Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book to review.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book, it was a dark and creepy fairytale story. It was pretty predictable with how the villain would be vanquished, but that happens a lot in fairytales. The only part I wasn't happy with was the fortune teller, it really was an unnecessary part of the story.

Minka and Lizzie are sisters in a small village, Minka goes to the market weekly to sell their farm produce and Lizzie stays home for fear of being around people. Minka meets a boy one day at the market and he offers her a piece of sweet fruit and something more. Minka ends up getting sick and no one has any idea why, Lizzie struggles to help her sister and faces her fears to save Minka.

But Lizzie was speechless.

She simply held up the hairbrush, clumps of yellow hair dangling from it.

Minka screamed, clapping her hands to her head. But it was too late. Much of her hair had separated from her scalp, and it lay in a mound in Lizzie’s lap, like a fairy-tale pile of straw that had been spun into gold.

Lizzie is shy and nervous, but when her sister Minka falls prey to a mysterious boy at the marketplace and his strange fruit, she must investigate what’s going on and rescue her.

I’ve not read Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market,” but I am familiar with its plot and was excited to see how Zahler would interpret it in this middle school book and this Polish setting. Still, I found myself rather surprised with how quickly I got sucked into this book!

Lizzie is a compelling lead, an intrepid child with a lot of love for her family and friends. Her bond with Minka is quite evident throughout the story, which is important as it serves as the keystone of the entire tale. I also liked Lizzie’s synesthesia and how it was used in the story.

I also liked how the writing was dark and atmospheric without getting too frightening – the author manages to strike a balance where a young reader would be creeped out but not terribly frightened, and the good endings all round certainly help with that.

Overall, a really enjoyable read for both young and old readers.

firstly, thank you to holiday house and netgalley for the arc!

this was a fun read. unfortunately, it seemed a bit rushed for my liking. lizzie was a good character, but other than her i felt as if the others were rushed and lacked development. however with that being said, there are still things i really enjoyed about this book, such as the retelling of mythology and the way this book was written. it was fast paced which i usually like, but goblin market fell flat for me in some places. if you want a quick read filled with magic and family, then you’ll probably enjoy this book.

triggers ;
• kidnapping
• murder
• death
• coercion

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4716443058

💢TW: Physically abusive father💢

I'm half Polish, so I thought this Polish folklore book would be super interesting to check out. It did not disappoint! The MC Lizzie can see sounds as colors which adds a unique element to the plot, especially since you don't see much synesthesia rep in books. The story itself was beautifully written and I loved the worldbuilding! The imagery of the zduszes (goblins) was pretty spooky too! I felt like the plot had a bit of a slow beginning and a quick end. I thought Minka would get taken by the goblins sooner and Lizzie would have to spend most of the book trying to get her back, but she only really spends the final quarter trying to save her sister. Overall a wonderful MG story ☺️

“Goblin Market” is a middle grade book with strong fairytale vibes; the classic dark fairytales. It is based on the poem by Christina Rossetti (which I discovered thanks to this book and loved it).

The strongest point in my opinion was the atmosphere and the writing style. When I was a kid I was fascinated with dark fairytales so this book took me back to those days. On the other hand, the world building is not the most remarkable aspect and the characters are a bit cliché, but I did love Lizzie, the younger sister. Lizzie has chromestesia, meaning she sees sounds in colour and it was fantastic the way this played a big role in the story, I also liked that people were nice to her, accepting her differences and respecting her boundaries.

In general this was an entertaining story, one that I’d have been thrilled to love as a kid, with a nice message that I think not only kids will enjoy.

Christina Rossetti’s "Goblin Market" was one of my favourite poems on my first-year English language and literature reading list at university.

But even at the time, the fanciful tale of temptation and deception terrified the living daylights out of me.

So imagine my surprise when I came across this middle-grade retelling from popular children’s author Diane Zahler.

And while this version of the story downplays the innate sexuality of its source material, it is every bit as horrifying as its predecessor.

The emphasis placed on the sisterly bond between Lizzy and Minka is a lesson that is sure to resonate with young readers.

And while the simplistic writing makes the tale more accessible for kids, I have to admit that the style was rather bland for more mature readers.

I suppose what I’m trying to say is I don’t really know what I thought about this book, but maybe give it a try?

Also, stay away from strange fruit.

This was a charming fantasy with a tiny bit of horror. The main character Lizzie was was very sweet and interestingly has synaesthesia, Has whimsical fairy-tale vibes with the goblins etc. and a really nice focus on telling your loved ones how you feel. 3.5 stars.

It is a charming interpretation of Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market with a Polish twist.
Beautifully written and adapted for middle grade but also speaks about contemporary issues - neurodivergence and whether to speak when you were assaulted. Lizzie is an amazing character and I can relate to "seeing" colours of sounds.
I would definitely recommend it for middle grade readers and grown ups who would like to read a nice Polish tale.
.

I absolutely loved this reimagining of Rossetti’s poem, ‘Goblin Market.’ It is full of adventure, thrills, and a test of familial love. The world building and characters were so well done, especially Lizzie with her synesthesia.

When Minka falls ill, it is up to her sister, Lizzie, to find the cure. But, as the tale unfolds, Minka runs away, in the name of love. Can sisterly love break the spell, or will Minka forever be kept by maniacal goblin?

Premise: A novelization of Christina Rossetti's poem of the same name.

Things I Loved:

1. NEURODIVERGENCE. The main character, Lizzie, is a neurodivergent synesthete. While that's great on its own, it's the other characters' treatment of her that really makes this awesome. Sure, a few of the village kids make fun of her for being different, but children are horrible beasts, so that's to be expected. Everyone else, though, accepts Lizzie as she is. Basically like "the older sister doesn't like cabbage, and the younger sister doesn't like hugs or loud noises." That kind of normalization. It's just who she is, and that's awesome.

2. The interpretation of the source material. Christina Rossetti's poem is awesome, but it's a poem, and that kind of writing isn't accessible to everyone. The novel format can help introduce readers to the story, and then those who are interested can go on to discover the poem later.


Things I Did Not Love:

1. Simplicity/length. It's great to be focused on the plot. Sometimes novels lose their way and you're just sitting there screaming at the author to get to the point already! But I felt like Goblin Market kind of went too far the other way. I think we could have benefited from a richer world building and more fleshed-out characters.


Who It's Good For:

This book exists at, I think, a weird crossroads of JFIC and YA, so it could suit either audience. Recommended for those looking for a quick read, those who love fairy tales/retellings, or those looking for female-led adventure stories.

I received an ARC of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good fairytale or folktale and this story seemed to be just that. It was an easy, quick read with all the elements of a dark twisted love story. It involves two sisters, 2 friends, and a mysterious boy who isn’t so human. The older sister, Minka, becomes obsessed with said boy after eating some of his fruit at the market.

And so the story begins with one of the rules of dealing with the fair folk being broken right off the bat. Don’t eat the fruit!

Lizzie and her friends must try to save her sister from everything that comes next in order to prevent her from having a terrible fate.

I was really wanting to like this book from the description and the first few chapters which reminded me a lot of The Call by Paedar O'Guilian. It seemed like a very interesting look at Polish folk lore, with which I'm not at all familiar, as well as featuring good representation of a character clearly coded as autistic in a time period when that descriptor didn't really exist. It was also great for our main character to learn to embrace and utilize her chromesthesia, even though at the beginning of the book it is a source of anxiety and embarrassment. In the end though, the story felt like a bit of a let down. It was extremely linear and felt like it spent most of the book building up to an inciting incident just to resolve it with very little setbacks within a few chapters. This may have been intentional, trying to recreate the feeling of simple, traditional fairy tales. For me personally, though, I wish that more time had been spent with the main character after the sister's disappearance and that rescuing her was more of an adventure rather than just a quick trip to the woods.

I was gifted an ARC e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Rating: 4 stars

Goblin Market follows Lizzie as she tries to free her sister Minka from a goblin she encounters in the town market. This book combines traditional aspects of fairytales and legends alongside new interpretations to provide a fresh, engaging story. One of the things that I loved the most about this book was that it felt like a fairytale retelling without the predictability that comes along with that.

Lizzie is an excellent protagonist to follow and her synesthesia is used in a really wonderful way that felt both true to the character and helpful to the plot itself. Jacob and Minka are both reliable, interesting supporting characters that add naturally to the plot.

Overall, this book is an easy to follow, fairly short, enjoyable read that is great for any middle school reader or older.

A fine, short read for reluctant young readers.

The Goblin Market is the story of two sisters, Lizzie and Minka, who live in a vaguely European town during vaguely middle ages. Very fairy-tale-esque. While the world building may not be exact, the atmosphere invoked by the author is quaint and vivid, described in rich sensory details.

Lizzie is the shy younger sister who prefers to stay at home with her mother and father doing chores. Her sister, on the other hand, loves going to market every week to sell the goods from their farm and chat with the other villagers. When Minka returns home one evening after market gushing about a new boy and the delicious fruit he was selling, Lizzie is unsettled by her sister's sudden infatuation with this stranger. Her unease is quickly replaced with suspicion after Minka falls ill after meeting the boy again and eating his strange fruit. As the situation goes from bad to worse, Lizzie must find it in herself to overcome her shyness and help her sister see through the market boy's lies.

I, and the book, used "shy" to describe Lizzie, but I couldn't help but wonder if her behaviors and thoughts were meant to invoke autism. This story isn't set in modern day so the same language and diagnosis couldn't be used, but Lizzie becomes overstimulated, doesn't like to be touched, and doesn't understand non-literal thinking or phrases. I'm not autistic myself, so I can't speak to how well this was done. In the book, her friends and families learn and respect her boundaries, though it does come off as condescending at some points. There is also a scene of children making fun of Lizzie because of a public meltdown she had, which is then shown in a flashback, should any reader need to know.

Overall, I thought this was a nice little story that read like a traditional fairy tale. I'd recommend it to young readers 4th grade and up.

Goblin Market is an eerie, middle grades tale that will have young readers standing on their tiptoes to find out what happens next. Sisters, Lizzie and Minka, are there for each other no matter what, until a strange boy with strange fruit shows up in the Market. Lizzie, who can see sounds as colors and is averse to physical touch and crowds, must conquer her fears in order to find out what's going on with her sister. This book is well-written, wonderfully representative of the neuro-divergent kids of the world, and draws from Polish culture to create a brilliant and enchanting fairy tale.

Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!

Goblin Market was both terrifying and magical. Perfect for those who enjoy Labyrinth, Pan's Labyrinth and other dark fantasies. 4 stars.

This one started a bit slow for me, but once I got into it, I ended up enjoying it. I think part of the reason why it took a while to get into it was that I had to get used to Lizzie as a main character. Lizzie has synesthesia, where sounds appear as colours to her, and it was really heavily focused on early in the book, to the point where I found it a bit distracting. However, as the book progressed, it became less pronounced and was more sprinkled in here and there and brought up when relevant. However, while I had a small issue with the focus on it in the beginning of the book, I ended up really appreciating Lizzie as a character, she not only had synesthesia, but seemed neurodivergent as well. However, Lizzie is just presented as the way she is and had no desire to be anything but herself, which I appreciated.

I also loved the themes of the book, such as the importance of family and the importance of facing one's fears. Both Lizzie and Jakob had some great character growth through out. A lot of Lizzie's is motivated by her love for her sister and I found her willingness to put herself in uncomfortable situations to help her family very endearing. And Jakob's growth to facing up to his father was important as well.

One other minor issue I had was that I wish we had gotten to see a bit more of Minka's personality before the story really got rolling. She felt a bit flat compared to Lizzie and I wish we could have gotten to know her better.

I really enjoyed the sinister, creepy feeling through the second half of the book. I love books based on folklore and fairy tales and the author did a great job of combining that with the creepy atmosphere.

Overall, this is a fun, fast read with an interesting main character and a perfectly creepy atmosphere.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Diane Mahler's The Goblin Market is a charming adaption of Christina Rossetti's poem. It works hard at staying loyal to the core relationship of the sisters while still doing world building. Lizzie's love for her sister Minka shines through and serves as the driving force for the plot.

There were some weak points in the novel, the pacing was (at times) odd. Sometimes it would spend a little too much world building without adding to the plot. While other times the pacing seemed rushed. Lizzie being able to "see" sound was interesting, but served more like a deus ex machina that allowed Lizzie to see danger. It didn't really move the plot so it felt really unnecessary since the solution didn't require it.

The real strength of the book, besides the wholesome sister relationship, is how creepy Zahler manages to keep the story without being too dark. She keeps the unnerving feeling of the goblins without the sexual tension in the original poem, making it a perfect adaptation of Rosetti's poem. Emil was off putting but at the same time hypnotic, making it easy for the reader to understand why Minka fell for him and why Lizzie could sense the danger.

The creepiness of the final act in the woods was perfect. The desperation of Lizzie and the grotesque atmosphere elevated the tension in a way that made the stakes even higher.

If anyone is interested in fairy tales or adaptions, this book will be enjoyable. Young fans of Gail Carson Levine will also feel a connection to the book as it reminds me of The Two Princesses of Bamarre.

Any work of fiction with "goblin" in the title or a reference to Rossetti's timeless poem has my attention in an instant. For me Goblin Market was a no-brainer. I snapped up this ARC as soon as I saw it!

Here Zahler presents a thrumming, vibrant retelling of Rossetti's enchanting classic. Full of mystery, eerieness, deceitful goblins, and--most importantly and truest to the original--boundless sisterly love. I simply cannot elucidate how I love the relationship between Lizzie and Minka. I was near tears thinking of my own sister and what lengths I would go to to save her!

I also need to note the stunning use of chromesthesia (perceiving sounds as colors) as a plot device. I can honestly say I have never seen this done in a book before! Brilliant, fabulous; I am wowed, to say the least. This will not be the last I read from Diane Zahler--I am a fan!

Goblin Market is the story of two sisters in the country helping their parents run the farm. Minka is in charge of selling their goods on market day and one day comes home telling sister Lizzie about a boy she met who gave her the most wonderful fruit. A few weeks later, Minka falls very ill and Lizzie sets about finding out what happened and desperately tries to save her sister's life.

A story of courage and love, as well as a good reminder to tell those close to you how much you love them. For me this story had the perfect amount of spookiness and was beautifully written. I loved following Lizzie as she faced her fears and anxieties to save her sister.