The Goblin Wood

Rating:
Summary: REFRESHING!
Review: Hilari Bell creates a story line that no other writer(of which I have read) has explored! This was one of my favorite books for 2003 and I hope to read more of Bell's work! I was, however, not too impressed with the writing in it...that's why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.

Rating:
Summary: A fantastic fantasy
Review: I was a little put off by this book at first. Fantasy is not my favorite genre, and I especially don't like stories where problems are conveniently resolved with magic spells. But the characters in this wonderful book soon grabbed ahold of me. The author did an amazing job of maintaining my interest. There was literally never a dull moment.

Rating:
Summary: excellent!
Review: This is easily one of t he best books I've ever read. Hilari Bell creates an entire world of magic, superstition and war. It takes place in the Realm of the Bright Gods, and the main characters are Makenna, a hedgewitch, and Tobin a knight. Makenna hates all humans becuase of how they betrayed and killed her mother. Tobin has taken the blame for the rebellion his brother has ben involved , and now is an outcast. In an attempt to win back his honor, and save the entire realm, he sets off to kill the legendary sorceress of Goblin Wood, who has an entire army of "enslaved" goblins to do her will. Makenna, who is only a mere hedgewitch, and is only fighting to save goblinkind from the superstitious humans, is ready to drive off Tobin like all the other bounty hunters that have entered the forest. But Tobin, who has nothing to lose, is not so easily driven off, and manages to take her captive. Makenna and Tobin have more in common with each other than they realize, and Tobin soon begins to love the goblins he once hated. Now Tobin is torn between saving the goblins, and staying loyal to his origional task, and the wellfare of the realm.
This book is nearly impossible to put down once you've started it, and the plot is full of sybolism of today's problems as well. Anyone who loves this book will also love "The Seer and the Sword" and "The Healer's Keep" both by Victoria Hanley.