Review: The Goblin Trilogy by Jaq D. Hawkins
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Mika83
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Review: The Goblin Trilogy by Jaq D. Hawkins
This series has taken a place on my favorite Fantasy series shelf. The books in order are:
Dance of the Goblins
Demoniac Dance
Power of the Dance
Each book is a stand alone novel and the stories happen a generation apart, so that someone who is a child in one book will be grown up in the next.
One of the unique things about the series is that you could start with either the first or second book, depending on whether you prefer exposition and world building or quick action, and still feel that you had read a full series.
Dance of the Goblins is strong on world building and exposition. For LOTR fans, I recommend starting with this one because it will put you into a world you'll never want to leave. The goblins live underground, but after a planet flip that wipes out most of the human race, they take over old transport tunnels and live a little closer to the remaining human survivors. They still stay out of sight and live a shamanic and peaceful life, avoiding humans and the inevitable conflicts that happen anytime the two races meet. The humans have reverted to a feudal society and are ruled by a small group of magicians, led by Count Anton. The magicians know about the goblins and Anton is friends with a goblin librarian who usually hates humans, but they share an interest in magic. Part of the goblin magic is that they express their spirituality in ecstatic dance, hence the title.
When the common people find out about the goblins, Anton is caught between his uneasy friendship with them and his duty to keep his people from waging a suicidal war.
Demoniac Dance occurs about a decade later and starts with a young girl running from an unwanted arranged marriage. She joins the magicians across the river and discovers a very different world than her previously sheltered life, one that includes goblins! She comes of age as the land is invaded by people from across the sea and Count Anton is hard pressed to train warriors from farmers and craftspeople with no time to spare and amidst continuing resistance from those who never accepted the existence of the goblins and still look for ways to make trouble.
Power of the Dance continues another generation later and brings the saga full circle in a way that I found very satisfying. A different kind of invader presents a threat this time, wild people from the north led by a half-goblin. They are savage and more dangerous than the previous invaders, who only wanted resources. The wild tribe will destroy all of Count Anton's people if they are not stopped.
Throughout the series, the writing is top notch and there are dragons! Mostly in the second and third books. The world building is truly astonishing to the point that I still hear drums beating when I write about the stories. There are some short stories around (online and in print) that relate to the series and I keep looking for more, just to experience that world again.
Highly recommended and an easy five stars from me.
Dance of the Goblins
Demoniac Dance
Power of the Dance
Each book is a stand alone novel and the stories happen a generation apart, so that someone who is a child in one book will be grown up in the next.
One of the unique things about the series is that you could start with either the first or second book, depending on whether you prefer exposition and world building or quick action, and still feel that you had read a full series.
Dance of the Goblins is strong on world building and exposition. For LOTR fans, I recommend starting with this one because it will put you into a world you'll never want to leave. The goblins live underground, but after a planet flip that wipes out most of the human race, they take over old transport tunnels and live a little closer to the remaining human survivors. They still stay out of sight and live a shamanic and peaceful life, avoiding humans and the inevitable conflicts that happen anytime the two races meet. The humans have reverted to a feudal society and are ruled by a small group of magicians, led by Count Anton. The magicians know about the goblins and Anton is friends with a goblin librarian who usually hates humans, but they share an interest in magic. Part of the goblin magic is that they express their spirituality in ecstatic dance, hence the title.
When the common people find out about the goblins, Anton is caught between his uneasy friendship with them and his duty to keep his people from waging a suicidal war.
Demoniac Dance occurs about a decade later and starts with a young girl running from an unwanted arranged marriage. She joins the magicians across the river and discovers a very different world than her previously sheltered life, one that includes goblins! She comes of age as the land is invaded by people from across the sea and Count Anton is hard pressed to train warriors from farmers and craftspeople with no time to spare and amidst continuing resistance from those who never accepted the existence of the goblins and still look for ways to make trouble.
Power of the Dance continues another generation later and brings the saga full circle in a way that I found very satisfying. A different kind of invader presents a threat this time, wild people from the north led by a half-goblin. They are savage and more dangerous than the previous invaders, who only wanted resources. The wild tribe will destroy all of Count Anton's people if they are not stopped.
Throughout the series, the writing is top notch and there are dragons! Mostly in the second and third books. The world building is truly astonishing to the point that I still hear drums beating when I write about the stories. There are some short stories around (online and in print) that relate to the series and I keep looking for more, just to experience that world again.
Highly recommended and an easy five stars from me.
