Throughout the writing career of T. Kingfisher, the pseudonym for children’s book author Ursula Vernon, she has seen a shift in the level of success for children’s books as opposed to the fantasy and horror titles under the T. Kingfisher name. The balance has shifted heavily in favor of the Kingfisher brand, and along this wild ride she has proven that there is nothing she cannot do within this realm.

Kingfisher’s NINE GOBLINS is a delightful and ultimately serious allegory about war and tension between creatures of different races told through the eyes of a troop with nine incredibly unique goblins led by Sergeant Nessilka. Put aside anything you knew or assumed about goblins prior to reading this novel as the contents of the story are extremely eye-opening.

"I was most impressed by the complexity that Kingfisher adds along with the humor that makes for an insightful and rewarding story."

The Goblin War has begun, pitting goblins primarily against humans, with the fate of every creature in the world at stake. The band of nine goblins who comprise the Nineteenth Infantry, also known as the Whinin’ Niners, fully and proudly embody the description that refers to goblins as stinking, slinking, filthy, sheep stealers, henhouse raiders, obnoxious, rude and violent. Goblins, of course, generally agree with this and probably would add lazy and cowardly to the list.

Even though their plight is quite serious, it is difficult not to love the Whinin’ Niners and their personalities, which provide much-needed humorous moments throughout the tale. Sergeant Nessilka definitely has her hands full and relies mostly on the well-versed Murray in navigating the ways of the world as they march into a battle they do not really want to be a part of.

As the human population has grown, the forests and wooded areas have decreased to supply things they need to exist and build a life. This has had a negative impact on the denizens of the forest, and especially goblins, who have lost the most land as a result of human expansion. Elves are quite adept at life in the forest, and trolls really have no opinion, leaving the goblins on their own in this battle. Once the goblin troop finally comes upon a band of humans, they are shocked to find a wizard in their midst. He is in the middle of casting an escape spell, and the entire Whinin’ Niners are swept up in the portal he creates.

They all wake up to find themselves somewhere in an unchartered part of the forest many miles away from the nearest village. They are not sure how to navigate from here and eventually will need to rely on a helpful elf named Sings-to-Trees. Murray is the first to be able to communicate with the elf, who cares for all the forest creatures and lives a peaceful existence.

Once they finally come upon a town, they are surprised to find it completely deserted, as if the human inhabitants left suddenly in the middle of the night. When they enter the building that appears to be a church, they find a young human there, and she is concerned as to why goblins have come for her. Nessilka and her colleagues soon will discover that the girl is not who she appears to be, and the danger they have found themselves in is very real and quite unexpected.

NINE GOBLINS is a fun thrill ride through a place that is vastly different yet oddly similar to our own world. I was most impressed by the complexity that Kingfisher adds along with the humor that makes for an insightful and rewarding story. She discusses in the Author’s Note that this was the first novel she ever self-published. She alludes to the influences of Terry Pratchett and James Herriot, which is quite a diverse literary reference, as well as the fact that Sings-to-Trees was clearly based on her husband.