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Goblin Wood #2
The Goblin Gate
Jeriah's brother, Tobin, is in terrible danger.
He's willingly crossed over to the Otherworld with a hedgewitchnamed Makenna and her legion of goblins. What Tobin doesn’t know is that the Otherworld is a perilous dimension thatleeches magic from those who have it—and life from those who don’t. In order to save his brother, Jeriah must find a way to open a mystical gate between the worlds.
Searching for the key to rescue Tobin from the clutches of the Otherworld, Jeriah is thrust into a tangled web of politicalintrigue as he uncovers a dangerous secret that could change the fate of an entire kingdom. Now he must get help from the very beings he’s been taught to hate—the mischievous goblins. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking for Tobin...
Hilari Bell’s enthralling fantasy adventure tests the bonds of magic, love, and loyalty in an unforgettable follow-up to The Goblin Wood that will leave readers breathless as they race to find out what high-stakes consequences await its hero.
377 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2010
15 people are currently reading
1132 people want to read
About the author
Hilari Bell
99 books645 followersAs far as writing is concerned, I call myself the poster child for persistence. Songs of Power, the first novel I sold, was the 5th novel I'd written. When it sold I was working on novel #13. The next to sell, Navohar, was #12, and the next, A Matter of Profit, was #9. The Goblin Wood was #6, and the first Sorahb book, Flame (later renamed Farsala: Fall of a Kingdom), will be #15. You get the picture.
My reviews: Mea culpa! I got onto Goodreads years ago, and haven't been reviewing--but I now mean to start! I should add that as writer, I tend to read a bit more critically. Or at least, when I think a book is going off the rails I usually see technical, writer problems with it. In short, any time a book stops working for me, that author becomes an honorary member of my writing critique group--whether they want to or not! So I apologize in advance for any technical critiques my fellow writers may recieve.
Biography: My personal life? I was born in Denver in 1958—you can do the math. I'm single and live with my mother, brother and sister-in-law. I used to be a part time reference librarian for a mid-sized public library, but in the beginning of ’05 I achieved a writer’s dream and quit the day job. Librarian turned writer is a very schizophrenic state—when I try to urge people to buy my books, I have to beat down a lifetime of professional reflexes demanding that I tell them to check them out at the library instead.
I enjoy board gaming and fantasy gaming, both table top and live. But my favorite thing to do is the decadent version of camping my mom and I practice. We have a pop-up trailer with a fridge, a sink, a stove and (if electrical hookups are available) a space heater, heating pads and a toaster. Our motto is "No unnecessary work." We don't cook, we don't wash dishes, we don't...you name it. What we do is spend all day, every day, reading and hiking and reading some more. Camping is the only time I can get in enough reading. Well, I take that back—when it comes to reading, there's no such thing as enough.
My reviews: Mea culpa! I got onto Goodreads years ago, and haven't been reviewing--but I now mean to start! I should add that as writer, I tend to read a bit more critically. Or at least, when I think a book is going off the rails I usually see technical, writer problems with it. In short, any time a book stops working for me, that author becomes an honorary member of my writing critique group--whether they want to or not! So I apologize in advance for any technical critiques my fellow writers may recieve.
Biography: My personal life? I was born in Denver in 1958—you can do the math. I'm single and live with my mother, brother and sister-in-law. I used to be a part time reference librarian for a mid-sized public library, but in the beginning of ’05 I achieved a writer’s dream and quit the day job. Librarian turned writer is a very schizophrenic state—when I try to urge people to buy my books, I have to beat down a lifetime of professional reflexes demanding that I tell them to check them out at the library instead.
I enjoy board gaming and fantasy gaming, both table top and live. But my favorite thing to do is the decadent version of camping my mom and I practice. We have a pop-up trailer with a fridge, a sink, a stove and (if electrical hookups are available) a space heater, heating pads and a toaster. Our motto is "No unnecessary work." We don't cook, we don't wash dishes, we don't...you name it. What we do is spend all day, every day, reading and hiking and reading some more. Camping is the only time I can get in enough reading. Well, I take that back—when it comes to reading, there's no such thing as enough.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
August 20, 2011
Story time!
Several years ago I used to be in a magical place called Middle School. It sucked. Aside from the book fair that came twice a year. I'd load up my pockets with money, skip lunch to peruse the shelves, and come home loaded with books. One of these books, oh so many years ago, was the first book in this series The Goblin Wood.
I read the book quickly and rather enjoyed it, it having satisfied my pre-teen self, and concluded it wasn't all that bad of a story. It wasn't a favorite, but it wasn't some of the crap I was reading back then.
Year and years later I found there was a second book. Years later, and it's not like I've been missing it for this long either. Hilari Bell was a little late in the game as far as getting a sequel out. How many readers from her original book did she snag back? How many forgot about it completely? I don't know why it took her so long to write the next book, but somehow, finally, I found out about it and ordered it from the library.
Now on to the book...
Most of the book felt like a lead up to... something. Something that never happened. The first 150 pages were just sort of slow and I couldn't tell if something was supposed to be happening or what I was waiting for. I confess not remembering everything from the book before but I didn't really need to, this was almost a separate story, but not in a bad way. Nevertheless it was a struggle to get started, but once I started to come upon some plot twists, well, I wasn't feeling that bad after all.
Jeriah Rovan's brother is in the 'Otherworld.' This must be something of an alternative reality, but everyone but his brother, and the hedgewitch and goblins he went with, seems to know and understand that this Otherworld drains the life from all those who enter it. Jeriah is in a fight against time to get the spell notes and the power from a sort of... ruthless creep who is as crafty as he is annoying.
To do this, Jeriah reluctantly enlists the help of goblins...
Let's talk about those little creeps for a second. So this series it totally about the goblins. (Hint, look at the title...) But I can't stand them. They're sort of rude, and do nothing for free in fear of being indebted to another. So poor Jeriah, with a person's life at stake, mind you, has to g out of his way to pay the little vermin to help him. They don't do favors apparently? They're gruff, annoying, demanding, and they just drive me insane. Even when things seem square, payments have been deliver, and everything is supposed to be fair and peachy, well they're just jerks still.
And what do they look like...? I have no idea. Let me tell you, the goblins from Harry Potter were little creeps too, and didn't exactly have a face to learn to love...
Or let's not forget the ones from Lord of the Rings, them's not adorable freaks either...
[image error]
So needless to say I would have preferred the book if she'd worked around the need to include the little things in it all the time. They were like a headache, always there, sometimes dull, sometimes a sharp pain that made me want to force the book away and sleep.
However, the book was rather enjoyably. Most of the characters were unique and not the cliché type that we all read in most books. The plot, once it picked up, was very intriguing, and the main character, Jeriah, experience obstacles and human error within himself, so you weren't reading a book about Mr. Unstoppable.
The was sort of a climax to the book, although not what I was expecting. I suppose it was a bit of a refreshment, but that depends on what you enjoy reading. It was more of a battle of wits, a master plan, and a conclusion that shed no blood. The ending was left open for the next book in the series, which I'm really looking forward to reading.
Conclusion? Pick this book up for a light weekend read, and to experience some good ol' high-fantasy. You might not be able to expect the world from this book, but I know a lot of other shit I could have read instead, and I'm glad this wasn't part of it.
Several years ago I used to be in a magical place called Middle School. It sucked. Aside from the book fair that came twice a year. I'd load up my pockets with money, skip lunch to peruse the shelves, and come home loaded with books. One of these books, oh so many years ago, was the first book in this series The Goblin Wood.
I read the book quickly and rather enjoyed it, it having satisfied my pre-teen self, and concluded it wasn't all that bad of a story. It wasn't a favorite, but it wasn't some of the crap I was reading back then.
Year and years later I found there was a second book. Years later, and it's not like I've been missing it for this long either. Hilari Bell was a little late in the game as far as getting a sequel out. How many readers from her original book did she snag back? How many forgot about it completely? I don't know why it took her so long to write the next book, but somehow, finally, I found out about it and ordered it from the library.
Now on to the book...
Most of the book felt like a lead up to... something. Something that never happened. The first 150 pages were just sort of slow and I couldn't tell if something was supposed to be happening or what I was waiting for. I confess not remembering everything from the book before but I didn't really need to, this was almost a separate story, but not in a bad way. Nevertheless it was a struggle to get started, but once I started to come upon some plot twists, well, I wasn't feeling that bad after all.
Jeriah Rovan's brother is in the 'Otherworld.' This must be something of an alternative reality, but everyone but his brother, and the hedgewitch and goblins he went with, seems to know and understand that this Otherworld drains the life from all those who enter it. Jeriah is in a fight against time to get the spell notes and the power from a sort of... ruthless creep who is as crafty as he is annoying.
To do this, Jeriah reluctantly enlists the help of goblins...
Let's talk about those little creeps for a second. So this series it totally about the goblins. (Hint, look at the title...) But I can't stand them. They're sort of rude, and do nothing for free in fear of being indebted to another. So poor Jeriah, with a person's life at stake, mind you, has to g out of his way to pay the little vermin to help him. They don't do favors apparently? They're gruff, annoying, demanding, and they just drive me insane. Even when things seem square, payments have been deliver, and everything is supposed to be fair and peachy, well they're just jerks still.
And what do they look like...? I have no idea. Let me tell you, the goblins from Harry Potter were little creeps too, and didn't exactly have a face to learn to love...
Or let's not forget the ones from Lord of the Rings, them's not adorable freaks either...
[image error]
So needless to say I would have preferred the book if she'd worked around the need to include the little things in it all the time. They were like a headache, always there, sometimes dull, sometimes a sharp pain that made me want to force the book away and sleep.
However, the book was rather enjoyably. Most of the characters were unique and not the cliché type that we all read in most books. The plot, once it picked up, was very intriguing, and the main character, Jeriah, experience obstacles and human error within himself, so you weren't reading a book about Mr. Unstoppable.
The was sort of a climax to the book, although not what I was expecting. I suppose it was a bit of a refreshment, but that depends on what you enjoy reading. It was more of a battle of wits, a master plan, and a conclusion that shed no blood. The ending was left open for the next book in the series, which I'm really looking forward to reading.
Conclusion? Pick this book up for a light weekend read, and to experience some good ol' high-fantasy. You might not be able to expect the world from this book, but I know a lot of other shit I could have read instead, and I'm glad this wasn't part of it.
Read
December 11, 2024I only read the Mackenna chapters so I'm not sure how to rate it.
January 12, 2018
The distinction between YA and adult fantasy fiction is blurry. This one is considered Young Adult, which I certainly am not, but I found it thoroughly enjoyable. It's a portal story (one where people go from one world, usually ours, to another through some kind of gateway), but in this case, the portal connects two different fantasy worlds. In the first, there is an imminent threat from cannibalistic barbarians, an inquisition against unofficial users of magic, and a corrupt political system. The second world, first seen as a refuge, seems likely to kill you slowly and in mysterious ways. The characters are likeable, the world-building is good, the pacing keeps the story moving nicely, and the goblins step in at just the right moments to provide comic relief. Unlike a great deal of adult fiction, this one isn't overly simple or strewn with sex, violence, or vulgar language to appeal to juvenile tastes. It's just a good story...for all ages.
March 13, 2012
The second book in the Goblin Wood trilogy. There's less innocence than the first book, and it moves a little slow, but as with all of Bell's books I've read, there are some deep themes and great character development. I'm looking forward to cracking open Book 3.
July 8, 2015
Loved book 2!
July 18, 2019
**spoiler alert**
First off, I had read the first book quite a while back Goblin Wood and have reread it up to three times and once again, I was captivated by it. When it ended, I was left wanting for more, this couldn't be how it ended? Just recently I found out that this was out Goblin Gate, as well as a third book Goblin War, and I jumped at the chance to read it!:
1. It was hard to get into the story because I wanted to see more about what happened with Tobin and Makenna. This story was mainly told by what's happening around Jeriah, Tobin's younger brother. He was mentioned in the first book as part of the conspiracy happening. He was also the reason that Tobin was sent to look for the "sorceress" (Makenna). Later on in the first book, he became Master Lazur's assistant. I didn't really pay much attention to him, thinking he was only a minor character but here he was the protagonist.
While entertaining to read about his thoughts, like the comparisons he makes about being a hero and not being a hero, I wasn't too delighted in the change of narrator. Still, I kept going and I started to like him, the devotion he had for saving his brother. The weariness towards the goblins and then the softening with the goblins; he began to trust them and only them. He clearly states this at the end when he says he doesn't trust Makenna.
2. Time seemed to fly by so quickly within the few pages. I was always wondering, how are they going to fit everything without rushing the ending? True there was a third book, but I felt that it might be cut off too short. (My Nook says 249 pages, 239 of them actual story). There were parts where it summarizes what he did during the month, then weeks flew by, but we still saw what was important and needed to be put out in the open. We learned a lot about Master Lazur, who I disliked and still do. My views on him changed from beginning to end, and while I still dislike him I can't help but understand why he did the things he did. It makes me curious to know what Jeriah will find out about the barbarians, who seem quite interesting!
3. The plot! It started off slow and I figured that the only problem would be opening a gate and getting Tobin but I was wrong! I figured Master Lazur was corrupt but this! I guess I didn't expect him to drug the leader guy so that he was pretty much just a puppet. I liked the darkness of it and how in the end Jeriah even felt that it was understandable. Using Nevin the way he did was rather interesting. Because of the fast-pace of the book, I didn't think the end of the whole secrecy would be so nerve wracking. It's because of this whole thing he unraveled (and in a way that would keep his allies and he away from suspicion) that really made me feel admiration for him! I'm still conflicted about what I want to see in the next book.
4. New/Old Characters: While interesting, I still prefer the old characters (Makenna, Tobin, Cogswhallop). The bookerie woman, like she was referred to at the end was quite the fiery character and I wouldn't mind seeing much more of her later. There seemed to be some romance with Jeriah but it felt more one-sided (the way he admired her, both in looks and smarts). I liked that she was also referred as a hero because of the tragedy she went through and I can't help but agree that she was quite the courageous girl. She crawled back to her home after having been dragged by her horse, by the leg leaving it twisted in three different ways! I would have given up a long time before!
Nevin was also an interesting character but I didn't necessarily like him. I liked the devotion he had for the ruler guy (I'm blanking!) and how he was easily manipulated (because it got Jeriah what he needed to open the gate). I'm not sure about what I expect to see concerning him. I didn't particularly feel anything towards him. He was just...there.
Makenna/Tobin: There were brief interludes that pretty much told us all we needed to know about the Otherworld. It also kept us posted on what was happening to our favorite characters! I feel like their personalities are slipping, especially Makenna's. I can feel her becoming more human, her tactics slipping, emotions rising. I miss the old Makenna who was witty and despised all humans for what they did to her mother and the goblins. Tobin felt off as well, like he wasn't really there. I guess it was a way to show how the Otherworld was pretty much killing them. I hope to see their clashing and witty personalities once more in the next book.
5. Questions: The next book is Goblin War and I can't help but wonder if the Goblins are going to battle the barbarians! I feel that now the main characters might be Tobin, Jeriah, and Makenna, along with Cogswhallop. I feel like bookerie girl might be the enemy and I keep wondering about it all! Can't wait to read the next book!
Overall, I rated this book a 4/5 because I don't think it was excellent, I pretty much preferred the 1st. but it was close
First off, I had read the first book quite a while back Goblin Wood and have reread it up to three times and once again, I was captivated by it. When it ended, I was left wanting for more, this couldn't be how it ended? Just recently I found out that this was out Goblin Gate, as well as a third book Goblin War, and I jumped at the chance to read it!:
1. It was hard to get into the story because I wanted to see more about what happened with Tobin and Makenna. This story was mainly told by what's happening around Jeriah, Tobin's younger brother. He was mentioned in the first book as part of the conspiracy happening. He was also the reason that Tobin was sent to look for the "sorceress" (Makenna). Later on in the first book, he became Master Lazur's assistant. I didn't really pay much attention to him, thinking he was only a minor character but here he was the protagonist.
While entertaining to read about his thoughts, like the comparisons he makes about being a hero and not being a hero, I wasn't too delighted in the change of narrator. Still, I kept going and I started to like him, the devotion he had for saving his brother. The weariness towards the goblins and then the softening with the goblins; he began to trust them and only them. He clearly states this at the end when he says he doesn't trust Makenna.
2. Time seemed to fly by so quickly within the few pages. I was always wondering, how are they going to fit everything without rushing the ending? True there was a third book, but I felt that it might be cut off too short. (My Nook says 249 pages, 239 of them actual story). There were parts where it summarizes what he did during the month, then weeks flew by, but we still saw what was important and needed to be put out in the open. We learned a lot about Master Lazur, who I disliked and still do. My views on him changed from beginning to end, and while I still dislike him I can't help but understand why he did the things he did. It makes me curious to know what Jeriah will find out about the barbarians, who seem quite interesting!
3. The plot! It started off slow and I figured that the only problem would be opening a gate and getting Tobin but I was wrong! I figured Master Lazur was corrupt but this! I guess I didn't expect him to drug the leader guy so that he was pretty much just a puppet. I liked the darkness of it and how in the end Jeriah even felt that it was understandable. Using Nevin the way he did was rather interesting. Because of the fast-pace of the book, I didn't think the end of the whole secrecy would be so nerve wracking. It's because of this whole thing he unraveled (and in a way that would keep his allies and he away from suspicion) that really made me feel admiration for him! I'm still conflicted about what I want to see in the next book.
4. New/Old Characters: While interesting, I still prefer the old characters (Makenna, Tobin, Cogswhallop). The bookerie woman, like she was referred to at the end was quite the fiery character and I wouldn't mind seeing much more of her later. There seemed to be some romance with Jeriah but it felt more one-sided (the way he admired her, both in looks and smarts). I liked that she was also referred as a hero because of the tragedy she went through and I can't help but agree that she was quite the courageous girl. She crawled back to her home after having been dragged by her horse, by the leg leaving it twisted in three different ways! I would have given up a long time before!
Nevin was also an interesting character but I didn't necessarily like him. I liked the devotion he had for the ruler guy (I'm blanking!) and how he was easily manipulated (because it got Jeriah what he needed to open the gate). I'm not sure about what I expect to see concerning him. I didn't particularly feel anything towards him. He was just...there.
Makenna/Tobin: There were brief interludes that pretty much told us all we needed to know about the Otherworld. It also kept us posted on what was happening to our favorite characters! I feel like their personalities are slipping, especially Makenna's. I can feel her becoming more human, her tactics slipping, emotions rising. I miss the old Makenna who was witty and despised all humans for what they did to her mother and the goblins. Tobin felt off as well, like he wasn't really there. I guess it was a way to show how the Otherworld was pretty much killing them. I hope to see their clashing and witty personalities once more in the next book.
5. Questions: The next book is Goblin War and I can't help but wonder if the Goblins are going to battle the barbarians! I feel that now the main characters might be Tobin, Jeriah, and Makenna, along with Cogswhallop. I feel like bookerie girl might be the enemy and I keep wondering about it all! Can't wait to read the next book!
Overall, I rated this book a 4/5 because I don't think it was excellent, I pretty much preferred the 1st. but it was close
June 8, 2020
I finally finished my first book of Summer 2020! For some reason, I just haven't hit my reading groove yet, so it took me longer than it should have (and longer than this book deserved) to finish reading this one.
Though I really don't care for the cover of this paperback edition, I still was wrapped up in this story. While summertime plans kept distracting me from this book, I found it very easy to sink into the world of this story whenever I did sit down to read.
Jeriah is a compelling character, good at heart but with lots of grey areas to explore. As usual, I couldn't help but root for Makenna and Tobin and their troop in the other world. And the goblins in any scene. I just love those characters!
This book is also excellently plotted! Even though I had read this years ago, I couldn't remember how all the events were resolved. This made it feel like I was reading this book for the first time.
A bit of a plot snapshot: Makenna and Tobin are in the Otherworld with a troop of goblins. But the Otherworld isn't a welcoming place, and it is slowly draining the magic and the life force from them all. Tobin, since he has no magic, is the first to fall deathly ill, and they all come to realize that they have to get out of the Otherworld before it is too late. Meanwhile, Jeriah knows this is happening to Tobin, so he is racing against time to find the spell notes that can help get his brother out of the Otherworld. But the notes are well-hidden, and he ends up making deals, taking risks, and bargaining with promises even as he uncovers a dark secret that affects the whole of the realm and disrupts highly influential political leaders. Anyway, all these plot points combine brilliantly to craft a book that feels like it races to a conclusion.
I did feel compelled to take off a star from my rating, though. There are some annoying minor typing mistakes throughout the book--things I'd have thought a publisher/editor would catch. There are places where periods and commas are right next to each other (like this ,.), some missing quotation marks, and a chapter labeled "Makenna" that is clearly from Tobin's point of view.
But, mistakes aside, I do really love this tale. The story is original and continues seamlessly from where The Goblin Wood left off. I hope my rereading of the third book is similarly enchanting!
Though I really don't care for the cover of this paperback edition, I still was wrapped up in this story. While summertime plans kept distracting me from this book, I found it very easy to sink into the world of this story whenever I did sit down to read.
Jeriah is a compelling character, good at heart but with lots of grey areas to explore. As usual, I couldn't help but root for Makenna and Tobin and their troop in the other world. And the goblins in any scene. I just love those characters!
This book is also excellently plotted! Even though I had read this years ago, I couldn't remember how all the events were resolved. This made it feel like I was reading this book for the first time.
A bit of a plot snapshot: Makenna and Tobin are in the Otherworld with a troop of goblins. But the Otherworld isn't a welcoming place, and it is slowly draining the magic and the life force from them all. Tobin, since he has no magic, is the first to fall deathly ill, and they all come to realize that they have to get out of the Otherworld before it is too late. Meanwhile, Jeriah knows this is happening to Tobin, so he is racing against time to find the spell notes that can help get his brother out of the Otherworld. But the notes are well-hidden, and he ends up making deals, taking risks, and bargaining with promises even as he uncovers a dark secret that affects the whole of the realm and disrupts highly influential political leaders. Anyway, all these plot points combine brilliantly to craft a book that feels like it races to a conclusion.
I did feel compelled to take off a star from my rating, though. There are some annoying minor typing mistakes throughout the book--things I'd have thought a publisher/editor would catch. There are places where periods and commas are right next to each other (like this ,.), some missing quotation marks, and a chapter labeled "Makenna" that is clearly from Tobin's point of view.
But, mistakes aside, I do really love this tale. The story is original and continues seamlessly from where The Goblin Wood left off. I hope my rereading of the third book is similarly enchanting!
February 10, 2023
The second part of this series was a bit less to my liking than the first part. First, the main character is less likeable than the two main characters of the first volume. And second, the story is based on the last plot twist of the first book (in the last 10 pages or so). And I found that twist less convincing than the rest of the novel.
But it's still a pleasant read, and intense at times. The main character is not so likeable in the beginning but he ends up being better than he started, and it's good for a character to evolve with the story. Another good point: the author knows how to put her characters under extreme stress and make them find a solution that's not always the one you'd expect. There is no real bad guy either, only driven people with conflicting agendas, which is good as well (and all too uncommon in fantasy litterature). The ending, where every plot unravels in one big finish is well done. So, it's still a good book and I'm still going to read the 3rd volume very soon.
But it's still a pleasant read, and intense at times. The main character is not so likeable in the beginning but he ends up being better than he started, and it's good for a character to evolve with the story. Another good point: the author knows how to put her characters under extreme stress and make them find a solution that's not always the one you'd expect. There is no real bad guy either, only driven people with conflicting agendas, which is good as well (and all too uncommon in fantasy litterature). The ending, where every plot unravels in one big finish is well done. So, it's still a good book and I'm still going to read the 3rd volume very soon.
August 25, 2025
Not bad, but not great either. This book had much fewer fantasy elements than the first. Actually, almost none besides the goblins and the boggles, and no magic at all. The fact that most of it takes place in a city makes it a little stale as a fantasy book. The characters are a little flat, and the internal questioning is a bit repetitive at times. Similar to book 1, there is not much of a climax, leaving the feeling that instead of being a stand-alone tale, this is just the second third of a single story. The end really feels like the end of a chapter rather than the end of a book. Overall, I enjoyed reading it, and I look forward to book 3, but, again, it does not feel entirely worthy of being its own book.
June 14, 2017
This is a good book, on its own merits. It picks up right after The Goblin Wood lets off, and focuses primarily on the ones left behind. Features the return of some cool minor characters, some excellent (and hard-driven) bargains, and good schemes.
It is a heavy shift of focus from "The Goblin Wood," and is much more interested in the threats to the humans in the realm, which were just a distant ethical argument in the first book.
There are interludes with Tobin and Makenna sprinkled throughout, but -- mostly I can't wait to read the third book, in hopes that it's a more even balance of all the characters I've come to be invested in.
It is a heavy shift of focus from "The Goblin Wood," and is much more interested in the threats to the humans in the realm, which were just a distant ethical argument in the first book.
There are interludes with Tobin and Makenna sprinkled throughout, but -- mostly I can't wait to read the third book, in hopes that it's a more even balance of all the characters I've come to be invested in.
April 2, 2024
Maybe this is just not a book for me. I found it quite disappointing. This book was all about Jeriah which was alright but my first allure to this book was Makenna being the led character. I kept getting frustrated with him forgetting he’s only 15. This book leans heavily on politics and government which is interesting for a fantasy book but it was still lacking in something. I wanted more. Since I have committed, I’ll be finishing the trilogy but my expectations are low after this book.
June 2, 2020
It is rare that I enjoy the second book in a series more than the first. This is a rare gem. The storyline is far more complex than the reader initially realizes, and the process of continual discovery is very well written. As someone who almost always guesses “who done it” too early and spoils books for myself, this was a fun challenge. Looking forward to the third book in the series.
February 13, 2022
The beginning and end are interesting, but the middle lags a bit. I do plan to read the third one because the ending does make you want more.
September 14, 2022
This one & #3 both seemed way more YA than the first for some reason.
Still a cute series. I do like a goblin tale.
Still a cute series. I do like a goblin tale.
October 26, 2022
Jeriah is pretty insufferable, and his pov dominates the book, with only bit by characters I enjoy better.
January 30, 2025
This was a great sequel! I love that it picks up where we were left, the different point of views, the ever moving storyline, and the ending that leaves you ready for the third book.
December 3, 2024
Decent sequel to a book I loved as a kid. Was slightly disappointed that it mainly focused on Jeriah instead of Tobin and Makenna. Would have liked more of those two in the other world but whatever I think the third book will have more balance between the three of them.
June 20, 2019
The second installment seemed a lot more mid grade than young adult and followed the first book plot-wise very closely.
February 18, 2025
Should have stopped at book 1.
July 28, 2015
Review taken from my blog, The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia.
First Sentence:
"It will be dawn soon," Jeriah told the priest who rode beside him.
After quickly devouring The Goblin Wood I had to read The Goblin Gate, which meant putting off a couple of review books for a day. I know, bad blogger, but I needed to know what would happen next and couldn't imagine waiting to start it.
Did it live up to my expectations, yes. Was it just as good as the first books, yes. Although I did not love it as much as the first book, but it was still really good and definitely worth reading.
The Goblin Gate was an absolute thrill to read, especially as Jeriah was rushing to find out how to save his brother Tobin from the Otherworld. The tension as the time to get the answer and save Tobin became shorter, along Jeriah's attempts too get the one thing that could possibly save his brother made for some of the best reading in The Goblin Gate.
I think I may just be addicted to this series because it is an all-around good book. From the writing, which is fantastic; the characters, which are well rounded and realistically flawed; to the amazing structuring of the plot and how things fall into place and details that didn't make sense earlier on suddenly find clarity.
With the way you are first introduced to Jeriah in The Goblin Wood, him running from a failed attempt to change things, I did not much care for him. So I was quite surprised when The Goblin Gate started and I realized that he would be playing a bigger role in this book versus the previous one. at first I wasn't too happy about the change in narration, but it definitely worked out for the best plus I got a whole new perspective on the story with the change. So all in all, the change of POV is bonus and rounds out the story quite nicely.
What I loved the most in The Goblin Gate was some of the plot twist from the previous book were unraveled and that the one character that I despised because of his ruthlessness suddenly turned into a not so bad guy. By the time the book ended I was seeing certain characters (Jeriah & Lord Lazure) in a very different light and wishing that the book hadn't ended when it did.
I admit I was a smidge disappointed when I realized that Jeriah would be the main protagonist in The Goblin Gate, mainly because I wanted to hear more from Makenna and Tobin. Even so, I found that having Jeriah narrate definitely kept the story moving forward, especially since nothing too important was happening in concerns to Makenna and Tobin with the plot (they were there, just more as filler so you wouldn't forget about them).
Final Verdict: The Goblin Gate was a solid follow up to the delightful The Goblin Wood. Definitely a must read series.
The Goblin Gate earns 4.5 out of 5 pineapples.
First Sentence:
"It will be dawn soon," Jeriah told the priest who rode beside him.
After quickly devouring The Goblin Wood I had to read The Goblin Gate, which meant putting off a couple of review books for a day. I know, bad blogger, but I needed to know what would happen next and couldn't imagine waiting to start it.
Did it live up to my expectations, yes. Was it just as good as the first books, yes. Although I did not love it as much as the first book, but it was still really good and definitely worth reading.
The Goblin Gate was an absolute thrill to read, especially as Jeriah was rushing to find out how to save his brother Tobin from the Otherworld. The tension as the time to get the answer and save Tobin became shorter, along Jeriah's attempts too get the one thing that could possibly save his brother made for some of the best reading in The Goblin Gate.
I think I may just be addicted to this series because it is an all-around good book. From the writing, which is fantastic; the characters, which are well rounded and realistically flawed; to the amazing structuring of the plot and how things fall into place and details that didn't make sense earlier on suddenly find clarity.
With the way you are first introduced to Jeriah in The Goblin Wood, him running from a failed attempt to change things, I did not much care for him. So I was quite surprised when The Goblin Gate started and I realized that he would be playing a bigger role in this book versus the previous one. at first I wasn't too happy about the change in narration, but it definitely worked out for the best plus I got a whole new perspective on the story with the change. So all in all, the change of POV is bonus and rounds out the story quite nicely.
What I loved the most in The Goblin Gate was some of the plot twist from the previous book were unraveled and that the one character that I despised because of his ruthlessness suddenly turned into a not so bad guy. By the time the book ended I was seeing certain characters (Jeriah & Lord Lazure) in a very different light and wishing that the book hadn't ended when it did.
I admit I was a smidge disappointed when I realized that Jeriah would be the main protagonist in The Goblin Gate, mainly because I wanted to hear more from Makenna and Tobin. Even so, I found that having Jeriah narrate definitely kept the story moving forward, especially since nothing too important was happening in concerns to Makenna and Tobin with the plot (they were there, just more as filler so you wouldn't forget about them).
Final Verdict: The Goblin Gate was a solid follow up to the delightful The Goblin Wood. Definitely a must read series.
The Goblin Gate earns 4.5 out of 5 pineapples.
September 9, 2011
My summary:
Jeriah started this terrible mess that led to his brother going to the Otherworld with the hedgewitch, Makenna. He has to fix it. But fixing it is impossible. No one will help him. The Priest who could open the gate is more interesting in relocating the realm and doesn’t care that Jeriah bother Tobin will die in the Otherworld. He watches Jeriah and prevents his every effort to help his brother. Jeriah’s father believes him useless and considers Tobins death to be inevitable. Jeriah’s mother is scheming but it’s no good. The goblins will only help for trades that Jeriah doesn’t have the power to make. At every turn, time is running out. The Otherworld drains the magic for beings and slowly kills those without magic. There seems to be no help for Jeriah or hope for Tobin. Will Tobin die? Is the relocation necessary? Who is to be trusted in this twisted mess?
My thoughts:
4 stars- a great read
The first book in this series, The Goblin Wood, created a great world for this book to feed from. I love the simplicity of this fantasy. There are not so many creatures to keep track of or keep straight. It’s a perfect mix of creatures and magic in an old world setting. The world building never overpowers the telling of the story. I loved that about the first book and this one is the same. Great world!
The characters are the same with a few additions but the focus is different. In book one, we learned about Makenna and Tobin. Jeriah was a secondary character. In this book, Jeriah takes center stage. We still get bits of Makenna and Tobin, just enough to keep us interested in them. I enjoyed getting to know Jeriah. He is not quite what I expected and I loved how he grew throughout the book. He is a second son in a time when first sons are the important ones. He has only ever wanted to be the hero, the honored knight. I love that the goblins call him hero, though he certainly doesn’t feel like one. The mistakes he made in book one are so far behind him. I was proud of him.
As for the plot, well it was a waiting game. Every effort was thwarted but Jeriah kept going. Because it was a waiting game, it was action packed with effort after effort creating mini plots. I read it in about a day, maybe 6 hours total of reading time. I was eager to keep reading and struggled to put it down. As for the ending, I’m so grateful that Harper Teen has sent me the ARC of The Goblin War. It just moved up to next in line. If you enjoy fantasy, this is great read.
The paperback edition of The Goblin Gate releases September 13th just in time to pick it up before the third book releases in October. Check out the links below to find it.
Jeriah started this terrible mess that led to his brother going to the Otherworld with the hedgewitch, Makenna. He has to fix it. But fixing it is impossible. No one will help him. The Priest who could open the gate is more interesting in relocating the realm and doesn’t care that Jeriah bother Tobin will die in the Otherworld. He watches Jeriah and prevents his every effort to help his brother. Jeriah’s father believes him useless and considers Tobins death to be inevitable. Jeriah’s mother is scheming but it’s no good. The goblins will only help for trades that Jeriah doesn’t have the power to make. At every turn, time is running out. The Otherworld drains the magic for beings and slowly kills those without magic. There seems to be no help for Jeriah or hope for Tobin. Will Tobin die? Is the relocation necessary? Who is to be trusted in this twisted mess?
My thoughts:
4 stars- a great read
The first book in this series, The Goblin Wood, created a great world for this book to feed from. I love the simplicity of this fantasy. There are not so many creatures to keep track of or keep straight. It’s a perfect mix of creatures and magic in an old world setting. The world building never overpowers the telling of the story. I loved that about the first book and this one is the same. Great world!
The characters are the same with a few additions but the focus is different. In book one, we learned about Makenna and Tobin. Jeriah was a secondary character. In this book, Jeriah takes center stage. We still get bits of Makenna and Tobin, just enough to keep us interested in them. I enjoyed getting to know Jeriah. He is not quite what I expected and I loved how he grew throughout the book. He is a second son in a time when first sons are the important ones. He has only ever wanted to be the hero, the honored knight. I love that the goblins call him hero, though he certainly doesn’t feel like one. The mistakes he made in book one are so far behind him. I was proud of him.
As for the plot, well it was a waiting game. Every effort was thwarted but Jeriah kept going. Because it was a waiting game, it was action packed with effort after effort creating mini plots. I read it in about a day, maybe 6 hours total of reading time. I was eager to keep reading and struggled to put it down. As for the ending, I’m so grateful that Harper Teen has sent me the ARC of The Goblin War. It just moved up to next in line. If you enjoy fantasy, this is great read.
The paperback edition of The Goblin Gate releases September 13th just in time to pick it up before the third book releases in October. Check out the links below to find it.
February 27, 2013
The sorceress, along with her goblins, have vanished into the Otherworld. The one thing Jeriah wasn’t expecting was for his brother, Tobin, to follow after them. Tobin is hailed a hero, sacrificing his life for the cause. And, as Jeriah learns, sacrificing his life is right, for the Otherworld drains all magic from those who venture there, and for those without magic, such as Tobin, it slowly kills them. But as much as Jeriah wants to rescue his brother, there is nothing anyone is willing to do, not with the barbarians gaining footholds in the south. All Jeriah can do is be drawn into the political web of the Realm, in order to search for the key to freeing his brother. But politics are full of dangerous secrets, including ones with the power to change the fate of the kingdom, if they were brought to light; and the only allies he has are ones found in the most unlikely of places. But with each passing day, Tobin grows closer and closer to his death.
When I glanced at the publication dates of this book and the first, this book came out seven years after the first, and you can tell. I did enjoy the first book, but this one… I devoured. It can be a little slow-moving at times, but then it would pick back up again. Though, I think part of the reason I read it so quickly was because I thought the end of this book was going to be before the end, and that the end would be dealing with something else. Though, it makes sense why the end was what it was, as it was a large part of the reason I had to keep turning the page.
I enjoyed watching Jeriah grow, and he is easily my favorite out of the three of them—Makenna, Tobin, and him. I felt as if he was a very insightful character, and he could understand why the other character’s did what they did, and he could see the paths he was traveling on, but he did all of that without sounding preachy and without it breaking the fourth wall, as he only knew what he knew, and not what he couldn’t know.
There were some things in this book I saw coming before they happened, but it was more of an ‘please don’t happen!’ than it was boringly predictable. Though, there was some of that boringness when it switched to Makenna and Tobin, because I knew what was happening to them, and I didn’t feel as if I had to be shown as much as I did of them. Some of them was needed, but I don’t feel like there was enough new stuff happening to justify spending as much time on them as the author did.
Overall, I loved this book. It was better than the first, and Jeriah, I felt, was more interesting than either Makenna or Tobin. I will be picking up the third book as soon as possible.
When I glanced at the publication dates of this book and the first, this book came out seven years after the first, and you can tell. I did enjoy the first book, but this one… I devoured. It can be a little slow-moving at times, but then it would pick back up again. Though, I think part of the reason I read it so quickly was because I thought the end of this book was going to be before the end, and that the end would be dealing with something else. Though, it makes sense why the end was what it was, as it was a large part of the reason I had to keep turning the page.
I enjoyed watching Jeriah grow, and he is easily my favorite out of the three of them—Makenna, Tobin, and him. I felt as if he was a very insightful character, and he could understand why the other character’s did what they did, and he could see the paths he was traveling on, but he did all of that without sounding preachy and without it breaking the fourth wall, as he only knew what he knew, and not what he couldn’t know.
There were some things in this book I saw coming before they happened, but it was more of an ‘please don’t happen!’ than it was boringly predictable. Though, there was some of that boringness when it switched to Makenna and Tobin, because I knew what was happening to them, and I didn’t feel as if I had to be shown as much as I did of them. Some of them was needed, but I don’t feel like there was enough new stuff happening to justify spending as much time on them as the author did.
Overall, I loved this book. It was better than the first, and Jeriah, I felt, was more interesting than either Makenna or Tobin. I will be picking up the third book as soon as possible.
March 27, 2012
So, I will start off with the negatives here. I think this is obviously aimed at a younger audience, which isn’t necessarily a negative, but it is something I noticed. It is fairly basic prose, which can sometimes get a little tiring. There were also a lot of exclamation marks, and that often made it seem more juvenile. They weren’t really necessary.
However, I still really enjoyed this. Its just a fun story. There’s something about this that just caught my attention, and I really appreciate the way the story is developing. I did miss Mckenna and Tobin, because I didn’t get to see them as much in this installment. However, as a trade-off, I got to see more of Jeriah. I think Bell did a good job of clearly showing how he was different than his brother. I think he struggled with his actions, and how they affected his family. He was frustrated by what his mother did, and determined to make it right. That came through so clearly here. He too, went through the same realization process that Tobin did. He realized the church lied to him, and that the goblins were these intelligent and crafty creatures.
The goblins are perhaps my favorite part of this tale, which is as it should be. They’re so clearly characterized, and I think Bell does a good job of making their system clear, and making them likable while showing why they act the way they do. I was happy to see that Cogswhallop returned, and that he was as cranky as ever.
I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one. These are probably not the best books I have ever read, both in writing style and plot, but they are just so entertaining. They’re perfect for early spring days with lemonade when you want to sit outside in a hammock and enjoy the lovely weather.
However, I still really enjoyed this. Its just a fun story. There’s something about this that just caught my attention, and I really appreciate the way the story is developing. I did miss Mckenna and Tobin, because I didn’t get to see them as much in this installment. However, as a trade-off, I got to see more of Jeriah. I think Bell did a good job of clearly showing how he was different than his brother. I think he struggled with his actions, and how they affected his family. He was frustrated by what his mother did, and determined to make it right. That came through so clearly here. He too, went through the same realization process that Tobin did. He realized the church lied to him, and that the goblins were these intelligent and crafty creatures.
The goblins are perhaps my favorite part of this tale, which is as it should be. They’re so clearly characterized, and I think Bell does a good job of making their system clear, and making them likable while showing why they act the way they do. I was happy to see that Cogswhallop returned, and that he was as cranky as ever.
I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one. These are probably not the best books I have ever read, both in writing style and plot, but they are just so entertaining. They’re perfect for early spring days with lemonade when you want to sit outside in a hammock and enjoy the lovely weather.
February 18, 2022
I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the third book in the trilogy. The story and characters were good—and that was part of the problem. The story was split between Makenna, Tobin, Jeriah, and the goblins, which felt like too many characters for such a brief book. I wanted the Otherworld and Makenna and Tobin's experiences fleshed out more; I wanted more political intrigue from Jeriah. The story was good, but it felt like it needed a little bit...more.
April 24, 2015
Compared to the first book in the series, I liked this one much less. In The Goblin Wood, I really enjoyed the development of Makenna as a strong female character along with how Tobin became much more relatable and respectable. I was really looking forward to reading more about these characters and their relationships in The Goblin Gate, but they were relegated to background characters as Jeriah and all the intrigue at the City of Steps took place. While it was interesting to watch the lies get discovered and untangled, it just wasn't the same read as I was expecting. Bell really hyped the the hero / not a hero conflict in Jeriah's mind, but in a rather overhanded way...it seemed to be brought up at almost random times and then be this huge issue, while the rest of the time it wasn't even mentioned. There's also this huge push to get Tobin back from the Otherworld (a challenge that gets presented as the central issue of the book), but then the issue isn't even resolved at the end of the book! Again, it's much more about the politics of the Hierarch and who is really ruling - themes that have great potential but don't ever get as fully explored as they could. What Bell does continue to do well is present characters who are well-balanced...the protagonists have acknowledged faults or weaknesses and the antagonists have respectable characteristics along with their more nefarious endeavors. Overall, a decent middle book for a series, but here's to hope that the third one ties everything back together!
December 10, 2010
I love Hilari Bell, and I loved The Goblin Wood - but this book suffered from middle-book syndrome, in that it felt as though it merely existed to set up the last book in the series. It's an enjoyable read because the plot is well paced and the book is cleanly written, but at the end it felt like a bit of a letdown. I will say, though, that Hilari Bell made me like Jeriah, which I'd never thought could happen.
That's the best part of this book, and it's something that's equally well done in The Goblin Wood: no character is black and white, and the shades of gray blur sometimes. If the third book is stellar (and I think it will be, because Bell has a great track record thus far), I'm sure I'll forgive this book its faults. For now, though, I'm not impressed.
That's the best part of this book, and it's something that's equally well done in The Goblin Wood: no character is black and white, and the shades of gray blur sometimes. If the third book is stellar (and I think it will be, because Bell has a great track record thus far), I'm sure I'll forgive this book its faults. For now, though, I'm not impressed.
December 10, 2011
This book was monotonous and boring a complete let down compared to the first book
. If it weren't for Cogswhallop and Daroo showing up I would have stopped reading. The book was setup with the chapters being about Jeriah trying to find Master Lazur's spell notes on opening the gate to the Otherworld and "Interludes" at the end only a few pages long about Makenna and Tobin in the Otherworld. The Otherworld was so much more interesting, the book should have been more about the Goblins adventures exploring the Otherworld, with the Interludes being about Jeriah's quest to the the spell notes.
. If it weren't for Cogswhallop and Daroo showing up I would have stopped reading. The book was setup with the chapters being about Jeriah trying to find Master Lazur's spell notes on opening the gate to the Otherworld and "Interludes" at the end only a few pages long about Makenna and Tobin in the Otherworld. The Otherworld was so much more interesting, the book should have been more about the Goblins adventures exploring the Otherworld, with the Interludes being about Jeriah's quest to the the spell notes. 
October 11, 2013
I knew I had to read this book after finishing The Goblin Wood, which I read on day 18. I was a bit disappointed that the protagonist of The Goblin Gate was Jeriah. I didn’t really like him in the first book. Though I liked him better in this book, it irritated me that he was always whining about getting his brother back. Whining to people about it isn’t going to convince them to change their minds about helping you. Convince them without whining.
We do get to see more of Makenna and Tobin in the Otherworld, but things are not going well. The Otherworld is slowly killing them. And apparently the Otherworld is somehow tied to the barbarians? I cannot wait to see how that will play out in book three.
Read full review: http://readbookwormread.blogspot.com/...
We do get to see more of Makenna and Tobin in the Otherworld, but things are not going well. The Otherworld is slowly killing them. And apparently the Otherworld is somehow tied to the barbarians? I cannot wait to see how that will play out in book three.
Read full review: http://readbookwormread.blogspot.com/...
July 18, 2010
Sequel to the Goblin Wood, which I read so long ago that I'd forgotten most of it. Jeriah tries to rescue his brother Tobin from the Otherworld (where he escaped to with Makenna the hedgewitch and a bunch of goblins at the end of the previous book). He feels responsible for some family disgrace and is one of the few people that know his brother will die if not brought back quickly. Lots of court politics make this a little confusing, but the goblin characters are great. Not fully resolved - hope I don't have to wait another 5 years for the next one!
January 25, 2011
Definitely not as good as the first book. Actually, the whole premise of this book seems forced - Makenna and Tobin are stuck in a land that's going to kill them, and now Jeriah has to save them, but first he has to contend with the evil Master Lazur. Ok, once you get past the premise, Jeriah's adventures do seem interesting. I think the magic of the first book was in the ending that was resolved, but not quite resolved - this one just ends with an obvious cliff hanger. Ugh, now I have to wait to read a third book!
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