Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher

What do you get when you combine nine war-weary goblins, an elven veterinarian, and a desperate plot for familial reunion? In veteran fantasy author T. Kingfisher’s able hands, these discordant elements coalesce into a vibrant, funny, and ultimately poignant fantasy novella. As someone who came of age with Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films and weathered the Covid-19 pandemic in the pages of Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive, I am always on the lookout for my next fantasy epic. As a soon-to-be father of two children under three, I am ever on the lookout for my next quick and satisfying read. In T. Kingfisher’s Nine Goblins, I was able to satisfy both my desire for depth and brevity.

The world of Nine Goblins is developed enough to satisfy fantasy aficionados while being approachable for those new to the genre. The adventure follows the “Whinin’ Nineteenth,” a troop of goblin soldiers, and their begrudging leader, Sergant Nessilka. Whilst on the frontline of the Goblin War, this ragtag bunch of goblinoids is magically transported across the realm. Their only hope of a safe return is a long journey through enemy territory back to goblin home. Along the way they befriend a kitten, ally with a good-natured local veterinarian, and face off against terrifying magic.

Nine Goblins has a small page count, but packs a punch. T. Kingfisher effortlessly moves from humorous mischief to the brutally described outcomes of war and magic. The characters of the goblin sergeant Nessilka and the elven veterinarian Sings-to-Trees really jump off the page. Despite the fantasy setting, they seem surprisingly and refreshingly real. They’re people making it through life as best they can, amid circumstances beyond their control or even understanding. But perhaps, as our narrator muses towards the end of the story: “You never know why anything changed. Maybe it was all down to small things. Like teddy bears. And kittens. And goblins.”