Very...very...strange. I guess that's to be expected of an entire book based solely off a poem?!?
The cover, on the other hand, is phenomenal. I bumped up my rating an extra star for the cover.

I just couldn't get into this. When I first saw this book, I instantly likened it to S. Jae-Jones's, Wintersong...and the writing was beautiful, but it lacked in the actual storytelling, and I think that is because of the expectations I had set up.

This lacked the magical whimsy that I expected as well, we got a taste of it at the start. I was hoping to read something filled with goblins, and fae and other magical creatures, but instead I got a romance novel and that wasn't even that good. You had your typical YA instalove that made nonsense and relationships that weren't well developed.

Not only that...I was just bored. SO SO SO bored! I found myself skimming through pages. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and there was a lot of world building that was lacking.

All that being said, this wasn't horrible, but just not what I was expecting and not a read for me. There are many others who enjoyed reading it, but this is one I don't think I could recommend.

Overall, this book was an enjoyable read. The world building was detailed and interesting and the characters had depth. I enjoyed reading about the goblins and their world and how sinister they can be. The writing is beautiful and the book was fast paced which made it really easy and enjoyable to read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something new and fantasy related to read!

Most people have no idea goblins live in the woods around the small town of Bellwater, Washington. But some are about to find out. Skye, a young barista and artist, falls victim to a goblin curse in the forest one winter night, rendering her depressed and silenced, unable to speak of what happened. Her older sister, Livy, is at wit's end trying to understand what's wrong with her. Local mechanic Kit would know, but he doesn't talk of such things: he's the human liaison for the goblin tribe, a job he keeps secret and never wanted, thrust on him by an ancient family contract.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley. I requested this book as a “wish” throug their website about a year ago, and recently had my wish granted. So the book has been out for a while, but, since I haven’t had a chance to read it, I was really excited to give it a try. Plus, I love this cover. It’s gorgeous!

The setting of this book, small town in Western Washington, was fun for me. Since I recently took a trip out to Seattle, I felt more familiar with this location than I would have a year ago. And the author really takes advantage of the nearby National Forest, which plays an essential role in the story. I always enjoy when plots are specific to their location, so the setting was a real treat for me.

The plot of the book is really what hooked me into this story. It starts out with such an interesting premise, there are goblins hiding in your forest. And then it adds in curses and magic and secrets, so there was a lot of promise of adventure and excitement here. Unfortunately, after the curses and magic are set up, the book turns into something close to soft-core erotica, which the characters all being tied up in their love life and focusing on sex. This slowed down the plot significantly and left me wondering when we’d get back to the story I loved at the start of the book.

I struggled the most with the characters in this book. For as small a book as this was, it just felt like there were too many character, so they weren’t all fleshed out. One character, Skye’s love interest, actually seemed like he could be completely taken out of the story and it wouldn’t have had much affect, if any. I didn’t feel like I really understood any of the characters and, while their motivation for their actions were clear and there was high stakes for the plot, I didn’t feel invested in them by the end of the book.

The Goblins of Bellwater is a fun and quick read. The setting is intriguing and unique and there is a great concept for the plot. The middle of the book was slow for me and didn’t fit the rest of the book and I struggled to connect with the characters.

You Can Buy The Goblins Of Bellwater On Amazon Or At Your Favorite Local Bookstore.

The premise behind this one was really intriguing but ultimately it became too much about the romantic relationships than about the friendship between the two sisters and the two cousins. I was disappointed that this one didn't delve more into the lore of the goblins and the relationship Kit and his family had to them. I went into this book expecting that but only got an average romance story in return. It's too bad, because I really loved the connection to the Goblin Market.

I'm a big fan of the poem "Goblin Market," so I was totally here for this modernized version of it. All of the fantasy elements were incredibly well done and I enjoyed getting to know the four main characters. My only complaint is that the romance between the two unenchanted characters felt a little forced at times, but that might just be my cynical side talking.

Overall this was an enjoyable read and I loved how magical it was. I wasn't the biggest fan of the actual story line but I did enjoy the writing, the author has a very unique style which I love. It was very atmospheric and bit weird at times which I loved. I think the contemporary aspect is the part that made me not enjoy it as much as I just don't enjoy contemporary all that much.

This is the story of Kit, whose family has been cursed to bring the goblins in the forest gold every full moon. His family has kept records of their interactions since it all started with his grandmother. This curse keeps him from getting too close to people, lest they find out and think he's crazy. His cousin, Grady, has recently moved in with him.
This is also the story of Liv and Skye, who are sisters. They both have had experiences in the forest that make them wonder if there is something out there, but think it has logical explanations. That is until Skye happens to go down one of the mysterious paths that showed up in the woods and ends up cursed. Skye tries to outsmart the curse by claiming a boy she had never met as her mate while in the woods. This young man is Grady.
Spoilers coming
Grady is hired by Liv to cook for Skye and keep an eye on her, since everyone thinks she is suffering from a sudden form of depression. Very quickly the curse takes over and they can't resist each other.
Finally Liv and Kit start to figure out what is going on and a plan is starting form, along with a relationship between them.
While this story did keep my attention, there were little things that bothered me through the entire story. The largest one is how quickly Skye and Grady seem to lose nearly all shreds of humanity, even when their closest relatives are in danger, while Flowerwatch has held on to some of her's after at least 75 yrs of being a goblin.
Thank you to #netgalley for allowing me to read and review this title.

I ended up not being able to finish this once, which makes me sad because I really was looking forward to it. The premise sounded really good but then it just didn't meet my expectations

Wait. wrong book.

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Classic retelling of a fairy poem with a modern twist. While the writing is lush and the characters are engaging, the story's uneven romantic arcs are its downfall. Readers will enjoy the comparisons to other books, such as The Darkest Part of the Forest (Holly Black), but may also be satisfied by the gothic atmosphere of the woods and the tenacious nature of the goblins.

Despite this book being slow to get into, overall, I found it to be an enjoyable read. The concept and the writing were easy to follow but at times I did feel it just missed the mark. It often left me feeling confused and uncertain of what exactly was happening but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing, just not what I was expecting after it being compared to something like Wintersong. The goblins were not something to be admired but rather something to be feared and often I think that was glazed over. Overall, not a bad read, just definitely not what i was expecting.

Good book. I was familiar with Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market,” from college and still have my copy. You can still enjoy the story for its fantastical elements without being familiar with the poem it’s based on.

I see some other reviewers had this listed as a romance and that’s listed in the summary on here, but I wouldn’t label it as such.

I believe I saw the “young adult” label and that’s why I re-read this. Second time through, it’s entertaining. I enjoyed reading about the goblins, might have wanted a little more detail on some parts

Thank you to netgalley and Molly Ringle for providing me this copy in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I had no idea what to expect! I requested the book because it seemed interesting and in the general areas I like to read. I will say, I LOVED this book. It was filled with twisted, creepy creatures but also had a nice love angle that flowed well with the entire novel. The whole novel felt dark and eerie and it made me so happy! This was definitely right up my ally and I highly recommend it.

Beware any reader that considers walking down the path of The Goblins of Bellwater, once you begin this book it will hold you under its spell until the very last page! Readers of Holly Black will rejoice in this modern faerie tale, and cheer on Skye, Livy, Kit, and Grady as they struggle against the goblins that menace the woods in their quiet home near the Puget Sound. Family curses, poor choices, and solid romance made this a page turner that was enjoyable to read!

The Goblins of Bellwater is a contemporary romance/urban fantasy that details the effects of an ancient Goblin curse on the Sylvain. Kit Sylvain owns an auto shop and enjoys chainsaw carving, but he also has a dark secret; every month he's required to bring to goblins and their leader, Redring. However at the start of this novel, Kit fails to bring enough gold and Redring promises that it will come back to haunt him. Unfortunately, Kit's failure causes Skye Darwen to be cursed by the goblins. She starts slowly turning into one and cannot tell anyone what has happened. Her sister, Livy Darwen, an environmentalist scientist, helplessly watches as Skye spirals down this dark path.

Goblins of Bellwater is supposed to be a romance but it doesn't really feel like one. Sure, Livy and Kit begin dating and Skye's curse causes her to fall in with Kit's cousin, Grady, but nothing really feels like the typical romance. For this novel, it is not a good thing. Instead, it feels more like a contemporary novel that happens to involve goblins and happens to include romance; neither is the focus and it detracts from the novel overall. If you're going to write a romance novel, I expect more than just steamy buildups caused by a goblin curse. I expect tension, resistance and furthermore an actual steamy scene instead of a sentence about how "when the two were done..." As a result, nothing really happens in Goblins of Bellwater.

However, my favorite part of this novel is the story of Flowerwatch and Kit's great-great grandmother. That was an actual romance with consequences and illustrates what happens when you deal with goblins. In fact, I kinda wish that Ringle had chosen to write about that story instead.

Very fast and enjoyable read. I can definitely think of a few of my patrons who would love this. I will be checking out for more from this author.

I have always loved stories about the fae that dwell just beyond the human world--this can include goblins, elves, fairies, and countless other creatures. Some of my favorites in this genre include An Enchantment of Ravens and The Treachery of Beautiful Things. I thought I'd give this one try, and it was about what I expected. Nothing amazing, but entertaining nonetheless.

If you're looking for a story with depth, originality, and elegance, then this is not the book for you. I gave it three stars because it is average: nothing more, nothing less. The characters, while bland, aren't annoying. The book is short enough that even the slow parts weren't too boring, and the action was just intense enough to keep me reading. It's a short, simple read with basic prose and very little stylistic voice. I would say that it is targeted towards younger readers, but it is a bit mature in terms of sex--there is no explicit detail, however, I wouldn't recommend it for a pre-YA audience.

Overall, the book was simple with just enough intrigue to make me want to read it. It's not a great novel by any standards, but it's something I would pick up for a short read on a rainy afternoon. It's super cheesy, but that's what makes books like these fun to read sometimes. (Key word: sometimes. Normally I wouldn't tolerate a book like this but I haven't read something so unambitious in a long while).

First of all I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this book, when I first saw it I knew that I just had to read it – the cover is literally the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and if I had a poster of it, I would gladly and proudly display it on my wall; additionally the book sounded bloody amazing! Of course I’ve read books about fae and mythical creatures, but I’ve never actually read anything in regards to Goblins, so I was very much looking forward to reading it.
From the offset I didn’t originally think it was going to be as dark and ‘serious’ as I’d originally thought it would be. I just assumed that a poor human would stumble upon these Goblins in the woods, they’d be taken and then it’d be a rescue mission to get them back, but it was honestly so much more than that and I was pleasantly surprised.
It turns out that once Skye was taken by the Goblins, she wasn’t taken for ever… yet; instead she was put under a spell where she was unable to mention anything about the Goblins or barely anything at all for that matter, as their way of making her hate the human world and want to join them willingly – if you can really call it that.

I must put a trigger warning here just in case as there are mentions of depression for most part of the book, and having struggled from depression myself somewhat, it kind of made me a little bit like ehh. So just a warning. Despite the kind of uneasy feelings, I actually found the spell Skye was under, which most characters thought was depression – as the characteristics are very much similar – quite insightful for those who haven’t had any experience, personal or non-personal, with depression as it allows them to see the struggles people go through – I almost saw the spell as a kind of metaphor for depression as even though Skye was fully aware of everything going on surrounding her and how her behaviour had changed, she couldn’t physically do anything about it and we knew it! She desperately wanted to speak and enjoy things in life, but no matter how she tried she just physically couldn’t, and even though it isn’t directly addressing it I think it’s great that it is too some extent raising awareness of this terrible illness.

In other news, I must admit that I did very much like all the characters in this book which doesn’t happen very often when it comes to me as I am extremely picky – but not one of them did I dislike! Skye and Livy are sisters that have both lived in Bellwater since birth and are known around town, they both live together with Skye wanting to be an artist and Livy making it her life goal to care for the forest and waters surrounding her home – legend. They are both lovely people, with Livy going above and beyond in order to get her sister back, not giving up once no matter what stood in her way. Then there are the two cousins Kit and Grady. Kit has known the Goblins all of his life due to the fact that his family, and now him, have been liaisons for the Goblins for many years, basically meaning that it is his job to ensure that the Goblins don’t bother the humans or kill anymore by providing them with gold every week, to which he can steal (with no consequence of prosecution) due to it being ‘for the tribe’ – of course he hates this as he literally has no life and can’t go anywhere without them following, but what can he do? Nothing. Grady on the other hand, is in Bellwater voluntarily and can leave whenever he chooses – no Goblins attached – and is an aspiring chef who seems to make the most delicious food ever (I got very hungry when reading this, so make sure to have snacks on hand). He takes a job as a sort of cook for Skye and Livy as an attempt to try and cheer Skye up after she is put under a spell by the Goblins. It does however, not turn out too well – you will see.
As you can probably imagine there will be romance, which at first was actually quite enjoyable and I didn’t mind it all (you all know i’m not a fan of romance) as it wasn’t conventional or cringey or thrown into your face but then at the end you’re hit with self-sacrificing and those three little words and I was just left left with a big WHY? shaped whole in my heart. I must admit it wasn’t too bad, I have seen worse, but I still was a bit urgh. However, the most prominent source of love was probably family love which was lovely to see as I believe we don’t get shown a lot of that nowadays so it was very refreshing to read and it almost made me care about my brother. Almost.

I did overall very much enjoy this book and was totally not what I was expecting at all! I sincerely loved all the characters (as you know), the recurring theme of nature and the forest and I very much enjoyed the plot. I did only give it a 3.5 stars as it didn’t blow me away, but I would very much recommend it, especially those who are looking to learn a little bit more about fae or just want a very good read.
Please let me know if you read it and what you think of it too!

Overall I enjoyed it, and it was a fun reimagining of goblin fruit and fae havoc. It brings something to the genre and could be YA or adult, depending on your mood

I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read this but every time I reread the synopsis I was just... underwhelmed. Let the record reflect that I am wishing I had just dove in because from the very beginning I was sucked into this amazing read. Seriously, the story was amazing, the characters were well flushed out and connectable and I loved the urban fantasy feel of the whole thing.