“THE CITY THAT NEVER STOPS CRYING”

I just finished GOBLIN, A Novel in Six Novellas by Josh Malerman, and I’m still reeling at what he has done with this book. He has intertwined these novellas so cleverly–they all take place in the same city, on the same night where one character's car may backfire, and another character may hear it in “their” novella.

It rains constantly in Goblin, and each of these six novellas tells tales that happen under the relentless rains of Goblin, ‘the city that never stops crying.’ But first, there’s a prologue to welcome the reader and set them in the proper frame of mind. A suspiciously shaped box must be delivered secretly to Goblin between midnight and 12:30–if that window of time can't be met, the container must be destroyed. The job pays well–if nothing goes wrong–but the box has a life of its own. And that sets the tone for this haunting book.

There were moments that resonated with me, that I will remember long after I've put the book away, not always the big moments, but ones the crawled under my skin, the extra bits that Malerman planted deep in the stories.

In “A Man in Slices," the story was about something else. Still, I'll never forget the all-encompassing wetness at the summer camp between the rain and the lake, then Richard’s awful realization that he’d lost track of his friend and everyone’s terror that Charles had probably drowned. They were on the buddy system, so the adults said it was Richard’s fault—and oh, the guilt as they search and look in the water for a drowned boy. I know guilt, don't you? If we come to books to find out that we aren't alone in our feelings, Malerman nailed it, again. “A Man in Slices” was about so many other things, too; this was just a bit.

“Kamp” is delightful horror as it presents the story of a man, a Goblin historian, who gets so tied up in the past that he isn’t paying attention to the present. Maybe not everyone is delighted with horror, but there was that moment when all the bits clicked into place—delightful. Horror. Yes.

“Happy Birthday, Hunter!”– I love owls, and Trachtenbroit's affinity with them is also mine. The tale of Trachtenbroit's discovery of The Great Owls and how he brought them to the North Woods is a fabulous mini-story within the larger story. It is a rare gem set inside this novella that just goes to show how layered the history of Goblin is in this novel, more faceted than I can possibly present in a short review.

I’ll leave you to discover and wonder at “Presto,” “A Mix-Up at the Zoo,” “The Hedges,” and “Epilogue: Make Yourself at Home.” Finally, Glenn Chadbourne's Illustrations are superb, and the one of The Great Owl, which appears at the very end of the book, left me breathless.

Thank you to #NetGalley #RandomHousePublishingGroup #Ballantine #Goblin for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback; this is it!

Goblin is a well-written book that doesn’t suffer from short, stunted sentences. And that’s because Malerman was able to do what he wanted. The result is a tense thrill ride that had me quickly turning the pages. The anthology style was fantastic, and may be Malerman’s best writing style.

A man believes he has found his soulmate, now a morbid requirement has been implemented to prove the peculiar legendary love. A unique magician travels from town to town mesmerizing audiences with his irregular supernatural abilities. A little girl enters a maze of manicured hedges determined to solve the mystery it withholds. These as well as many more secrets & mysteries await, as the gated entrance of a strange city slowly creeks open for an invitation to explore. Welcome to the town of Goblin.

Author Josh Malerman compiles six eerie novellas centered around the fictional community of Goblin. James A. Moore kicks off the book providing a bit of background information along with acquainting the reader with the locale of Goblin all beautifully included in the foreword. An added treat that complements each story effectively are the illustrations by Glenn Chadbourne. These set the mood for an unnaturally fun filled time.

Malerman begins his distorted tour by introducing the reader to ghostly visions, midnight wooded shadows and haunting legendary myths. The interlaced stories become one entity, as a uniquely bizarre presence flows smoothly from one occurrence to another. Clever wit is randomly placed throughout, achieving those little needed breaks now and then from the core of uncanny fiction. However, it’s the spooky heebie-jeebie moments which is the actual staple of this book.

From the gorgeous cover art to the incredible content, I was totally enamored by the creepiness of this book. Home of the endangered Great Owl, the infamous Hedge Maze Attraction and of course the beautiful North Woods. Goblin has something “special” for everyone.

Josh Malerman takes readers to the fictional city of Goblin in a reprinting of a sextet of novellas, where it’s raining constantly and the dead are buried standing up. As seen in blurbs and starred reviews for the initial limited press of this collection, Goblin is likened to Derry or Castle Rock, but doesn’t quite live up to the promise of a fully mastered universe.

The book’s prologue follows a driver as he’s given an odd set of instructions to deliver a box to a mansion in Goblin and told to destroy the contents if the addressee does not answer. The story seemingly ends with no real conclusion, though is ultimately wrapped up in the prologue, thus book-ending the novel in a narrative that seems to bring in small hints from the other stories included.

Malerman does a great job writing believable characters and the novel shines through them, however the connections of the novellas don’t seem to align to create a cohesive town. Besides the small hints that something is amiss in its history, from odd slow-talking policemen to the rumors that there is a witch in the woods, the characters themselves could have all lived in separate cities, as their stories stood alone, rather than in a fully fleshed out environment. Seeds of the city of Goblin are dropped in each story and referenced in others, with the middle novella Happy Birthday, Hunter dropping the most environment-building, told through information dumps on the city’s history. The prior two novellas, A Man in Slices, in which an estranged friend tells his tale of an odd request of his long-distance lover, and Kamp, a tale of a paranoid man trying to entrap the paranormal in his apartment, all had a rather rapid pacing, making the info dump in Happy Birthday, Hunter a quite abrupt halt in pace.

“[…] nobody aught to be tasked with maintaining their sanity forever in a city that never stopped crying.”


The following story, Presto, a coming-of-age tale of a kid who admires a magician who may be more than he seems, follows the languid pacing of the prior novella, yet seems more fleshed out than any of the others and where the myths and legends of Goblin are at their peak. Anything is magical and mythical through the eyes of a child, making the notion that Goblinites are buried standing up more understandable rather than ridiculous, as kids believe anything.
A Mix-Up At the Zoo is probably the saddest story in the collection and also the one that could most take place anywhere else. The protagonist’s mental struggle and coping between working in a slaughterhouse and as the loved guide of a zoo culminate to a depression conclusion that may leave readers with little hope of continuing on into the final story, The Hedges.

“Maybe because they know there’s an end to their rope, too. And they wanna know what it looks like before they reach it.”


Much like Presto, the last story is the most rooted, literally and figuratively in the city of Goblin, using the most of the city’s history and also detailing what’s up with their police force. The sheer scale of the titular hedges themselves is a bit unbelievable, but the narrative is probably the most engrossing of the whole lot. A tale of lost love entwines with one of childish curiosity in a back-and-forth breakdown of the city’s whole.

While not as big and encompassing as a Derry or Castle Rock, Goblin has some semblances of a real city, and the framing structure for Malerman’s book is an interesting one, however it seemed as though half of these stories could have all lived on their own and survived. He sure can write some compelling characters, though, which shone through Goblin’s rain-streaked skies in A Man in Slices, Presto and The Hedges.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Goblin by Josh Malerman is a superb and engrossing read which will keep you reading until the end. Well worth the read!

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. Malerman literally cannot disappoint. This book of novellas left me wanting more and CREEPED OUT. I literally couldn’t put this book down and finished in one reading. Amazing character development and integration. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is, by far, the best anthology I've ever read.

[Blurb goes here]

There's a central character in all these stories: Goblin, a small city built in forbidden grounds. The chief of a tribe witnessed something, back in the colonization days, something that forced him to take drastic measures against settlers. Still, with some sleight of hand, the settlers founded what is now the city of Goblin. Josh Malerman weaves a careful and oh so beautiful spider web, discreetly but effectively entwining all the book's stories. Is not unusual for an author to write different voices in a novel, one for each character. What pleasantly surprised me was Malerman's way of creating a new voice for each story, which in turn created a myriad of voices for a myriad of characters. Still his style was not lost from one story to the next. I didn't read Goblin, I savored it. Taking me longer to read it, than average, it was worth it! Each new tale full of possibilities. I can't recommend Goblin enough. It's creepy, it's scary at times, it hangs on to you long after you've read it, the characters are brilliant, each one nuanced and full of life.

Maybe it's just me, but I would definitely read a second installment on the magical city of Goblin.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advance copy!

Four stars from me, which means I really like it! Goblin... Oh, how Goblin took me back to a time when we fought over Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Goosebumps. Just when I thought I couldn't love Malerman more, he wrote Goblin. I think what impresses me the most with Malerman, as an author, is that he has a unique writing style in that he's a chameleon wordsmith; frequently changing. Oftentimes, a reader is able to identify a book's creator via writing style only, but I never would have guessed the author of Birdbox, Inspection, etc. is the same as Goblin. As per usual, I have thrown myself into reading Malerman's writing. I gobbled Goblin up!

I was lucky enough to be given an advanced reader’s copy thanks to NetGalley.

There is a multitude of ways to express how it felt to read Goblin but I've chosen to settle on breathless. It will in all the ways possible leave you breathless, wanting more but unable to have more because there is nothing left to give. In a six-story collection, all told on the same night across the strange town that is Goblin, Michigan we are following the trials and tribulations of its occupants. I would imagine living in a town like Goblin would be like living in an episode of Black Mirror, or The Twilight Zone since you felt a strange sense of uneasiness as events unfold through the eyes of its residents. Now it says that there are six stories but really it's technically seven since we are given a full circle moment from the prologue at the end. Each character's narrative had a weird interconnection to one another and I don’t mean that just because it takes place in the same town but because as I was reading I was able to connect the dots of how each character is related to each other in some way, related or socially.
To put it in better words because I feel as though I am confusing you, dear reader, although strange events are taking place, everything that happens is for a reason. There is an invisible thread flowing through the residence in all six stories connecting their fates. At times you feel claustrophobic, dizzy, and honestly, as if you were in the mind of madness. Madness... Such a great term for what you have come to expect reading Josh Malerman. All in all, I enjoyed the overall arc of the story, some points of view were lacking but others picked up that slack. Characters were given great dimension, building their characteristics until you felt like you were right there with them, witnessing their spiraling. Goblin felt as though it was written to be a miniseries or movie, it had that kind of depth about it that was enjoyable. I hope this review has helped you readers and I truly hope you decide to pick this one up in the future. Happy reading!

Note: I will be having a more indepth look at Goblin on my page emilyreadshorror.wordpress.com in the coming weeks. Thanks! x

Goblin started out with a mysterious, heart palpitating prologue that immediately draws the reader into the world.

And let’s talk about the world of Goblin, Malerman makes it known almost from the start that this is a strange town, in strange territory with some really devious history. This was my favorite part of the novellas; how each and every one delved a little deeper into the weirdness that is Goblin. Each story built the world up into a solid creation. By the epilogue you have to wonder what this world was based on? Is there some place out there like Goblin?

The character building was phenomenal as well and added just that much more to the town of Goblin. You have two friends who grew up in Goblin; one trying to be the best friend he can be, the other an obvious psychopath. You’ve got “Hunter” a rich and powerful figure in Goblin who wants the one thing he can’t have. You have two curious kids trying to solve all the mysteries of Goblin. And the police?! Who/What exactly are they?

I loved these stories. Anyone would enjoy this book, even those not drawn to horror. It’s a great mixture of horror, fantasy and mystery. 5 stars!

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reading copy. Thank you Josh for writing it! This is a wonderful wild ride through the town of Goblin. Its short stories are each unique and also intertwined with the other stories. Sometimes bizarre but always entertaining. I loved this novel and will recommend to those who like spookiness but also those who want to read something a little different. It's beautifully written and certainly different.

GOBLIN is like if the movie Trick'r'Treat had a more nuanced older sibling. It was so good.

GOBLIN is a series of short stories which all happen over the course of one night in the mysterious and maybe-cursed town of Goblin. The stories, while all focusing on different people, places, and happenings within the town, are all interconnected in a way that paints a rich picture of the town and its sordid history.

This book is named for its atmosphere and it's apt. For me, this is the perfect horror setting. A cursed rainy town, a mysterious forest, a defined culture that's secluded and shrouded in mystery. You sink into this setting. I think it was very cleverly done as well, entering into this town in the first story with an outsider, knowing as little as he does but understanding the mystery, and passing through its gates with his wide eyes. And while I actually didn't love the second story (it kinda dragged), I think it did help to gain a sense of the layout as well as some of the lore.

The third story was the turning point for me where I realized the book I initially thought was getting a three star could end up being one of my favorite horror novels. And once you get going with the third story, learning more about the history of the town and the obsessions of its people, it takes off from there.

The characters themselves are so well done. Like I said above, a big theme for this book is "obsession" and we see that through the characters. Each story following another characters obsession, so while some of the characters themselves are wholly unlikable, their individual obsessions are fascinating. My favorite character to follow was the Hunter, who is arguable the most unlikable of the cast.

I think a drawback for me, however, was some of the history of the characters we dove into. I enjoyed that the events all took place on the same night, but sometimes we'd get a *lot* of backstory into these characters that for me, took me out of the setting. It felt a bit unnecessary, overdone, and rushed me to want to get back to the night in question. I understand creating rich characters, but sometimes it felt like we were getting backstory to explain something I would have been happy to suspend my disbelief for.

This was weird, and macabre, and unique.

I'm happy this is going from a limited release to a full release so more people can experience the world, history, and obsessions of GOBLIN.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group + Ballentine + Del Rey for sharing GOBLIN in exchange for an honest review.

Prologue: Welcome 4/5

Starts us out with creepy happenings and sets the mood satisfactorily. A delivery man gets some very strict instructions with cargo that seems to make noise on its own.

A Man in Slices 5/5
Once the story reached a certain point it was obvious what was going to happen next, and I think that was by design. A gloriously brutal and dark first story—a man needs just a little bit more help from his friend to win a lady.

Kamp 3/5
This one was more comical to me than anything. I just pictured a middle aged man running around his room, crazed with fear, when there’s nothing every time. Funny but dragged a bit.

Happy Birthday, Hunter! 3/5

This one dragged with very little payoff. It was beneficial in establishing more of the lore of Goblin, and there were creepy elements, but with how long it took to get to those moments it didn’t feel as worth it. A big game hunter tries to decide whether he wants to explore the dark woods of Goblin to find the elusive and forbidden owl.

Presto 4/5

Nice and ominous! A magician is a little more real than people think, but of course his magic comes with a cost. He just doesn’t mind paying with other people’s bodies.

A Mix-Up at the Zoo 4/5

The title tells you everything. A man can’t remember if he’s working his job at the slaughterhouse or if he’s working his job at the zoo. Predictable, but that downward spiral was very entertaining to witness.

The Hedges 4/5

A little girl solves a hedge maze, finds the prize within and reports it to Goblin police. Only that police force may just be scarier than what she found. I absolutely loved the ambiance of this one and it was reminiscent of Bird Box with the intensity and chill-inducing backdrop. Those cops sound creepy as hell.

Epilogue: Make Yourself at Home 4/5

A fun and fitting end to the completion. In this we finally get to see what’s in the delivery truck and the ramifications of opening it. Definitely a good one to round out the stories.

Overall: 3.87 rounded to 4 stars. Atmospheric, creepy little nuggets that created a lovely mythical realm where fantastically unnerving things can happen. Bonus points for the illustrations, they were a welcome addition!

As with all of Josh's books, there are flashes of brilliance. There were times I felt I was reading his best, but there were also bits where I couldn't help but skim. Having first read this when it was initially released, and again now, I really wish an editor would have sharpened up their knives and spent the time to take this down to a lean piece of steak before re-releasing.

As it stands, it's a fantastic book...that could have been brilliant.

Intensely creepy from the first page to the last!

Malerman has created a town I would love to revisit over and over, assuming the creepy noises that seem to keep occurring whilst I read stop occuring. Not sure how many times I needed to be scraped off the ceiling while I read, but worth it!

I have mixed feelings about this book. I felt it was very well written, which encouraged me to keep reading. At the same time, parts of it were very boring. I didn't like the long, introspective passages. I wanted more action. I wanted more horror. There was definitely some creepy stuff here, but not enough. The town of Goblin sounded very interesting, but the people were just kind of meh. My favorite story was the prologue/epilogue. And the main character of that story wasn't even a resident of Goblin.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The stories in this book all revolve around the town of Goblin. It is marketed as 6 novellas in one novel and that is what it is. They are all intertwined yet separate. I tend to not be a big short story fan and again this proved me correct. Though is was better than most short story books that have nothing in common from story to story other then the theme. I enjoy Mr. Malerman's writing so that also helped me enjoy this more than most story story collections. I am giving this a 3.5 star review rounding to 4. Though not for me, as I stated I enjoyed the writing and enjoyed this more than the typical short story reads I have read in the past.

I received a copy of this novel through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge Malerman fan... however Goblin fell short for me.

The book starts off strong, sucks you right in... but the last 2 stories kind of fell off from the main hook that had me from the start. The epilogue brought it back shortly, but those two final story lines really killed my interest.

Outside of that, the atmosphere of the book... the characters...and even how the stories all weave together is fantastic. The way Malerman allows your imagination to run wild with his words keeps you captivated.

This wasn’t my favorite book by him, but it will not keep me from recommending or continuing to read his work.

Goblin
A Novel in Six Novellas
by Josh Malerman
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

Goblin is a peculiar town where the citizens are known to be even more peculiar than the town's name. They even bury their dead standing up! This book has six short stories about different citizens of this town. These are not horror stories like Freddie or something that will jump out at you in the dark. These are the type of horror stories that attack your mind. They nibble on your brain. They bring all the taboos, morbid ideas, silent fears, atrocities, built up anguish, and depravity that lurks deep in the soul of some, hearts of others, and minds of all. Most people never think of these dark things, but in Goblin it's a different story.

I found that the stories were intriguing. They had great characters and a creative atmosphere. The plots were each unique and held a underlying taboo, fear, atrocities, or such that nibbled on the creep factor. That's what made these stories horrifying. The wickedness that was laid bare. The endings were abrupt but I believe that was intentional. The story made it's point. Now think. The stories stayed with me long after reading.

My favorite story was actually the welcome story! Wow! Terrific!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this wonderful book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the eARC.

Welcome to Goblin. A town where it’s always raining, where darkness is always near, and where things go bump in the night.

Josh Malerman, author of the famous Bird Box, which was made into a Netflix movie in 2018, writes about this town in 6 novellas which will be published on May 18th, 2021. I loved Bird Box (the book, ask me about my feelings about the movie sometime) and his follow up, Malorie. Some of these novellas live up to those novels, and some just don’t. It’s a problem. If he had taken one or two of these stories and turned them into full fledged novels, they could have been great. Unfortunately, this collection of short stories was weighed down by the novellas that weren’t written as tight (some of the stories really dragged for me) and weren’t as scary.

Some standouts: The Prologue was great, really set the collection up for good things. I loved Happy Birthday Hunter! and The Hedges. Both were pretty near perfect for me. Also, Margot was a great character, even if she didn't come in until the end. I would read an entire novel about Margot.

Some I didn't like so much: The Mix-up at the Zoo didn't work for me. Same with the Epilogue (what a let down!).

Malerman is clearly a great writer with awesome (and spooky) ideas! I think he could have taken any novella (even the ones I didn't like) and made a great novel out of them. But as a series of short stories, it fell a little short for me.