Customer Reviews

Goblin War (Goblin Series)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

We return for the third, and possibly final time to the tale of Jig the Dragonslayer ( also, Pixies, Princes, and one Necromancer ).

The novel by itself would make a good read, but I think it would best be enjoyed after reading the first two in the series Goblin Quest and Goblin Hero.

As for the story itself, we pick up with Jig some time after the events of Goblin Hero. We meet old and new characters, some questions are answered, and others aren't. Hines nicely wraps up the series with an ending that should satisfy fans old and new. The action moves along nicely, Hine's humor is as always well done, and as always there are characters who are a lot deeper than they first appear.

Hine's has taken the "always leave them wanting more" idea to heart, I'd love to read more about Jig and the others, but if this is where he wants to end the story, I'm glad he ended it here so well.

I heard that Hines is currently working on a new fantasy series. While I am looking forward for new work from this fresh, rising talent I do hope that he returns to Jig the Goblin someday. A friend recommended this trilogy to me just a month ago and I read all the books back to back. Hine's writing is a perfect blend of humor and fantasy - they match if not surpass the better books of Piers Anthony's early 1-10 Xanth books.

Jim Hines has done it again, and then some. This book, as other reviewers have said, is a send-up of all the stereotypical creatures of fantasy, from angry trees to 2HP kobolds. In-jokes abound for fans of fantasy and gaming alike, well balanced with heaps of action, drama, and the tale of the battling powers that drive the plot.

If you enjoyed Jig's previous adventures, you'll enjoy this one at least as much. If you haven't, it's going to be easy to pick up on what's happened previously. The story in this novel is captivating, and the jokes will keep you laughing, from the gentle to the pointed.

The thing about these novels, though, is the magic the author works in making us care about the wretched of the earth. Goblins, orcs, and kobolds are the nameless walk-ons of fantasy, whose typical role is to die. Here they find some measure of nobility, and we get to see their own special brand of courage as they fight everything from arrogant, racist (specist?) humans to great powers. If you've ever been bullied or pushed around in any way, you'll enjoy the story of Jig, Relka, Gratz, and all the rest.

Just finished this one today, and once again I'm impressed with Jim's storytelling skills. This one has by far the best story, and paired along with Jig's most agonizing quest, I have to say this one was my favorite out of the three. Each chapter starts with an excerpt of Shadowstars life, separate from the rest of the story, but it ties in all together at the end.

Not a penny was wasted on this trilogy. I highly recommend this series to anyone and everyone.

The third entry in the Jig trilogy is a rip-roaring piece of fantasy fun. It boasts a heaping plate of fantasy icons (elves, goblins, gods, orcs, talking/walking trees, humans, and dwarves) skewered with insightful humor, and plenty of action. The 2nd book in the trilogy was much weaker than this one, so if you loved the first book, Golbin Hero, but didn't love the 2nd, you'll be glad to know that this finale to the sage of Jig Dragonslayer is a winner.

Third and final entry in the "Jig the Goblin" light fantasy series in which Jig heads off to war. Goblins, hobgoblins, humans, a tangled mix of political and personal grievances to be sorted out and settled, a cranky old female chief for Jig to please, not to mention trying to figure out the wishes and motives of his God, Tymalous Shadowstar.

Poor Jig! All he wants to do is retire peacefully to his corner of the mountain with Smudge, his fire spider, with enough to eat and an extra loincloth or two. Instead he's thrust into the midst of war with his busted-up knife, dwindling healing powers and a rag-tag group of what passes for loyal followers, which isn't saying much among the goblins. And there he goes, headed towards the ultimate battle in which the goblins attempt to secure their little corner of the mountain.

I really enjoyed this series; it's not your typical fantasy at all, more humorous and lighter in tone, yet with some underlying deeper message, too. I'll miss Jig now that his adventures appear to be done, but will definitely be looking for more from this author.

The goblin lair is once again under attack by the humans, and when they gain control of the lair they take out the strongest goblins, including the famous Jig the Dragonslayer. It seems that there is a war going on, pitting humans against an army of monsters - orcs, goblins and kobolds. However, Jig quickly discovers that he and his tribe have no friends on either side. Jig is going to have to use all of his brains and luck if he is going to keep himself alive...oh, and save his tribe as well, if at all possible.

I have been a fan of traditional sword and sorcerer, elf and dwarf type fantasy for many years, and I quickly fell in love with Jim Hines' Jig the Goblin stories. The characters are all quite interesting - taking traditional fantasy character-types, and then showing them from a goblin's viewpoint. Also, I must say that I really enjoyed the story; the author did a great job of holding up the suspense, and keeping you glued to the pages waiting to see what happens.

Overall, I found this to be a fun and very interesting book. I liked the story, and really liked the very interesting characters that 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!