Jonah and the Clockwork Goblin

by Matthew Edwards

Jonah is a fifteen-year-old orphan who thinks he already has enough problems in his life. He's failing all his subjects at school, frequently tormented by the school bully, and can count the people who care about his life (including his cat) on one hand--with fingers to spare. When he faces losing his older brother, he's convinced things couldn't get worse. Then he is awoken in the middle of the night by a clockwork cyborg goblin who robs him of a cherished opal pendant and departs through a magical portal. In his pursuit of the goblin thief, Jonah finds himself cast into a world beneath his own where he must pick his friends wisely, grow up quickly, and choose between an eight-foot evil seductress queen and a thousand-year-old tree nymph if he is to survive --and save the world in the process.

Genres: Fantasy

202 pages, Paperback

Published February 20, 2017

Reviews

[Elizabeth Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dazzling Steampunk Adventure with Heart, Humor, and Depth

Jonah and the Clockwork Goblin is an absolute gem — an imaginative, heartfelt, and brilliantly written story that sweeps you into a world like no other. From the very first page, Matthew Edwards captures the reader’s attention with vivid worldbuilding, emotional authenticity, and a protagonist you can’t help but root for.

Jonah’s journey from a struggling, lonely teen to an unlikely hero is both thrilling and deeply relatable. The steampunk-inspired world of Godenow is richly detailed and bursting with creativity — from clockwork creatures to magical portals, it’s a universe that feels alive and wondrous. Yet beneath all the adventure, the story explores themes of courage, self-worth, and the search for identity with genuine emotional resonance.

Edwards’s writing shines with humor, intelligence, and a cinematic sense of timing. Every twist feels earned, every character memorable, and every page filled with imagination and heart. This isn’t just a fantasy story — it’s a powerful coming-of-age tale that reminds readers of the hero inside us all.

A spectacular debut that will captivate both teens and adults alike. Fans of Percy Jackson, Artemis Fowl, or His Dark Materials will absolutely love this. I can’t wait to see what Matthew Edwards writes next!

[S.J. McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew Edwards’ debut novel gives us High Fantasy with a notably Australian tone; if you’ve never imagined that dwarves could be like wombats, or that the Kelly Gang could be humanoid Tasmanian Tigers, now’s your chance. The titular Jonah, a lonely and reclusive orphan, is drawn by circumstance into a magical world within the earth, and is well versed enough in fantasy literature to cite Jules Verne as soon as he discovers this. Jonah is an avid reader, unlike his older brother Shaun, who is cast as a soldier and a protector. As Jonah travels throughout the fantastic inner world of Godenow, he must learn to emulate his brother, to fight for and care for his new-found family, without losing his own sense of self. The blend of Australian and European motifs provides an interesting backdrop, and the host of folkloric encounters is reminiscent of Alan Garner’s Moonstone of Brisingamen; there’s plenty to keep the pages turning. But the novel’s true originality is its use of the fantasy world journey to explore Jonah’s reality back home, where Jonah once felt an outsider, but to which he now longs to return.

[Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jonah and the Clockwork Goblin is a lovely fusion of uncommon elements to make a story that feels decidedly different from what can be a run-of-the-mill experience in young adult coming of age fantasy novels.

While Jonah is a fairly standard whining teenager who needs to grow up, this is not a standard story about elves, dwarves and wizards. The world of Godenow is a fantastical subterranean Steampunkesque Australiana. It is a hollow Earth realm with a mix of ancient myths and traditional folklore, Celtic elements, distinctly Australian characteristics, a steampunk aesthetic and a spiritual angle on the nature and use of magic. When a clockwork-cyborg-magpie-goblin shows up to steal from Jonah and the ensuing chase ends with Jonah being cast into a strange world, Jonah finds himself dealing with a very different life - without any training wheels, Jonah has to put on his big boy pants and take some responsibility for himself and his future.

An enjoyable debut novel for Matthew Edwards, and an enticement to see what he will produce next.

[Aya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, this book is quite incredible!
I found this at an Adelaide Steampunk Festival a few years back, and this is a story I continue to come back to. Although some readers may find it a little disappointing how cliché the main character's story is, the rest will keep you occupied. Very much a teen novella, but I'd recommend it to anyone who's interested in a good steampunk/fantasy story.

And for the author:
I will forever treasure the book Matthew and promise to pursue my literature dreams! Hope the mistake got fixed in later copies.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book for young readers of steampunk and fantasy. Edwards does a great job at the banter and comradery building between characters. Character development is done well, is so fun to see a young protagonist come into himself. Great fight scenes which utilise character strengths and cleverness.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastically pieced together coming of age tale. The odd background world of Godenow is beautifully described without being bogged down in details. Jonah can be related to with ease, and as the story unfolds, and brings more characters into the fray, his journey, and the fate of that world becomes urgent as he fights to save more than just his own skin.
A wonderful read, and while aimed at teens, fans of the fantasy genre will love it.

[Claire Belberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read, a rollicking fantasy coming of age. Jonah is fifteen, feels useless and resentful of his older brother whom he looks up to but whom he feels abandoned him. On his way to wrecking his young life, Jonah finds himself falling down a hole, like Alice, to a world no less extraordinary. Here he meets various races of beings - Baldurain, Sitnaltan and immortals among them - and with the help of his 'adoptive parents', learns to fight for those he loves and to push against all odds to combat the evil immortal, Lorelai, who threatens this and his own world.

Edwards has written a lively, imaginative and thoughtful novel which will make you lose track of time as you read it to the last, satisfying page.