The Jig the Goblin series chronicles the adventures of...wait for it...a goblin named...wait...ready?...Jig. Well, I assume they do, as I haven't read the first two books, but I think it's a safe supposition. I should perhaps merely state that Goblin War concerns the adventures of Jig the Goblin. (Goblin Quest and Goblin Hero may be about the adventures of Archibald the kumquat.) GOBLIN WAR is basically a traditional fantasy told from the perspective of one of the bad guys - or rather, from the perspective of one of the victims of the alleged heroes. From that basic conceit, the author weaves a lighthearted fantasy romp as Jig and company stumble into heroic exploits to save the day and survive until their next meal.

GOBLIN WAR tries awfully hard to be funny, and very often succeeds. More than once I found myself laughing out loud while reading on an airplane - no small feat. And while it sometimes fails to be funny, it is at least amusing and always entertaining. GOBLIN WAR may not be high art, but it is a refreshing and lighthearted take on an often stale and somber genre. Definitely worth the read - Mr. Hines isn't quite up to the zany inventiveness of Terry Pratchett, but he's in the same ballpark.

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