I came across this book on NetGalley and had vague memories of favorable reviews from book friends. (Ironically, I was wrong; most are on the fence or didn't care for it). Since I can never refuse a gorgeous cover and intriguing plot, I decided to give it a try. I was completely mesmerized by the storyline; it's somewhat dark, intense, and heart wrenching. The book has historical vibes, set in two realms, and features music and goblins. There is a lot going on, but it all works beautifully.

Liesl is the narrator and at times, is unreliable. It was the thing that both frustrated and fascinated me the most. I experienced her truths and feelings but not always the "realness" of events. It could be confusing, but when the book was over, I was left feeling compassion for her plight. Like Liesl, I often had conflicting emotions over the Goblin King. Their relationship is heartbreaking but intense. The author does an amazing job creating their connection. I only wish there had been more on his character.

For a debut work, I was impressed. The book is on the longer side, and at times, the pacing is slow. Despite that, I enjoyed it and was heartbroken where things ended. Thankfully, there is no long wait for the second installment. If you appreciate unusual reads, I definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Dunne Books for my review copy.

UGH, YOU GUYS! This novel broke me. I swear it was one of the most beautiful and heart breaking fairytales I have ever read.

I am quite literally dying to read the next one. I need to know what happens. Beyond all hope my heart is invested in this book and these characters.

The Goblin King needs a wife.

But truly, as they say in the book, do you want to pretty lie or the ugly truth?

Leisl and the Goblin KIng's relationship is both beautiful and heart breaking. It both confines them and sets them free. The path they have chosen both saves one world and dooms another. But would you do it? Could you make the sacrifice?

GAH I JUST CAN'T EVEN. I CAN'T. I know that I sound like a whiney teenager, bu really, if you love a good fairytale that borders on the Grimm side, than you are going to love this.

What would you do for those you love?

Gorgeous prose, amazing detail of German life and folklore, and incredibly true to the music elements it entails. The story was pretty much ACOTAR with music instead of painting, but without the grand finale ending. Will check out book 2 to find out what happens to the MC's brother though! Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read and review this book.

This story was everything I thought it would have, but in so many layers. It was perfect at sucking me in and making me not want to put it down.

It is amazing to me how some people don't realize how twisted love can be and these characters are trapped in a whole world of darkness and pain with the hope of light and love just on the other side.

Liesl's world is her family and this young girl ends up doing everything in her power to protect them from the Goblin King that is playing one of his games with them. A magical journey for any lover of fantasy.

What I liked:
Wow! This story is beautifully written, complex and dark, yet hopeful. I loved the relationship between Liesel and the Goblin King. I loved how music and heart and soul are combined to create real feeling in this story. I loved how this was based in German folklore. The story is compelling and thought provoking, and the stakes are high.

What I didn't like: I felt like it was a little mature for young YA. But overall, super interesting...

Liesl (Elisabeth) is a young woman who is a musician and a composer, but her talents are overshadowed by her younger brother because she is a plain young woman living in a time when women could not further their own talents and interests as easily as they can now. She longs to be appreciated and desired, but she must continually make sacrifices for her family. One day in the market, her sister Kathe is lured away by the Goblin King, and Liesl must make a difficult decision to give her life in order to save her sister. Will Liesl die in the Goblin King's realm? Will she ever see her family again?
I had so many conflicting emotions while reading this book. The darkness of the story repelled me because I don't generally read dark novels, but I wanted to find out what happened to Liesl. I enjoyed the writing and could imagine the world the author created in a vivid way. Liesl frustrated me at times in the middle because of her temper tantrums, but I think she grew up and improved by the end of the book. I didn't like the sexual content or the profanity (I prefer what happens in the bedroom to stay there). I did find myself rooting for the romance between Liesl and the Goblin King to succeed, so the ending was heart wrenching for me. I am looking forward to finding out what happens to Liesl and her family, and I fervently hope that Liesl will get a happy ending to her story.
I received a review copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A dark fairy tale feel combined with vivid imagery and superb writing make this a MUST read for fantasy and sci-fi enthusiasts. For me, this story had the perfect balance of gothic whimsy, haunting romance, macabre intrigue and sentimental heart that swept me along on a journey that was unforgettable. The characters were complex and unique with amazing depth and a nearly-tangible edge of reality. I went through a gamut of emotions from joy, to sorrow, to laughing, to openly sobbing. This book was a quite beautifully-written work of literary art. I am not usually a big fan of this genre, but I could not put this book down and am now a dedicated fan of S. Jae-Jones. The sequel cannot hit my Kindle soon enough!

*I received a complimentary copy of this story from NetGalley & St. Martin's Press in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

An exquisitely-woven tale set in the court of the goblin king…

“Once there was a little girl who played her music for a little boy in the wood. She was small and dark, he was tall and fair, and the two of them made a fancy pair as they danced together, dancing to the music the little girl heard in her head.”

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones is an exquisitely-woven tale set in the court of the goblin king. I absolutely loved the Labyrinth movie years ago and, even after all these years, I still find the time to watch it every year. Back in early 2017, when I saw that this book featured a goblin king and a maiden, I knew I had to read it. Indeed, I inhaled every word, lost in the author’s fantasy world, picturing David Bowie as the hero, and wasn't disappointed in the least – far from it - until the closing... WTH! To say I disliked the finish is way too mild. That disappointing ending kept this darkly romantic tale from being a five-star read for me.

Wintersong is the tale of the Goblin King and nineteen-year-old Liesl. Liesel always believed in the Goblin King. She considered him a friend, having played for him in the woods as a child. Then… reminiscent of the Labyrinth movie, when Liesel should have been dutifully watching over her sibling, she indulges in playing her music. Her grandmother had warned her that the Goblin King would be out and about on the longest night of the year seeking his eternal bride, but Liesel ignored her dire plea to watch over her sister. You can guess what happens. Her sister is abducted by the Goblin King. To save her sister, Liesl journeys underground in pursuit. From there, the story loses any similarity with the movie in an imaginative, spellbinding tale.

I loved all the aspects of this story – the plot, the characters and the 19th century setting. The romance between the Goblin King and Liesl was slow-building, heart-warming and heart-melting. I so wished that the perfection had not been spoiled by such a terrible ending. That said, it’s now Jan 2018 and I have renewed hope that the resolution for this couple will become a well-deserved happy one as the author is releasing a concluding follow-up entitled Shadowsong in February. That news has behooved me to write this review as, until now, thinking of the ending of Wintersong has only made me sad.

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from Wintersong which illustrate the author’s poetically beautiful writing:

“Life,” he said softly, “is more than flesh. Your body is a candle, your soul the flame. The longer I burn the candle...” He did not finish.

“A candle unused is nothing but wax and wick,” I said.“I would rather light the flame, knowing it will go out than sit forever in darkness.”
---
“What is eternal life but a prolonged death.”
---
“What would you do, if you were a free man?”
“I would take my violin and play. I would walk the world and play, until someone called me by name and called me home.”

It’s hard to believe that Wintersong is S. Jae-Jones debut as it’s so wonderfully written. If enchanting fairy-tale romances teeming with magic and music appeal to you, I’d highly encourage you to check out this duology – assuming Shadowsong rewrites this couple’s ending in a good way. Shadowsong’s blurb gives me high expectations of just that! If so, the author will deserve every accolade as I have no doubt that Shadowsong will be equally as awesome as Wintersong!

4 1/2 Stars!

This book is about Liesl running her family's inn and dreaming of music and the goblin king which inspires her music.

Her sister Käthe is taken by the goblins and Liesl follows after them to rescue her sister. The goblin king agrees to let Käthe go for a price, Leisl's hand in marriage. A life for a life is his motto.

While he still inspires her, she is slowly fading away. As they grow closer, they have to decide what to sacrifice.

I absolutely love fairy tales so I devoured this book. I loved the fact it didn't focus on fae and it didn't have a stereotypical "beautiful" main character like most books do. I absolutely loved how the goblin king doesn't love Elisabeth for looks but for the music of her soul. This was an amazing book!

It's strange to feel almost exactly the same about this book as I did upon first reading it a year ago because to be honest I thought I would like it less on a reread.

The things I didn't love about WINTERSONG remain unloved and the bits that astonished me were equally moving and beautiful. The only thing I'll say that has changed for me in this reread is I feel I understand it more. I felt more of the connections, saw more of what was left unsaid, felt that it was a more fluid story than the first time; maybe because the more I read, the more I remembered what was to come. But it's still very long, it still feels unresolved (obviously, hello sequel), and there's a lot of repetition.

I am looking forward to diving into SHADOWSONG but I plan to step away for a book or two to give myself a breather from this world and the magical, though occasionally overwhelming, writing.

I received an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
2.5/5 stars

I’m in the pits of despair. I wanted to love this book. I was prepared to have it become my next obsession, to inspire and delight me, and bring me back to one my childhood loves.

As soon as I learned of it’s existence, I knew I had to read it. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. It was never the right time to buy a copy, so I kept it at the top of my list, gazing longingly at the gushing reviews online and wishing for the day when I could be one of those smitten reviewers. That day was never meant to be.

Imagine how thrilled I was when I saw it was available for request on Netgalley. I polished up my profile, hit the request button and squealed with delight when the book downloaded to my kindle app. I was in the middle of another book for review, so I had to wait an excruciating extra three days before starting Wintersong- curse responsibility to hell!

As a child, every friday night my parent’s would stop at the local video store, and for years I would pick out the same movie- Labyrinth, starring David Bowie’s pants bulge. I knew almost every line of that movie by heart, and I was guilty of frequently wishing for the Goblins to take away my baby brother.

I listened to the soundtrack- still do in fact. When I’m sick, its one of my go to comfort watches. I was incensed when my grade 9 English teacher chose to use Legend for our unit on the Romantic Vision, when the other teacher used Labyrinth. All this backstory is to let you see dear reader how much I thought I would love this book.

“What’s the use of running, if we are on the wrong road.”
― S. Jae-Jones, Wintersong

The fast and dirty spoiler free reason I did not love the book like I thought it would is that it did not contain any of the things that made me fall in love with Labyrinth. Below this point, I’ll get into more details about why that is, so if you want to keep yourself completely spoiler free, I’d recommend stopping at this paragraph. In the words of the Goblin King himself,”Turn back before it’s too late Sarah”. Just know that the writing was fine, there’s some quotable moments to make a pretty desktop book art out of, but I found myself struggling to keep reading because of a dull, plodding plot, an unlikable protagonist and some really questionable aspects to the romance story line.
The Spoilers Section: (because I love a good spoiler- seriously, I actively seek them out)


The characters felt flat, and while Sarah in Labyrinth and Liesl in Wintersong share the predisposition to believing they are put upon, misunderstood special snowflakes who the world never gives its proper due to, that was not something I enjoyed in the movie. Liesl pretty much enslaves herself to her family, taking on responsibility for all of them, mostly unasked of her, and then holds grudges about not being appreciated. Her internal narrative is a very judgmental and condescending one, and while her family is definitely not without faults and foibles, they also don’t deserve as much criticism as Liesl heaps on them.

“Once there was a little girl who played her music for a little boy in the wood. She was small and dark, he was tall and fair, and the two of them made a fancy pair as they danced together, dancing to the music the little girl heard in her head.”
― S. Jae-Jones, Wintersong

Take Kathe for instance. She’s written as the bubbly, boy crazy sister who flits across the surface of life, all shallow beauty and ease. Liesl clearly resents not being as beautiful as Kathe, and keeps her at arms length- choosing to see her as vapid, but never allowing Kathe to show her the depths that we eventually learn are there. Kathe may be focused on her upcoming marriage, but Liesl doesn’t see how Kathe is dreading it- she only agreed to the marriage to help her family. With Liesl though, she’s the single victim in the family- no one else can be a martyr.

“A sparrow is beautiful in its own way,” Käthe said severely. “Don’t force yourself to be a peacock, Liesl. Embrace your sparrow self.”
― S. Jae-Jones, Wintersong

With her brother Josef- or Sepperl as she calls him (with zero explanation as to why), Liesl treats him the opposite way- while Kathe is a eye roll inducing burder, Josef can do no wrong, he’s the brightest star in the sky. I find it a little strange that while Liesl loves music and composing, she is not allowed to actively pursue it because the family is investing in Josef’s talent- I’d think she, given the rest of her relationships/opinions would be likely to resent him, yet she doesn’t at all. We find out near the end that Josef is actually a changeling, her real brother having died in early childhood. This is a B plot and is not really explored much other than he weakens when he travels too far from the Underground, and he needs someone to love him in order for him to stay on the surface.

Her parents and Grandmother were after thoughts at best- Mom is beautiful and wants to keep up their social status and appearances. Dad is a former musician turned drunken inn keeper who struggles to keep a roof over his family’s head and is living vicariously through his son’s music. Grandma is a crazy old lady who believes the legends and fairy tales of the past and is always popping up to cryptically warn or criticize Liesl, then fading back into the bushes. Well not literal bushes but I’m sure you get it. Spoiler- Granny’s stories were true! There is a Goblin King! More on him later.

The Goblins were stock characters, with only 2 of them being named goblins and the rest being tragically underutilized set dressing. Twig and Thistle are our two named goblins, assigned to act as weird little ladies maids for Liesl when she is staying Underground. One is more helpful, one is more harmful, both kind of blend into each other, and I have difficulty remembering which was which or giving a description of them other than earthen gobliny? It seems some goblins are small and imp like, others can appear more human but exact species and taxonomy descriptions you will not find in this book.

The changelings suffered a similar fate, they could have been interesting characters to explore but instead sat on the sides lines for most of the book. The one changeling who is relevant to the plot stays nameless, and his inevitable betrayal of Liesl is not in the slightest bit shocking. After he betrays her, that story line just kind of stays there, not going any farther.

“You are a man with music in his soul. You are capricious, contrary, contradictory. You delight in childish games, and delight even more in winning. For a man of such intense piety, you are surprisingly petty. You are a gentleman, a virtuoso, a scholar, and a martyr, and of those masks, I like the martyr least of all. You are austere, you are pompous, you are pretentious, you are foolish.”
― S. Jae-Jones, Wintersong

Now for the one I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for- I know I was hyped to meet him. The Goblin King, Der Erlkonig, the…austere youth? This author is super fond of archaic words. If I had to read “troth” one more time I may have pitched my phone across the room. Which would have been fine, as I’m due for a free upgrade anyway. I didn’t want to accidentally bean one of the dogs though, so I bit down on my fury and forged along. Right, the Goblin King. David Bowie he is not. This version was allegedly the Lord of Mischief, feral like a wolf but charming like prince and…no…I just never saw it. He has a “MYSTERIOUS BACKSTORY” but it’s over used and played to give him an air of mystery, but it feels forced and fake. I wanted him to be darkness and light, magic and mystery, swoon worthy and dangerous, but no. He was just kind of there. Waving his fingers and saying “look, magic”. Okay, that didn’t happen but that’s what it felt like. I was like Dorothy, pulling the curtain back on the wizard, revealing his mundanity and wishing I had never grasped the fabric.

Moving on from the characters. The setting felt flat and dull, when it should have been magical and enchanting. The labyrinth itself was just tunnels underground. The few times Liesl had to “escape” it were some of the dullest parts of the book, when they should have been the most exciting. Where was the Bog of Eternal Stench? The Riddle Doors? The lovable characters you meet along the way? Most of the traversing the labyrinth scenes amounted to the Goblin King stalking and taunting her, and Liesl having to avoid been gnawed on by hungry goblins. The one trap that actually worked on her- the Goblin King using magical music to mess with her mind was thwarted by the fact that apparently if you are tone death like Kathe, the music doesn’t work on you. The changelings tried an illusion on Liesl too but that one was a bust because “they couldn’t mimic Josef’s talent with the violin accurately.”

“Have I not?” I gestured to the night sky. “I have beaten you and your godforsaken labyrinth.” “Ah, but are we not, in some ways, all trapped in a labyrinth of our own making?” the Goblin King asked lightly.”
― S. Jae-Jones, Wintersong

I found most of the locations underground to be pretty uninspired and poorly described. With how much effort the author put in to describing music in this book, I thought the setting would receive the same rich and lush descriptions. I was left wanting. The mental impressions of the settings left on me at the end was that the world above was glistening snow and blackberries and rich red wines, while the underground was brown and stone and tangle mossy roots that smelt of damp and rot.

Story wise, there’s just not much here. The majority of the book is the unhealthy love between Liesl and the Goblin King, but I’m not sure why they actually LOVE each other. Liesl is just desperate for someone to choose her, to find her beautiful, to validate her worth and existence. The Goblin King…loves her music and her…spirit? The constant references to Liesl not being beautiful really got old fast. She is so hung up on it, on the cross she has to bear for being born “plain”. Note- she is not ugly, she has no disfigurements, she is just average.

“What I wouldn’t give to be the object of someone’s desire, just for one moment. What I wouldn’t give to taste that fruit, that heady sweetness, of being wanted. I wanted. I wanted what Käthe took for granted. I wanted wantonness.”
― S. Jae-Jones, Wintersong

The sex scenes were uncomfortable. I don’t mind sex scenes in novels- as long as they serve a narrative or character purpose. These ones were excruciatingly badly written, and the connection between the two loves felt so forced. I also hate that Liesl constantly slut shamed her sister for flirting, but she is so ready to jump the Goblin King’s bones and is super sexually aggressive for someone so critical of her sister acting in anyway aware of human sexuality. Own your sexuality Liesl, but don’t deny your sister hers. It makes you a hypocrite. The whole “passion of sex causes the Goblin Queen to burn her life out faster” is some serious bullshit too.

“You are the one who wanted a happy ending, my dear. So you tell me, how does the story end?”
Tears slipped from my face, and he wiped them away with his thumbs.
“The foolish young man lets the beautiful maiden go.”
“Yes.” His voice was clotted thick with unshed emotion. “He lets her go.”

I can’t even begin to unpack how dumb I found the ending. The whole point was that she was supposed to sacrifice herself to give the world light and warmth, yet they are able to just say “Just kidding, take-backsies on our vows” and have her walk out of there, pretty much consequence free? I don’t get it but, full disclosure by that point I saw the light at the end of the book and I was barreling toward it, eager to be free of the Labyrinth of Boringtude. Book 2 is probably about how she finds a way to free the Goblin King, because she loves him. Despite knowing nothing about him, and never really having a good time with him. One of them was always upset.

The writing was okay. There’s quotable lines sure, but I found it to be overwrought and finicky. For a tale about characters who are supposedly wild and untameable, the writing went in the opposite direction style wise and was discordant.

This is definitely my least favourite read in the last year, and probably the most disappointing read for me in awhile. Have you read it? Were you like most people and loved it? If you loved it, I’d love to hear why in the comments. If you were disappointed and left feeling personally victimized by this book, let me know. We can go to group therapy together

First time reading this author and I totally enjoyed this book.
The story was beautifully written. I liked that it included a good variety of emotionally charged settings to keep the reader entrapped into the story.
You will feel love, hurt, pain and strength with the main character as she goes thru her journey.
Looking forward to the next book in this series.

Wintersong is such a surprising gem among YA fantasy! Our main character, Liesl (or Elisabeth) loves and looks after her younger siblings, filling in the parental role neither of their parents fit. Their small town lives feel laced with magic, and Liesl isn’t sure whether or not she made up her childhood companion, the Goblin King who lurked in the grove behind their house. Liesl’s protective nature and the memories of the goblin king she has been trying to forget come to a head— and a thrilling adventure filled with twists and a tenuous budding romance ensue!

What sets Wintersong apart:
The characters:
Starting this novel, I wasn’t sure what was going to set Liesl apart from similar fantasy heroines I’ve read; I definitely think the large role that music plays in this book helped with that, but to be honest it did take some time for me to feel like I actually knew Liesl. Part of that might be the way the plot shifted and thickened throughout the course of this story, giving her new depths at each turn. Her siblings come to life in much the same way. And then of course we have our Goblin King, half the wild ride of this book is trying to figure out our mysterious male lead and whether he is what he seems. He is definitely one of the more dynamic love interests I’ve read in YA.

The setting:
Every location is distinct and spellbinding. I think a large part of what makes this such a successful fantasy is how grounded in reality the parts outside of the Goblin Kingdom are and how those two worlds blend together.

The plot:
I love that I was never entirely sure that I could trust that what was happening was real, or all that it seemed. I think because Liesl was meant to be feeling much the same way, it was fun that I couldn’t figure everything out without actually reading farther.

All in all this book is such a fun ride, I can’t wait for part 2!

I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martins Press for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a new author to me but I am already a fan. I have to say that this book had me hooked from the beginning. I have read other reviews where it is called a dark romance and I would have to agree. Liesl, the forgotten child, the one in the background is able to be more and become more with The Goblin King. He helps her to become the composer. He helps her to see herself in a new light and not to believe what she was told by those in her family. The only catch is that she must not only sacrifice her life above ground with her family but also make the ultimate sacrifice of her life.
The cover is beautiful and I would love to have it on my bookshelf. I loved how the author added poetry through out the book that really helped to enhance the story. I am a fan of fantasy and folklore and that is what this book is all about. I am in love with the characters in this story and even though this book did not end how I thought it would I am happy to have the story continue in Shadowsong.
I think if I had to think of something to change I would say that it seemed to drag a little in the second part of the story. It had enough to keep you interested but… Beyond that the writing is beautiful and the story is amazing.

When I first read the synopsis of this book, I was imagining a "Labyrinth" style retelling, with battles and allies and a clever, dangerous, seductive Goblin King. It has similar characters to that treasured tale, but paints them in a unique and tragic light. The novel itself is a beautiful reflection on love and loss, selfishness and selflessness, and holds the reader in its thrall from the first 15 pages.

“There is music in your soul. A wild and untamed sort of music that speaks to me. It defies all the rules and laws you humans set upon it. It grows from inside you, and I have a wish to set that music free.”

S. Jae-Jones truly brought forth a Wintersong in the beautifully written fairy-tale. From the very first line, the story unfolds like a hauntingly breathtaking lullaby. The mix of magic, sorrow, love, and hope will take you on a journey you will never want to leave. Wintersong gave off the perfect mix of The Labyrinth, Hades and Persephone, and Beauty and the Beast.

This book made me feel every emotion imaginable as I thumbed through the pages entranced and needing to know what would happen next between Liesl and the Goblin King. I fell in love with the world and the Lord of Mischief. I connected with Liesl on in her protective nature of her siblings. And my heart ached as I came to find understanding in the Goblin King. I was not ready for the roller coaster ride my mind went on when I started Wintersong.

While I, myself, loved the mix of German folklore and German words melded into the story I've heard from a few people that they did not enjoy this as much. Having to stop and look up the meanings of words or phrases caused them to not enjoy the book as much as they would have. Personally, the beautiful flow of two languages made my experience more vivid as the story is set in Bavaria.

Jae-Jones does a magnificent job with the detailed settings throughout the entire story that you will feel like you are there in the flesh. You find yourself standing in the Goblin Grove as Liesl calls to the Goblin King. You get to dance at the goblin ball with all the masked faces. You find yourself tearing up as you listen to the sounds of Josef auditioning on his violin in the inn. Never has book captured all of the senses through the detailed words scrawled across the pages so invitingly.

If you want to experience the wonder that is Wintersong I recommend picking up your copy today as the highly anticipated sequel will be released in February of 2018.

Beautifully written, interesting settings. I loved Twig and Thistle for comic relief and I loved the Underground. Other readers, who have given this novel a lesser rating, have noted that there is much in the book that is not wholly original but for someone like me who has not been exposed to many "goblin" and "fairy" stories, it was very unique. I would definitely read the upcoming sequel!

3 stars. I liked the book, despite it being a chaotic mess!

First the negative. This book is scattered and unorganized. It doesn't obey its own worldbuilding rules, and seems to go off in different plot directions that come out of nowhere or even contradict themselves. (The editor must have been ripping her hair out.)

Next, the Goblin King is a blank slate--not a living, flawed character so much as romantic wish fulfillment. Want a handsome trickster? Done. Want someone vulnerable? There he is. Want someone more serious and even religious? Suddenly, he's that. I wish he'd been a bit more real, with flaws and true depth, instead of generic-perfect-man.

However, I enjoyed the story. I'm a sucker for these Tam Lin/Persephone retellings. I liked the musical aspect of the story and enjoyed Elizabeth's character. I was worried this would be too much like the movie Labyrinth, where this book takes its inspiration, but thankfully that's not the case.

I especially liked the ending, which (no spoilers) is different than the usual YA book. I would have adored this so much as a teenager. On to book two!

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

2.5 Stars

This started out SO good, but slowly fizzled down to me skimming just to finish the book. The premise for this book is very interesting and the games the Goblin King plays are riveting, but Liesl's constant self-doubt and ugly thoughts of herself began to wear on me. She's always seeking validation and it made me dislike her.
The goblin king gave me major whiplash with his behavior and riddles.
The goblin world was confusing and just cruel for no reason.
The ending just got really boring and repetitive and the ending was really unsatisfactory, for me. I know there's a sequel, but I just felt it was an odd place to leave the story.