Arc Provided by Central Avenue Publishing through Netgalley

Release Date: October 2nd

Here's my two cents about this book: I normally don't fall for a book that is being hyped; in fact I normally go the other way, because I'm stubborn and I don't like media telling me what I should read.

With this one, I guess that the title, add the cover, plus the fact that this seemed to be a stand alone (AND I DO LOVE STAND ALONE STORIES), made me decide to risk it and request it...
... not a good decision.
Going by the title, and with goblins to the mix, I was hoping for something dark, urban fantasy type.
Which I didn't get, because this is actually a new adult story with _poorly_ developed traces of paranormal.
Unfortunately once again it seems that the new adult genre is synonymous to very basic writing, stupid and underdeveloped characters and a plot that is only there to get the characters together.
Not my thing.
Like I said, the characters are so undeveloped that when the author decides to create two couples and having them perform sexual acts; the thing reads as awkward and uncomfortable as this phrase. They feel as puppets, and maybe that was what the author was reaching for, but she forgot their souls!
In forgetting that, the whole thing reads as an awkward and boring story about four _ really uninspired _ people.

This was a first for me, reading a "New Adult" book. I usually read Young Adult books but thought I would give this a try. The storyline is fun - mixing a fairy tale like plot with current time frame characters. The only thing that would have improved it is developing the sister's characters a bit more so that we care about them and like them. I did like Livy and Kit more than Skye and Grady. Livy is a strong female character which we need more of! Fun book!

ARC provided by publisher and Netgally for free, but this does not influence my review.

I was so excited to start this novel, as it is set in Washington, mostly around Puget Sound. Washington is a state I desperately want to visit someday. I was expecting this to be more fantasy than romance, but it's actually the opposite. The book is inspired by the poem, Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti.

I enjoyed the characters and the world building. The lore around the Goblins and Fae was fleshed out, but I was expecting something more than a romance. This may be a case of reading the book at the wrong time. I have been immersed in quite a few epic YA fantasy stories recently and this one just doesn't measure up to the worlds I have been in. I may attempt to reread this one at a later date and see if a different mind set changes my review.

did not finish the book i thought i was getting a novel about goblins and their antics but the first half of the book dragged and i was appalled by the over descrption of the sex between the sister and the brother of the guy who is the liason between the goblins and the outside world. it was not my kind of book so i hestitant to trash the book it was not my cup of tea.

I was really excited about reading this one the cover is so gorgeous and I was really hoping it was going to be amazing. This one didn't catch me through any of it the book was primarily about an insta-love story with little focus on the Goblins and their story during the first 50%-60%. I don't really have an issue with insta-love but this one wasn't done very well. I really wish that this wouldn't have been a new adult. If they would have taken out the explicit sex scenes that really didn't work out anyway. They could have marketed this one as a teen title and I think with a few other changes it could have been an amazing 5-star story with an engrossing plot and characters.

As for the Goblins of Bellwater they really didn't make much of an appearance. We don't really learn anything about their origins, magic, or anything else. By the time I got through half of the book when the focus changed it was a little too little and a little too late. I wish the author would have had more of a blended focus with the characters and the Goblins.

This one just didn't really work out for me at all.

The Goblins of Bellwater is a mixed bag. I really enjoyed the setting- Bellwater really comes to life and the misty, snowy atmosphere is well conveyed.

I'm not entirely sure what age group this is for. While the story is inventive and fun, (there are not many Urban Fantasy goblin books out there) the writing is a bit simplistic. I'm not very familiar with the New Adult genre, but I don't think that simple writing is a hallmark (of any genre). There was a lot of insta-love and the sex scene were underwhelming. There are a few grammatical errors and a couple awkward turns of phrase which I am hoping will be caught before the book goes to print. The characters were interesting but there wasn't a lot of character development. There was also a whole lot of telling and not showing.

All that is not to say that I didn't enjoy the book. The plot was creative and unlike any book I had read before. It was a quick read and I did finish it, though there were times I wanted to move on to the next book on my to read list.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Ringle does a wonderful job of creating the atmosphere of this story. I was able to perfectly picture the landscape and weather of the Puget Sound area when it was described. I think this adds a lot to the reading experience. The background of the goblin characters and the history of Kit's family was a welcome touch. I think older teen readers would really enjoy this.

The Goblins of Bellwater by Molly Ringle

A fun imaginative tale of Goblins, Fae and Humans. I got a little creepy feeling about the Goblins but I would have liked it a bit more darker. I found the pacing a little slow and would have enjoyed more action. I did like the characters, especially the sisters Skye and Livy. The ending was okay, but without flourish.

I give The Goblins of Bellwater 3 stars for its imaginative tale.
I would recommend this book to Paranormal Fans.

What struck me first about The Goblins of Bellwater was the skill and care Ringle puts into incorporating the elements of the poem - the seductiveness and danger of the Goblins’ world - and modernizing them. The Goblins take the names of the first item they steal. So for many older ones, we have RedRing and Flowerwatch, but for the newly turned ones, we have the names such as iPhone and Slide. Little touches like this just illustrated how much time and effort Ringle put into updating the poem for the modern audiences.

I loved each one of these characters for very different reasons. There was so much complexity and also humanness in them - whether it be their vulnerabilities or their funny actions. The little touches, Skye’s art and Grady’s cooking, became a part of them in a way that was refreshing. I appreciated all the little aspects about their characterization that made them the lively and colorful people they were in the story. And the romance! I loved that aspect, it was just the perfect amount for me.

This is probably more like 2.5 stars but I bumped it up to 3 because it's really partially my fault. I see the words 'goblin market retelling' and apparently my brain shuts down and completely skips the rest of the summary that features the words 'contemporary romance' but hey, what are you gonna do. I liked the parts of the book that dealt with the goblins and the magic. The first third of the book is spent setting up the characters and the world-building and I really enjoyed that.

Then comes the dreaded middle third of the book. Although I suppose technically the author got around the 'insta-love' factor by making it a curse ...it still reads as really insta-lovey. And that's just Skye and Grady, with Kit and Livy there's not even any excuse. Anyway this portion of the book is basically spent on alternating mirrored scenes of the two couples and their relationships and I found the whole thing to be pretty boring and entirely unnecessary, but if you're into romance it might be different for you. Also while this is a new adult book I felt like Skye and Grady basically acted like teenagers while Livy and Kit were playing the role of their parents, despite the fact that they are all in their early to mid 20s.

The last third of the book picks up again, with the plot going back to the goblins and the rescue mission. I really enjoyed this part and liked the inclusion of the four elements and walking the fairy paths. I haven't actually read the original poem, even though I know it by reputation, so I'm not sure how exactly this book measures up to it / how romance-heavy the original is, but I feel like this would have done better to focus more on the goblins and less on the 'love story'. However that's pretty much my opinion in every romance story and like I said, it is mildly my fault for not reading the summary closely enough.

After a walk in the woods gets the curious Skye cursed by goblins, she seems to be fading before her sister Livy's eyes. She won't tell anyone what's wrong, she barely speaks and barely eats.

Goblin liason Kit knows something is wrong. His family line has been cursed to provide the forest goblins with gold every month, lest they rain havoc upon the people of Bellwater. He reconnects with Livy after not seeing her since high school, and has the bright idea to try and cheer her sister Skye up by having his young cousin Grady cook for the women every day as a side job.

As Grady gets to know the mysterious Skye, he begins to puzzle out what's wrong, and the two are bound by a curse that Livy will have to break, lest she and Kit lose their family forever.

Beautiful fairy tale set in modern time, The Goblins of Bellwater is fun and charming, reminiscent of books like War for the Oaks by Emma Bull. Fans of Bull, Holly Black, Will Shetterly and the like will love this book.

THE GOBLINS OF BELLWATER lures you in with the clink of gold, the heat of the forbidden, and the promise of more. A creative take on a classic poem, this book is filled with romance and the dark prices it can pull from a soul.
-pooled ink Reviews

Slow start, but YA readers will love this title. I will be recommending to my teen readers.

I was not expecting a romance. And the romance that was there wasn't up to what I've read. It needed more editing. The characters are 20-something, but this read as an attempt at YA. Don't muddle the genres. Give me one or the other. Is it YA or an NA romance? I need to know before going in.

It had been a while since I read "Goblin Market," but it hadn't been that long since I'd seen Labyrinth (or started Wintersong another recent goblin-themed novel). There are definitely some Labyrinth-vibes in The Goblins of Bellwater, and I feel okay about it.

What I Love About This Book
There are strong familial bonds here, both between the sisters and Kit and Grady (and also Grady's connections with his family back home). I enjoy watching the romances develop between the characters (even though Skye's and Grady's is enchanted and then goes down this weird, non-verbal path). I also love the madness that overtakes those cursed, particularly Skye.

The setting is magical. A small town in the Puget Sound where everyone knows everyone, surrounded by these mystical woods and waters. I've never been to that area, but I could see and feel it in every description. I felt the darkness and the cold. 

Also, the artistry! Honestly, artists in fiction can be really annoying. But Skye uses hers to help tell her story when she literally cannot say or write anything about what has happened to her. And Grady's art is cooking, used to nourish and comfort those he cares about. 

There are definitely some parts that needed some work. For one, there are a lot of people vying to be the main character in this novel. We have four different POVs here, alternating every chapter or so. This can be tricky to pull off, but I was never confused. There were not headings for each chapter or section announcing the POV (thank you!), but it was always very clear. 

With that said, I probably couldn't tell you who this story belongs to (Kit, Livy, or Skye), which does bother me a little. I was personally more attached to Skye, but she had to share the stage with a lot of other voices. At just 288 pages, I feel like it should have been more clear who owns this story.

This is also a New Adult novel, full of adult themes. There's cursing and sex and other dark content. But it also isn't? When Skye and Grady are deep in their enchanted/cursed romance, one of the..uh, side effects is a nearly uncontrollable urge for each other. But these scenes are either pretty tame or they happen off-stage. Does it make me weird that I wanted to see a little more of that? 

Should you read it?  I had a lot of fun reading The Goblins of Bellwater. It was a fast plot-based read with romance, adventure, and nasty little magical creatures. If you like fairy tales turned on their heads, check this one out!

I was very intrigued by the premise of this story. It is very evident the parts Ringle had the most planned and developed out were the sequences around the Gobilns and their curse/undoing. However, the characters fell so unbelievably flat. I wanted to like them and know more about them but there were full pages of back story that put the character building on fast forward. So contrasting their development to the amazing descriptions of the "trials through the elements" I can only give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

[quote]“Everyone knew you shouldn’t go biting into fruit offered to you by magical creatures in the woods, even if you’d thought until just five minutes ago that such stories were, you know, only stories.”[quote]


Ooo, a shiny book about goblins, was basically my first reaction when I saw this book. We follow Kit and his family generational curse, of serving the goblins that live in the tree of Bellwater, Washington with golden treasures. Noone knows that these exist, but sisters Livy and Skye are about to find out and face the real dangers that lurk in the woods.

Skye-A twenty-one year old barista that goes to the woods one night, and comes back with an inability to speak about what happened to her. This renders as a depressed mostly silenced person, which is an extremely troubling for her protective older sister, Livy. Whilst Livy tries to uncover what actually happened on that dark summer night, she gets entangled in a romance with Kit. Then messy things happen, and lots of things have to get fixed for their circle to ever get back to "normal."

We start out quite literally in the middle of the woods, going an the adventure of a lifetime with this dark and atmospheric book. If you like whimsy and haunting stories, this one would interest you. The presence of setting is such a prevalent factor of the author's writing, and I haven't felt so transported in a book for a long time. At the beginning I felt like the author had a magical quality of making me feel the eerie atmosphere that so thickly permeated within all the scenes. Sometimes I felt like I was in a cafe small town, or in a boat on a river, or in the cabin where they lived.

My biggest problem with this book was that at the middle parts of this book, there was too much of an emphasis on romance. I know that in the first sentence of the synopsis it clearly says "contemporary romance", but I was thirsting for more fae stories. I would have rather enjoyed more of the history of Kit's ancestors, learning more about how the fae live, and exploring the magical realm here. Instead, it kind of falls flat for a while because the two romances are the dominant driving forces, and I just wasn't here for it.

Another thing that really irked me, was that Skye, and this so called "curse created depression". It was easily curable, if logical the curse was broken, and the representation was irritating me because I feel like it was done sensitively enough. Throughout the whole book, even after her sisters and Grady found out, Skye's curse was still referred to as "depression" when it shouldn't have been necessarily. I just wish that the author could have included more thoughtful nuance or not have included mental illness here at all.

Whilst I was reading this, it was an extremely enjoyable and engrossing. I just don't think it's going to win any awards, and all readers should be warned of what it really is: mainly a love story. That would have saved myself many expectations that were unmet. I am looking forward to reading anything else that Ringle writes in the future, as some of this was absolutely brilliant storytelling.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**

I was excited to read this because Goblins are cool and underutilized and the cover is stunning. Unfortunately, the book fell a little flat for me. This is going to be a relatively short review, because I honestly found the book to be pretty forgettable.

Things I Liked
The biggest positive for me was that this book was SO EASY to read. It was so quick and uncomplicated. I was completely bored until the 50% mark when the story finally starts to come together, but it was just so easy to read, I didn't see a reason to DNF it.

I liked the history and bits of mythology we get throughout the story. It's enough to answer your questions and to keep you interested.

Things I Didn't Like
Like I said, I was utterly bored for the first half of the book. I feel like it took way too long for the characters to get on the same page and move forward.

I just didn't connect with the characters at all. I thought everyone made some questionable decisions that made no sense.

I also wasn't the biggest fan of the romances, they felt like they came about a little too quickly.

Overall this book was a miss for me, but I did like some of the story elements. The premise was unique, and I loved the inclusion of different types of fae folk and magic, but the characters and the slow beginning made this a disappointment.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review,

3.5/5 stars

This was an interesting read, it completely captivated me and kept me interested.
If you're into creepy, disgusting mythical creatures with some mystery and romance I think you'll enjoy this book. I thoroughly enjoy stories about the Fae and when I think of Fae goblins generally don't come to mind.

This was an easy read and its a pretty short story so it is quick to get to. This is classified as "New Adult" and I would have to disagree with that besides the characters all being in their twenties. Overall I really enjoyed the story, Molly's writing was easy to read and interesting. there were a few points in the story where it just dragged on and I found myself wanting to skim read. I would also like to have seen a little more interaction with towns people but the story mainly focuses (97%) on the four characters.