I received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher follows Sergeant Nessilka, who struggles to keep a handle on her unruly goblin soldiers, even as the war against the humans and elves rages on around them. Then, when a wizard’s spell forms a portal, Nessilka and eight of her people find themselves fifty miles into human land, with a difficult path ahead of them to rejoin the army. Luckily, a nearby elven healer is willing to help. Unluckily, bizarre magic seems to be affecting the nearby village, and it might be coming for the goblins next.

Trust T. Kingfisher to bring the dark, whimsical fantasy offerings!

Also, I’m back! I feel like I haven’t written a review in a while, but I’ve been rereading a couple books in preparation for their sequels, so there hasn’t been anything new to talk about. But I’ve got several books on my TBR that I’ve been anticipating for a while, and I can’t wait to dive into them!

Anyway, back to Kingfisher. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: she’s just so talented at writing strange but endearing characters. And this book is no exception, because all the titular goblins are so odd but entertaining to read about. My favorite was of course the main character, Nessilka, who is this group’s leader. But I liked them all, as a unit and individually.

Moreover, the situation in which these goblins have found themselves is well written. For such a short book, it still feels like a lot of thought and care was put into the worldbuilding. The tensions and violence between goblins, elves, and humans makes sense and gives a sense of urgency when our little heroes find themselves stuck deep within human territory. It makes sense they’d want to get out of there, so every obstacle they encounter makes matters worse. And this has the added benefit of being entertaining for the reader, especially with how wacky some of the characters are.

However, there’s one character who stands out the most: Sings-to-Trees, the reclusive elf veterinarian and sometimes-medic to the other sentient denizens of his forest home. To speak (perhaps slightly) hyperbolically, I would die for him. He’s so awkward yet kind, and I adore him. I also really like the rapport that forms between him and Nessilka, showing how people with very different lifestyles and experiences can still respect each other’s strengths and viewpoints.

Aside from the characters though, I think this story struggles a bit when it comes to the conflict. Ostensibly, this book is about the goblins getting back to their land, with the backdrop of a large conflict between three groups, but that’s not how it turns out. The main antagonist ends up being a homicidal wizard, and I honestly found that subplot and its resolution kind of uninteresting. The ending was anticlimactic, and the goblins, even Nessilka herself, didn’t really contribute anything. It was a weird direction for the story to go, and didn’t entirely work for me. I’d rather have read wacky goblin misadventures behind enemy lines.

But in the end, I still had a good time with Nine Goblins. The characters and their interactions, as well as the humor, were strong enough to carry a slightly lackluster plot. And this book has several elements that are distinctively Kingfisher: quirky cast, dark magic, creatures made of bones. It’s a breezy read, and still worth a look if you want a dose of mischief with your magic.

Nine Goblins will be published on January 20th, 2026!