When I read the synopsis of this book months ago, I knew I wanted to read it. I've heard a lot of opinions about it since and didn't know what to expect when I finally started reading it. I have to say I enjoyed this debut novel. I think I like goblins as much as I like fairies. There's just something about them that draws me to the story. I think I like seeing how each author puts their unique twist on the story and what they decide to keep and change.

I liked Jenneke from the beginning. You could tell she was scared and still dealing with some things surrounded by goblins but she was still firce. She still challenged Lydian despite how she was feeling. I loved how she fought to keep her humanity but she could also see reason when it made sense to her. I liked Soren for the way he treated Jenneke and the romabce between the two of them was awesome. Soren was sweet and kind but still a warrior who could fight and would do anything to protect the ones he loved.
I liked Seppo; he was amusing and made me laugh. I liked the wolves and the goddess as well. The bad guys in this one were not redeemable and I was glad they all got what was coming to them. I found this story to be funny, inspiring, and entertaining. I enjoyed it so much and it lived up to my expectations when I downloaded the early copy. I will be reading the sequel as soon as I can.

Thank you for the copy of this book! i really liked the premise of it and was excited to start it. I will admit it took me a couple chapters to get into it and i think that was because of how the book started but shortly after i was super into it and could not put it down. I look forward to the next book!!

"I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

I went into this book a bit wary because of some of the reviews I've been seeing and how many people haven't been able to finish it. Yet, let me say I was SO INTO this book.

They are on the hunt for the White Stag, and yes there isn't much about actually hunting it-- if only because they can see the lines of prey?? So, mostly the book dealt with her becoming a goblin, determining if she would and how she'd escape if she didn't want to. This back and forth would usually make me feel annoyed -- like "I GOT IT ALREADY!" but here I think it was done pretty well. I understood why she was conflicted and she had real reason. She kept making up her mind, but then getting NEW information which is what would change her mind.
There are events which come up in the hunt which keep the journey from feeling like an overdone journey or drag. Seriously, this book flew by for me. I was GRIPPED.

I'm also a huge fan of anti-heroes or in this case... people being the monsters they are, but still caring for something. I think these characters are almost an example of that. If they were a little bit more bad, it would have totally hit the spot.
The romance is more in the background for most the book -- it isn't in your face all the time. There is a sex scene, or at least the beginning of one and TW: mentions of prior rape. This is a dark book and it isn't always pretty. Characters do die.

One thing that was starting to bother me towards the end is the magic system. It is there, obviously the goblins can do some magic, but I have no idea how or what exactly it can do. Barely anyone fights with magic, so I'm not sure how it is important to their hunting and survival of the strongest mentality.

This book was so, so close to a 5 star for me. I was so into the story I was ignoring things that usually would have bothered me (e.g. a magic system with no definition), but my biggest complaint is the ending. First off, I think this could have easily been a standalone. i think the reason I say this is because it felt like it was going to be one for so long. I did see the foreshadowing, but I thought it would be dealt with in this book...
Secondly, I know things are explained and our main character completely accepts them, but I just don't know how! Just... I can't see it. I'm sure some people will disagree with me, and that is awesome, it just didn't work for me.

So... will I read the sequel? At this point and after reading the synopsis for book 2, I'm leaning towards no. I'll wait for reviews, I think.
I still would recommend this to people! I definitely think this is worth giving a try.

White Stag was one of those books I started reading without really knowing what I was really getting myself into because because I had no idea what to expect from it and I’m actually glad about that because I’ve realized that going in blind helps me enjoy books a lot better! I do have to admit that at first, after reading a couple of the reviews that were already out, I was scared I would not get to enjoy this as much as I hoped to, but thank God my brain was wrong because I ended up loving it!

This book ended up being my second read of the year and I’m very glad about it because after my last reads of 2018 I thought it would be hard to continue with a good reading streak in 2019, but I was wrong once again! 2 books down already and they’ve been great! I really enjoyed the story that Barbieri brought to life through White Stag because it ended up being better than I ever imagined it could be. It was full of all those little things I love: a vast magical setting, an intriguing and intense adventure, troubled, dark and interesting characters that either grow on you or make you want to get into the story and rip their heads off, and some very powerful fights not only between or against goblins, but also against mythical creatures from Norse mythology that made Janneke’s journey through the Hunt all kinds of interesting and wild! Something that I loved about Janneke’s journey was that I felt like every encounter she had with the different kinds of characters we get to meet indirectly helped her see and accept the fact that: “We are all monsters even if we chose not to believe so”.

I really liked how the topic of monsters was touched and handled through the story because the author does a great job in letting you connect–or at least understand–Janneke’s dilemma with the inhabitants of the Permafrost and herself through her strong and consistent writing. Another thing that really had me loving this story from beginning to end were the elements of Norse mythology that are present in it. I don’t know lot about Norse mythology, but I did recognize quite a few stuff that go from some of the many mythical creatures that we encounter, to the characters and their beliefs, and even some important characters that we get to meet as the story is reaching its climax–which was amazing, by the way. Also, the way she manages to slow the story down during the right moments to explain and let the reader know about the Hunt, Goblin history and the mythical creatures—even if it’s not as much as I would’ve liked—was actually pretty smooth and enjoyable.

Throughout this book we get to visit and explore some areas of the vast and powerful world of the Permafrost and I loved every second of it. We go from the Erlking Palace to the dense forest as Janneke, Soren and their allies follow the trail of the stag during the beginning of the Hunt, to the hazardous Fire Bog, to the cold mountains of the wolves and even to the very place where the Permafrost and the human world meet. These different settings that we visit were very interesting and deadly in their own way because of various spoilery reasons that you will have to find out for yourselves—and that are very, very interesting and twisted. But besides visiting some wonderful places, we also get to meet quite a few dark and twisted characters that want nothing but to see Janneke herself dead, but we also get to meet another few that want her to either be free, herself, or to finally accept what she was born to be. Some of my favorite characters were Soren, Rekke, Donnar, Seppo, Skadi, and the wolves, not just because they were main characters who played very important parts, but because of the way they all helped Janneke accept who she is, what she is becoming, and to realize that no matter what, she always has a choice.

Overall, White Stag ended up being a dark fantasy adventure full of monsters that I got to enjoy from beginning to end and now I can’t wait to see more of it on the sequel! If you’re a sucker for dark fantasy then watch out because this book might be your next favorite read!

After trying to read the first few chapters twice, I just couldn't find myself becoming invested with the story. I hope to try this again in the future, but for now, this is a DNF for me.

The last goblin book I read was a disappointment, so I was pleasantly surprised by The White Stag. The reviews for this seem to be either hit or miss, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book! This is a darker story than most YA Fantasy and deals with tougher subjects, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

The beginning of the book dumps readers right into the middle of the action, and I was initially thrown off for a few moments, but as I continued reading I came to the realization that I actually liked that approach and it seemed to work for the story the author was trying to tell. Janneke, the protagonist, was such an interesting character to read about, and I had no problem rooting for her through the events of the book. Kara Barbieri really drives the message of Janneke being a survivor after everything she has had to endure, such as the death of her family and personal trauma. As the story goes on, she begins to figure out and accept who she is, and becomes an even stronger fighter.

The concept of the Wild Hunt was so intriguing to read about. It creates a lot of action for the story, and also allows for some growth for out characters. I really enjoyed the progression of feelings between Janneke and Soren. The romance felt believable and natural, and I look forward to seeing it develop further in the next book. And that ending was quite the twist! I can honestly say I did not expect anything of that sort happening, and I’m really curious as to what will happen in the upcoming sequel.

A rich and vivid fantasy that gives us a new spin on the legend of the Erlking, White Stag was engrossing in its ability to sweep me away to the dark and freezing world of the Permafrost and the warring clans of savage and blood thirsty goblins that inhabit it. Told from the perspective of a human Thrall or slave, we really see the brutality of life in the frozen wastelands.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

While the beginning of this book sucked me right in the rest was a little bit lacking for me. It just didn’t hold my attention the way that I had expected it too. I loved the idea and the writing style spoke to me but I just didn’t connect with the main character at all. She was a little too angsty for my taste. While I didn’t love the book I think that others will and there were some definite good points to the story. The book was well placed and the world building was well done.

New release Tuesday!

I’m so excited to ring in the new year by participating in the blog tour for White Stag!

Janneke has spent 100 years as a thrall (basically a human slave) to the young goblin lord Soren. Previously, she “belonged” to Lydian, Soren’s cruel and sadistic uncle, and before that, lived in her family’s village before Lydian burned it down. When the goblin king dies, the hunt begins to have a new power on the throne, and Janneke is determined not to let Lydian become the new Erlking. The first to find the mystical white stag and kill it to claim the throne wins.

White Stag is a YA fantasy that takes a new spin on Goblins and changelings and adds a quest or hunt-like feel similar to Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, and also feels like a better-written cousin of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas — a young human woman coming into her own and discovering that she is just as powerful as the magical beings around her.

(Also, I do want to note a few quick content warnings: Physical and emotional abuse, several graphic rape scenes/memory sequences, gore, mutilation. This list is not comprehensive and I urge caution if this content may negatively affect your well-being.)

Purchase the book here.

I was given a copy of this book by Wednesday Books in exchange for my honest opinion. Links in post are affiliate links whose proceeds go toward the maintenance of this blog.

I received an eARC of this novel from Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was attracted by the title and cover art as well as the description but realised quite quickly that this novel wasn’t a good fit for me. Having said that I am glad that I didn’t abandon it as I found its second half a much more engaging read.

So what were my issues? Well, I found the dialogue was too contemporary though perhaps this is linked to it being YA fiction and the author seeking to be relatable to her target readership.

In addition, while I appreciated that these goblins were shifting their appearance from ethereally beautiful to monstrous, this just didn’t make sense as goblins for me are well goblins. One of my favourite childhood stories was ‘The Princess and the Goblin’ so there was little chance of me seeing one as a sex symbol. This is despite the iconic portrayal of the Goblin King in ‘Labyrinth’ (who may not have actually been a goblin rather just their ruler).

The romance occurring after 100 years between Janneke and Soren also didn’t work for me. They just talked about it so much with lashings of angst and I quickly disengaged. The level of sexual violence, even if just in memory, I felt was gratuitous and potentially very triggering for some readers.

Having said this I did feel the author poured her heart into the narrative to create a Nordic fantasy with references to beings and the occasional god.

Once the quest for the white stag got underway I found that I was less distracted by the above niggles and settled in. The world building continued to feel patchy but I appreciated that this is the opening act of a trilogy with clear potential.

After a fair amount of deliberation I settled on 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

"Are you dead?
Little girl
Have they ravaged your skin?
Are you dead
little girl
Have the demons come in?
Are you dead?
Little girl
Like a lamb in the field?
Little girl
Oh little girla
Your soul won't be healed?"


I was so surprised by this book, it totally exceeded my expectations. Also, it kind of set a totally new standard for Goblin fantasy. It was just really, really good.

Quick synopsis - Janneke is the only survivor of her village after it was attacked by Goblins. She was taken as a thrall to a very powerful Goblin, who later gave her as a gift to his nephew, Soren.
Janneke has been in Soren's service for over 100 years. But when the goblin king, the Erlking dies, Soren and the other Goblins must hunt the white stag. Whoever kills the white stag becomes the next Erlking.
Humans don't normally join the Hunt. But Soren insists that Janneke should join the hunt.


I am going to try VERY hard to not talk about this book with spoilers. It's going to be difficult.

Janneke is one of the best YA fantasy heroines I've read in a LONG TIME. She's witty, and her internal monologue is on-point. Also, she's a tough fighter, who's not afraid to stab and hunt and kill to protect herself and her friends.

This whole story is a tale about what makes a monster, a monster. Janneke was told all her childhood that goblins were monsters. But after living with monsters for over a 100 years, she knows which ones are monsters, and which ones are really not monstrous.

Also, her relationship with Soren was just SO WELL WRITTEN. I rarely see actual banter between two characters, and their feelings were complicated. I wouldn't call this a hate-to-love romance, because while Janneke hated goblins, she never really hated Soren? I would call this book a slow burn romance, and one of the best I've read recently!

I can't talk too much about the plot without giving away significant spoilers, so let me just say, I was constantly surprised. I hated the villains, and I cheered for Janneke. Still, the fighting, the politics, and the magic, it constantly caught me off guard.

Also, this book is Goblin lore mixed with Norse mythology, and I am HERE for it!

Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for providing me with a copy of White Stag in exchange for an honest review.

When Janneke is the sole survivor of a goblin attack on her village, her troubles have just begun.  Taken prisoner by a truly monstrous goblin, Lydian, and subjected to untold horrors, she only escapes death when he throws her at his nephew, Soren's, feet as a gift.  

At the end of each goblin king's rule, a white stag is hunted, killed and reborn to decide who the next king will be.  But the stag isn't the only one being hunted.  Only one goblin can be king and the goblins who are powerful enough to compete for the throne will also try to kill each other.  When Soren asks Janneke to come on the hunt with him, in a race where Lydian is the main competition, she has to make decisions about her own future, where she belongs in the world and what really constitutes a monster.

White Stag was brutal, heart stopping and had all the elements of a brilliant YA fantasy.  Goblins, a great hunt, monsters, complicated relationships and strong characters.  Janneke was just such a SURVIVOR.   Soren was wonderful and I actually really loved  Seppo.  I hope we see a lot more of both of them in book two!

This is the type of book that could easily enter fandom territory.  There are some truly incredible characters in it and I can't wait for the next book!

In this dark fantasy, Janneke is the last child in a family of daughters and has been groomed to be the ‘male heir’, having been taught to hunt, track, and fight. When her village was burned to the ground she was the only survivor and was taken captive by the malicious goblin Lydian, who scars her for life, and who then sends her to work for his nephew Soren.
She then has to serve this monster who she is bonded to in the Permafrost. A brutal hunt begins for the beautiful white stag as Lydian and Soren compete for the throne of the next Goblin King.
Janneke's humanity comes at the cost of becoming more attached and loyal to the goblin Soren, and as she has to learn to survive in the world she has been made to live in, learning truths about the past and about who she really is.

This is the first novel from a talented new author, Kara Barbieri, who brought it to life on WattPad; she has imagined a world called the Permafrost, heavily influenced by Nordic mythology, laden with dangerous monsters alongside the goblins, living in an unforgiving frozen landscape.
Set to be the start of a series, ‘White Stag’ is both frightening and captivating. Frightening because of the amount of sheer brutality in the novel: there are plenty of references to rape, torture, mutilation, and abuse, as well as all the combat/fighting leading to bloodshed and descriptions of injuries and more.
Janneke has been victim to unspeakable acts at the hands of Lydian, and we gradually learn about his true capabilities as the story goes on, making him just about the vilest character you can possibly ever read about. Soren, who she is bound to, is the unlikely antidote to this goblin villain, and ironically becomes the one to bring romance and emotion to her world, despite the ‘humanity’ leaving her life.

What I found most appealing about the book, is the journey that Janneke goes on, both physically and emotionally, which kept me captivated throughout; the hunt and the battles are relentless and test her constantly, and the relationship with Soren gradually changes. I've read some criticism of the relationship between her and Soren (I made the mistake of reading others' reviews, which I don't normally do), and I disagree that it would be unlikely that she would become attached to him, given that she is his charge and bound to him. I wasn't sure whether to attribute her feelings towards Soren to a sort of Stockholm syndrome or because she genuinely developed feelings for him because he seemed to care for her (he became more human as she lost her humanity). The dichotomy here is fascinating. They've been attached for some hundred years or so, and the intensity would undoubtedly bring some connection; why now though is more the question, but it makes for great reading.

Barbieri has set the stage for a series in a world that may trigger many readers but evokes images, not unlike the Game of Thrones and is for anyone who loves Viking or Nordic-inspired tales and mythology. I appreciated her sense of humor throughout the novel, and I know there is so much more to come from this bright light that is Kara Barbieri.

This was a thoroughly entertaining read. We start off the book with a bang and it doesn't relent until the last page. Our protagonist has been through hell and back and still has gumption and full of fire is astounding to me. I'm sure I would be a mess and stay in bed all day. Now as entertaining and strong our MC is. I found the worldbuilding to be a bit lacking. Jannekes world takes place where mythical immortal creatures exist. They dwell in a constant frozen landscape known as the permafrost. These creatures can steal you in the dead of night or decimate entire villages. In this case they are goblins. Goblins are beautiful, ageless and cruel beings whose sole purpose it seems is crave power and the way to get said power is by killing. This is not what I was concerned with fairy folklore is up to anyone's interpretation and if goblins are beautiful and power hungry and not disfigured things who make deals with you I'm all for it. What I was confused with is why the author also added Norse mythology to an already strong world building I found she was trying to add too much and took away from what was a promising world. We really didn't need to also contend with Norse mythology and I hope more clarity with regards to the worldbuilding gets cleared up in book two. Plot wise things moved along steadily with a sweet romance thrown in along the way. Which I don't see often in Fae reimagining's.. But be forewarned there is mention of rape on multiple occasions through out the book and I found it might have been used for more shock value than with character development as I believe was the authors intention.. There is also violent scenes of gore so yes this book may not be for everyone.

Overall I did enjoy my read There is some worldbuilding issues but I found this was fast paced and I did enjoy another interpretation on the fair folk. .And am looking forward to book two.

Janneke, a human, has spent the last century as a captive of the Goblins; a harrowing ordeal to say the least. When her captor, Soren, is summoned to the palace of the Erlking, Janneke goes with him, but the trip is anything but ordinary. While at court, Janneke gets into a fight with another goblin, barely escaping with her life, only to have the Erlking drop dead right in front of everyone. The Erlking's death sets off The Hunt for the eponymous White Stag - whosoever kills the stag will gain the crown and all the powers that go with it. What follows will have Janneke struggling to retain what little remains of her humanity, as well as her very life.

I have mixed feelings about this title. I didn't feel that the writing was particularly exemplary; the plotline at times felt disjointed, but the main character was interesting enough to keep me reading to the end. I look forward to Ms. Barbieri's next book in this series, and hope to see her improve in her craft as the series continues.

Thank you first and foremost for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is one of the most beautiful and descriptive fantasies I have read in a long time. I loved everything about it.

The world was so vibrant and beautifully described, it is definitely a place as dangerous as it is I would love to see.

The characters in here were so diverse, and stubborn. They were unique and different than anything I have read previously.

I went into this book not knowing how I would like it and I must say.....I LOVED IT!!!!

4/5 Would recommend! I will be purchasing a finished copy and making my family read it!

As the last child in a family of daughters, seventeen-year-old Janneke was raised to be the male heir. While her sisters were becoming wives and mothers, she was taught to hunt, track, and fight. On the day her village was burned to the ground, Janneke—as the only survivor—was taken captive by the malicious Lydian and eventually sent to work for his nephew Soren. Janneke’s survival in the court of merciless monsters has come at the cost of her connection to the human world. And when the Goblin King’s death ignites an ancient hunt for the next king, Soren senses an opportunity for her to finally fully accept the ways of the brutal Permafrost. But every action he takes to bring her deeper into his world only shows him that a little humanity isn’t bad—especially when it comes to those you care about.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review through Netgalley. This was my first read of 2019, so I wanted to make it a book that really interested and excited me. The story of Janneke and the goblins sounded some fantastic and unique to me, that I decided to give it a try for my first book review of the year. I was hoping to find a fresh protagonist, world and story compared to the books I read last year.

The world of White Stag interested me the most in the book. While parts of Permafrost and the neighboring human realm reminded me a bit of Spinning Silver, I found the contents of the world complete original as far as I was aware. The customs and rituals of the goblins Janneke lives among were also mostly new, though some things did sound like generic fae rules you’d find in other books. But, the focus on goblins, which are usually depicted as ugly and gross, instead of the much more popular faeries was a welcome change. There were also a number of things for me to learn about the human world of this book, which added some excitement to the story.

As a narrator and protagonist, Janneke was interesting as she’s not always a likable character. She’s the victim in a number of situations, but she’s also hardheaded, hot tempered and obstinate. Many times, I found myself wanting her to do something, and she’d do the complete opposite, almost as if to spite me. It was maddening, but also made me feel invested in her. Other times, she’d make decisions that seemed almost out of character, but the author does a good job of working these decisions into the character so they’re at least believable. Additionally, Janneke’s chemistry with Soren is enticing and delicious. I adored their scenes together more and more every time they happened.

The story of the book, while exciting and fun, was also confusing at times. It was odd for the book to begin with Janneke already having been in the Permafrost and separated from humans for 100 years. That fact, although it is somewhat important to the plot, was disorienting to learn within the first few pages. It made me question whether Janneke was human or extremely old or enchanted, the answer to which came much later. Additionally, the book jumps between present action, flashbacks and dream sequences often, which were at times hard to keep track off. I appreciated each scene as they happened, though, and they were all well written and added to the plot.

If you’re a fan of The Cruel Prince and Spinning Silver, you’ll love this debut book by Kara Barbieri. The world is interesting and unique. The protagonist, Janneke, is complex and fun to get to know. The story, which disorienting at times, is compelling and kept me glues to my kindle screen until the final page. I’m delighted to know this is the first book in a series and will be eagerly awaiting the next book.

I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

I'm not sure what I expected from this book, but I am positive it was not what I found. I loved this book even though there are aspects of the tale I was leery of including violence and slavery among other acts of what would happen in a barbaric society. However, Kara has used these acts in a manner to make one think about these issues in ways I would not otherwise have.

The tale of Janneke is filled with drama, love, hate, action and humor. Everything you would want in an epic tale. It grabs you from the start and holds your attention all the way through. And leaves you wanting more. Janneke is the seventh daughter of a loving family and is taught by her father to be a warrior and survivor. She is treated as the son of the family and learns the skills normally taught to the male heir. She is well taught and learns well. Thus, becoming a survivor in a world of barbaric treatment.

Janneke’s family and entire village is slaughtered and burned to the ground by goblin invaders. She is captured, claimed by Lydian, the leader of the murderous goblins, where she is raped, tortured and enslaved. Lydian tries to break her but cannot. He gives Janneke to his nephew, Soren, who treats her much better than she is used to. While she is still a captive, she is also treated with respect and the torture ended. Jenneke lives with Soren for over one hundred years as their relationship changes. Danger lurks everywhere in this world of goblins, but as Lydian decides to kill the current Erlking and the White Stag to become king of the world, the danger increases.

Whoever kills the Whit Stag will become ruler of the goblin kingdom, but if they kill the white stag in a manner to end its life permanently, he can become ruler of the entire world. Lydian wants this with all his heart. Nothing is going to stop him. Will anyone even try?

This book is filled with descriptive scenes, dialogue and characters. I can’t wait to read more of Kara Barbieri’s writings.

White Stag, the first novel in the Permafrost fantasy series by self-publishing success story Kara Barbieri, is a dark, brooding and superb read; in fact, it's difficult to believe that this is a debut, let alone a book written in the authors teen years. If this is the first, I am already ridiculously excited for the upcoming series instalments but also what comes after the too. Brutal and beautiful in equal measure, this is an intricately plotted story with some wonderful worldbuilding.

The atmosphere is ominous for the entirety of this masterfully crafted tale, and you really feel for main character Janneke as she finds her feet in a cruel world that she has no prior experience or knowledge of. The journey she goes on to attempt to save some of her humanity and salvage something meaningful from a time of real despair showed me just how emotionally invested I had become. This is one of those deliciously dark and deviant fantasies that you get most out of from going in blind, hence the intentionally sparse detail. If you appreciate deceptively dark fantasies of just a sucker for a special talent then this is an immensely enjoyable and utterly enthralling book. I hope there isn't too long to wait for the next instalment; I'll keep my eyes well and truly peeled!

Many thanks to Wednesday Books for an ARC.

This was everything I could have hoped for and more. The minute I heard about this book I knew I absolutely needed to read it. It's the perfect dark, twisted tale of a girl becoming more monster than human. The characters (good and bad) were all extremely well written and easy to fall in love with. The world building was fantastic and super atmospheric. And the plot kept me intrigued all the way until the very end. Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better dark fantasy to kick off 2019 and cannot wait until the next book is out!