Customer Reviews

Goblin Hero (Goblin Series)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When a large, nasty ogre comes into the goblin lair, demanding to see Jig Dragonslayer, Jig realizes that he is about to have yet another adventure. However, when he realizes that the ogres are scared, and are turning to him for help, he realizes just how dangerous this adventure is going to be! To make matters worse, he soon learns that his fellow travelers will be a old hobbled nursemaid, an exceedingly stupid warrior (and for goblins, that's saying something!), and a slightly mad gobliness with delusions of wizard-hood. Something sinister and dangerous is loose in the mountain, and if the goblins are going to survive, Jig and his band are going to have to work miracles!

As a confirmed fan of your traditional sword and sorcerer, elf and dwarf type fantasy, I really enjoy this fractured fairytale. The characters are all quite different than the fantasy heroes you are used to seeing, but the storyline is pure...well, magic.

Overall, I found this to be a fun and very interesting book. I liked the story, and really liked the very interesting characters who populated it (especially the goblins). If you are a fan of fantasy literature, then you will enjoy this wacky, off-beat addition to the genre. I highly recommend it!

GOBLIN HERO returns to the story of Jig, the runty goblin who got kidnapped by adventurers, killed a Necromancer, defeated a dragon and returned to tell about it. While Jig is useful to his fellow goblins for his healing ability, he's viewed as a threat by the goblin chief. So when an ogre shows up looking for Jig the Dragonslayer to battle a new threat to their mountain home Jig has two choices: go and face somewhat certain death, or stay and face much more certain death at the hands of his deceitful fellows. Going and getting killed will at least free him from having to watch his back, so off Jig goes.

GOBLIN HERO is an enjoyable follow up to GOBLIN QUEST. Hines has managed to create a world and characters that keep the reader guessing. Instead of heroes-with-a-capital-H his characters are just trying to stay alive and (with one exception) have no delusions of grandeur. This is a world where one could as easily be stabbed by one's companions as by the enemy (and friendly-stabbing happens more than once in the novel).

The book takes a lot of stabs at heroism-with-a-capital-H, adventurers in general, notions of fair play, and who someone is and who someone pretends to be. At one point a hobgoblin who has no compunction eating another hobgoblin, goblin or ogre (cannibalism isn't really a matter of ethics in this world as one of survival) complains about adventurers bringing their pets into the mountain only to be killed leaving their pets to fend for themselves.

The real strength of the book, however, is the gradual revealing of each character as more than just your typical fantasy monster. From the amorphous concept of goblin Hines pulls out individuals. They are cowardly and sneaky and backstabbing, to be sure, but they also have interests that involve more than just self-preservation. Over the course of the book the characters grow from roughly sketched stereotypes into finely drawn personalities. And it all takes place through the characters eyes, as they come to realize there's more to each other than meets the eye. It's a delightful realization.

This is a great sequel to the first book, Goblin Quest, taking us further into the life and adventures of our Goblin hero Jig and his wonderful firespider, Smudge. This time he's joined by some of his goblin family, as well as other denizens of the mountains in which they live. This time, they're fighting against an invading horde of nasty pest-like faeries from another world. Jig continues on his reluctant path of heroism, yet continues to prove what a big hero he is! This is a hugely delightful story, one which young adults and grownups won't be able to put down. Excellent fantasy!

Reviewed by Vicky Burkholder
on 07/13/2008

In shades of The Hobbit, Jig Dragonslayer is once again called upon to save his world, an onerous task when all he wants to do is relax and stay safe. But when ogres are scared, what's a goblin to do? And to add more problems to his already heavy load, his companions are a really, really stupid warrior goblin, an ancient and crippled nursemaid, and a female goblin who thinks she should be a powerful wizard. In this light-hearted, sometimes disgusting tale, Jig must once again fight the powers of evil - in this case, a horde of pesky faeries from another world.

While I didn't care for so much time being spent on Veka, the female wizard-goblin in the first half of the book, this was still an excellent read. The last half was most entertaining and read much faster than the beginning - which still read pretty fast! Even though I haven't read the first two books in the series, I had no trouble figuring out exactly what was going on and who was who. You can believe that when I get the chance, I'm going to read the first two and more from this inventive author.

The characters are fun, well-developed and believable. The plot moves along at a rapid pace and the dialogue and descriptions are witty, and apropos. Don't look for your typical human heroes here - these characters dwell in the realm of fantasy. but that doesn't make their problems less real or less fun - if anything, it's better than if they had been human.

This is a great story and fun for teens and adults alike. If you love a good high fantasy with a twist and a shelf full of humor, definitely pick this one up - and the others while you're at it.

"Goblin Hero" continues the Jig the goblin adventures as he helps the ogre Walland, who seeks out the great Jig Dragonslayer, to find out what is affecting ogrekind which is originating near the deceased dragon Straum's cave. The author skillfully presents our reluctant hero and a wannabe wizard Veka, providing two comical views into the goblin psyche. The relatively benign plot captures the hilarity of Jig while supplying quality entertainment for various reading ages.

Following the forgotten god Tymalous Shadowstar, Jig and his pet fire spider Smudge are joined by two unlikely teammates, a large goblin Braf appearing none too bright and Grell, an older nursery worker. Upset Jig does not accept her potential as a wizard and traveling companion, Veka trails to show Jig and her fellow goblins she too can be a hero. The entire story is amusing, from the relationship between Jig and Tymalous to a hobgoblin with a humorous phobia.

A detailed map of the significant terrains would have been useful.

I highly recommend this series to any fan of the fantasy genre.

Thank you.

Second in the "Jig the Goblin" fantasy series, featuring the reluctant hero: runty, heavily bespectacled Jig the Dragonslayer. I like this series because it's different--Goblins aren't usually a fantasy race that you think of being the hero of a story, but the author pulls it off very well, baldly admitting to the faults of the goblin race in general and Jig in particular, but using those foibles to make Jig all the more endearing.

In this book, Jig once again has to set out on a dangerous mission at the behest of Kralk, the new goblin chief, when an ogre breaks into the goblin's lair to seek Jig's help in fighting 'something' that has charmed the ogres. He takes with him just a few cohorts--Grell, an ancient goblin who has been in charge of the nursery; Braf, a big and especially stupid warrior; and Veka, a wanna-be heroine and wizard who is jealous of Jig's notoriety. Along the way, they meet other characters of other races who feature in the story, too, and help them in their battle against what turns out to be pixies from another dimension!

A humorous and well-told story, Goblin Hero manages to dispel that `second book curse' in which the middle book of a trilogy often fares poorly and ends up being a rather ho-hum setup for the finale. This book stands on its own very well, and I enjoyed it just as much if not more than the first in series. Looking forward to Goblin War!

After recovering from his adventures in slaying the Necromancer and the dragon, Jig is now known as "Jig Dragonslayer." Unfortunately for him, an invading army of pixies know about him too. When an ogre comes to the goblins (Jig specifically) for help with a pixie infestation, Jig is forced to lead a group to investigate. But Veka, a wizard-in-training, is jealous of Jig's hero status, and decides to save the day herself. And she just may jeopardize everyone's chance at defeating the invaders to their land.

I was surprised to find that I enjoyed Goblin Hero even more than its predecessor. With even more laughs and excitement, Jig becomes the reluctant hero once again. Every character is unique with wonderful quirks. From the brawny goblin who pretends to be dumber than he is to the hobgoblin warrior who faints at the sight of blood, this fantasy is cleverly written from beginning to end. I can't recommend this series enough.

This is a great sequel to the first book, Goblin Quest. If you liked the first at all, you really shouldn't hesitate to pick up this one. Jig has developed as a character quite a bit through the book and the book takes a wonderful path through to the end.

This is the second book in the Jig the Goblin trilogy by Hines. This one is very much in the style of the first book and makes for another humorous dungeon delving quest.

Jig has been granted the power of healing by his god Autumnstar and would love nothing more than to spend his days healing goblin wounds and being left alone. However the goblin chief sees him as a threat and when an ogre shows up asking for Jig Dragonslayer; the chief is happy to see Jig leave. Now Jig has another quest, against evil pixies to be exact and he has some dubious goblin companions who just may help him if they don't kill him first.

This book goes between two different character viewpoints. Like in the last book we follow Jig, but in addition we hear a lot from Veka's viewpoint (she is a goblin who greatly desires to be a hero). As far as writing style, plot style, character style goes this book is much like the first one. I found the characters humorous but not incredibly engaging. I found the plot interesting but not edge-of-your-seat gripping. This book wasn't quite as funny as the first book. A lot of time is spent with Veka and she is not a pleasant character...she takes herself way too seriously and I didn't like hearing from her as much as Jig.

This is another very classic dungeon crawling adventure; although this book has a more "save the world" tone to it than the first book. The book wraps up nicely and gives a very complete story. You wouldn't have to read "Goblin Quest" to enjoy this book, but "Goblin Quest" does give some nice background on Jig for this story.

Overall another fun and amusing read. I look forward to reading the third, and final, book in this series Goblin War (Goblin Series).

This whole trilogy is a fun read. Not the greatest trilogy, but if you do a lot of gaming, you should definitely check out this trilogy. Overall, really well thought out by the author and he points out some pretty funny flaws in the minds of adventurers. You really come to root for the goblin protagonist of the story.