Changeling

The Oddmire #1

by William Ritter

Magic is fading from the Wild Wood. To renew it, goblins must perform an ancient ritual involving the rarest of their kind—a newborn changeling. But when the fateful night arrives to trade a human baby for a goblin one, something goes terribly wrong. After laying the changeling in a human infant’s crib, the goblin Kull is briefly distracted from his task. By the time he turns back, the changeling has already perfectly mimicked the human child. Too perfectly: Kull cannot tell them apart. Not knowing which to bring back, he leaves both babies behind.

Tinn and Cole are raised as human twins, neither knowing what secrets may be buried deep inside one of them. Then when they are twelve years old, a mysterious message arrives, calling the brothers to be heroes and protectors of magic. The boys must leave behind their sleepy town of Endsborough and risk their lives in the Wild Wood, crossing the perilous Oddmire swamp and journeying through the Deep Dark to reach the goblin horde and discover who they truly are.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure, Magic, Fiction, Childrens, Family

272 pages, Hardcover

First published July 16, 2019

About the author

WILLIAM RITTER is an Oregon educator and author of the New York Times bestselling Jackaby series. He is the proud father of the two bravest boys in the Wild Wood, and husband to the indomitable Queen of the Deep Dark.

Reviews

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Once upon a time, there was a child whom the goblins came to steal, and once upon a time, there was a child whom the goblins left behind..."

I don't reach for middle grade fantasy terribly often because I tend to be picky, but when I do, I'm looking for specific things: a whimsical world I can escape in, a sense of humor that can make me smile (or better yet, laugh out loud), and characters I can genuinely love and care for. I cannot even begin to tell you how flawlessly William Ritter's Changeling checks every last one of those boxes for me!

"We're in the Wild Wood," he whispered. "Uncharted territory."
"It's not uncharted. We're twenty feet from where we hang out every day, and I am literally holding a chart."
"Don't ruin this."

These characters are so precious and laugh-out-loud funny, but their quest is one wrought with endless suspense because you can't help but love them and want them to succeed. It's such a fascinating and pulling story from its barest bones, anyways, because from the very start, you know you're rooting for them despite the fact that their intended quest doesn't seem like it could possibly end in anything short of tears.

He could have been made of fire and she would not have let him go.

After all, this journey isn't just about changelings and goblin-folk and magic; more than anything, Changeling is about family — blood-bound, or not — and the lengths we will go to when we want to keep our loved ones safe. The bond between Cole and Tinn is just as strong and sweet as any bond between human, blood-linked siblings, and even more so, Annie Burton's motherly love for them both and the way she refuses to choose one over the other — it's downright precious. Talk about the unsung hero of a story.

"Stories are important. They are born, they die, they're born again."

While the characters were my favorite part of the story, Changeling has more going for it than that: the writing is spare and lovely, crafting a three-dimensional, beautifully fleshed-out world — full of whimsical characters and creatures, good and bad! — in a very short span of time. This is undoubtedly going to be a hit with bookworms and reluctant readers alike, and I, for one, can't wait to recommend it (and to eagerly pick up the second book when it releases!).

All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Sherwood Smith]

It’s interesting to me that during the Victorian period, children’s literature was very frequently far more violent than literature for adults. (I’m ignoring potboilers here.) While adult literature was full of manners, ladies and gentlemen, possibly a duel or two (and let’s not forget the casual racism, sexism, etc), children’s literature was filled with dire preachments and warnings of just what happens to bad kids—usually with graphic examples.

I remember one book given to me for my daughter of six over thirty years ago. The grandmother, who was born in the 1880s, passed on to me a book she said she remembered fondly, and that it was good for kids. It was certainly a beautiful book, the cover embossed with ornate git lettering, and a two-toned picture of a pair of kids in Victorian dress on the cover.

I decided to read it first just for fun—I read most things first before handing them off to my six-year-old, but I was sure there would be no unfortunate language in a Victorian children’s book. And certainly no sexual situations I was not ready to explain to a six-year-old who tended to be a close reader.

Well. In the very first chapter, the bad boy (he’s called a bad boy) tortures kittens and puppies, and sets fire to a barn after stealing his father’s tobacco to smoke, which fire burns the family’s horses to death.

That was chapter one!

I’d been boggled that the grandmother said she remembered it fondly—in the years we’d visited I never once saw a book in her house, or saw her reading. And with a steady diet of that in her background, who would blame her? At any rate it did have pretty illustrations, (I bet anything those are what she remembered) but when I glanced through the rest there was far more of the same, including a person of color as a nanny talking in cute dialect with massa and missus in every submissive sentence.

I noped out of that one fast, and into the donation bag it went.

So . . . to the present. There is so very much being published these days onecan identify any sort of trend one likes, but it seems to me that since the late seventies or so, while young adult and adult literature is ever more violent, that for younger kids is much . . . nicer. Whether or not it’s true, I think of it as the Sesame Street effect.

Bringing me to a new book for the younger readers called The Oddmire, Book One: Changeling, by William Ritter.

Overall, I found this book to be such a heartwarming, fun book that I wish I could time-travel to hand it off to my kids, one of whom was a very sensitive reader, and the other who was adopted, and tended to look for books with similar kids.

The story begins with a hapless goblin reluctantly sent to swap a human baby for a changeling. The magical explanation for why it must be—and his reluctance to carry out his job—might be confusing for kids (it was for me, anyway) but I don’t think kids would really care. The fun begins when the goblin is distracted by the sudden appearance of a cat while the goblin child finished his magical transformation, and when the goblin looks back, appalled, he sees two identical infants. So he creeps away in defeat, determined to watch from a distance, and when the goblin surely asserts himself according to his goblin nature, he can finish the job.

When the mother appears the next morning and finds two babies in the crib instead of one, she’s quite boggled. And so are the neighbors. Everyone has to have an opinion, including the local religious leader. (Here I groaned, as religious leaders depicted in books of late all seem to have to be jerks if not outright villains) but lo and behold, there is a general sense of puzzled good will—along, of course, with dire warnings about the Wild Wood adjacent to the village.

And so we make a jump twelve years. The boys are inseparable, curious, and likely to get into mischief, but their mother adores them. Their personalities are different, but likeable and fun. And though Mom knows that one is a changeling, she doesn’t care which.

The boys receive a mysterious note from the goblin, and decide to go on an adventure . . . and the tale kicks into high gear. Along the way we meet magical people, and a companion for the boys, a girl named Fable, who is a terrific character. She’s a crack-up, and surprising in a fun way. What’s more, when Mom wakes up and finds her boys gone, she sets straight out to get them—there is no way she’s not going to protect them.

The narrative voice begs to be read aloud. It’s full of vivid image and delicious wit. The story is fast-paced, exciting, with a strong sense of goodwill about it that I really enjoyed. I would so very much have read this book aloud the years I was teaching grades two through five, though I probably would have finessed the word “geld” which I would not want to have to define for curious kids, and I did wish there was a little less emphasis on the boys’ “pink” skin. The adjective could as easily have been “human” and it would have been a lot more inclusive—like the rest of the story.

But those are small quibbles. Overall, I think Ritter has come out with a winner, and I really look forward to the rest of the series. I’ve also noted this book for holiday shopping for certain young ones in the family.

Copy provided by publisher.

[Amy Imogene Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was primed to love this because I love creepy woods, magic, goblins, and fairy tales... but this still surprised me anyway.

Concept: ★★★★
Humor: ★★★★★
Pacing/Plot: ★★★★

Changeling was such a fun middle grade read. Obviously I'm not the target audience, but this story entranced me and stuck out regardless. Good writing is good writing.

We all know the changeling story: in the dead of the night, a magical creature steals your baby and replaces it with an identical copy—the changeling. You then raise the being as your own. You never see your own human baby again.

But what if the goblin in charge of the switch messed up?

Kull the goblin stole his goblin horde's last changeling and is determined to do it himself. Golbin magic is fading, and Kull knows he must perform the historic ritual of stealing a human baby to set magic's balance in order again.

But as Kull places the changeling in the crib, the human baby's mother wakes up and interrupts him, forcing Kull to leave BOTH babies behind. Uh oh.

Tinn and Cole grow up as twins, knowing that one of them isn't the "real" boy. It doesn't bother them much. Annie Burton, their mother, is amazing—a boy is a boy, and she loves both of her troublesome boys equally. So what if she only gave birth to one? Now she has two.

But Kull hasn't forgotten. He spends 12 years watching, waiting, and trying to figure out which of the boys is his boy, the goblin. And he's running out of time... when the changeling turns 13 years old, he NEEDS to be back home in the magical world or he'll be in a lot of trouble—deadly trouble.

But how is a goblin to convince two wayward boys to come to the goblin horde?

It's time to draw them into the Wild Wood. With a map, they'll make it through just fine. The woods are only dangerous if you don't know where you're going. But these are two 12 year old boys...

...and they've just lost the map.

My thoughts:
Wow. I loved this. My favorite aspect was easily Annie Burton, the boys' mother. The author's description of her determined to find her wayward boys is surprisingly both heartfelt and hilarious. This is not fairy tale where the mother finds the note that her children are missing and spends it wailing - she's their mother, darn it, and she's going to find them and bring them home. The theme of resilient motherhood is extremely strong in this novel.

I also LOVED the humor. Like the best of the middle grade genre, this novel has humor for both kids and parents alike - the adult asides are funny for adults, and yet the jokes and antics are funny for the kids too. It's a delicate balance to strike, but the author does this really well as I spent a lot of time laughing.

Overall, a fantastic read. Looking forward to the next installment!

Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

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[Melanie (TBR and Beyond) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“That morning she had wanted nothing more than a cup of tea, and now there were real goblins and sinister swamps and strange women who turned into bears – and her boys were gone.”

Changelings, goblins, creatures, fae? That pretty much checks off everything that will sell a book instantly to me, so I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of this ARC.

I was interested pretty early on in The Changeling because it was by Young Adult author William Ritter. You may recognize the name, he wrote the wonderful Jackaby series, so I had high hopes he could write a fantastical middle grade novel as well. Though, where Jackaby was Historical Fiction and Supernatural, here the author dives fully into the fantasy realm and I couldn’t be happier about it.

We start off with a little sneaky goblin trying to save his kind by switching a changeling baby with a human baby (it’s a long story), but he completely bumbles it up and the the babies instantly look a like and he can’t tell them apart for the life of him, so he just bolts and leaves without the human child – much to the mother’s surprise. The mother keeps both babies, despite her husband seemingly leaving her over it and the towns people constantly whispering about her having a changeling baby. The two boys, Tinn and Cole are fairly different. One is more impulsive and adventurous and one is more cautious and anxious. Despite their differences they are fiercely loyal to one and other and always with the other. They are best friends and it’s so nice to see their relationship. They are aware of the stories about them, but they have no idea which one of them is the changeling.

Eventually the goblin, Kull comes back for the Changeling and a hot mess of adventure ensues of course. The adventure is so much fun. There is a lot of banter and siblings working together. We also have a young girl that is in the Oddmire that joins them i nthe adventure and she is quite the oddball character and I loved her to pieces. We get quick sand, danger man eating vines, goblins and throw in a legendary witch, of course, for good measure and you’ve for the first in this series.

My favorite part of this story is the author includes the mother (or mothers, I won’t go into that though). No, they aren’t dead and they aren’t horrible hags. They are amazing, fierce, single mothers that love their children and will fight to the ends of the earth to protect them. THANK YOU! I’m always wondering where the damn parents are, well this book show us. They are completely involved, searching – fighting – helping their children and it was so refreshing to see. I just loved it so much.

I would highly recommend this book and especially to families with children. It’s such a healthy message showing the mothers as strong, independent and intelligent women. It makes my heart so happy and I wish more books would show single mothers in this light. Way to go William Ritter, you did good!

[Sherwood Smith]

It’s interesting to me that during the Victorian period, children’s literature was very frequently far more violent than literature for adults. (I’m ignoring potboilers here.) While adult literature was full of manners, ladies and gentlemen, possibly a duel or two (and let’s not forget the casual racism, sexism, etc), children’s literature was filled with dire preachments and warnings of just what happens to bad kids—usually with graphic examples.

I remember one book given to me for my daughter of six over thirty years ago. The grandmother, who was born in the 1880s, passed on to me a book she said she remembered fondly, and that it was good for kids. It was certainly a beautiful book, the cover embossed with ornate git lettering, and a two-toned picture of a pair of kids in Victorian dress on the cover.

I decided to read it first just for fun—I read most things first before handing them off to my six-year-old, but I was sure there would be no unfortunate language in a Victorian children’s book. And certainly no sexual situations I was not ready to explain to a six-year-old who tended to be a close reader.

Well. In the very first chapter, the bad boy (he’s called a bad boy) tortures kittens and puppies, and sets fire to a barn after stealing his father’s tobacco to smoke, which fire burns the family’s horses to death.

That was chapter one!

I’d been boggled that the grandmother said she remembered it fondly—in the years we’d visited I never once saw a book in her house, or saw her reading. And with a steady diet of that in her background, who would blame her? At any rate it did have pretty illustrations, (I bet anything those are what she remembered) but when I glanced through the rest there was far more of the same, including a person of color as a nanny talking in cute dialect with massa and missus in every submissive sentence.

I noped out of that one fast, and into the donation bag it went.

So . . . to the present. There is so very much being published these days onecan identify any sort of trend one likes, but it seems to me that since the late seventies or so, while young adult and adult literature is ever more violent, that for younger kids is much . . . nicer. Whether or not it’s true, I think of it as the Sesame Street effect.

Bringing me to The Oddmire, Book One: Changeling, by William Ritter.

Overall, I found this book to be such a heartwarming, fun book that I wish I could time-travel to hand it off to my kids, one of whom was a very sensitive reader, and the other who was adopted, and tended to look for books with similar kids.

The story begins with a hapless goblin reluctantly sent to swap a human baby for a changeling. The magical explanation for why it must be—and his reluctance to carry out his job—might be confusing for kids (it was for me, anyway) but I don’t think kids would really care. The fun begins when the goblin is distracted by the sudden appearance of a cat while the goblin child finished his magical transformation, and when the goblin looks back, appalled, he sees two identical infants. So he creeps away in defeat, determined to watch from a distance, and when the goblin surely asserts himself according to his goblin nature, he can finish the job.

When the mother appears the next morning and finds two babies in the crib instead of one, she’s quite boggled. And so are the neighbors. Everyone has to have an opinion, including the local religious leader. (Here I groaned, as religious leaders depicted in books of late all seem to have to be jerks if not outright villains) but lo and behold, there is a general sense of puzzled good will—along, of course, with dire warnings about the Wild Wood adjacent to the village.

And so we make a jump twelve years. The boys are inseparable, curious, and likely to get into mischief, but their mother adores them. Their personalities are different, but likeable and fun. And though Mom knows that one is a changeling, she doesn’t care which.

The boys receive a mysterious note from the goblin, and decide to go on an adventure . . . and the tale kicks into high gear. Along the way we meet magical people, and a companion for the boys, a girl named Fable, who is a terrific character. She’s a crack-up, and surprising in a fun way. What’s more, when Mom wakes up and finds her boys gone, she sets straight out to get them—there is no way she’s not going to protect them.

The narrative voice begs to be read aloud. It’s full of vivid image and delicious wit. The story is fast-paced, exciting, with a strong sense of goodwill about it that I really enjoyed. I would so very much have read this book aloud the years I was teaching grades two through five, though I probably would have finessed the word “geld” which I would not want to have to define for curious kids, and I did wish there was a little less emphasis on the boys’ “pink” skin. The adjective could as easily have been “human” and it would have been a lot more inclusive—like the rest of the story.

But those are small quibbles. Overall, I think Ritter has come out with a winner, and I really look forward to the rest of the series. I’ve also noted this book for holiday shopping for certain young ones in the family.

Copy provided by publisher.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another fabulous recommendation from Brandy (…a long time ago, yes, I’m late getting to it). This has so much going for it: a great premise - I can’t believe I’ve never read anything like it before! - a present mother - a fitting setting.

I have some quibbles which prevent me from really loving this; I’m not sure the queen and the bear cub angle are developed or explained all that well, and every part of the plot which involves them feels more forced. But overall, what a winner. Clever and engaging and heartwarming and fun. I was due for an MG fantasy book this good - it’s been a while.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note One: At just 95 pages in (about a third of the way through) I had to pop in here to say firmly: Annie Burton might just be my favorite mom in MG fiction and my personal hero. :)

This is just a little snippet from when she comes face to face with the goblin who left a changeling in her house years ago (and had to run away before he could steal the human baby he'd come for, leaving two identical boys in her home):

"Your changeling?" Annie rounded on him. "Yours? They are my boys."

"The changelin' isn'a - "

"Have you sung any lullabies in the past thirteen years?" she demanded. "Helped anyone with their homework? Taught anyone how to tie their father's old bow ties with fumbling fingers so they could dress up for their first school dance?"

Kill opened his mouth, and then tactfully closed it

"Mm-hm. My boys."

***

Note Two: And now I'm finished with the book, having devoured it all in one day - and ohhh did I love this book! It's so lovely and magical and funny and heartfelt, with really wonderful messages about what makes *family.* I enjoyed every single moment, I'm planning to read it to my 10-year-old, and I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

[Christi M · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Once upon a time, there was a child whom the goblins came to steal, and once upon a time, there was a child whom the goblins left behind."

There is a classic feel to Changeling. In it middle grade readers are introduced to goblin folklore, which is then combined with contemporary elements. The premise of this story is mostly based on goblin changeling lore: a goblin substitutes a couple’s real baby for a goblin baby that looks identical. Sometimes the lore describes fairies doing this, but mostly I’ve seen goblins as the main culprit. But there is another folklore element that the story introduces readers too: The Hinkypunk.

It all starts when Kull, a goblin, goes to change one human baby for a goblin baby. Except Kull gets confused as to which is which and has to leave them both there. Everyone in town understands what has happened, but since the two boys are identical no one can tell them apart. Now they just wait for the day the goblin part of the boy reveals itself.

Changeling is very unique in this: Unlike most middle grade novels that separate the children from their parents so the kids can have an adventure, Changeling makes the mother extremely integral to the story. Annie (mother) is hands down my favorite character from the story as it revolves around her love for both boys. For 12 years Annie has raised them, loved them, helped them. No one and not even Kull can tell her that they are not both her sons. It’s a lovely theme and message: You do not have to be blood-related to be loved, to be a family, nor to be someone’s child.

If Annie is my favorite character, then Fable is my least favorite. Fable is an innocent, naive character that at times acts as if she were 5 years old and then other times surprises you by her boldness and loyalty to her new friends. Her naivete she displays contrasted against how she acts extremely bravely and assertively other times felt a little disjointed. In the end, I couldn’t reconcile the different parts to her character.

The story is sweet and adventurous with a lovely message. But there were moments in the story where I needed more dialogue to help bring me into the story as I felt like the action or events were being described to me instead of me experiencing it along with Cole and Tinn. I also didn’t understand why the story needed to take the boys the first wrong direction, but I can’t elaborate without spoiling. But in the end Changeling will certainly be a story that resonates with many readers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the advanced reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.

Rating: 3.5 stars

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review. Look forward to the Blog Tour for Book 2 hitting my blog on June 25th!


I have been looking forward to reading these books for some time so imagine my delight when I got a mail from the publisher! They wanted me to be part of the tour, and if I wanted to read the books that would also be great. Of course I did a big bookshimmy and a big scream of joy.

It took me a bit to read the book. While I do want to read it.. when books are a MUST read or a HAVE to read… I tend to get a bit stuck. Thank High School and forced reading of books for that one. But in the end I did read it and I really really liked it. It was such a playful and adventurous read.

It all starts when a goblin enters a home to change the baby for a changeling… and that is where it all goes wrong, because instead of easily being able to see who is who… the changeling is so real that he cannot figure out which to bring with him, he then gets disturbed and so instead of one kid… mom now has two kids. Cue to the now time as we see that the boys are having a great time together.

And then the adventure starts as the kids get a note in English from the Goblin (he has tried for years to write but they never knew as he wrote in Goblin/English-ish) with an urgent message. The changeling needs to come to the Wild Woods to save the Woods, the magic, and everything. As you can imagine they both go. These two are twins and they are not about to let the other go. I loved that! I love their adventures in the woods and seeing what and who they encounter there. The woods are a dark dark place and it is filled with magic. Well. Less magic than it used to have. Because there is something dark lurking there that eats all that come to it.

I loved our twins, I loved how sweet they were and how eager to help out the goblin. I loved that while they encountered some creepy and scary things that they never gave up. Or if things seemed dark that they held each other up and motivated the other. Of course, I was curious who the changeling was, and it took a long while before we find out. Until then it is just guessing, more guessing, and more guessing.

Then there is our Goblin who seems to be an actually nice guy! I was surprised about that as most goblin stories aren’t filled with sweet goblins, but these are actually OK folk. I loved that! I loved how dedicated he was and how eager he was to help out the changeling.

Fable is a girl who can shapeshift, I don’t see this a spoiler because you know about it very soon. She is a bit oblivious about the real world and at times highly obnoxious. Still I liked her. Sadly, not my favourite character, but maybe I will like her more in further stories.

Witch/Queen was a great character, I loved her. She was grumpy, but also willing to help. Plus, given her past… I can imagine that she may have turned the way she did.

Lastly there is the twins mum. Yep. This woman is not about to let her kids go on a scary adventure on her own and I just loved that. This woman just heads off in the forest, no care about food or making sure she has supplies. She just runs after her kids. I loved that she accepted both boys and sees them as her children. No matter how the goblin is and who the human. She was by far my favourite character of the book.

It was such an exciting read and we discover new things constantly. Creatures, history, and more. There is a bit of humour as well. It definitely held my attention and made it tons of fun to read.

The ending was fantastic and definitely opens many possibilities for many more stories.

There was just one thing I wasn’t very enthusiastic about and that was that there were too many POV and they all ran in one another at times (once even mid sentence which was just highly confusing). While in the end I am happy that everyone got their say, I think it would have been best if it had been more organised.

But all in all, a great read and I would definitely recommend it. I am going to be reading the second book soon.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Mandy]

Original Review William Ritter doing more magical characters??? In middle grade??? Hello, 2019, you have been made. Now if only Jackaby and a Yeti hat would pop in and life would forever be complete.

Disclaimer: I received this ARC courtesy of  Algonquin Young Readers. I am grateful for the opportunity to review an ARC for my readers, but this will not influence my final rating. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and based solely on the book. 

The moment I saw that William Ritter was writing a new book, I knew that I had to get it. Ritter wrote the Jackaby series, and if you haven't read it yet, I totally recommend getting it on your TBR. It's a quirky little series that brings together Sherlock, the supernatural world, and empowering females in a unique way that still gets me every time. 

This book brings a bit of the Jackaby world together but instead focuses on middle grade, family, and more. Two boys - Tinn and Cole - who discover one of them is a changeling that was accidentally left at birth. When they receive a note from the goblin who failed to steal the human boy, they discover that magic is dying in the woods, and they must go into the Wild Wood to save the forest and magic. This book blends a fairytale feeling with adventure, coming of age stories, and more. 

What I loved the most about this story was that fairytale feeling. The atmosphere was perfect. I felt utterly immersed in the Wild Wood. It was a creepy but still intriguing forest filled with unexpected turns at each bend of t he woods. Ritter created a captivating world inside this book, and it honestly felt straight out of a Grimm's fairytale - although far less creepy and people cutting off their toes (hello, Cinderella). It was even complete with morals that were great - about learning to accept yourself, family love, there is a story behind every story, and more. 

The writing was good as well. Ritter always has an easy breezy writing, and this book is no exception at all. I sped through this book in about two or three sittings, and I probably could have done it quicker if I wasn't so tired each time I was picking it up. Despite the complex world he created, it was always very easy to read.

The pacing - despite the ease of the writing - perhaps went a bit slow at times? I'm not quite sure how to explain. Everything went pretty fast, but I wasn't as invested in it? I felt my investment dropping at times besides everything moving really fast and effectively. 

What I also really loved in this novel was the aspect of family. When Tinn and Cole find out that they're not blood brothers, it doesn't matter to them at all, and nothing changes. Their mother fights so hard to get her boys back - and throughout the story, she makes it plain and clear that it doesn't matter who the changeling is - both are her boys. The group in the forest really became a family as well, and I loved these dynamics.

I also found a bit disconnected from the characters? I enjoyed them all, and I did root for them, but I wasn't really in deep deep with them. I think the story got so focused on the story so much that it kind of veered away from the depth of the characters as much as I wanted it to be. I mean, they were great from the surface level, but I wanted much more. 

Overall, this is a fun, light middle grade novel that is perfect if you would like to dive deeper into if you're looking for a book about family, fairytales, and heart. It has a few slight bumps with disconnection but overall, a solid, fun read. 

[Samm | Sassenach the Book Wizard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg ow my heart at this cuteness. It's like if Molly Weasley was a single mother to Fred & George but one of them was a changeling!

So even though this book is HIGHLY OVERPRICED in Canada ($25 for a damn middle grade?! Really?!), I'm happy to own this. I'm such a fan of Ritter's writing but especially his characters. I'd truely be shocked if you liked Jackaby and didn't like this.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC and to also participate in the Blog Tour.

Check out my blog tour post here:
http://vicariouslyvoraciously.com/rev...


We've all heard of different stories based off of changelings left behind in place of a stolen human child, but never before have I read one where the goblin messes up so royally and leaves behind both the changeling and the human! This story was so unique and yet also felt like a tale of old that I've heard and find comfort in the familiar words. But then again it was like nothing I've read before in the characters were all so very original and the setting was pretty dark and eerie for a middle grade novel! I tend to really enjoy the dark and twisted tales though because through those you really can see the true grit of the characters as they discover who they are in the midst of the trials they are put through and what they can accomplish when faced with their biggest fears. I also loved the strong bond of family throughout this book. That no matter where you might come from, or who you were born to, you can still find family in different parts of your life. And that a mother's love can transcend all else, that nothing can come between a mother and her children whether she gave birth to you or not, there are so many other things that make a mom a true mother. This was such a heartwarming and heartpumping story that I literally read in one sitting because once you start, its nearly impossible to stop!

I think that my favorite part of this book would be the characters. I love that the boys even though they were never meant to be "brothers" have grown up inseperable as twins, but their mother didn't leave them in the dark about the truth of how they came to be. They have always known the stories that one of them is really a goblin, but never knowing which is which they have both been loved equally and treated equally if not cautiously by the townsfolk. Their mother sees them as both of her sons and even when they both doubt themselves from time to time, she clearly points out that they both have a goblin side, and both have a human side. So therefore she loves them both the same and wouldn't ever consider either of them not her own. Its a truly wonderful thing to read, especially when so many kids these days are going through such awkward changes in their lives and bodies, to know that your family is always there for you, and that you are loved no matter what is a big message to send across to the youth of today. I think that this part in particular in this book was fantastic and I wouldn't have thought this strong and heartwarming message could come from a fantasy tale about a changeling child and a goblin horde.

My next favorite character would be sweet Fable! I absolutely loved her naive and innocent view of everything about life. Her lack of tact and knowledge about how the world works was that comedic relief that really added a lighter side to the dark adventure in this book. She was so sweet and just wanted to be a part of something big. To make forever friends, and to travel across the Oddmire were things that she didn't think she could accomplish but in the course of the book you see her put herself out there whether she was really welcome or not, she made them see her for who she was and how she is also just as important of a person as the two boys. Living in the deep dark woods alone for so long probably takes its toll on a small girl, and I love that by the end, she has finally found her forever friends and the happiness she gets from this warmed my heart beyond belief. She was my favorite and I wanted to give her the world, and I'm happy that she gets a happily ever after.

All in all, this book was such a fun adventure and I think that it can be loved by middle grade readers as well as an older audience as well. There wasn't a slow moment throughout the entire book and yet, it felt complete from start to finish. There aren't many books that don't feel rushed but still keep a fast pace and I'm glad to say that Changeling surpassed my first impressions and was truly a wonderful book to read! It has so much more than you would think at first hidden in the words on the pages. The messages portrayed are so strong and perfect for younger readers to find that confidence in facing their fears and knowing they are loved regardless of where they are from and who they came from. I loved this book and cannot wait for the next in the series. Happy Reading!

[Melissa Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank NetGalley and Brittani at Algonquin for sending me this eARC for an honest review.

When I was contacted about reading William Ritter's, (one of my fave YA authors), new book series, I got super excited. When I was asked if I would like to join the book tour, I jumped at the chance.

Willam Ritter is the author of the Jackaby series, a paranormal detective with his assistant Abigail Rook. So think of Sherlock, but for the supernatural.

This book, Changeling or The Oddmire series is a middle grade series, about a goblin named Kull who really just wants to save the Wild Wood and the Goblin Horde. The Wild Wood is losing it's magic and it's inhabitants are leaving. The Witch of the Wood can only do so much and a dark power called the Thing, is eating everything in it's path. Against Chief Nudd the king of the Goblins, Kull whisks the new changeling to the human side in order to steal a human baby. However thirty seconds in the house Kull goofs and has to abandon both babies. Now there are two boys in the crib when the mom Annie goes to check on her son.

Thirteen years later the town is used to both boys. The mom loves them both equally and Cole and Tinn are both as mischievous as any boy or goblin could be. No one, not even Annie can tell which is which. The time has come however for Kull to make right what he started thirteen years ago while the veil of both worlds are at its thinnest. He leaves a note for the boys to find with a map showing where they should meet him. If they do not the changeling will die and so will the magic of the woods.

I found the boys love for each other sooo sweet. I loved the creatures that the boys encountered on their journey: Candlebeard and Fable. I thought the Thing was nice and creepy and the fact that both moms in the story even though they were at odds, decided to join forces for the greater good.

I read this story out loud to both my boys and they found it funny and entertaining. We played a game on who they thought would end up being the real goblin child. There were a few times I did get choked up with emotions when Annie was talking about her boys. That is true mother devotion right there. Risking it all to save her kids. So so good.

Again I want to thank Algonquin for allowing me to join the book tour. I would have bought the book anyway because William Ritter is an auto-buy author for me, but it was so much cooler to have been able to read it early.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my least favorite themes to read about is everything that has to do with fairies, goblins and changelings. I don't know, it just doesn't appeal to me. I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed this author's previous series, Jackaby. I thought I would at least like this one but I did not expect to absolutely love it! This was truly such a gorgeous little story. You have an interesting plot,a great pacing, the heartwarming brotherly and parent-children bonds, new friendship and a fun adventure. My favorite part was the boys's mother, Annie. What an incredible character! She always knew that she gave birth to one of the boys and the other one is a changeling and she did not care one bit. There is even a part where she thinks that a little girl needs rescuing and she is prepared to do just that and then later take her in. So much love in one person. I definitely recommend this, already started the second book.

[Brandy Painter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fairly straightforward sibling, quest story. The twist is that one of the siblings is a changeling after a goblin thoroughly botched a switch of a human baby with one. The relationship between the "twins" is great and helps develop the theme of what family truly is. Annie Burton, the twins mother, also contributes much to this and is now one of my all time favorite moms in children's books. She is great. And as cold and forbidding as the Queen is-she is also amazing. A great deal of my love for this book comes from the amazing adult women in it. Kid readers will like it for other reasons-the creepy woods, the fantastical creatures, and the age-old tale of belonging and finding your place in the world along with the fear that there isn't a place at all. Ritter developed his themes extremely well for what is such a slim volume-a feat I always appreciate from MG fantasy authors.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on my review blog Deanna Reads Books
Changeling is the first book in William Ritter's new middle grade series. Although, having finished the first book, I felt like the story is pretty complete so I'm curious how the sequel will continue the story. The book is a fantasy story steeped in folklore of the dark wood, goblins and fairies.

It's the classic changeling switcheroo story, but the Goblin making the switch messes up and the real boy and the changeling end up being raised together. Let's give it up for Annie, because that mother was a fierce protector. I loved that no matter what both boys were "her boys." This book deals a lot with a mother's love and the importance of family no matter what that might be. I do feel like we don't get closure about her husband disappearing, but maybe we will get that in later books.

I couldn't guess which boy was the changeling, but you do find out which one it is in this book, so don't fear! Once this happens it really gets to the interesting parts of the novel because we learn about what is happening to the forest and the two worlds colliding.

The fantasy elements in this book were pretty cool. I liked that the Goblins in this book felt really true to folklore about them. The witch in the woods was a really cool element to it and I don't know want a Hinkypunk is but I thought they were neat too! If you like fantasy woodland creatures this one has a lot of them and also a huge evil thing that is just called "The thing."

I don't read a lot of Middle Grade, but I felt like this one read well enough for a kid. But at the same time it has good elements of what it means to be a family that resonates with adults as well.


*I received an eARC copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Many thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for sending me an eARC via Netgalley for my honest review! Quotes are taken from an unfinished ARC and may not match final publication.

[Carina Shephard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars // read August 2021

The author's name looked vaguely familiar, and then I realized, "oh, it's the guy who wrote Jackaby!" The premise itself sounded pretty cool, and it was a decent price, so of course I had to check it out.

Even though I'm not the target audience, I liked Changeling! The cadence and expression of the writing (especially at the beginning) makes me think this would be a good read-aloud, or audiobook. (Although, as another reviewer pointed out, "Cole" and "Kull" sound unfortunately similar when spoken aloud.)

Family is the main theme of this book, and can I just say, it was so refreshing to see the mom have a significant role (Annie Burton = epic) and also the positive view of adoption! Technically there is a father figure, but as a whole that's mostly absent. There's a relatively small cast of characters. I actually did guess which boy was the goblin, about halfway through the book. Fable was... okay, not really my favorite but not terrible either.

Content: (Since this is a middle-grade book, a more in-depth content review. :) )
Language: one use of d***, several uses of "dang", one use of "God" as an exclamation
Sensuality: None
Violence: Darker than I expected. Characters get trapped in vines; the villain is a disturbing Thing who likes to feed off of misery and hopelessness. (I'm not sure if this was intentional or not, but I could see some parallels between the Thing and depression.) Wouldn't recommend to younger or more sensitive kiddos; older children should be okay but I would recommend prereading later chapters to see if it's too much for your audience.
Other: There's an awkward/bordering on inappropriate scene where one of the boys has to heed the call of nature and Fable (a girl who hasn't really been around others) is totally confused as to why he doesn't want anyone to see him. I think it's intended to be funny but it just came across as inappropriate to me.
There's a priest/clergyman of some sort who shows up at the beginning and is portrayed in a neutral/somewhat positive way.

If you liked Changeling or at least the premise of it, I would highly recommend checking out The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson! The darkness in Changeling is about the same level as later books in TWS.

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's listed The Oddmire book 1, but it's a standalone story.

It briefly recounts how the magical world and the human worlds got separated, and the wall between them broken, and how a Thing got out.

Then to the main story. The goblin Kull brings a changeling, despite orders, so he can take a human baby. Then, having put the changeling in the cradle, he's prevented from snatching the human baby, and the changeling changed so well that he can't tell which one is which.

Neither can the humans, down to the baby's mother. So, they decide the goblin won't be able to hide its nature too long, and wait. Except that boys are mischievous too. . . .

When the twins are about to turn thirteen, Kull writes them a letter -- he can't speak to them by law -- and tells them the changeling has to come to the forest, or both the changeling and all the other goblins will die. No human must come. So, of course, Cole and Tinn go, leaving a note for their mother. . . .

It involves the last tale of when goblins sent a changeling, a witch in the woods, a hinkypunk with a candle, raspberry tarts, the mother's reaction to that note, bones, a map that Tinn mislays, and more.

[Tammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read- April 2020 for the O.W.Ls Magical Readathon (Divination- random number generator)
- William Ritter wrote one of my all time favourite series (The Jackaby series) and it's been so nice reading more from him. I literally pre-ordered the second book the minute I finished this.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this book since I first saw it on NetGalley [as I really like this author and his Jackaby series] and I am glad to say that I was not disappointed!!
The book starts a little slow and I was wondering if I was even going to like it and then WHAM, it picks up and you are on quite the ride until the end.
Perfect for middle-grade readers, it is fun and full of adventure, scary, but not TOO scary and the end sets up the next book perfectly, without it being a dumb cliffhanger. A really fun read. Really looking forward to diving into book 2!

[Caryn - iam.caryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most whimsically inventive middle grade fantasies I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.

Changeling is infused with Ritter’s trademark clever humour and unique characters.

The subtle mention of an expert in New Fiddleham may have made me squee a little bit.

If you’re a middle grade reader or if you have littles who love quirky fantasy, I highly recommend this.

[Toya (thereadingchemist) · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something about Changelings that always piques my interest. The idea of goblins swapping human infants for these creepy little terrors than can wreak havoc upon the parents, and sometimes leave them for dead, is utterly chilling.

When I first read the synopsis of Changeling: The Oddmire #1, I was immediately drawn to the idea of changelings in a middle grade setting (I just want to clarify, don’t understand middle grade horror because it is still equaling as chilling). However, this is not your ordinary changeling story. When Kull attempts is in the process of swapping infants, he is interrupted when Annie (the mother) hears his racket and immediately goes to the nursery when her newborn son is fastly asleep. To her surprise, Annie is no longer a mother of one healthy boy. She is now a mother to identical twin boys.

As Tinn and Cole grow older, the townsfolk tend to keep their distance since they know that one of the boys is in fact a changeling. The problem is that even the boys are unaware as to which one of them isn’t entirely human. One day, they receive a mysterious letter that claims that the changeling is to return to Wild Wood or face a most certain death, but the changeling is to go into the woods alone since it is a guaranteed death sentence for a human. Since the boys don’t know which one is the changeling and refuse to leave each other behind, they venture off into the dangerous Wild Wood where they encounter unlikely friends and plenty of foes.

One of my favorite things about this book was how strong the sibling bond between Tinn and Cole was. Even though both boys were aware that one was entirely human, that never affected how much they loved each other. Each of the brothers secretly wished that he was the goblin instead of the other to save his brother from despair. Additionally, I also enjoyed the bond between the boys and their mother Annie, whom they loved unconditionally and vice versa. Even though Annie only gave birth to one son, she made it clear when she ran off in to Wild Wood to find her boys that both sons were in fact hers.

Overall, this is a great story packed with adventure, magical beings, mystery, and most of all, love.

Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers, Edelweiss, and NetGalley for the eARC. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

[Alyssa Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Changeling is a beautiful coming-of-age story about two boys raised as twin brothers; they know that one of them is a “changeling”–a goblin–but neither knows which one of them is human and which is a goblin. The story tackles what it means to be family, friends, and of course, human. Ritter does a brilliant job of going back and forth between each boy showing that each has typical “goblin” and “human” characteristics, truly making it impossible to guess which one is which until the moment when it is revealed by magic.

I love the folklore that provides the foundation of the story and can’t wait for this series to continue so that we can learn more about the different magical creatures and the forest, and of course, follow Tinn and Cole’s adventures. Ritter includes classic folklore tales while giving them his own twist, which makes for an interesting, fresh-feeling read. The book picked up a lot when the boys got to the forest and my favorite parts were learning more about the forest creatures and the forest’s witch.

I also really enjoyed that we’re able to get the twins’ mom’s point-of-view in various chapters–it’s nice to know that she is completely dedicated to her two boys: human or goblin, she fiercely loves both of them, which was SO GREAT. I was worried that one boy was going to be singled it as “the probable goblin,” but she looks at both boys as her sons. She fights for them constantly along the way and when they venture off by themselves, she’s right behind them, trying to save them. Truly an amazing character.

This book is super fun and relatively fast-paced. Once they got to the proper adventuring part of it, I truly couldn’t put it down. I kept talking about it to everyone who would listen (even if they wouldn’t) because I loved the characters and the story so much. It’s the sort of book that would have been an absolute favorite of mine if it had been around when I was younger. It has heartwarming lessons and is so, so entertaining. I highly recommend this.

Also posted on Purple People Readers.

[Evangeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a scale from one to pomegranate? This book is definitely pomegranate.
The Jackaby series holds such a special place in my heart that when I heard Ritter was writing a new series set in the same world, I was ecstatic.
I really need to reread The Map now so I can catch all the references to the goblins, but the little things connecting it to the world of Jackaby were one of my favorite parts of the book.

That being said though, this book stands on its own. Ritter paints a vividly magical picture as we follow Tinn and Cole on their adventures through the Wild Wood and the Oddmire.
The characters were all very well developed, I immediately fell in love with them. Tinn and Cole's brotherly relationship was so heartwarming and pure, I wanted to hug them both. Ritter is also so good at writing strong female characters, and in this case there were not one but two amazing mothers prominently in the story and that's just not something you see a lot of nowadays.

The humor was great, witty, sarcastic, it's always one of my favorite things in Ritter's books.

Overall my only complaint is that the beginning was a bit slow, but that's to be expected with a first book in a series. The set up for the other books in this series is fascinating and I'm already coming up with theories.

Basically, read William Ritter's books. You won't regret it.

[Matthew Galloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I have to say that I love there are Jackaby references! You don't need to read that series and, I think, whether you read that or this one first, once you make the crossover you'll be delighted to spot the ties.

This is a sweet, quirky tale with themes for both children and adults. There's great humor, clever use of folklore, excellent twists. There's a blend of familiar tropes and surprising turns. All in all, a very enjoyable read.

As a side note: there was a climactic scene which, for some reason, reminded me of the owl scene in The Secret of NIMH movie. Probably no one else will make that particular connection -- just the way my brain works -- but wow did that add some extra creep factor to it for me. haha

I guess this is where I should put in that I got a review copy disclaimer, but really, either you trust me to be a good, objective librarian or not. I'm just glad my librarian powers allowed me to obtain an early review copy! It wouldn't be false to say there was only one book I absolutely wanted to snag at that conference... and I did. ;)

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

After LOVING the Jackaby series, this was a disappointment. I had been looking forward to a new book by Ritter, but this one just never pulled me in. Honestly, it took me over a month to read because it didn't hold my interest enough to read it alone, so I read it while also reading like four other books.
Jackaby had such enjoyable characters, and I really only came to love the women in this book. The boys were fun, but nothing about them was captivating. The story was a nice dive into the idea of changeling children, but there just wasn't enough originality for me to get hooked. I'll likely try the next book when it comes out and cross my fingers that this was a fluke, but I won't be counting down for book 2 like I used to with Jackaby.

I received an eGalley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[❀Aimee❀ Just one more page... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had fun reading this with my kiddos!

[Carmen (TheReadingTrashQueen) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I once again owe a huge apology to the author, publisher, and NetGalley, for taking almost 4 years to read this (and how on Earth is 2019 4 years ago???), but also a huge thanks for providing me with the eARC of this wonderful little book.

I had the full intention of reading said eARC, but instead ended up listening to the audio, and wow. I've been spoilt for the rest of the trilogy. Guess I won't be reading them on Kindle, after all, because Jonathan Todd Ross does such a wonderful job narrating! Really pulled me in to the story.

Sadly I got so pulled in I couldn't stop even though I got too tired, so I'm sure I missed more of the ending than I wanted to, but it didn't leave me with huge questions (and just means I'll have to reread one day; the horror), so I guess it's not too bad.

This book was lovely! I had a feeling it would be, which is why I kept requesting the sequels (and opening the file for Changeling on at least 5 different occasions), and I am glad my feeling turned out right! It even surprised me in who the changeling was!

The one thing I'd note is that I found it a curious decision to name two of the POV characters Kull and Cole. Maybe in writing it wouldn't have been as confusing, but when listening it was a bit jarring at times to realize that nope- you're in someone else's head now. The POV switches went really quickly so they were hard to keep track of at times, but once again, I'm pretty sure that's easier to keep track of in writing.

ALSO ALSO.

This is my second Middle Grade in a row with a loving parent! I really hope this means there has been a shift in recent years where parents are allowed to be present and loving and protective, because damn all those characters from my youth got the short end of the stick one way or another.

Annie is most definitely one of my favorite characters. The way she took after her boys without hesitation and the way she loves them unconditionally? *chef's kiss*

AND FABLE! I laughed at her so much, I adore her!

It's 3am, I should have been asleep a while ago, but I just had to get this review out, so I can start fresh tomorrow with book 2!

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book Series: The Oddmire Book 1

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: July 16, 2019

Genre: MG Fantasy

Recommended Age: 12+ (slight scary moments)

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Pages: 272

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Magic is fading from the Wild Wood. To renew it, goblins must perform an ancient ritual involving the rarest of their kind—a newborn changeling. But when the fateful night arrives to trade a human baby for a goblin one, something goes terribly wrong. After laying the changeling in a human infant’s crib, the goblin Kull is briefly distracted from his task. By the time he turns back, the changeling has already perfectly mimicked the human child. Too perfectly: Kull cannot tell them apart. Not knowing which to bring back, he leaves both babies behind.

Tinn and Cole are raised as human twins, neither knowing what secrets may be buried deep inside one of them. Then when they are twelve years old, a mysterious message arrives, calling the brothers to be heroes and protectors of magic. The boys must leave behind their sleepy town of Endsborough and risk their lives in the Wild Wood, crossing the perilous Oddmire swamp and journeying through the Deep Dark to reach the goblin horde and discover who they truly are.

Review: I thought this was an absolutely cute and amazing book. It’s wonderfully targeted towards kids! It’s got a dark side but I don’t think it would be too scary for the young ones. The characters were strong, I loved the commentary on non traditional families and how differences don’t make you less loved. I also thought the pacing was amazing as well.

However, I did think that the book was a tad predictable, but I’m almost 30 years old and I have a great track record of predicting endings.

Verdict: If you have a young one or like young books definitely get this one!

[C.P. Cabaniss · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this novel from the publisher through Netgalley as part of the blog tour.*

This was an exciting adventure about two brothers, one a human and the other a goblin changeling intended to take his place. At thirteen, they still don't know which of them is the real boy and which the goblin, but they are happy to be brothers and live with a mom who loves them.

But of course things can't stay like this forever.

This is a fantasy adventure story, but it's also much more. It's about family and trust and knowing yourself. It's about love and sacrifice and identity.

The multi-perspective style of this is very good and I particularly liked seeing inside the minds of some of the more sinister characters. A well written and fun story.

The book releases tomorrow, July 16. Please check out my review on my blog for the blog tour: http://courtneysreads.blogspot.com/20...