Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

This was an enjoyable and quick read. Simple and detailed at the same time, with some great characters and well paced action.

I thoroughly enjoyed Goblin Market, a wonderfully dark middle-grade fantasy by Diane Zahler.

In their usually quiet village, sisters Lizzie and Minka spend their days in a continuous loop of routine. Everyday is the same - tend the fields, mend the clothes, harvest food and bake bread for the weekly market. While Minka is warm and generally loved by all, Lizzie is standoffish, barely handle physical contact and honest to a fault.

One Friday Minka comes back from market enthralled by a mysterious boy selling impossibly ripe fruits. He insists that she try his wares, and begins to sow beautiful possibilities for a different life. Lizzie begins to worry that their simple and routine life may be beginning to change, and when Minka falls under a mysterious unbreakable sleep, Lizzie will do anything to find answers and save her sister - even if it means going up against evil creatures she once thought to only be fairytales.

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As a huge fan of the darker side of folklore, I truly loved nearly everything about this story. The plot flowed nicely, the subtle magic of the world building was fantastic and the characters were well developed throughout. I do have to say that my absolute favorite thing though was Lizzie. Her character was so wonderfully written, and what some considered her weaknesses were really her greatest sources of strength.

A book about polish folklore and goblins? SIGN ME UP.
You gotta know that I am a big sucker for retellings and seeing that this also contained my home countries folklore, I just couldnt resist and it turned out to be a WONDERFUL addition to my retelling pile.
First of all: In this book we follow both Lizzie and Minka, two sisters as close as ever. Things do start to change when Minka heads to the market and comes back head over heels for a boy called Emi, which unknowingly to Minka in her rush of love, has actually bae intentions and is not the person he pretends to be.
You can't fathom how HAPPY I got when I saw that Lizzie has synesthesia!! This is the very first time I have ever seen this condition, that I also have, in media. Plus Lizzie being on the spectrum and being so well written was just amazing. Overall, all characters felt so incredibly round, so full of life and sometimes made me forget that I was reading and not just part of the story, running alongside Jakob and Lizzie to save lovestruck Minka. The sisters relationship on top of that was just so wholesome and full of love that made this read such a beautiful one. One critique that I have though, is that the writting at times was very simplistic for a middle grade book. But then considering the topics, it wouldn't pass as a Childrens Book neither. I definitely enjoyed this read a lot and I'm thankful for Netgallery letting me read this book early!

"A girl at market. A boy with fruit. A girl who gives the boy something of value. a girl praying and weakening, failing and sleeping. A girl disappearing, or dying."

I was five-years-old when Labyrinth released, so I wasn't quite old enough, but years down the line it became one of my favorite movies of all time. Ever since, I have been obsessed with anything having to do with goblins, especially The Goblin Market poem and any books inspired by it. Suffice it to say, I jumped at the chance to read this.

Lizzie is younger than her sister, Minka. Maybe not as pretty or talented (according to herself) and perhaps a bit more shy and introverted. Nonetheless, she loves her sister and would do anything for her, so when Minka suddenly becomes ill, she follows the clues that lead her to a strange boy in the weekly market who may or may not be what he appears. Lizzie must overcome everything to save her sister.

Lizzie is a determined and fierce heroine who overcomes her own worries to step outside her home to save her sister. Her love for her family far surpasses her fears. Another remarkable thing about her is that she is a syntesthetes, a person who can see colors in music or words among other things.

This is a middle-grade book, so it is not too violent and gory, which is perfect for younger viewers. I'd even say it teaches young people not to give your love and trust to someone so easily, which is a key theme in a lot of fairytales.

I am happy to include this book on my shelf with other Goblin Market retellings.

This middle grade (ages 9-12) book was such a fun read for me. It is based on the poem by Christina Rossetti, The Goblin Market with some polish folklore thrown in. I love Christina's poetry and I was really looking forward to reading this one.

Two sisters love each other dearly. One goes to the Market and eats the goblin fruit that is forbidden. Once she tastes it, nothing else will satisfy her and she becomes I'll. The other sister goes on a quest to find a cure. The poem ends tragically, but the book has a happily ever ending.

I just might incorporate this into a poetry lesson for the kids sometime.

Thank you to Holiday House Books and Netgalley for sending me an eARC of this book to read for free in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful re-do of the classic Goblin Market poem. The atmosphere is fantastic and it really packs an emotion punch too. A lovely read for fans of fairy tales and folklore.

Goblin Market by Diane Zahler is an adaptation of a poem of the same name by Christina Rosetti. The story follows two sisters, Minka and Lizzie. Lizzie must save Minka from a goblin and his mind games.

I must make clear first that I am not the target audience for this book, as I am a young adult and this is for middle schoolers. Perhaps I am overly critical because of this, but it is unintentional.

While I know it wasn't for me, and I won't enjoy it as much as 10-14 year-olds, I found it a quick, fun read! I finished it in about two hours. The pacing is good. Its to-the-point tone made me chuckle at times, especially contrasted with the eerie atmospheres it creates. The characters, though lacking in dimension, are very charming. I was rooting for Lizzie the entire time, and Jakob was a positive masculine figure for younger boys. The pseudo-medieval, Slavic-inspired setting was also appropriate - it felt definitely out of a fairy tale in the best way! I think it blended "modern" (consider Disney adaptations) and traditional (think Brothers Grimm) folklore ideas in a way that makes it engaging for kids. And in my opinion, Lizzie is definitely autistic, or at least coded as neurodivergent; seeing her as the protagonist in this story was quite inspiring. I hope other authors take Diane's lead on this!

As an adult reader, however, I do have some qualms. Because of the quickness of the plot, the story was rushed along at points. While the climax made sense, it fizzled out abruptly, leaving me slightly disappointed. I had a difficult time connecting to the characters, especially the kids; some things felt forced, such as the Doctor providing comic relief or the characterization of the relationship between Jakob and his father (especially since its resolution is also abrupt). The kids' dialogue waffled back and forth in maturity and felt inconsistent with the way kids that age actually speak. Lastly, I have trouble reconciling the goblin character, as goblins are frequently an antisemitic trope. I think calling it a demon or something else would eliminate this quandary entirely. [Note: The author could be Jewish, in which case I have no say in the matter as a non-Jewish person, but my research on this was inconclusive.]

Overall, I believe this would be a fun horror fantasy book for kids in the specified age range, and despite my issues, it was a fun read.

“Goblin Market” by Diane Zahler is a middle-grade fantasy heavily based on folklore. Sisters Minka and Lizzie live on a farm with their parents. Lizzie is a little different: she doesn’t like crowds, she doesn’t like to be touched, and she can see sounds as colors. Minka, on the other hand, is outgoing and loves to be the one to take their wears to market each week. After one market, Minka comes home changed because she met a boy. But all is not right in Minka’s world. With the help of her friends and some kind adults, Lizzie must rescue her sister from the boy’s (or is he something more sinister?) snare or lose her forever.

This is a book I would have loved to read in upper elementary or early middle school. When I first saw the title, I thought, “Ooo, Labyrinth!” because of the association with the goblin king. I was not disappointed in the feel and danger in this story. The stakes are high, and Lizzie overcomes what she sees as her shortcomings over the course of the conflict. I appreciated that the adults in the story—except for her friends’ father—are kind, helpful, and understanding. Many times we get dead or absent parents in middle-grade lit, and the rest of the adults are evil or neglectful. This was a nice change.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of fantasy, horror, and folktales. I would even use it as a read-aloud to a class since it is quite easily accessible with few twists or turns. I enjoyed “Goblin Market” by Diane Zahler and look forward to more work from her.

A lovely retelling of a classic tale that would be a great beginner novel into the world of classics or fairytales for children of a middle-grade age.

A nicely done classical story with a modern twist. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion and acceptance of Lizzie being on the spectrum (but it is never said which is refreshing) as well as that she sees colors when people speak. I also appreciated the feminist twist with Minka and her autonomy of self once she is cleared of the poison.

Sisterhood, forbidden fruit, a goblin prince, and the quest to save a sister before it’s too late. Lizzie and Minka are sisters, Lizzie is shy and senseitive while Minka is outgoing and cheerful. Lizzie hates going to the market and prefers to explore the woods alone, Minka loves going to the market and meeting new people. When Minka returns from the market and tells Lizzie about how she’s met a boy who offered her exotic fruit and that he is charming and handsome and the one for her Lizzie is baffled. Soon Minka’s obsession with this boy grows worse and worse, and so does her physical health and soon Lizzie will have to find out who this boy is and what he’s done to Minka. Soon Lizzie comes face to face with this mysterious boy who has bewitched her sister... and he is non other than a zdusze, a goblin and his name is Emil. Emil will do anything to have Minka while Lizzie will do anything to save Minka from him. When Emil takes Minka, Lizzie will have to find the courage in herself to brave the dark woods and the world of goblins in order to save her sister. This was a sweet dark fairytale about sisterhood.

*Thanks Netgalley and Holiday House for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Goblin Market is a quick, enjoyable enough read, its atmosphere being the nicest part of the book. However, I felt like it took way too long for the story to begin; the synopsis says Minka is taken by the goblin prince and Lizzie has to save her, yet that happens close to the 70% mark of the book.
I also thought most of the characters felt flat, with Lizzie - who is well-portrayed with traits that suggest she's on the spectrum - being the one exception. Minka was only there to be taken, and Jakob was only there to be enamored with her and help Lizzie because of it.
There were also a few problems with the ebook formatting and revision (like Jakob being called Jacob at times, or repeated words where they did not make sense) that I hope will be corrected in the finished copy.
Overall a quick, creepy read that should be well-enjoyed during Halloween season.

Wow! Enticing and intriguing, the story and bond between the sisters felt authentic and is wonderfully written. You can feel the love they have for each other and nothing in the world will stand in the way. Loved this one!

This was a great spooky story, it had a great premise and I was interested in the universe that the author created. The characters were beautifully done and I enjoyed the way they were written. Diana Zahler was able to write a great fantasy novel that works for all ages. I can't wait to read more from Ms. Zahler.

"Lizzie squinted at Emil. She remembered the moment from their first meeting when she thought she had seen something else where he stood. Something different. The torchlight flickered, and for second Emil seemed to flicker, too. In that instant, she saw the creature she’d almost seen before: sharp teeth, eyes that glowed red. And then he was handsome Emil again."

<i>Morning and evening
Maids heard the goblins cry:
“Come buy our orchard fruits,
Come buy, come buy</i>

Written in 1862, Christina Rosetti's poem <i>Goblin Market</i> is a dark literary fairy tale and triumph of allegorical writing, with several possible interpretations including Sapphic romance, the bonds of sisterhood, drug addiction, and sexual assault, with a bonus potential element of Victorian classism if we choose to view the goblin men as foreigners to Lizzie and Laura's whiteness. Given all of these themes, I wasn't sure that the poem could successfully be the basis for a middle grade novel, but Diane Zahler has more than proven that it absolutely can. Taking as its main inspiration the line "For there is no friend like a sister" from the final stanza, Zahler sets the story in 19th century Poland, where elder sister Minka (Laura in Rosetti's poem) is tricked by a handsome-appearing Slavic goblin named Emil. When Emil tempts Minka to buy a fruit from him with a lock of her hair, she unknowingly enters into a bargain with him and begins to wither away. Lizzie, her younger sister, musters up her courage to fight the goblins to win her sister back.

There a numerous references to the poem throughout the book, including Janina (Jeannie) who died of goblin fruit and a particularly well-done (and G-rated) version of the scene where Lizzie risks metaphoric rape to get goblin fruits for her sister - Zahler keeps the letter of the text while taking out Rosetti's double-entendre. Zahler also choose to put Lizzie on the autism spectrum and to give her synesthesia, both of which work remarkably well; the former is just a piece of who Lizzie is that everyone accepts and the latter turns out to be integral to saving her sister. There's no suggestion that Lizzie needs to be someone different or more in line with social norms; in fact, it's Minka's adherence to those norms that gets her in trouble.

All in all, this is both a strong dark fantasy middle grade novel and a very interesting interpretation of Rosetti's poem that will hopefully encourage kids to read it...and to think twice about taking gifts from handsome strangers.

This is a fun, fast read with great pacing for a middle-grade audience! An original take on Rossetti's poem. I found the main character, Lizzie, to be a very compelling and original character, and I liked the dynamic between her and her sister, Minka.

Y'all, I really enjoyed this story! I don't want to give details because I want to be careful about spoilers; when I read this last night, I'd forgotten the details of the description, only remembering it was based on the poem Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti, and I think being fuzzy on the other details made it better, for me at least. I loved the folklore-ish feel of the story, the slow burn, and the creepiness in the tone. I adored Lizzie - what a great character she is! I enjoyed watching her grow as events unfolded. And the relationship between her and her sister Minka is wonderful. Emil, our shape-shifting goblin villain, is the epitome of toxic masculinity, and the way things ended felt both appropriate to the story and very contemporary. Lest I forget, it was really cool how Lizzie's neurodivergence played a huge part in saving the day. This book really worked for me, it pushed the right buttons, and I can't think of anything I didn't like about it!

#GoblinMarket #NetGalley

For those of you looking to scratch your goblin lore itch, this book will do it! A new spin on the goblin market tale, while still remaining true to the core. The goblin tale unfolds in this immersive, luscious, enticing story of sisterly love and bonds that should never be taken for granted. Lizzie and Minka are sisters who live on the outskirts of a small village. Lizzie can see the colors of sounds, and is not fond of public settings/being around people. Minka is outgoing and artistic. The two of them spend all their time together until Minka meets a mystery man at the market. Upon eating his fruit she becomes enamored with him, and a few days after returning home she becomes ill. No one knows what caused the illness, until Lizzie takes her place at the market and meets Emil (the mystery man).

This was a cute one! I didn't know what to expect from a middle-grade retelling of <i>Globin Market</i>, but I adore the original poem and was eager to find out. Lizzie is a delightful main character - quiet, plucky and resourceful, and fiercely devoted to her sister. I love the evocative atmosphere and enticing creepiness, and Lizzie's determination to get her sister back.

On the downside, the pacing was a bit all over the place, dragging in parts and then too rushed in others, and Lizzie's synesthesia felt a bit like a plot device in some parts and was confusing in others. The other characters were alright; I liked Minka because Lizzie does, and Emil has some eerie creepiness to him but not quite the otherwordly allure I wanted.

Overall this was a very quick pleasant read and a lovely retelling.

A Polish inspired retelling of the classic horror poem.

I really enjoyed the fast pace and mild horror aspects of this middle grade retelling. The Polish folklore and worldbuilding added a fun twist. This was a very quick read, only about 2 hours, and I enjoyed every minute of it. It is a very middle grade book, so some things weren’t as developed or described, but it was still very well written.

Lizzie is a wonderful character, and her chromestesia (the ability to see sounds in colours) was a really interesting part of the story, and it was used in a way that made the entire story both fun and spooky.

Minka is another wonderful character, and she plays the role of the elder sister well, although it was interesting to see the roles reversed in this retelling, but it added a bit of uniqueness as well. Along with the other characters, Lizzie and Minka are two characters that I can see many people loving.

I will say that the beginning of the book dragged on a little bit, but it was a great build-up and helped the story run smoothly.

Thank you to NetGalley, Holiday House and the author for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.