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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Third in the Goblin Trilogy., March 6, 2008
This review is from: Goblin War (Goblin Series) (Mass Market Paperback)
Jig has bested a dragon, necromancer, and pixies; but now he's up against a powerful orc and her army. To make matters worse, Jig has to deal with an army of humans as well. As a long-lost secret is revealed about Tymalous Shadowstar's forgotten past, can Jig trust his benefactor enough to stand against the most powerful being Jig has ever encountered? Humans and the "uncivilized creatures" lives all may hang in the balance as armies clash and a dark plot unravels.
As a fan of the first two installments, I had high expectations for Goblin War. And I wasn't disappointed. There is plenty of adventure, humor, and magic contributing to make this a fantastic fantasy. Jig's character has been slowly developing over the course of the trilogy. And big questions are revealed that have been looming since the beginning. The humor is the most wonderful aspect of this unique series, and this latest had me laughing out loud (especially a certain reference to a Shel Silverstein story). Each of these books has been better than the last. This series is a must-read and one of my all-time favorites!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Conclusion, May 16, 2008
This review is from: Goblin War (Goblin Series) (Mass Market Paperback)
Goblin War is a completely different novel from the first two novels in the Goblin Series, Goblin Quest and Goblin War. Those two books were constrained by the small world of the lair and its surrounding caves. The goblins never left the caves under their mountain, for all the adventures that they had. This meant that the second novel, while having a different set of circumstances, was much like the first in plot and style, and didn't add too much that was new to Jig the Goblin's story. But in Goblin War, author Jim C. Hines has Jig and many of his fellow goblins leave the cave for the wider world, a world that pretty much wants to destroy them.
In Goblin War Jig's god, Tymalous Shadowstar, plays a much more significant role in the story. Each chapter begins with a history of how the forgotten god came to be forgotten, and why his worship was never picked up by some cult or other. It was wonderful to watch how Tymalous Shadowstar is revealed throughout the book, and he becomes a truly three dimensional character, not just an occasion for a disembodied laugh.
All in all, I think Goblin War is Hines' best novel so far. He has stepped out of the small confines of the goblin lair, and opened up a new world for Jig to experience. This novel has more elements for humor, more action, and more plot threads. Hines is growing as a writer. This growing skill and comfort with writing is allowing him to write more complex and funny novels. It is sad to think that for now, Jig is on a well-deserved hiatus. Hopefully Hines will return to Jig's world, or in some way connect the novels he is currently writing now to Jig's story. Either way, I would like to see more of Jig.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
going for the Jig-ular [no spoilers], April 10, 2008
This review is from: Goblin War (Goblin Series) (Mass Market Paperback)
Jig Dragonslayer's adventures (possibly) conclude in "Goblin War" nearly one year after the prior novel. The greatly improved storytelling relates an outstanding piece of Tymalous Shadowstar's past with each chapter. The Jig saga consistently amuses and entertains without any explicit elements or gruesome contents.
The backstabbing Relka returns as a spirited promoter of Tymalous and devoted believer in Jig's powers, singing entertaining poems in their names. Together with Relka, Jig and goblin warrior Trok are captured by a small war party lead by Prince Theodore and Princess Genevieve, siblings to the Prince brothers from " Goblin Quest". Darnak the dwarf reappears accompanying the two royal youngsters in their quest.
There are some interesting revelations about Jig's parentage and Tymalous's interest for Jig and the goblin race in the short pieces of his divine history. Veka the wizard is briefly mentioned but otherwise absent.
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.
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