This is one of the most whimsically inventive middle grade fantasies I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.

Changeling is infused with Ritter’s trademark clever humour and unique characters.

The subtle mention of an expert in New Fiddleham may have made me squee a little bit.

If you’re a middle grade reader or if you have littles who love quirky fantasy, I highly recommend this.

Oh my goodness, this story! I didn't expect to like this as much as I did! I had to google what a changeling is to have a little bit of an idea about what this story is about, but that's on why end.

The main things I throughly enjoyed about this story:

> Tinn and Cole. I love how different they are. I also love the kind of relationship they have, especially on the scenes where we find out that they both feel like they could be the goblin, but that they would rather the other be the real boy. That was adorable.

> Annie Burton. That lady is a badass! I think that sums up Annie Burton nicely. Her dedication to her boys is admirable.

I really enjoyed the time I spent reading this book. I thought it did such a good job of setting everything up for future instalments of the series.

There’s so much to love about this first book in The Oddmire series that I’m not sure where to start. It’s full of humor, suspense, adventure, magic, and chills. The characters are sharply drawn and yet they continually surprise you. The book’s depiction of maternal love is warm and fierce, with an unexpected team-up that made my heart feel like it would burst. It is legitimately hilarious—there were so many laugh-out-loud moments that I lost count of them. It’s a spooky, magical adventure that you can’t put down, and I am so very glad that the second book is coming out next month.

I wrote recently that I wanted more changeling stories in children’s books, and author William Ritter delivers a terrific take on the subject. A goblin named Kull enters the quiet little town of Endsborough, “a no-nonsense sort of town that heard about notions like technology and progress and decided that they sounded exhausting.” When Kull gets to the home of Annie Burton, his goal is to steal her human baby and replace it with a goblin changeling so that he can enact an ancient ritual to bring magic back to the forest where he lives. When Kull tries to make the switch, though, he takes his eyes off the infants for a moment, and when he turns back around he realizes that he can’t tell which baby is goblin and which baby is human. Kull flees back to the Wild Wood empty-handed, leaving Annie two babies in the crib where she used to have just one.

Annie raises the boys as twins, initially hoping that the goblin mischief would become obvious in one of the two. When the boys turn out to be equally mischievous and it seems impossible to tell which one is human, Annie does what any good parent would do: she keeps raising the boys and loving them equally, just like she always has. I could spend this whole review just talking about how wonderful Annie is. She’s strong, brave, and kind; her love for her boys is so deep and pure that it brought tears to my eyes more than once. Annie (and the surprising partner that I mentioned earlier) reminded me a bit of Stella from the masterful Begone the Raggedy Witches. Both of them share Stella’s fierceness and tenacity in the face of parental weariness, but—just like Stella—they’re not defined solely by the fact that they have children.

The twins, Tinn and Cole, are fantastic characters as well. Near their thirteenth birthday, they receive a cryptic message from Kull that they have to enter the Wild Wood to save the goblins from the disappearing magic. Being adventurous, mischievous, and…well…human, the twins can’t resist the opportunity to venture into a forbidden forest, so they head out to face whatever is waiting for them in the Wild Wood. They still don’t know which one of them is the changeling, though, and there’s a moment when a new forest friend asks them individually how they feel about that. The parallels between their answers, with a few subtle differences that really highlight Ritter’s adept characterization, are both touching and heartbreaking. It’s one of my favorite moments in a book full of incredible scenes.

The Wild Wood is a treasure trove for fans of fairy tales, with pixies, witches, hinkypunks, and all other manner of supernatural creatures both friendly and fearful. This first book just scratches the surface of the magic that exists in the world of The Oddmire series, and the epilogue seems to promise much more magic in the second book (especially regarding Fable, one of my favorite characters). Like so many fairy tales, this story is fascinated with the nature of stories themselves and with questions like what it means to be a family and how to find out who you really are. It’s a thrilling, fascinating journey that takes unexpected twists but ends up exactly where it needs to be, and I can’t wait to see where the series goes next.

A BIG Thank You to Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers for providing me a copy of “Changeling” for my review.

What a fun read! The story-line is like reading a brand new Grimm’s fairy tale for the next generation! The concept is very unique and unlike anything I have read in a middle grade, fantasy novel. The story immediately hooked me and I wanted to find out what happened next. Also, the story is feels like a perfect blend of fantasy, humor, suspense, and feels wholesome.

The characters are wonderful! Cole and Tinn are adorable in their own way. They have contrasting personalities but go well together. Fable was the highlight of the story! I loved her personality and how she brought such an energy into the story. I also loved Annie Burton! Moreover, I thought it was great that the author made the mother such a prominent character. Usually, in such books, the parents don’t play an important role, and it is up to the kids to solve everything. However, Annie plays a pivotal role and does whatever she can to help her boys. Not only Annie, I also loved how the Witch of the Woods played an active part. She is such a complex character where you don’t know if she is good of evil.

The only reason I did not give it a full 5 star rating was because of the way it started. Honestly, when the tale opened, it was confusing for a bit. There are a lot of things that happen in the prologue and I couldn’t keep track of what was happening. However, as the twins grow up, this book is a roller-coaster ride. I loved reading it. On a side note, I also loved the illustrations on each chapter.

Overall, “Changeling” is a great start to “The Oddmire” series and I cannot wait to see how it progresses.

It's That Good

I got this book a while ago. After the first few chapters I knew it was so good, so well written, so exciting and clever and amusing and touching and heartwarming and real, that I should put it aside as a special read. Well, with all of this coronavirus sheltering and whatnot I decided this was a fine time for a treat. I was right.

Our author is responsible for the Jackaby books, which are smart, and clever, and witty, and a wonderful balance of modern and old school entertainment. Often when you read a new series from a successful author you find you just have some old wine in new bottles, which isn't necessarily bad. Here, though, Ritter has taken off in a whole new direction. This is a fairy tale of sorts, and it features two kids instead of two young adults, and it's fantasy adventure instead of a revisionist Sherlock Holmes take. But while the series is a new direction for Ritter, and is aimed at younger readers, it is still very much in the style of a modern reinterpretation of a very old form.

Our two brothers, (one a human and one a changeling and they don't know which is which), are off on a hero's journey that involves adventure, magic, high stakes, and a search into who and what exactly they each are. For all the faeries and goblins and so on, we know for certain that they are in every important aspect - brothers. That brotherly bond, (and their mother's love), is the touchstone of the entire adventure, and the author's ability to cast that relationship in a practical, realistic, and yet also magical fashion transports this book into a fairy tale realm well above any simple adventure.

On top of the uplifting, heartwarming, oh so right feel of the book, it is ripping and very funny in Ritter's gentle well-timed deadpan way. Colorful and nicely imagined supporting characters get a lot of the best lines, but that's fine because with this book there's plenty of humor, action, and excitement to go around.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

Faeries. Dark forests. Magic. Goblins. Young characters. THE ODDMIRE is pretty much everything I LOVE about middle grade books, and I was not disappointed! I absolutely lived for the themes of family, adventure, and coming of age with an atmospheric fairytale twist. Such a refreshing, lovely story for children!

I'll admit that at first this book wasn't grabbing my full attention. Neither was the cover.

However, as the story progressed, I was pulled in to this magical world of goblins and changellings and fairies. It was interesting to get to know these "twins" and finding out how they came to both be in the same realm.

I've never been much of a fan about Fae and Fae stories, but I guess I needed this middle-grade in order to ease me into this world.

I already had some knowledge of the changelling process thanks to Scottish Folk Tales, and this book took an interesting and fun approach to it.

Looking forward to reading the second book in the series, because there is another mystery to be solved that I'm really intrigued to find out.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the Jackaby series so when I saw the author was creating a MG series I immediately knew I had to read it. This book did not disappoint, Ritter was able to create a world that I was able to fall into, and I love the nod to Jackaby at the beginning of the book. I love how he is able to seamlessly create worlds where magic and humans coexist -- mostly because humans are blind to the magical world around them. This book immediately drew me in not just with the magical world building but also with the characters, just as with Jackaby he has created characters that you instantly feel invested in and need to make sure their story ends happily. This book did not disappoint and now I'm eagerly waiting for the second book to be released!

A fun start to a new series. Ritter's writing is full of goblins, witches and other unique characters. I would recommend this book to fantasy lovers of all ages. Changeling follows twin brothers Tinn and Cole as they set out on a magical journey.

I had no idea what this book was like, I didn't know the author, but the synopsis seemed really intriguing. This was an incredible intense MG book and it made me very happy. I absolutely loved the worldbuilding and the characters were really interesting aswell! Definitely looking forward to the next book.

Yay Oddmire! I loved Ritter's Jackaby series and am thrilled to read this new series.

While Jackaby was more YA, this series is a bit more Middle Grade. No matter, it's very good. Great characters, plot and it flows nicely.

Can't wait for the next book!

I received an eARC of this book through Netgalley.
This is a wonderful middle-grade read. I absolutely love how present parents are throughout the book. I loved how the relationships developed between all the characters and I loved how each character was distinct. The adventure was twisty enough to keep me engaged all the way to the end. I’ll certainly be reading the next installment of this series.

I had high hopes for this story, having read William Ritter's Jackaby books, and while this was different in many ways it certainly met my expectations. Following two identical boys, one of whom is actually a changeling, the story was darker than many middle grade fantasies without verging into horror. The world building was compelling, the characters fully drawn and engaging, and the story contained Ritter's signature humor even with the creepy vibe. I'll be handing this to readers 10 and up who look at that cover twice.

Well, Middle Grade has gotten intense! Ha! Goblins, Faeries, children who have to save the world. It's everything you could want in a fantasy book. I wasn't sure what to expect while going into the book, but it definitely exceeded my expectations.. From the first chapter to the last, I was engaged and hooked on the story line. Goblins that swap infants, magic that is fading and two boys that can save them all. This book gave me the feels of a 90s adventure movie mixed with high fantasy. I loved every minute of it. From the boys, to Annie, to all the side characters. I highly recommend this novel for all MG lovers of any age! 4/5 stars!

I have yet to read a William Ritter book I didn’t love and The Changeling was no exception!

Ritter’s new series is filled with magical adventure, unique characters and a story that is as dark as it is heartwarming.

The Changeling is a must read that will appeal to the next generation of reader as well as those who are already fans. I’m already looking forward to the next installment!

Seriously, where were books like this when I was growing up?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to read and give my honest opinion.

To my mind, changelings are a vastly under-explored mythological creature so I'm thrilled to read any book that examines the life of a changeling. Especially when the resulting book is as charming as this one. Ritter shows us several perspectives and motivations: the changeling, the human raised alongside him, the mother that raised them, and the goblin that attempted the swap. We see a world that is in flux, magic perilously hanging on and a darkness that threatens everything. And each character has a motivation. Sometimes these motivations intertwine, sometimes they are at odds with one another. And perspectives that are at odds one chapter may align the next. That sounds messy and confusing but the flow is nearly seamless.The ideas are complex but accessible even for a young middle grade audience. I look forward to seeing the directions Ritter will take this series.

A sweet fantasy story with plenty of adventure and light scares, and a lovely theme running through about mothers' love, and how family doesn't have to mean blood relations. Something about it didn't completely enthrall me - I think perhaps that the characters felt quite shallowly drawn, and I had a hard time imagining real people saying things the way that these characters did. I felt that Fable and the Witch of the Woods had the most spark of life in them, and I really liked them and their interactions! The twins who are the main characters, though, felt underdeveloped to me, and I would have been more invested in finding out which of them was the goblin if they had ever shown personalities through their actions and thoughts, rather than the narrator just telling us that they had personalities.
Still, I think this is a book that could capture the imagination, and it's great to show adoption treated so well in fantasy - this will warm many a heart. I think I would say for my personal enjoyment three stars, but for the quality and themes of the book, four is more appropriate.

They say “parents know their child”, but is that really true? If your child was switched at birth with a child that looks exactly like the child you gave birth to, would you know? That is something that has been troubling Annie for 13 years. Kull, a goblin, did a botched job of switching the children. He was distracted and the changeling adapted to the baby before Kull had a chance to make the switch. Everyone has heard the stories, but what they haven’t heard… Tinn and Cole, the children have one day to figure out who is the real child. Magic is at stake… let the adventure begin!

Let me start by saying, I know I am way past the age for the targeted demographic, but I loved this book. It was funny, witty, intriguing, and full of mystery! Reading Jackaby first, I wasn’t sure what to expect of this series. When I was offered the opportunity to read and review this story, I jumped at the chance because of the author. I’m so glad I accepted the offer because I read this in one sitting and I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. The characters and the world created was fascinating. I can’t wait for the next book!

“Once upon a time, there was a child whom the goblins came to steal, and once upon a time, there was a child whom the goblins left behind…”

I don’t reach for middle grade fantasy terribly often because I tend to be picky, but when I do, I’m looking for specific things: a whimsical world I can escape in, a sense of humor that can make me smile (or better yet, laugh out loud), and characters I can genuinely love and care for. I cannot even begin to tell you how flawlessly William Ritter’s Changeling checks every last one of those boxes for me!

“We’re in the Wild Wood,” he whispered. “Uncharted territory.”
“It’s not uncharted. We’re twenty feet from where we hang out every day, and I am literally holding a chart.”
“Don’t ruin this.”
These characters are so precious and laugh-out-loud funny, but their quest is one wrought with endless suspense because you can’t help but love them and want them to succeed. It’s such a fascinating and pulling story from its barest bones, anyways, because from the very start, you know you’re rooting for them despite the fact that their intended quest doesn’t seem like it could possibly end in anything short of tears.

He could have been made of fire and she would not have let him go.
After all, this journey isn’t just about changelings and goblin-folk and magic; more than anything, Changeling is about family — blood-bound, or not — and the lengths we will go to when we want to keep our loved ones safe. The bond between Cole and Tinn is just as strong and sweet as any bond between human, blood-linked siblings, and even more so, Annie Burton’s motherly love for them both and the way she refuses to choose one over the other — it’s downright precious. Talk about the unsung hero of a story.

“Stories are important. They are born, they die, they’re born again.”
While the characters were my favorite part of the story, Changeling has more going for it than that: the writing is spare and lovely, crafting a three-dimensional, beautifully fleshed-out world — full of whimsical characters and creatures, good and bad! — in a very short span of time. This is undoubtedly going to be a hit with bookworms and reluctant readers alike, and I, for one, can’t wait to recommend it (and to eagerly pick up the second book when it releases!).

All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was so excited when I was asked to be a part of this blog tour.  I absolutely loved the Jackaby series, and I was hooked when I found out this book was set in the same world.  While it has been a while since I read Jackaby, diving into this book felt like coming home to a world I fell in love with.
I absolutely loved Tinn and Cole's mother!  She knew that one of her sons was a goblin, but she loved them both equally and exponentially!  It's a great message for kids that may be adopted or living with a foster family.  No matter what, they deserve to be loved!
Really all of the characters are amazing!  They are all well-developed which makes them that much more likeable, and you just want to root for them all.
I also felt that the pacing of this novel was excellent.  It wasn't too fast or too slow.  It left you hanging when it needed to and explained things when needed as well.  I always feel like Ritter's books have very good pacing, and they grip you enough that you find yourself still up at 4am and you're flipping the last page.  And I feel like pacing in a middle grade novel has to be just right to keep younger readers interested in what happens next.
If you know a young reader in your family, I would highly recommend you tell them about this book.  Or better yet, you get it for them as a gift!