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Goblins in the Castle #1
Goblins in the Castle
What moans at midnight in Toad-in-a-Cage Castle?
Toad-in-a-Cage Castle was filled with secrets—secrets such as the hidden passages that led to every room, the long stairway that wound down to the dungeon, and the weird creature named Igor who lived there. But it was the mysterious night noises that bothered William the most—the strange moans that drifted through the halls of the castle where he was raised.
He wanted to know what caused them.
Then one night he found out....
Toad-in-a-Cage Castle was filled with secrets—secrets such as the hidden passages that led to every room, the long stairway that wound down to the dungeon, and the weird creature named Igor who lived there. But it was the mysterious night noises that bothered William the most—the strange moans that drifted through the halls of the castle where he was raised.
He wanted to know what caused them.
Then one night he found out....
224 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 1992
40 people are currently reading
792 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
August 20, 2011
I remember buying this book for myself in the 4th grade. I saved up to purchase it from one of those book order mini catalogs the school passed out to students back in the day. The cover just looked so cool to my 4th grade mind (it still looks cool to me now).
This story was what started it all - my love of reading and literature. I still have that very same book in great condition though a bit yellowed. Every few years, I would bust it out and read it again. It's still one of my favorite stories.
This story was what started it all - my love of reading and literature. I still have that very same book in great condition though a bit yellowed. Every few years, I would bust it out and read it again. It's still one of my favorite stories.
September 18, 2009
I last read this in 1996--I remember loving it at the time. As I recall, there were mysterious castles, dungeons, goblins, and lots of other semi-creepy (but not *really* scary) creatures, along with Bruce Coville's usual fun blend of action, humor, and likable characters.
Re-read comments: I still loved the characters. It seems to suggest other stories in the characters' backgrounds--and I'd love to read more about Igor :-)
Re-read comments: I still loved the characters. It seems to suggest other stories in the characters' backgrounds--and I'd love to read more about Igor :-)
June 16, 2017
It's a very interesting thing rediscovering a book which you had no idea had such an influence over your life. I first read this book when I bought it at a book fair in grade school. The cover and title really pulled me in, and the description both intrigued and frightened me. I remember taking a while to even start reading it because I was a little scared of it (funny to think back on that now). Once I did though, I really fell in love with it and I'm sure I finished it rather quickly. The strange thing though is that for some reason I would always lose the book, finding it a random times throughout the years and then losing it again. So, even though I had loved it, I never read it a second time and practically forgot about it.
Twenty-two years later, I stumbled across it on Amazon in a random search. I knew the cover in an instant and I immediately remembered my old fear and fascination with the book. Since I can't seem to find my original copy again, I purchased it on Amazon and began reading it. Having finished it a week later, I am absolutely in awe of how much this book influenced me. Writing in particular. I found that things that I had written over a decade later had many similarities to this book that I had practically forgotten but still lived on in the back of my subconscious. Interests of mine that I didn't remember the origin of such as goblins, castles with hidden passages, underground cities, etc. all came from here. It was also interesting to see the influence this book must have had on other authors as well. Toad-in-a-Cage Castle is practically an early, less-fleshed out version of Hogwarts. There is even an invisibility cloak that our 11 year old protagonist is given by an elderly magician (though it's a witch here in place of Dumbledore).
All in all, I've greatly enjoyed my time revisiting this memory from my childhood. I'll definitely keep a better grasp on this copy because I want it to be around to read many more times and share with my daughter. Then again maybe this book in particular has a mind of its own and will reappear to me when I next need it.
Twenty-two years later, I stumbled across it on Amazon in a random search. I knew the cover in an instant and I immediately remembered my old fear and fascination with the book. Since I can't seem to find my original copy again, I purchased it on Amazon and began reading it. Having finished it a week later, I am absolutely in awe of how much this book influenced me. Writing in particular. I found that things that I had written over a decade later had many similarities to this book that I had practically forgotten but still lived on in the back of my subconscious. Interests of mine that I didn't remember the origin of such as goblins, castles with hidden passages, underground cities, etc. all came from here. It was also interesting to see the influence this book must have had on other authors as well. Toad-in-a-Cage Castle is practically an early, less-fleshed out version of Hogwarts. There is even an invisibility cloak that our 11 year old protagonist is given by an elderly magician (though it's a witch here in place of Dumbledore).
All in all, I've greatly enjoyed my time revisiting this memory from my childhood. I'll definitely keep a better grasp on this copy because I want it to be around to read many more times and share with my daughter. Then again maybe this book in particular has a mind of its own and will reappear to me when I next need it.
August 22, 2024
Read as part of my ongoing shelf audit. Verdict: a great little middle-grade book which belongs in the hands of a younger reader than my current self.
I love Bruce Coville's books, and the way he tells stories which are fun and exciting for kids without feeling at all patronizing or oversimplified. This is a fun adventure story about a castle full of hidden passages, and it's also a story about dealing with the consequences of past wrongs, and neither of those aspects takes away from the other.
Bonus of rereading as an adult: picking up on the 'don't call me Ishmael' joke.
I love Bruce Coville's books, and the way he tells stories which are fun and exciting for kids without feeling at all patronizing or oversimplified. This is a fun adventure story about a castle full of hidden passages, and it's also a story about dealing with the consequences of past wrongs, and neither of those aspects takes away from the other.
Bonus of rereading as an adult: picking up on the 'don't call me Ishmael' joke.
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August 26, 2015
First read: September-ish 1992
(Re-read several times thereafter)
Next read: 8/17/2015 - 8/26/2015
(Re-read several times thereafter)
Next read: 8/17/2015 - 8/26/2015
April 27, 2025
ahhh nostalgia :)
March 31, 2011
I don't even know how many times I've read this book, but I do remember my copy becoming quite tattered. Even when I was well past the age intended for this book, I would pick it up on rainy afternoons when there was nothing to do. I think I may have read it a few times in my late teens when I was stricken with insomnia, and looking for some comfort.
The charm of this book; the cast, the writing and environments, they just never got old for me. A great read, all around.
The charm of this book; the cast, the writing and environments, they just never got old for me. A great read, all around.
July 8, 2013
Another one of my bedside favourites as a young and growing child. This one tale starts off very much like Coville's plots, straight in MEDIAS RES. From the middle of things, the curiosity of our narrator quickly picks up as through a book he finds, he decides to continue his epic journey into the depths of the past and dungeon of the castle he occupies.
I've read and re-read this book many times over the years, and will be one I share with my children in the years to come. . .
I've read and re-read this book many times over the years, and will be one I share with my children in the years to come. . .
December 3, 2018
I re-read this book as part of the Young Readers Book Club I host at Greenlight Bookstore PLG in Brooklyn. We had a shortened month of events because of the holidays and so I had to pick something I knew but wanted to revisit.
My third grade teacher Mrs. Stone read this aloud to our class at an age where maybe we didn’t want to admit we wanted to be read aloud to, but Brice Coville’s cliff hangers kept us mesmerized. This book is still exciting, hilarious and imaginative. I read it in about an hour, and most of the kids seemed to really like it too. Goblins are rad.
My third grade teacher Mrs. Stone read this aloud to our class at an age where maybe we didn’t want to admit we wanted to be read aloud to, but Brice Coville’s cliff hangers kept us mesmerized. This book is still exciting, hilarious and imaginative. I read it in about an hour, and most of the kids seemed to really like it too. Goblins are rad.
August 1, 2021
I’m really sorry to all the people who wrote glowing reviews about how this book was their childhood etc etc but I really didn’t enjoy the writing. The author just doesn’t describe things with detail or write in an interesting way. He also is really stereotypical with the girl character who didn’t even have a purpose in the story except to be stereotyped.
December 1, 2019
A good fantasy story for pre-teen kids.
October 30, 2017
Great book
I accidentally read the second book first but then I realized it and read the first I thought I knew all about it but it surprised me
I accidentally read the second book first but then I realized it and read the first I thought I knew all about it but it surprised me
April 5, 2025
A wholesome and humorous fantasy adventure that gives you all the goblins and all the Igor you could ask for.
February 27, 2012
Cute story about an orphan boy living in a castle who releases goblins long held captive. He sets out on a journey to fix his mistake - but things aren't always as they seem.
Doesn't have a lot of substance - doesn't quite do the 'for-adults-too' crossover - but I think it'd be a really good and fun book for kids. Has adventure, maybe a little bit of scariness, and some good lessons about friendship and honesty and whatnot.
Doesn't have a lot of substance - doesn't quite do the 'for-adults-too' crossover - but I think it'd be a really good and fun book for kids. Has adventure, maybe a little bit of scariness, and some good lessons about friendship and honesty and whatnot.
March 18, 2017
This was a "bathroom" book. It was a treasure picked up at one of our weekly library visits. Someone took it into the bathroom to read. Then all you would hear over the next two weeks is "where is that book that was in the bathroom?" Three children ages 12, 11 and 10 and two adults:Mom and Dad loved this book!! There is no better review than that and one of my (The Mom) favorite memories.
January 7, 2019
I LOVED THIS BOOK!! It has a part 2 now!!
November 14, 2018
This book was read by my Reading class around 7th grade, and I remember really enjoying it.
Read
December 2, 2024GOBLINS IN THE CASTLE
BY:BRUCE COVILLE
Goblins in the Castle is about a boy named William who lives in a castle alone with few adults. One day William goes down a flight of stairs and finds a dungeon. In the dungeon is a troll named Igor. Igor is really nice to William and becomes friends with him. Later in the story William opens a door no one has opened for decades and shadowy figures run out. William tells Igor what he did. Igor was disappointed in William and mad. William had opened a door with goblin souls that Igor trapped inside the door. Now that William had opened the door, goblin souls went back to their body’s and came back to life. William and Igor go to capture the goblins but, on their journey Igor gets jumped by a horde of goblins. William is now lost and doesn't know what to do. While exploring William finds someone named Fauna and asks where granny Pinchbottom is. Fauna said “wow you're a brave one” and takes him to her. When William and Fauna get there William goes in granny Pinchbottom's hut to get three items. An invisibility cloak, a magical map and a golden bracelet to put on the king's neck. William and Fauna follow the map and on the way to Nilbog (the goblins kingdom) they find a little goblin named Herky. Once they get to Nilbog goblins are suspicious and take them to the King. Then the goblins realized that William released them but don't know it was an accident. William and his friends get put in a jail-like prison but Herky gets the key to unlock William's cell and his friends. William and his friends get under the invisibility cloak and go to the king. Once they get his head they go to the room where the king's body is. William puts the king’s head back on his body and they become friends.
Goblins in the castle connect to the theme of fantasy because there's goblins, talking goblins, magic and trolls.
I give this book a 3.5 star rating because I don't really enjoy reading fantasy books. I prefer humor and there is no other reason I don’t like this book.
I recommend this book to people who likes goblins and fantasy books and maybe cryptozoologist.
BY:BRUCE COVILLE
Goblins in the Castle is about a boy named William who lives in a castle alone with few adults. One day William goes down a flight of stairs and finds a dungeon. In the dungeon is a troll named Igor. Igor is really nice to William and becomes friends with him. Later in the story William opens a door no one has opened for decades and shadowy figures run out. William tells Igor what he did. Igor was disappointed in William and mad. William had opened a door with goblin souls that Igor trapped inside the door. Now that William had opened the door, goblin souls went back to their body’s and came back to life. William and Igor go to capture the goblins but, on their journey Igor gets jumped by a horde of goblins. William is now lost and doesn't know what to do. While exploring William finds someone named Fauna and asks where granny Pinchbottom is. Fauna said “wow you're a brave one” and takes him to her. When William and Fauna get there William goes in granny Pinchbottom's hut to get three items. An invisibility cloak, a magical map and a golden bracelet to put on the king's neck. William and Fauna follow the map and on the way to Nilbog (the goblins kingdom) they find a little goblin named Herky. Once they get to Nilbog goblins are suspicious and take them to the King. Then the goblins realized that William released them but don't know it was an accident. William and his friends get put in a jail-like prison but Herky gets the key to unlock William's cell and his friends. William and his friends get under the invisibility cloak and go to the king. Once they get his head they go to the room where the king's body is. William puts the king’s head back on his body and they become friends.
Goblins in the castle connect to the theme of fantasy because there's goblins, talking goblins, magic and trolls.
I give this book a 3.5 star rating because I don't really enjoy reading fantasy books. I prefer humor and there is no other reason I don’t like this book.
I recommend this book to people who likes goblins and fantasy books and maybe cryptozoologist.
April 9, 2019
My name is William, and I've made a grave mistake. Voices spoke to me from the North Tower, and I released the imprisoned spirits before I was able to stop myself. I unwittingly uncovered a castle secret that's unleashed angry goblins into the surrounding lands. Now what do I do? I guess I need to travel through the forest to find Granny Pinchbottom, but as a young child, I was terrified by stories of this old hag. I don't want her to eat my fingers! At least I have a strange creature named Igor with me. He lives in the castle dungeons and likes to bop things with his teddy bear. I'm not sure how much help he'll be, but I won't be alone when the witch wants to change me into a rat. I guess it's a small price to pay to stop a war with the goblins.
This book is the first one in the series, although I actually read Goblins on the Prowl first. Not a problem. The story describes a fun adventure and includes a good deal of humor. You probably couldn't figure that out from the teddy-bear-toting Igor mentioned above. This character is often confused and forgetful, but he becomes a loyal friend to William. Herky joins the cast later on, and this miniature goblin is unpredictable. The goblin king has an unusual problem that is the key to resolving everything. The interaction between all the characters is the highlight of the book. The plot's conflict isn't overly complicated. William must complete a quest in order to stop goblins who are determined to attack the evil humans. There aren't any dramatic twists or revelations, so everything is easy to follow. It's a light-hearted tale of a young boy trying to atone for an unfortunate mistake. It should appeal to all young readers, although older readers may find it too light and innocent. Overall, it's not an award-winner, but I enjoyed it.
This book is the first one in the series, although I actually read Goblins on the Prowl first. Not a problem. The story describes a fun adventure and includes a good deal of humor. You probably couldn't figure that out from the teddy-bear-toting Igor mentioned above. This character is often confused and forgetful, but he becomes a loyal friend to William. Herky joins the cast later on, and this miniature goblin is unpredictable. The goblin king has an unusual problem that is the key to resolving everything. The interaction between all the characters is the highlight of the book. The plot's conflict isn't overly complicated. William must complete a quest in order to stop goblins who are determined to attack the evil humans. There aren't any dramatic twists or revelations, so everything is easy to follow. It's a light-hearted tale of a young boy trying to atone for an unfortunate mistake. It should appeal to all young readers, although older readers may find it too light and innocent. Overall, it's not an award-winner, but I enjoyed it.
August 17, 2024
To be clear, the deduction of a star is for the age of the book, and the fact that my copy smells like mildew or something and made it hard to read, despite being in fairly good condition for its age. The story is great! It feels like it would make a fun short adventure game, including some unexpected neat twists for a young reader story!
The plot feels somewhat standard in its setup, with an orphan child (William) adopted by the Baron of Toad-in-a-Cage Castle (a rather curious choice of name) and only sort of raised by the adults of the castle. I mean, I can't name off the top of my head a LOT of stories with this exact setup except maybe Nim's Island, but "child left more or less to self-educate" feels like a standard recipe for young adult books to really EXPLORE some content!
It's also a bit slow-going, pace-wise—or maybe that's just how long it took me to read the introductory part (...smelly book!)—but once the titular goblins show up, the story picks up quite a bit! What I like the most is ! Probably especially since I had just finished reading a book obsessed with negative energy, I needed a nice palate cleanser.
Recommended for young readers... who can find a reprint. Not terribly excited about passing along this copy, though it's *technically* still readable.
The plot feels somewhat standard in its setup, with an orphan child (William) adopted by the Baron of Toad-in-a-Cage Castle (a rather curious choice of name) and only sort of raised by the adults of the castle. I mean, I can't name off the top of my head a LOT of stories with this exact setup except maybe Nim's Island, but "child left more or less to self-educate" feels like a standard recipe for young adult books to really EXPLORE some content!
It's also a bit slow-going, pace-wise—or maybe that's just how long it took me to read the introductory part (...smelly book!)—but once the titular goblins show up, the story picks up quite a bit! What I like the most is ! Probably especially since I had just finished reading a book obsessed with negative energy, I needed a nice palate cleanser.
Recommended for young readers... who can find a reprint. Not terribly excited about passing along this copy, though it's *technically* still readable.
March 22, 2021
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sometimes I need a lighthearted, quick read and often a Children’s or Young Adult book does the trick. I bought this copy of Goblins in the Castle for my husband because he had such fond memories of it from his childhood.
Goblins in the Castle is a fantasy Children’s book and the start of a series by Bruce Coville. The main character is a young boy named William who was found outside Toad-in-a-Cage Castle when he was just a baby. The Baron took him in to live at the Castle and this is where we meet 11-year old William. There is plenty of mystery, complete with hidden passageways galore within Toad-in-a-Cage Castle. There are only a few other adult inhabitants within the Castle besides the elusive Baron and they all have their jobs to tend to and none of them pay that much attention to William. Naturally, he explores the castle regularly and knows many of its secrets but there is one BIG secret he discovers within this book: there are countless Goblin spirits locked away in the North Tower that are beyond ready to be released into the world!
There are many elements that I enjoyed about this tale: the characters are charming and they have integrity, the environment is full of intrigue and is ripe for exploration, and the illustrations by Katherine Coville are downright delightful. 😌
📚You can buy your very own copy here to help support my love of reading and writing reviews: https://bookshop.org/a/23588/97806717...
18/100 2021 Reads
Goblins in the Castle is a fantasy Children’s book and the start of a series by Bruce Coville. The main character is a young boy named William who was found outside Toad-in-a-Cage Castle when he was just a baby. The Baron took him in to live at the Castle and this is where we meet 11-year old William. There is plenty of mystery, complete with hidden passageways galore within Toad-in-a-Cage Castle. There are only a few other adult inhabitants within the Castle besides the elusive Baron and they all have their jobs to tend to and none of them pay that much attention to William. Naturally, he explores the castle regularly and knows many of its secrets but there is one BIG secret he discovers within this book: there are countless Goblin spirits locked away in the North Tower that are beyond ready to be released into the world!
There are many elements that I enjoyed about this tale: the characters are charming and they have integrity, the environment is full of intrigue and is ripe for exploration, and the illustrations by Katherine Coville are downright delightful. 😌
📚You can buy your very own copy here to help support my love of reading and writing reviews: https://bookshop.org/a/23588/97806717...
18/100 2021 Reads
December 4, 2022
One of the best things about “chapter books” is that authors are forced to tell an intriguing story, present good characters, and raise stakes in 300 pages or usually less. They don’t always manage to successfully cross audiences (which isn’t a bad thing), but I was so happy to find that this book is one that does and kept me turning pages as an adult reader. I must have read this four or five times as a kid, and it was satisfying to revisit.
William, Igor, and Herky are great characters, though it does feel like the author wasn’t sure what to do with Fauna. There were also some interesting parts about realizing that the context you grew up with may not be the most accurate worldview, and I was legit wondering who was right about the goblins.
Overall, the book knows what it is, the plot mechanics are solid, and the stakes felt real. This is an underrated children’s classic, if you ask me.
William, Igor, and Herky are great characters, though it does feel like the author wasn’t sure what to do with Fauna. There were also some interesting parts about realizing that the context you grew up with may not be the most accurate worldview, and I was legit wondering who was right about the goblins.
Overall, the book knows what it is, the plot mechanics are solid, and the stakes felt real. This is an underrated children’s classic, if you ask me.
August 7, 2018
I've been in the process of starting a summer tradition of revisiting a book from my youth and it continues with this little foray into fantasy. I think my real love for Bruce Coville was with his ludicrously titled (though if I remember correctly quite enthralling) Aliens Ate my Homework (it's in que so stay tuned). This book starts as so many do with the orphan raised in a Castle who's never left it's walls and slowly uncovers a mystery in it's depths (quite literally) at first I felt a bit like this hadn't aged as well as I'd hoped but by the midway point the delightful characters like Igor and Herky unlocked a decent dose of delight from my adolescent heart. A great mixture of imagination and thrills with a warm humour at It's heart. Recommended for the young adventurer of any age
September 25, 2018
I remembered this book fondly from my childhood. All I recall is that it was one of my favorites which is why I was excited to read it to my kids. In short, revisiting it was a disappointment.
It’s a rather shallow plot with flat characters. It’s short length due to the targeted audience is a likely excuse of this books shortcomings. An audiences low reading level shouldn’t spoil hope for meaningful and thought provoking content.
So why was it one of my favorites way back when? Honestly, I think the fantastic cover sparked my young imagination. Also, while I now criticize its simplicity, its straight forward and easy to understand nature is certainly a valuable trait for most young readers, myself included.
It’s a rather shallow plot with flat characters. It’s short length due to the targeted audience is a likely excuse of this books shortcomings. An audiences low reading level shouldn’t spoil hope for meaningful and thought provoking content.
So why was it one of my favorites way back when? Honestly, I think the fantastic cover sparked my young imagination. Also, while I now criticize its simplicity, its straight forward and easy to understand nature is certainly a valuable trait for most young readers, myself included.
Read
June 11, 2019This book is a great addition to any boy/girl library. A lower middle school level reader or high elementary level will enjoy this book. The descriptive details and the easy to follow story line is important to keep the reader engage. William was found in naked as a baby and the Baron took him in for everyone's surprise. William grows and learn that life in a castle with weird characters such as Igor is part of the adventure that will lead him to finally quiet down the growling that make him scared. He learn to trust others and to trust in himself too.
July 11, 2017
William lives in a castle but has only explored part of it for the 11 years he's lived there. He has no family to keep tabs on him, so exploring is what he does, the RISK-TAKER that he is. One night he meets Igor, and it changes everything. They COOPERATE together to try and save the castle and their land from the Goblins. He has INTEGRITY when his life is on the line and he stands up for Igor. He has RESPECT for many around them.
June 22, 2022
I bought this book at a second hand sale because it was dedicated to me. (I mean, obviously! Who else could "For Laura" possibly refer to?) Well, I'm glad I did. That was fun! We've got secret passages to the point of nonchalance! Mysterious new friends! Odd moaning thing from a tower shrouded in mist! Castles and forests and caves! Head-bopping action! And all this with a fine philosophical background about the value of messy joy and how to decide who to trust. I liked it!
December 31, 2024
I don’t record most of the books that I read Barry but this is certainly an exception. This is the best children’s adventure book I have read to him yet. I am writing this months after we read it and I can attest that it made an impact as he chose Igor as his book character to dress as for Halloween at school. We actually tried and dnf’d a couple other of Coville’s books, but this one stands alone.
August 25, 2017
favorite kids book of all time! It's one of those books that I will read to my children one day. It's also one of those books I can read in my adulthood and be just as thrilled by the story and the characters. I really don't know how many times I read this book over the years . Big Adventure in a small little book.
February 17, 2020
Childhood Favorite
I read this in anticipation for a book project for my fourth graders. It didn’t work out but this book is still one of my very favorites. Fast paced and easy to read, but with enough challenging vocab to make it interesting for new readers. So much nostalgia and love for this book.
I read this in anticipation for a book project for my fourth graders. It didn’t work out but this book is still one of my very favorites. Fast paced and easy to read, but with enough challenging vocab to make it interesting for new readers. So much nostalgia and love for this book.
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