by Luke, a Sprite and Bounty Hunter who became a father figure to her and taught her how to not only hide what she is, but how to fight, how to survive the harsh climate (it's constantly winter there) and how to be a Bounty Hunter, like himself. 

When we meet Greta for the first time she's on a mission in her role as Bounty Hunter and I thought this was a really strong opening scene . She's a sword-wielding badass with a snarky attitude who seemed very likeable and I appreciated that she'd kept her human traits and vocabulary despite the dangers involved in doing so.  Where this book fell apart for me, though, was the romance. It was pretty terrible, I'm afraid. Absolutely paper-thin characterisation of Isaac the Goblin King. And even though his name graces the title, don't think for a minute that stopped there from being a love triangle thrown in for good measure. And sadly, I preferred the second potential love interest over Isaac, which I don't think was supposed to happen.

I think perhaps the fundamental mistake and the reason I didn't connect well with the romance was that at the time we join Greta's story, she and Isaac have already known each other for two weeks. Now if only we'd been privy to that first meeting — which sounded rather good and flirtatious and would have told us much about Isaac's true nature and personality. Plus, it was only two weeks ago; it's not liked we'd have had to backtrack years! You could even just stick it on as a prologue— But no, instead we only hear about it in brief retrospect and so when he all of a sudden, out of absolutely nowhere to my eyes, starts talking about these great immense feelings they share, I was like "What now? Did I miss a something?" I just wasn't feeling it at all.

On the other hand, when we meet the second potential love interest we get a proper introduction, some nice life and death actions scenes together, some tender, quiet moments and a believable beginning to a relationship. So I found myself totally rooting for the underdog, which judging by the title, is not the author's intent.

Having said all of that, there were some really good aspects to this book; it's not all doom and gloom by any means. I thought the actual concept was good—a human surviving undercover in a world that detests humans— and Greta was a pretty decent kick-ass protagonist (although considering she was meant to be very skillful, the amount of times she needed saving somewhat belied that fact). Also, there were some nice secondary characters that were fleshed out quite well. The action scenes were really easy to visualise, the weird creatures sounded funky and the idea of the eclipse affecting everyone and turning them rabid was interesting and unnerving. So definitely not a total loss. Just such a shame about the romance angle, really.

I would possibly try this author again in the future because there's clearly a good imagination in play here, but I think I might have been a bit too underwhelmed with the characters to continue with this particular series.

3 Stars ★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Joie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first thought when I was reading this book was: "This is.... a debut novel?!"

Because it was flipping fantastic.

You know how sometimes you read a book and you just love it so much and you want everyone to read it and fall in love with it? That's how I felt about Greta and the Goblin King.

The characters:
Greta is officially my new favorite heroine. She is a badass and I loved her for it.

"She needed to remember this moment. Not the fear or the loneliness- although those feelings were strong enough to tear her apart inside- but the anger. That was something she could use, it would give her strength."

Four years in the harsh world of Mylena has turned Greta into a tough-as-nails bounty hunter who can go head to head with just about any goblin/fairy/gnome. Greta reminded me a lot of Rose Hathaway from the Vampire Academy series in that she too was a wonderful mixture of strength and sarcasm. But, like Rose, Greta also had heart. She cared even when she didn't want to, when she knew better, and it was obvious that she was the type of person who would do anything and everything for the people she cared about.

Speaking of the people Greta cares about..... Isaac. The young goblin king.
Le swoooon.
In my mind, goblin is not synonymous with hot, but Chloe Jacobs has convinced me otherwise! Isaac and Greta have a fairly rocky history of lies and deception but their chemistry is off the charts. I loved that they kept pushing each others' buttons, challenging one another, and their occasional back-and-forth snark certainly doesn't hurt. ;)
There's hint at a possible love triangle in the next book, which brings me to my next point....

The human boys. These are kids and teenagers stranded in a foreign and dangerous land and, against all odds, they have managed to survive. Led by Wyatt (the potential other love interest), these boys have become a family. I loved them. From adorable little Jacob to tough, angry Ray to responsible golden boy Wyatt, I loved each and every one of them.

I'm not worried about there being a love triangle--in fact, I'm kind of looking forward to it (shocking words, I know!) because all three characters are so well-developed and none of them are present just for the sake of creating romantic conflict. I think this story has the potential for a really well-written love triangle, albeit possibly heart-wrenching because I love both boys very much.

The plot/setting:
This is YA fantasy done right. The world-building was great, the pacing was impeccable, and the adventure was riveting. The action starts pretty much from the very first page and keeps my attention for the rest of the book. Background information about the world of Mylena and how Greta got there was given as the book progressed in a way that didn't disrupt the flow of the story which was something I really appreciated.

Oh, and did anyone else realize see the influences of the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale in this story?? I wouldn't necessarily classify this book as a direct fairy tale retelling, but Chloe Jacobs definitely took some of the basic elements of the Hansel and Gretel tale and spun it into a completely unique and captivating story. When I realized the connection, it was like:





All in all:
Sigh. Guys. I really loved this book! I gobbled it up and I can't stop going back and re-reading bits of it over and over. I really need that second book. If you like fantasy, adventure, general epicness, and a seriously awesome heroine, then you really need to go pick this book up.

Oh, and the romance was great too... you know.... if you're into that kind of thing. ;)

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal debut! Brimming with fantasy, magic and a sizzling paranormal romance, Chloe left me wanting so much more of Greta and Issca's story. I wasn't hard for me to get swept me away with Greta and the Goblin King. This action packed debut is fabulous! I'm a huge fan of well written fantasy stories, and this was just what I needed. Greta's story has now found a new home on my shelf of "go-to" books. You know those books you can't get enough and find yourself wanting to read them over and over again, and can pick them up any time you're in a reading slump. Greta's story was exciting, had plenty of swoon worthy moments, and was fueled with action, in summary it was my kind of book!

I thoroughly enjoyed what Chloe did with Greta's story. Greta is a hero/heroine who is driven by her need to protect, survive, and do what ever it takes to complete her mission. Often times that causes to act without given much thought to what she's actually doing, and given that, she at times comes across as selfish. What I love about her is that she knows this and later in the story admits this to herself when this very action puts herself, and those she cares about in trouble. She's also stubborn, strong willed and oh can she dish it to Mr Hotness aka Issac the Goblin King who's just as stubborn and strong willed as she is.

I admit I've not been one who's been drawn to goblins, but that was before I "met" Isaac. Isaac is one sexy goblin, and he just so happens to be the new Goblin King. He's also headstrong, caring, arrogant and funny. He was written in a way that made all these qualities charming on him, when normally I wouldn't think twice about him (if you're read Jennifer Armentrout's books, his arrogance is similar to that of Seth and Daemon's). I love the bantering between him and Greta. It was fabulous. He's definitely not use to people telling him no or what to do, but that was until he met Greta, who will do everything she can to deny her feelings for him. Believe me, this is one guy/goblin you don't forget about and Greta knows that. I admired the strength Isaac has to stay in control of who he is, and his determination to get what he wants from Greta. Yes this is a match made in fairy tale heaven, and it's not without it's complications. Greta and Isaac are characters who definitely stand out for me amid the many great characters I've read about this year.

This is a well written story that kept me on the edge on seat the whole time. There is plenty of danger, a lot of action, and surprising twists that kept me hooked with this book. Chloe's world building is memorizing. The Mylena world is beautiful, and dangerous. In a world full of fairy tale creatures like spites, fairies, trolls, and goblins, humans are something both feared and hated, which is all the more reason why Greta needs to find a way to leave, and not get to close to the Isaac. Among the dangers is a group of human boys who are on the same quest Chloe is, to get out of there, and save the other boys who have been captured, including Chloe's little brother. I enjoyed what these group of boys brought to the story, and aside from Isaac, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Wyatt's role will be with the rest of this series.

I loved this read! When a story can make me laugh, sigh, and has me wishing I could read faster so I know what happens at the end, it's a win win in my book. If you love a well written fantasy, enjoy an undeniable paranormal romance, and crave action packed scenes, then you need to pick this one up! I can not wait to read more of this series.

**enter to WIN a copy of the book on my blog*

[mich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did anyone picture David Bowie in spandex at the words "Goblin King"?

Or was that just me?

Who would have thought that a goblin of all things could be the hero of any tale? Even if your childhood wasn't tainted by that movie Labyrinth and David Bowie with his spandex bulge and purple eye shadow, goblins aren't exactly your typical hero material. But that's part of what makes this story so cool. It's different and interesting and I liked it! (and don't worry, Isaac is a MUCH cooler goblin king than Bowie).

Here's the quick run-down: Greta is a human girl who, at the age of 13, found herself trapped in a world full of goblins, sprites, ogres, you name it. And in this world, HUMANS are the evil monsters, hated and hunted down. She spends the next 4 years with her secret safely hidden and learns to at least live successfully in this world, if not happily. But when events transpire that lead to the revelation of her true identity, she is in a fight for her life and the awesomeness just takes off from there.

I really liked this book. With a fast paced plot, lots of action and characters you care about, this was an entertaining read and I'm glad I stumbled on to it. I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another book by this author.

[Jessica (Goldenfurpro) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was fine in itself. What caused me to lower the rating was the romance, which I was not a fan of at all. Not only was there a love triangle, but the main love interest was super creepy and possessive and I was very against the "romantic" encounters with him in this book.
I will likely not be continuing the series because I get the feeling that this guy will become the major love interest in further books and I will not be able to stand it.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been fortunate enough to get a special peek of this book. I'm not a big YA reader, but this one kept me turning the pages. Loved it!

[Becki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa that was awesome. Greta and Isaac I think i'm inlove. Can you be my new bffs?

Review to come. ^.^

[Teresa Mary Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives

The moment I saw sign-ups for the blog tour for Greta and the Goblin King; I simply knew that I had to be a part of this tour. This book sounded like something I would enjoy. It reminded me of the movie Labyrinth from the 80s with David Bowie and puppets running around everywhere. Being that I have a slight overwhelming love for that movie, I just knew I had to read this book. With all of that being said, this book caught me by surprise. I expected to enjoy Greta and the Goblin King; however I did not expect to fall head over heels in love with this book. This book really caught me off guard and I am so glad I read it.


Greta is everything I want in a heroine. In a word, she is tough. To expand on that, she is strong, confident, feisty, and she can fight. In a world filled with monsters, Greta has become one of the best bounty hunters. She did this despite being a human pitted against things much bigger and stronger than her. From the very first chapter, I knew I was going to like her. She has a no nonsense attitude and I loved it. At the same time though, Greta was not invincible. She has fears and she recognizes those fears. For example, she really has no love for the dark or for heights. She also needs saving at times. While she will take on anything that comes after her, there are things out there that she is no match for. It shows that she is not invincible and that she really is just a human girl, albeit an incredibly strong one.


Okay, now prepare for the crazy. I have a new book boyfriend and his name is Isaac. I simply fell in love with his character. He is so strong and determined and he knows just how to get under Greta’s skin. Isaac is the Goblin King (see, the title… get it?). Isaac is in a bit of a tough place. See he has a responsibility to his people, a responsibility that is at war with his feelings or Greta. I have a thing for forbidden romances, and this was no exception. I started rooting for these two from page one, even when things looked like they may never ever work out. I am still rooting for them to make it work! What I like about them is that they challenge each other. Isaac dares Greta to accept her place in Mylena and knows that she is strong. Greta pushes Isaac’s buttons and treats him like she would anyone, despite him being King. The attraction between the two is palpable. How Greta denies it is simply beyond me. I spent a lot of the book willing her to recognize what was standing right in front of her!


Now to mention some other characters. First I want to mention Siona; Isaac’s cousin. She isn’t in the book much, but she is memorable. I really like her character and I think she has a lot of potential. She seems very fun and feisty. She is also a voice of reason and very good at making Isaac and Greta see sense. We also have Jacob, who I love. He is just adorable. Then we have Wyatt. I do not really know what to make of him. I like him, I really do, but I think he could be troublesome for Isaac and Greta’s relationship. Also, there is just something about him that I find slightly annoying. I really cannot put my finger on what it is exactly though. I feel like Wyatt represents everything Greta was forced to leave behind when she came to Mylena, whereas Isaac represents everything she has the potential to be in this new world.


The plot in this book is simply captivating. The first chapter opens to action and it does not let up until you finish the book. It is not the kind of book where it is easy to guess the outcome. I wasted a lot of brain cells trying to figure out exactly what was going to happen and trying to figure out who could and couldn’t be trusted. You know there is a villain out to get Greta, but you don’t really know why and that just adds to the mystery and intrigue of the story. Then the ending holds one huge twist that almost killed me. I had a moment where I refused to accept the events and I was demanding new ones. Do not fear, the ending is great. I personally loved it and I love that it was left just open enough for some continuation to the story. There is a definite arc to the plot and the ending is not a cliffhanger, however there is stuff that could be expanded on and there are definitely some threats still out there that need dealing with.


All in all, I simply loved this book. As I said before, this book took me by surprise and quickly became a new favorite. I am invested in the characters and I really hope that there will be more to this story. The fantasy world Chloe Jacobs created is stunning and something any fantasy fan will enjoy. Fans of Shadow and Bone and Throne of Glass, this one is definitely for you.

*I received a copy of this book as a part of the blog tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Henrietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I share with you about this place called Mylena? It is a world with extremely tough living conditions. It’s a land with many ruthless creatures roaming. If you didn’t know how to defend yourself and you had limited survival skills in the wilderness, you’re out of luck. Chances are you wouldn’t be able to stay alive for long if you were being thrown into Mylena through a portal. In this story, Greta and her little brother were being lured by a witch and before she knew what really happened, she was being transported from our human world to Mylena. Since her brother did not fall through the portal with her, Greta kind of made the assumption that her brother was safe. It was until four years later that she began to connect the dots and see why she got trapped in Mylena. Now that she is on the most wanted list to be hunted, can she make her way out alive?

Greta is a girl who is constantly watching her back. She knows she can’t let her guard down and it’s not safe for her to make friends with any of the creatures in Mylena. So, when she develops unusual feelings for a young goblin named Isaac, she tries really hard to ignore her desire. But Isaac is determined to be with her, and let me tell you, I’m not exaggerating when I say he wants her to be his and only his. Is the relationship a convincing one? I’ll let you read the book and find it out for yourself, but Chloe Jacobs does have her magical way to make a goblin look hot, sexy and charming! :)

But Isaac is not the only one who has feelings for Greta. There is another person. His name is Wyatt and he is a human. And before you go into making any assumption, I just want to say that it’s hard not to like Wyatt. I tried, and believe me, I tried really hard not to like him, but in the end, I can’t find myself disliking him. Perhaps it’s his kindness, his sense of protectiveness and his forever patience, I just find him irresistibly attractive. But I guess it doesn’t really matter whether I like him or not because ultimately, what matters the most is not up to me to decide – it’s up to Greta to make her choice, right? Personally, I think Wyatt helps Greta in ways that no one else can and I’m happy that Greta learns to open up herself when Wyatt is around. It’s actually quite sweet to watch what’s being developed between Wyatt and Greta. Without Wyatt, I’d say Greta might never make it all the way to come to term with herself. She might never want to face herself with honesty and she might never realize where her heart truly belongs. So, from how I see it, I’d say Greta wouldn’t grow into becoming the version of who she is at the end of the book if she’d never experienced what she’d felt between herself and Wyatt.

To me, Greta and the Goblin King is a beautifully-written story that is well-paced and pleasant to read. I like that it talks about survival and I love that it offers room for readers to ponder on both the upside and downside of risk versus responsibility. If you love a good fantasy and you’re in the mood of reading a decent young-adult novel, I’d suggest you pick up a copy of Greta and the Goblin King. I think you’ll enjoy it.

--
This review was originally published on my blog.

A copy of the book was provided by publisher for review purposes.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

To see the full post with the giveaway and author Bio click HERE

Greta has been in Mylena for about four years after saving her brother. She has spent that time in Mylena trying to find a way out and learning to survive. All her training came from her Pater Luke. He made her one of the deadliest bounty hunters. She has learned to keep her emotions in check, but no one gets under her skin like the Goblin King, Isaac. She especially doesn’t need complications b/c no one can find out what she is, a human. But things do get complicated when she finds a bunch of humans and tries to help them. All the while Isaac is still there and he will not take no for an answer. How much are they willing to risk before they face the truth and will Greta make it out alive to find out.

I loved loved loved this book!!!!!!! This book was like crack to me. I kept coming back for more. There were parts I had to stop reading and correct myself b/c I kept getting worked up. LOL But I always came back b/c the book is just that good and couldn’t resist. I finished this within a couple of hours and I wish I didn’t. Now I have to wait for probably forever to read the next book. The whole story was fantastic. The author’s imagination is astounding. Everything was really unique. The world was magnificent and the characters well developed. What I thought was really cool was how everyone would change when the eclipse came. They were no longer were themselves, but raging beast. It was different than anything else I have read. The whole changing process was just really cool.

Greta was everything everyone in the book said she was. She is one of the best hunter’s in Mylena. She was not afraid to do what needed to be done in order to survive. She kicked butt when she needed to and knew when to cut her losses and run. She is but just a human with no magical powers.

Isaac OH Isaac, how I feel for him, the king that does not want to be king, but is good at it. He goes against his nature to help Greta and that is what made me sink into his violet eyes. He made me want to go to Mylena. He also was not afraid to tell his true feeling and I liked that. Usually the guys keep everything inside, but Isaac, he told it like it was. It was a nice for a change.

The COVER is AWESOME!!! It portrays what’s in the book exactly. All through the book that’s how I pictured them. I just love everything about the cover. The way Isaac is standing on the mountain, to the sword in Greta’s hand. I really hope that the next cover is just as great.

[Ahana M Rao (Heart’s Content) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You’re mine, Greta. I would bring you back from death itself if I had to.”

Oh Good freaking Lord, I don't even know what to write! This book was sooooooo good and I'm soooo glad that it stumbled on me. It was an un-put-downable, bunking-school, quit-doing-your-homework, forget-to-eat-sleep-talk kind of book.
Frankly I wasn't sure what to think. The title "Greta and the Goblin King" sounded like a fairy tale name (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Beedle the Bard, you get the picture) and the whole "Goblin" being the hero had me thinking. But I'm GLAD that I purchased it, hell I'm ecstatic that I purchased it. I loved it. Period.

Greta
She isn't your typical heroine. Yeah, she's a smart ass, sarcastic, tough and strong. But she kills to survive. Not in a bad way. She kills the ghouls that are Lost, given in to the beast in them. The thing is Greta is human. And humans do NOT exist in the place that Greta is stuck in. Why? Because they are hunted and hated. But she keeps her secret and she pulls through and she's doing fine...until Isaac.
She's strong, but almost like every strong character, she's scared of weakness...in her case attachment, love, any thing that makes her want to stay in Mylena. She wants to go back home. To her family and with Isaac haunting her dreams and making her feel the exact things that she is hiding from she's confused. Then she has a bounty on her head, and the hunter becomes hunted. But what happens when she's running away that makes her stop and realize she does have something to lose.

Isaac
I LOVED him, he was a very well developed character and I love love LOVED him! Yumtastic! I want me some. Yes, he hides things from Greta, but everything that he does for her makes you forgive every small (teeny tiny) mistake that he's ever made. He's consuming, intimidating, controlling, controlled, loving, lovable and my new book boyfriend.

Five Stars!

Some quotes, they might be spoilery!

“At least now I understand where your impertinence comes from. Humans are notoriously irritating and troublesome, are you not?”
“You’re no walk in the park yourself,” she snapped. “Arrogant, manipulative smartass.”

"But I find I’m less interested in forcing you than I am in making you see that you can trust me.”

“If I’m such a perfect fit for Mylena, why is everyone out to kill me?”
“Your gracious personality?”
She gave him the look of death.

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn this was good especially for YA. If the characters ages hadn’t been mentioned, I would have thought they were in their twenties. It’s so rare to find mature characters in YA. The characters lived in a brutal world that forced them to grow up. Humans such as Greta weren’t meant to live in the realm of Mylena, but she fell through a portal and ended up there. Humans were usually killed because the demon who was reeking havoc across the land only entered Mylena because of humans. So humans were the enemies.

Greta was lucky. A man found her and taught her how to survive and how to hide her humanity. She usually avoided other people, so they wouldn’t figure out her secret. Isaac, the goblin king, was interested in her. I loved Isaac! He was pushy but not unbearably so. He only pushed Greta to admit the things she wasn’t willing to admit to herself. Despite being the protective type, he didn’t force Greta to do what he wanted. A man who respects independent women is a keeper.

Greta totally kicked ass! Backing down from a fight wasn’t an option even when the odds were against her. She didn’t rely on others to save her. Most of the time she did her best to save others. But she was also reasonable. Dangerous creatures trailed her everywhere she went, but she only engaged with them when absolutely necessary.

The world was unique. Somehow the world delved into a perpetual state of winter. The people of Mylena were goblins, gnomes, and fairies. I love reading books that don’t use the same old supernatural creatures. Although it’s commonly associated with werewolves, everyone except the humans were subject to changing into a mindless, animalistic creatures when the moons were aligned the right way. In this the change didn’t occur monthly nor was it due to the full moon.

If it weren’t for the effing love triangle, this probably would have been worth 4.5 to 5 stars. The book was that good. It was one of those lame love triangles where it was really obvious she only interested in one of the guys. The third person in the love triangle, Wyatt, was either pathetic or desperate. He had only known Greta for a day or two and acted like they were meant to be. He was nice and all but looked like a fool. Aside from the minor annoyance of the love triangle, it was a worthwhile read.

[Melissa Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greta and the Goblin King is the first book in the Mylena Chronicles, a dark YA fantasy series by Chloe Jacobs. I was surprised I'd never heard of this series before I saw the sign up for this tour, I love this genre and I'm constantly on the hunt for new books to read. I knew just from the blurb that I was most likely going to love this book and I was not wrong.

Mylena is a realm of goblins, ghouls and ogres where humans are reviled and hunted. To add to the uncertainty, the creatures that reside there are at the mercy of the moons when they eclipse. The main character, Greta, a 17-year-old human girl, is trapped there, and we see the story unfold from her point of view. I was captivated from the very first page, drawn instantly into the constant danger of Greta's world. Greta spends her life in disguise, trying to hide what she is while she makes her living as a bounty hunter. In her work, she crosses paths and swords with all manner of beings, one of them being the brand new goblin king, Isaac. Only she can't tell if he's a friend or foe and neither can her heart.

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish, it was a nonstop roller coaster ride of emotions. I laughed, cried, gasped, and even said 'eek' a few times while reading. (And was laughed at by my husband, of course) The story was fantastic; richly detailed and brilliantly written. It's an enthralling read, unique and compelling, with humor and twists woven in masterfully. I was hooked by the story immediately, drowning in the suspense the author built as the eclipse drew nearer and Greta's world got turned on its ear again. I was completely engrossed. I simply could not put it down. We don't do spoilers here so I really can't say much more beyond you do not want to miss this book. I will be buying the entire series in paperback to add to my shelf so I can read and find out what happens next!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

very different place and plot than I'm use too. I don't really go for goblinish stuff. If you are a total amateur to the world of goblins, this is a good introduction and easy to follow with all the "magic" and "descriptions" of the monsters.

I really enjoyed the love part of the story. Without revealing a lot, yes there are the "toe curling" moments, and I really liked the dream aspect. Sometimes I had a bit of an eye roll at corny lines, but they were done with style :)

The girl is really kick but and fights for herself, which I really liked. It was a bit confusing in the first couple chapters and a bit in some areas which is why i dropped it down a star, but questions will be answered, just stick though it.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hansel and Gretel meets Alice in Wonderland meets Labyrinth in this dark, enthralling story about what happened to Gretel after she fell through the fire to save her brother. One of the most fascinating love interests I've ever read!

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! So unique and exciting. The inhabitants of Mylena are scary, and beautiful... just like the frozen landscape. Greta is a tough girl and she must adapt or die in this new world that she has been pulled into. Love the Goblin King.

[Kilikina]

Dude, this sounds awesome.

[Dominique Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this book felt like such a big story condensed into 279 pages. It was so rushed that I wasn't fully able to enjoy it. I did enjoy the Hansel and Gretel vibes along with the lost boys reference, but the overall writing of the story just fell flat for me. Also I hated Isaac so much as a male lead.

[The Twins Read · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 1.5/5

This review can originally be found at The Twins Read.

The moment I received a text message from our favorite book clerk saying that a copy of Greta and the Goblin King had been set aside for me, I just about high-tailed it to the store. I was really intrigued by the premise that it was one of two books that I brought with me on my trip, thinking that I could read it during the flight. I hurriedly took my seat, snapped my seat belt on, and promptly read it with gusto, only to have my interest wane over time. I thought to myself that this couldn't be right. I was really expecting to devour this one, not approach it in the manner you would a spooked animal! (I even cheated on the book a bit and started to read the other paperback I had in tow, only to find out I was not feeling it as well.) So with that little heads-up out of the way, I will then promptly begin my review for Chloe Jacobs' Greta and the Goblin King.

Greta is a seventeen-year-old human stuck in the kingdom of Mylena. Taken under the wing of a sprite-slash-ex-bounty hunter, Greta has become a skilled bounty hunter who will stop at nothing to find the witch and the portal in order to get back to the human world. Greta's true identity has always been a guarded secret, but even her subterfuge gives way when the goblin king Isaac invades her dreams at night, and it's getting hard to tell whether he actually cares for her or has other plans in mind. When rumor of her true parentage spreads like wildfire, every bounty hunter suddenly has their sights set on her. But even when Greta's on the run, trouble doesn't seem to have a hard time finding her. Stumbling across other humans in Mylena, Greta finds out about a side to the supernatural world that's as grim as her future if what she's running towards ends up killing her.

I initially liked Greta and Isaac, thinking that there was something convincing about them, despite finding out for myself that they weren't exactly spending time with each other. Greta reckons that Isaac, as the new goblin king, is an entirely different person, er, goblin, than the one she had meaningful conversations with. But that isn't even the only thing that nagged at me. Greta's frequent insistence that Isaac was playing her was really annoying, and I just find it difficult to continue to like Isaac since I saw for myself how domineering he could be. I mean, the guy already gets into your dreams and gets access to stuff other people are closed off to. But to actually be possessive enough to act all high and mighty and controlling? Uh, no thanks. Isaac only appeared for a few times in the book as well, so I really found the whole romance quite a bit hard to swallow, especially when the book first and foremost struck me as a paranormal love story. The fact that another love interest, and a human one at that, was thrown into the mix did not sit well with me. The feelings he had for Greta just seemed to have been developed too quick for me to actually appreciate. I'm even chalking up the feelings he had for her to the fact that he hasn't seen a human girl in years!

Greta also said that yes, she was one of the best hunters on land, but her actions really did strike me otherwise. When I first met her, I thought she was pretty good at her job, even if she did kind of need help from the goblin king. Everyone makes mistakes after all, even experienced bounty hunters. But when I figured out that she wasn't exactly graceful at her job and needed a lot of bailing out from other people, I had to check the blurb time and time again to remember that fact. Even Greta makes Celaena Sardothien of Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass look downright dangerous, and you know that I'm not a big fan of her clumsiness either.

All the action was a blur - hardly memorable, and equally difficult to focus on. With this plot taking up most of the pages in the book, I then became quite confused as to what the story really wants to present. All I really got was a human girl who wants to go home, a main romantic interest who is almost never around except harassing her in her head when she's supposed to be resting, and an awkward human love interest who helps her on her mission instead of the other way around.

The ending itself was very abrupt and brief, and I still didn't feel like I read a paranormal love story. Greta and the Goblin King had potential too, such a shame.