Review: How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days by Jessie Sylva

How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days by Jessie Sylva
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. If you enjoy Travis Baldree or TJ Klune's writing I think you will enjoy this. It tackles some serious topics while also being sweet and fun at the same time. It also takes inspiration from the Lord of the Rings, which you do not have to have read to enjoy this.

I've become a huge fan of cozy fantasy, and there is a reason it has become popular. I love high fantasy as well, but sometimes you need something with a little humor and lower stakes to break up the adventure and action. This story leaves you with hope at the end and with a good message. Who doesn't want that?

This follows Pansy, a halfling who loves to cook and bake and just wants to make a place of her own in her late grandmother's cottage outside of town. To her utmost surprise she finds Ren, a goblin already living in the cottage as they have been designated caretaker when Pansy's grandmother came to town when she could no longer live on her own. Neither are willing to give up their stake on the cottage, so they strike up a deal to live together until one of them leaves and forfeits their rights. Their forced proximity causes them to learn about each others cultures and why goblins and halfings dislike each other so much. As Ren and Pansy forge a friendship that begins to turn into something more, their communities are still stuck in the past and not as easy to sway.

I really enjoyed getting to know Ren, Pansy and their two different communities. Neither one of them really fit in, but they were willing to work together once they put their differences aside to make a place of their own. They were both adorable as they tiptoed around each other to bridge the things they didn't understand about one another. It was interesting to watch them interact with their own communities as individuals and together to try to bring people together especially once they realized who the true enemy was.

I was surprise to learn that this was a debut, this was very well done and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

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