I don’t know if goblins are the new fae but this book makes a compelling argument in their favor.

“The White Stag” takes us into the darkest parts of the forest where the Goblins reign supreme though the title of King is only granted to the strongest among them and when it’s time to crown someone new the bloodthirsty race to claim the thrown and kill the infamous White Stag begins.

So I’ll be honest and say I was hesitant to read this book because of a negative review that mentions the main characters rape and I know that’s a sensitive topic for a lot of people, myself included so I feel the need to address it first in this review. Though it’s a shame to see rape used as a a needless plot device I didn’t feel like this was done in a way that some tv shows or films have recently been criticized for.

We know pretty early on that this is something that has happened and has left physical and emotional scars on our protagonist and it explains some of her reactions both in isolating herself as best she can given her circumstances as well as determination to keep fighting as her abuser is a lingering presence in her life. We never see the actual act but it is alluded to as we learn more about who she is and the cruelty of Goblins in terms of their relations to humans and though it is in the background during the book it fully remains her story and does not at all try to make us feel sympathy for the abuser or make her face this assault at a pace she’s not comfortable with with those around her.

Now on to the actual plot! This was so different than what I expected because let’s be honest goblins aren’t something we usually see leading a fantasy story so it was refreshing to have this take on the mythology especially given their physical differences to what we are used too. I really liked the set up of who gets the throne and that it doesn’t shy away from the winner take all politics in a somewhat darker ‘Hunger Games’ style race to the finish.

The main characters were great I really loved Janneke and the transformation she undergoes as someone who has the odds stacked against her from the jump but refuses to give up. Her strength is something to be admired and I really loved how she straddles the line between both who she is and how the past and present can influence what she will become.

Overall this was a bit of a dark horse that comes out swinging and doesn’t let up until you’ve reached the conclusion leaving you hungry for more and I really can’t wait to see where this series takes us!

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

I had some difficulty with the beginning. The world where Janneke lives (since an hundred years !!) is not build. It took me a long time to really understand the construction of that world and its polical aspects.
And it was disturbing to read the descriptions of goblins. I always saws this creatures monstruous, so that’s the originality of the novel.
Despite the lack of details about the world of her novel, the author is a good writer. She knows how to make her story addictive.

I feel very conflicted about this book because it is very different than anything else I've ever read and the first two parts resonated strongly with me. It follows Janneke, a human, who has been enslaved by the goblins for a hundred years. At the start, she currently serves as a thrall to a white haired and lavender eyed goblin named Soren, who unlike her previous master has left her alone for the past hundred years. However, Janneke wasn't an ordinary human before she became a thrall but as a child she was treated as her father's heir, called by a boy's name and learned to become a pretty good hunter. This skill has served her well and when the old goblin king dies Soren invites Janneke on the hunt.

Now, the hunt is a pretty big deal. When the old king dies, normally slain by one of his subjects, the white stag that sits by his throne flees and the rest of goblindom must hunt it down and kill anyone, who gets in their way while on the hunt for it. It's a blood fest and Janneke is just as ferocious and vicious as the goblins she abhors.

The book deals with some pretty heavy themes, including rape and torture, as well as, Janneke slowly coming to accept what happened to her. There is a lot of inner monologue detailing these thoughts as she travels with Soren and his bloodthirsty companions, but nothing is ever explicit. She does consider goblins to be monsters, but also realizes that she has become more goblinlike than she would like. I would also like to add that I disagree that her abuse is ever used for shock value but deals with this difficult subject in a brutal and realistic manner. Not everyone reacts in the same manner to trauma and I think Janneke's journey is wonderful but also hard to swallow at times. She is brutally disfigured and I think it's totally valid for her to dwell on this - I know I would. Anyways, it is never treated as a joke but instead handled with the utmost care.

However, I am a little ambivalent about the last section. For me, the first two parts were action packed and kept my interest (I was waking up early to read a couple of chapters before I began the day), but I felt like the last part resolved a little neatly. Especially considering that this is the first in a trilogy. Firstly, it killed off the main antagonist, which is good, but I expected to see him again. So, I'm not really what to expect from the next book but that is my only qualm. I will admist that we do have a rather intriguing prophecy from a raving loon and that there is A LOT that happens in the final moments that I can't wait to see unfold. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a goblin court political intrigue story line - I do love those.

My last little scrutiny is about why Janneke's past is so important. It's practically the summary for the novel and I don't think it really played a purpose in the overall story. Sure, it creates the sense that Janneke has always lived on the border of in-between, but why would her father make that decision especially considering what is revealed in the middle of the story? And I mean, it is a cool little backstory but it felt over-hyped without a lot explanation. Here's hoping that my line of inquiry is thoroughly investigated in the next book.

Dark, thrilling and highly personal. This is the kind of fantasy that tears its talons into you from page one and does not let go even after the book has closed.

This was a book of four sections. Well, at least my thoughts when reading it divided into four. Here’s an insight.

Section 1

This is slow. (Put book down). Am I ready for a new book yet? (Pick book up). That last one was brilliant. (Put book down). I really should give it a go. (Pick book up).

Section 2

Oh my word, this is brilliant! There’s so much going on and I love the protagonist. Maybe I’ve had time to adjust to the setting and way of things. I can’t believe I didn’t like the beginning. The exploration of self worth, identity and body image is great. Quite a feminist text.

Section 3

Ugh. Of course it had to be a love story. Why couldn’t it be something else? It could have been so unique and didn’t need the “we’ve spent a hundred years together and I’ve felt nothing but anger and disgust towards you but now I’m irrevocably in love with you” plot line.

Section 4

Well. Wow. All is forgiven. I did NOT expect that conclusion. How refreshing.

I’d say read it but be prepared for a pendulum of reactions.

Delightful, dark, and edge of your seat writing makes The White Stag one of my top picks. I do love a good dark fantasy and the author perfectly word weaves a tale that would combines all the right elements.

First of all, WOW! I loved this book! Anyone who is a fan of the "Throne of glass" series and "Wintersong", this is right up your alley. White stag is about a girl named Janneke who's been a captive in the goblin realm for more than a century and is fighting to hold on to her humanity. Beautifully written with a rich, well thought out atmosphere and wonderful characters that you can't help fall in love with. i am looking forward to reading the next book in the series

*ARC received from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

I hate, hate, hate to say this but I did not finish this book at 50%. Honestly, I probably should have stopped earlier, but I had hope that it would get better. In the end, it just got even worse. Every few pages I had to stop and check to see if this was the second in a series. Information seemed missing from the backstory and the world building. Why are these goblins beautiful? Why do the male and female ones look different? What happened over those hundred years to get the two characters? How do the goblins get power from those they kill?

Even with all those questions to keep me reading what ultimately stopped me was just how one dimension Soren and Janneke felt. Janneke's rape was a big part of her history, but it was mainly all we knew about what happened to her during her years with the goblins. Instead of just telling this fact to us once or twice the fact that she was raped is forced into the reader's face over and over. It seems like the author was making up for the fact that we didn't know much about her by trying to make us just focus on that aspect. I really was not expecting rape when I started this book. Nowhere is it warned and while it is not in very graphic detail the information is enough that it could be triggering for some people.

Soren. Oh, Soren, you had no depth to you at all. Really, all I understood about him was the fact that he loved Janneke for some reason. They declare their love for each other 50% in and it is so disappointing. There is nothing there that makes me feel like he really loves her. Janneke quickly realizes that she too loves him within a just short percentage of the book. If her feelings were built up for longer and the declaration of love was saved for later I might have finished the book. Ultimately, I just couldn't finish the book.

I really enjoyed this story! I did have a few problems, but overall this was a very strong start to a promising series that I hope does well because I want that sequel!

I thought Jenneka's character was amazing. She is probably one of the strongest female characters I have ever read and that's saying something. She never gave up and I loved that she never bragged about her abilities. She was humble and just trying to survive in a world that wasn't her own. My one problem with her though is that she gave in to Soren too soon. I would have preferred that romance to blossom in the next book and only because we aren't really given a history between the two. A few flashbacks would have helped along with a bit more serious dialogue about their relationship. I mean I loved them together and I thought they were an amazing team, but I wanted the romance to be drawn out a bit especially after everything that she went through with his uncle.

Soren was great as well. I loved that he let her be her and saw her as beautiful even with her scars. He saved her only when she had no chance of staying alive and he trusted her to do what she had to do to stay alive in battle. They were truly equals in every way and that was fantastic to read.

I will say that I thought this book could have been a bit longer. I would have loved to have had more backstory and history regarding everyone's lives and just the overall world. I think the author did a great job throwing everything in, but I just wanted more which I guess is a good thing. I also wanted more explanation in the beginning about the Hunt. I didn't realize the whole book would be about the Hunt and I found myself a bit disappointed that I wouldn't be able to see more of the world. It was great what I saw don't get me wrong I just wanted more! I'm a greedy reader at times I suppose.

All in all though this was really good. I read the synopsis for the sequel and I'm a bit leery since Lydian is being seen as the only option to a bad situation. He did really really horrible things, and I just don't know if I am okay with him being called back to life. I don't know I guess I will just see because I am definitely reading the next installment.

One more thing! I really loved that this was about goblins. I have never read a book about goblins so this was a nice change of pace.

Sigh. DNF at about 30%. I really hate doing that, especially to an ARC, but it just wasn’t doing anything for me. There was nonexistent world building in a story that DESPERATELY needs world building. Seriously, don’t compare it to Game of Thrones without deeeeeeeeply building characters, environments, etc.

Wish I’d enjoyed it more! Just seemed like the author had a singular idea for a girl and a goblin boyfriend/owner, and didn’t feel the need to build beyond that. Things just happened and we kind of had to just roll with it without the exposition. Oh well!