After barely surviving an adventure he never wanted, the scrawny little nearsighted goblin called Jig is now known as Jig Dragonslayer, and has the power of healing, thanks to the forgotten god he worships. But being a hero isn't all it's cracked up to be. Not when the goblin leader wants him dead, and everyone else actually expects him to keep doing heroic-and incredibly dangerous-things.
Goblin Hero (GOBLIN SERIES)
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Jim C. Hines has been a paid juggler, earned a black belt in two different marital arts, performed yo-yo tricks at the top of the Eiffel Tower, and lived with a brain-damaged squirrel. (Only three of those are true.) One of his earliest stories earned first place in the Writers of the Future contest. He’s published more than forty short stories as well as numerous fantasy novels, including the humorous Jig the Dragonslayer trilogy, the Princess series, which re-imagines traditional fairy-tale princesses as butt-kicking action heroines, and the Magic Ex Libris series, about a centuries-old secret society dedicated to the use and control of book magic. In 2012, he won the Hugo for Best Fan Writer. Jim lives in Michigan with his wife, two children, and an unstable number of pets. He can be found online at www.jimchines.com.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Jim C. Hines' latest book is LIBRIOMANCER, a modern-day fantasy about a magic-wielding librarian, a dryad, a secret society founded by Johannes Gutenberg, a flaming spider, and an enchanted convertible. He's also the author of the PRINCESS series of fairy tale retellings as well as the humorous GOBLIN QUEST trilogy. His short fiction has appeared in more than 40 magazines and anthologies. Jim lives in Michigan with his wife and two children. He's currently hard at work on CODEX BORN, the second book in the MAGIC EX LIBRIS series. Online, he can be found at http://www.jimchines.com.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
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.
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.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Kari Gritzan
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
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.
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.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another good read
This book was as good as A Goblin`s Tale. This one had as many..."did not see that coming"...as the first.
Published 6 days ago by johnnie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great goblin book
Jim C Hines Goblin series is wonderfully imagined. From the Gods to the magic, to the tongue in cheek jabs at the fantasy genre.
Published 3 months ago by Solace
5.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshing fun read
I like the humor though out the book of the non traditional hero. The way it plays on perspectives is a clever and quite refreshing. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Sariah John
3.0 out of 5 stars
Easy and enjoyable
I guess this could be a older teen book but like Harry Potter it can be enjoyed by adults. Not the most complicated of plots but it comes from a different perspective ; ie a... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Feded
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious and well written.
Jim Hines is one of that rare breed who can add humor to a well written adventure tale and thereby magnify the readers pleasure in reading it.
Published 6 months ago by Linda Harms
4.0 out of 5 stars
Jig the Goblin, Book Two
Jig the Goblin is no warrior. Jig is still the scrawny, half-blind runt he was before he survived his adventure with Straum the dragon. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Detra Fitch
4.0 out of 5 stars
This book works !!
The first thing everyone who might consider reading this series needs to know... THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THIS OUT THERE! Read more
Published 22 months ago by Jason
3.0 out of 5 stars
Rather disappointing
Jig the goblin, now known as Jig Dragonslayer from his exploits in the first novel Goblin Quest finds himself back in the goblin caves, although now, instead of a lowly muck maker,... Read more
Published on March 26, 2011 by Laura Probst
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great sequel to first book
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. Read more
Published on January 31, 2011 by Shane Ede
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great classic dungeon crawling novel; not as funny as the first one...
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. Read more
Published on March 16, 2010 by Karissa Eckert
