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Goblins: The sword and the serpent
Abbey’s debut novel, the first in a planned trilogy, is a fast-paced fantasy adventure brimming with danger, destiny, and reluctant heroes.
Goblin brothers Gobleek and Nilbog escape the wizard-ruled city of Addester expecting freedom—only to find themselves claimed by a destiny that was never meant for them.
With Katala, a young hero-in-training struggling to control a dangerous power within her, they are thrust into a race to slay a monstrous sea serpent and save a world that has shown them little mercy.
The legendary dragon sword is their only hope—but to unlock its power, they must claim the guarded bloodstones.
Yet they are not the only ones seeking them.
A cunning sorcerer with a murderous past is stalking their every move—and his true purpose may prove more dangerous than the beast they seek to defeat.
Goblin brothers Gobleek and Nilbog escape the wizard-ruled city of Addester expecting freedom—only to find themselves claimed by a destiny that was never meant for them.
With Katala, a young hero-in-training struggling to control a dangerous power within her, they are thrust into a race to slay a monstrous sea serpent and save a world that has shown them little mercy.
The legendary dragon sword is their only hope—but to unlock its power, they must claim the guarded bloodstones.
Yet they are not the only ones seeking them.
A cunning sorcerer with a murderous past is stalking their every move—and his true purpose may prove more dangerous than the beast they seek to defeat.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 30, 2026
The books vocabulary describes the environment and event. So vividly you feel as if you're there the races and species of characters within are so diverse builds upon the environment wonderfully. Great pacing. Unfortunately, I cannot say much about the later parts of the book because I haven't finished but the first 2/3 of the box are quite a thrill.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 14, 2026
Review of an ARC copy received from the author
4.5 ⭐️
This is a really fun fantasy book, filled with all the ‘normal’ things you’d expect, dragons, evil wizards, a quest, and a powerful sword…. But in a really new take the heroes were rooting for are goblins. The character development is very well done, each of our protagonists are given room to grow within the story, and each in their own way; Gobleek is given the opportunity to shine in his own right and his bravery increases tenfold, Nilbog learns to slow down and enjoy the quiet moments of life, and Katala learns her own value outside of her magic.
The world building is great, with a variety of places, people, religion, magic, and creatures and I am definitely looking to explore it further!
4.5 ⭐️
This is a really fun fantasy book, filled with all the ‘normal’ things you’d expect, dragons, evil wizards, a quest, and a powerful sword…. But in a really new take the heroes were rooting for are goblins. The character development is very well done, each of our protagonists are given room to grow within the story, and each in their own way; Gobleek is given the opportunity to shine in his own right and his bravery increases tenfold, Nilbog learns to slow down and enjoy the quiet moments of life, and Katala learns her own value outside of her magic.
The world building is great, with a variety of places, people, religion, magic, and creatures and I am definitely looking to explore it further!
August 1, 2026
Nilbog and Gobleek are just 2 Goblins of many who are slaves and prisoners of Addester sent to live, work and die, at the mines. According to the wizards who rule, "Goblins [are] always guilty", so when Nilbog sees the chance to escape, he and his brother run. They had no idea this was the start of a quest that could mean the end of everything they thought they knew.
• Goblins can be Heroes
• Beautiful and rich world building
• Incredible characters and some unique creatures and races
• Fast paced and told in 3 POVs
• A rollercoaster ride
Sometimes you pick up a book that is incredibile and then you remember this is a debut title and you are stunned. I felt the world building really well fleshed out, the characters multidimensional and the story was well polished and so enjoyable to read.
This story is a ride! Honestly, so much happens that when I finished, I wished that it was longer... maybe 900 pages? Lol, ok, maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but seriously, if this single book was a trilogy I'd have happy read the entire thing eagerly. But then I thought about it, and yes, while i would love for it to never end, the quick pace of the story fits perfectly. This is how it would have felt for the characters—one thing after another, after another. Also, it makes this book more accessible to those who want to have that epic fantasy feeling, without getting bogged down in too many details.
Having said that, the author manages to strike the delicate balance of still having enough details to make this truely Epic. The world building and lore that has been created is fantastic! So much effort has gone into creating entire systems in which the characters navigate; multiple complex and seperate regions and kingdoms, each with their own laws, religions and cultures (even creating their own creature/race to mess with one of the MCs—which had me in stitches!).
The characters themselves are entirely unique from each other! With 3 MCs and dozens of others ranging from brief interactions to their near constant Gryphon companions, it was surprising to feel that each character was their own entity regardless of how minor they were.
This is a fairly serious book, with themes that feel heavy, but despite that I felt like, overall, this was a sweet read... almost comforting in a way. There are a lot of laugh out loud moments, and a heap of action and seriousness that it balances out well. And I love the fact that this doesn't end on a cliffhanger. I felt like the story was closed off well, while still keeping enough clues and open mysteries that I want to return to this world again as soon as I can to find out what will happen next.
Overall, I loved this book. It is a fantastic start to this authors career! Abbey Hunt should be on your "authors to watch" and "instant tbr list"! I can not wait to see what Hunt brings out next and where this story may lead.
• Goblins can be Heroes
• Beautiful and rich world building
• Incredible characters and some unique creatures and races
• Fast paced and told in 3 POVs
• A rollercoaster ride
Sometimes you pick up a book that is incredibile and then you remember this is a debut title and you are stunned. I felt the world building really well fleshed out, the characters multidimensional and the story was well polished and so enjoyable to read.
This story is a ride! Honestly, so much happens that when I finished, I wished that it was longer... maybe 900 pages? Lol, ok, maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but seriously, if this single book was a trilogy I'd have happy read the entire thing eagerly. But then I thought about it, and yes, while i would love for it to never end, the quick pace of the story fits perfectly. This is how it would have felt for the characters—one thing after another, after another. Also, it makes this book more accessible to those who want to have that epic fantasy feeling, without getting bogged down in too many details.
Having said that, the author manages to strike the delicate balance of still having enough details to make this truely Epic. The world building and lore that has been created is fantastic! So much effort has gone into creating entire systems in which the characters navigate; multiple complex and seperate regions and kingdoms, each with their own laws, religions and cultures (even creating their own creature/race to mess with one of the MCs—which had me in stitches!).
The characters themselves are entirely unique from each other! With 3 MCs and dozens of others ranging from brief interactions to their near constant Gryphon companions, it was surprising to feel that each character was their own entity regardless of how minor they were.
This is a fairly serious book, with themes that feel heavy, but despite that I felt like, overall, this was a sweet read... almost comforting in a way. There are a lot of laugh out loud moments, and a heap of action and seriousness that it balances out well. And I love the fact that this doesn't end on a cliffhanger. I felt like the story was closed off well, while still keeping enough clues and open mysteries that I want to return to this world again as soon as I can to find out what will happen next.
Overall, I loved this book. It is a fantastic start to this authors career! Abbey Hunt should be on your "authors to watch" and "instant tbr list"! I can not wait to see what Hunt brings out next and where this story may lead.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A huge thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Goblins: The Sword and the Serpent is a refreshing fantasy adventure that proves there's so much more to goblins than the stories we've been told. Packed with action, heart, and a wonderfully imaginative world, this was a fun and engaging read from beginning to end.
What stood out most to me was the world-building. Abbey Hunt creates a vibrant fantasy setting full of danger, magic, and fascinating creatures, while giving goblins a depth and personality that made them impossible not to root for. It was a refreshing twist on familiar fantasy tropes, and I loved discovering more about the world with every chapter.
The characters were equally compelling. Each had their own strengths, flaws, and motivations, making their journeys feel authentic and emotionally rewarding. The friendships and alliances that developed throughout the story added plenty of heart, balancing the action and adventure beautifully.
The pacing kept me invested for most of the novel, with exciting battles, intriguing mysteries, and enough twists to keep me eagerly turning the pages. There were a few moments where I would have loved a little more depth or breathing room between major events, which is what kept this from being a full five-star read, but it never diminished my overall enjoyment.
Overall, Goblins: The Sword and the Serpent is a charming fantasy filled with adventure, magic, memorable characters, and a unique take on classic fantasy creatures. I'm excited to see where the story goes next.
Goblins: The Sword and the Serpent is a refreshing fantasy adventure that proves there's so much more to goblins than the stories we've been told. Packed with action, heart, and a wonderfully imaginative world, this was a fun and engaging read from beginning to end.
What stood out most to me was the world-building. Abbey Hunt creates a vibrant fantasy setting full of danger, magic, and fascinating creatures, while giving goblins a depth and personality that made them impossible not to root for. It was a refreshing twist on familiar fantasy tropes, and I loved discovering more about the world with every chapter.
The characters were equally compelling. Each had their own strengths, flaws, and motivations, making their journeys feel authentic and emotionally rewarding. The friendships and alliances that developed throughout the story added plenty of heart, balancing the action and adventure beautifully.
The pacing kept me invested for most of the novel, with exciting battles, intriguing mysteries, and enough twists to keep me eagerly turning the pages. There were a few moments where I would have loved a little more depth or breathing room between major events, which is what kept this from being a full five-star read, but it never diminished my overall enjoyment.
Overall, Goblins: The Sword and the Serpent is a charming fantasy filled with adventure, magic, memorable characters, and a unique take on classic fantasy creatures. I'm excited to see where the story goes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Brothers Nilbog and Gobleek are goblin slaves working in a mine. With cruel ogre overseers, and wizards who want to extract maximum profit from the mines, their future looks grim (and short).They plan to run away, but are then rescued by the mysterious Katala. She informs them that they are the descendants of a hero goblin, and that they need to use a sword created by their ancestor to defeat a monster who is due to emerge from the deeps in the not too distant future. Meanwhile they have to collect blood stones to aid the power of the sword, and try to avoid an evil sorcerer whose motives are unclear.
There is a lot going on in this book and I did enjoy it. I like the development of Gobleek, from a timid, childlike goblin, to almost having the confidence to be a hero. It is a lot to ask of anyone, let alone a beaten down slave. I love the gryphons, what a great way to travel!
I received an ARC which in no way affected my review.
There is a lot going on in this book and I did enjoy it. I like the development of Gobleek, from a timid, childlike goblin, to almost having the confidence to be a hero. It is a lot to ask of anyone, let alone a beaten down slave. I love the gryphons, what a great way to travel!
I received an ARC which in no way affected my review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Written by new up and coming author Abbey Hunt, 'Goblins' creates a stunning new fantasy world filled with rich history, fantastical creatures, and unique fantasy species that I couldn't get enough of. The relationships between the main cast felt so vibrant and natural, and particularly the banter between Gobleek and Nilbog felt very grounded and realistic.
The story itself is expertly paced, with moments of calm dispersed between entertaining action, and it was so hard to put the story down. I absolutely loved how all the main characters grew and evolved throughout the story, and how different and satisfying each of their arcs felt.
Abbey has created an expansive, engaging world that I can't wait to visit more of. Her writing style and attention to detail brings the world and characters to life with thoughtful description and my engaging the reader's senses.
10/10 reading experience. Would 100% recommend for anyone looking for a new world to lose themselves in.
The story itself is expertly paced, with moments of calm dispersed between entertaining action, and it was so hard to put the story down. I absolutely loved how all the main characters grew and evolved throughout the story, and how different and satisfying each of their arcs felt.
Abbey has created an expansive, engaging world that I can't wait to visit more of. Her writing style and attention to detail brings the world and characters to life with thoughtful description and my engaging the reader's senses.
10/10 reading experience. Would 100% recommend for anyone looking for a new world to lose themselves in.
August 2, 2026
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
I love a good classic fantasy book and when you add a unique twist to it, I’m pretty much sold. Needless to say, I was pretty sold on the concept alone.
Goblins are usually disregarded as the “bad guys” of fantasy so I love that we get them as protagonists and a chance to see they have their own culture, own beliefs, and the author absolutely runs with this idea.
We get several characters to meet and I love how different each one is, while also providing a window into their society. I also love this line and it made me fall in love with Nilbog “goblin isn't an insult. Ogre on the other hand…”
Nilbog is a bit of a pessimist but you really can't blame him. But he learns to hope again and you're cheering for him the whole time. Seeing goblins in a positive light was so refreshing and the action moves quickly but never at the cost of characterization.
A worthy addition to any fantasy fan’s collection!
I love a good classic fantasy book and when you add a unique twist to it, I’m pretty much sold. Needless to say, I was pretty sold on the concept alone.
Goblins are usually disregarded as the “bad guys” of fantasy so I love that we get them as protagonists and a chance to see they have their own culture, own beliefs, and the author absolutely runs with this idea.
We get several characters to meet and I love how different each one is, while also providing a window into their society. I also love this line and it made me fall in love with Nilbog “goblin isn't an insult. Ogre on the other hand…”
Nilbog is a bit of a pessimist but you really can't blame him. But he learns to hope again and you're cheering for him the whole time. Seeing goblins in a positive light was so refreshing and the action moves quickly but never at the cost of characterization.
A worthy addition to any fantasy fan’s collection!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The books vocabulary describes the environment and event. So vividly you feel as if you're there the races and species of characters within are so diverse builds upon the environment wonderfully. Great pacing. Unfortunately, I cannot say much about the later parts of the book because I haven't finished but the first 2/3 of the box are quite a thrill.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 3, 2026
The world is well crafted in Goblins. It's a fully realized fantasy world and setting that is unique. I had fever dreams putting me in the world, it is that well crafted. Character growth throughout the story was exciting to watch unfold. I really liked the approach to goblins that sets it apart from the usual fantasy interpretations of goblins.
August 22, 2026
Very cool universe, and I love the twist of Goblins being the heroes, it's a very fresh take.
The book is very well written and the progression of the characters are very interesting and well thought through.
I would highly recommend this book !
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
The book is very well written and the progression of the characters are very interesting and well thought through.
I would highly recommend this book !
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved this book, I was left on the edge of my seat and couldn't put it down!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews