This was first novel I've read by Andrew Chilton and I'd certainly read more of his work. I actually read this book quite a while ago and I'm not quite sure how I missed posting a review of it! It's a gripping fantasy adventure with so many mysteries to uncover. The boy has no name. The goblin holds all the answers. Can they work together to solve the many mysteries of the Goblin's Puzzle?

The Goblin's Puzzle was refreshing change to the recent children's literature I've been reading. Far less mystery and adventure stories which are actually well written have been appearing for children. It's nice to stumble across a well-paced, enjoyable fantasy book. The story is humourous for myself as an adult and children alike. What I loved the most about it was that it wasn't predictable. I thought I might have been able to see what was coming and then the plot just kept getting thicker. There's fantastic characterisation throughout which made it a joy to read.

I'd recommend this for children who want a mystery packed with adventure and twists and turns around every corner.

Much More Than Swords, Dragons and Rescues

O.K., this very good book needs a little upfront explaining. The "Goblin Puzzle" part refers to the fact that our hero falls in with a trickster Goblin who lies, delights in misleading, and often speaks in cryptic logic puzzles. He can see the future and can advise our hero and his cohorts, but they have to think through and "solve" his statements. That's a bit more than you might expect, but it's done well and to me it lifts this beyond the usual middle grade adventure fare.

Our hero is just "Boy". He has no name, which is an important element of the plot at many points. We start with Boy's escape from his master. But here's the hook, and an example of what I'm trying to describe. Boy finds himself on his own while traveling with the master's son because his master's son has been murdered. Boy feels it is his duty and his fate to return to his master. But he knows that if he does so he will be blamed for the son's murder and will be put to death. So, Boy reasons that as he is the master's property, and as his first duty is to protect the master's property, and as to return would lead to his death, and as that would be the destruction of the master's property - it is must be his duty to escape. That's pretty sophisticated stuff.

Now if this book were just a tarted up intro-to-logic course I'm not sure where I'd come out. But it isn't. It's a funny, touching, well plotted, well paced, clever, and suspenseful adventure tale. Boy and the Goblin he saves become traveling companions, with the Goblin as a smart-mouth mentor/Obi-Wan sort of character. Into that mix we add the first Alice, (Plain Alice), who Boy saves from an ogre and a dragon, then a second Alice, (Princess Alice), who Boy saves from a dragon. We add a very literal and pompously over-educated dragon, and then a crowd of scheming pretenders to a royal throne. Plain Alice wants to be an apprentice sage and is cleverer than everyone else put together. Princess Alice isn't spoiled, she just doesn't get out much. These four make a great team, with a constantly shifting dynamic and with distinct individual strengths and weaknesses. Escapes turn about half the time on standard adventure and half the time on wordplay and quick wits.

Now, none of the humor is antic or manic or dopey. There are lots of amiable jokes, and deadpan observations, and dry asides. Minor characters are called upon to pepper the story with funny lines and little bits of business. The tale isn't exactly edgy, but some of the jokes can be a bit pointed. There is funny dialogue, and the villain is particularly in top form when sneering at or verbally sparring with our heroes.

So, lots going on here. Four engaging characters, some derring-do, and an earnest attempt at clever and wordy humor make this, to me, an interesting choice for a confident middle grade reader.

(Please note that I received a free 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.)