Ms. G. Bradfield aka Old Lady is a reader-in-residence at a library in Edinburgh. Her homeless friend Ben, a frequent library patron, could be found chewing books and sucking the ink off the pages, of course, in alphabetical order...rip, chew, spit! Ben presents the Old Lady with photos he has found in the library that record events occurring in World War ll London. Photos of bones, doll parts, a shrew head, evidence of animal carnage, and a camera have been unearthed. The photos suggest that the photographer was a child. In 2011, a Mr. Brian Mackenzie comes forward stating that a girl named Goblin snapped photos of an animal massacre during the London Blitz. A London detective contacts Goblin requesting that she shed some light on these photos. She is reluctant to revisit her harrowing wartime childhood memories.

When we meet Goblin, a street urchin, she is eight years old. By her own admission, she had a dirty face, short self-cut greasy blond hair, and believed she was ugly. Her mother told her directly that she did not want her and wished for her demise. Goblin's playground consisted of caves, tunnels, and visits to the cemetery. Her best friends were her dog Devil, her doll Monsta, and a slew of imaginary friends. She rescued wayward animals including a special pig she named Corporal Pig.

Goblin, with friends Mackenzie and Steve gathered daily at a worksite, eating apples by a fire while she created magical stories to entertain them. Some spooky stories included the Queen of Hearts wearing her husband's heart while it was still beating and dripping with blood. Often, Goblin slept in the cemetery where she kept a treasure box of oddities she stored in one of the mausoleums.

Goblin's journey alternated between WW ll London and the London of 2011. Now at age 81, she paints a picture of her family of animals and how she was parented during wartime. Her home life was devastating. How could a parent call her child a "dirty rotten Goblin -runt?" Goblin, however, found her way, making friends and finding a place in a new family,a circus family. "Goblin" by Ever Dundas was unlike any other book and defies genre classification. For a first novel, Dundas has created a superb tome!

Thank you Freight Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Goblin".

Goblin is just a young child when an World War 2 begins. Her mother doesn’t like her so she leads a semi-feral life with a gang of young children amidst the craters of London’s Blitz. She only goes home to eat and sleep, to help her father fix things for their neighbours, and to dream dreams of becoming a pirate with her older brother. He’s almost old enough to sign up but he’s got no plans to, explaining to her what a conscientious objector is. Then he doesn’t come home and she is evacuated and her letters to him go unanswered. Freed from London and living near the coast unfetters her imagination and she takes refuge in a self-constructed but magical imaginary world.

In 2011, Goblin is an eccentric and secretive old lady. She volunteers at the local library and helps outcasts and animals when she can. But then some old photos are found showing the pet cemetary reminding the country of one of the great shames of the war – when we slaughtered our pets to protect them from a German invasion and torture. But one photo shows Goblin and an even greater atrocity. She is forced to return to a London that is once again burning and face her past. Will she have the strength to reveal the truth or will it drive her over the edge to insanity?

This is the kind of book that will appeal to fans of a variety of different fiction. At its heart is a mystery wrapped in the gruesome darkness of war. But it also has elements of gothic fantasy, fascinating oddball characters, a coming of age story and love and redemption. Trying to cram this much into one book could be confusing but in this case it adds to the mystery. Goblin herself is weird and wonderful both as a child and as an old woman. She has heart and sass in equal measures and though she can be sharp and grumpy her honesty is appealing, even whilst she keeps so much hidden.

This is a book I’ll be re-reading!

5 Bites

NB I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in return for an honest review. The BookEaters always write honest reviews

Unique and plot-driven, Ms. Dundas has written this coming-of-age story in this peculiar novel. Dark, horrific, and magical, all at once! Goblin's descent into fantasy is one of the better written novels I have read this year.

I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Even though it is a dark story, Goblin is also a story about the resilience of childhood and the power of the imagination for healing after trauma.
The story is set in both World War II and the present day yet it is unlike any other book that I've read about WW II. Goblin is very much a character driven piece that happens to use a lesser known event from WWII as a starting point. The Cat and dog pet massacre, a terrible part of London's history, becomes a focal point of the entire book. The protagonist, Goblin, experiences her own tragic event during this time which slowly is revealed to the reader. Goblin uses her imagination to create an alternative narrative to help her cope with the secrets that she hides from herself.
Dundas does a fantastic job of creating this dual world of fantasy and reality and exploring with sensitivity and empathy the world of loneliness and guilt. With humanity and thoughtfulness, she has created characters and a world that is flawed but filled with possibility.

Goblin is the only name by which we know narrator, a reader-in-residence at Edinburgh Central Library whose best friend is a homeless Scot whose life goal is to eat (yes, eat) literature. In alphabetical order, of course. But news of a grisly discovery in London which dates back to the early days of the Second World War and Goblin's own difficult East End childhood. The news hits Goblin hard and she falls ill, with only Ben and his dog Sam to care for her. When her strength returns it is only to discover that the contents of the makeshift grave; animal bones, broken toys and a camera among them, have placed her at the site and identified her a the photographer. Eventually she must return to London to face her past, even while the riots of 2011 bring the city into chaos. Her journey in memory takes us even further, from the bombed-out streets of the Blitz, to a less-than-idyllic evacuation in Cornwall, a travelling circus, the canals of Venice and the tenements of Edinburgh.

The blurb is somewhat deceptive. While much of the novel hinges on that liminal area between dream and reality, imagination and the real world, Goblin is not magical realism in the way that that term is usually understood. Instead, Dundas teases us with unsettling penetrations of the impossible (and often nightmarish) into the light of day. Goblin's companion Monsta is unexplained for a long time, described only by a few confusing and and unpleasant features but its constant presence on the periphery adds suitable unease. The final reveal is both touching and troubling, a winning combination that Dundas manages with impressive flair.

This is not an easy read. It is dark and sometimes distressing (the aftermath of the pet massacre of 1939 sets the tone) with themes of war, delusion, abuse, neglect and violence. But it is also bold and baroque. Dundas has a real feel for imagery which is sometimes grotesque but always affecting and really put me in mind of Baudelaire's ability to disgust and invite at the same time. Some of the events are quite far-fetched but they are grounded in wonderful, warm characters and a vivid evocation of place in the wider context of Dundas's peculiar gothic atmosphere they do not feel out of place. Underpinning all of this is a deep understanding of the period of Goblin's childhood. Britain has a tendency to romanticise its wartime experience and expunge some of the darker tendencies of the Home Front experience. Evacuees did not always receive the warm welcome and kind shelter that CS Lewis's Professor gave to the Pevencies, the civilian population were not immune to excessive and violent reactions in time of panic and the need to pull together certainly did not erase all crime or overcome all divisions. Dundas acknowledges all of this without denying that there was also plenty of courage, kindness and sacrifice. It's a clever touch to contrast all of this with the London Riots of 2011. The comparison was made at the time (we always fall back on the rose-tinted idea of the "Blitz spirit) but in Goblin it is far more subtle and credible.

I loved Goblin. Despite all the potential pitfalls of a fantastical plot and monstrous (in every sense) characters it demonstrates Ever Dundas's confidence and a sure knowledge of herself-as-writer that is remarkable for a debut novel.

I think this one would appeal to millennials who like their stories a bit on the dark side. Mystery and psychological realism give a new angle on the usual WW2 survival story.

A strange, sad tale of Goblin, an abused girl surviving on guile, smarts and her own reality in London during the blitz. When something terrible happens her path in life takes a different turn that shadows her entire life. A well told story with elements of magic realism.

Goblin is a sprawling coming-of-age story with a unique protagonist and a highly unpleasant atmosphere.

The novel starts in London, in 2011 and on the brink of WWII, as our spunky protagonist, the titular Goblin, runs wild with her two friends and Devil the dog, making up insane stories, constantly trying to hang out with her older brother David, and going deeper and deeper into her fantasies. And, in the times closer to the present, working in a library, hanging out with a homeless kid, and drinking copious amounts of whiskey. The rest of her family, mather and father, are infinitely less prominent, her father barely a presence and her mother a one-dimensional villain with no redeeming qualities. Lazy characterization notwithstanding, Dundas manages to turn the mother's wickedness into effective moments of spiteful hatred, occasionally terrifying even.
As the war finally descends, Goblin has to leave her less-than-kind surroundings and evacuate, starting a journey that will last longer than she anticipates.
All of this is just the beginning, maybe a third of the book or so, as locations and years pass by, Goblin growing into a more fleshed out person, becoming more self-aware, but also shutting out the horrible events of the past as much as she can. This unwillingness to admit the darkness in her younger years is a remarkable flaw, especially in contrast with Goblin's sexuality never being a problem for her, as she is never confused about liking someone, boy or girl, loving deeply and passionately, showing the softer side of her.
Goblin's life is unusual even in the more mundane aspects of it, but Ever tries to weave some surreal aspects into the tale in the form of monsters, ghosts, and the worship of lizars. This is successful only occassionally, as the passages where Goblin prays or rambles about "holy holy holy" and "sneak sneak sneaking" are more tedious than engaging and more taxing than rejuvenating in the midst of an otherwise strong narrative. The surreality does add a nifty personal touch, but the imagery works better than the words.

The mystery that eventually unfolds at the center of the latter part of the book is a cool one, though it's not what makes the ending soar. Goblin the novel is, at its core, very humane. With its infinite love of people and animals, the depiction of the protagonist's life in the circus manages to shine as a much needed beacon of hope in the bleak world of the book. Even the tragedies that do take place are just dark spots in the genuine pleasure the reader will derive from reading about Goblin's happiness after the awful things she lived through.

Overall, this is a stunningly well-made debut that will make you upset, angry, and tearful. It will also take a while to suck you in, but when the feeling hits - you will be captured for the duration of the wild ride that is Goblin.

I didn't like it. It was weird and kept going back and forth in time. Very confusing.

Decline to rate. Just couldn't get into it. Nothing wrong with it. Just not my thing.

I think calling this novel a blend between fantasy and reality might be a bit of a stretch. And the reason that I say this is because it misled me a great deal. From the premise, I thought that I would be reading about a girl who flits back and forth between different realms and it is up to the reader to discover which is the truth. The novel is better depicted as flitting between past and present, and there is always this feeling that something is being hidden from the reader and from the protagonist herself. Yes, she makes up things and creates her own reality, but I wouldn't go so far as to portray it as a fantasy because technically, not much of what she says is fake. Most of it is real. Aside from this contradiction, I really did enjoy this story. It is deep and complex, and you get lost in Goblin's world. She is a unique character, one that I have never really encountered and seeing things from her perspective is just such a bizarre and amazing experience. Her life is absolutely ridiculous in its trajectory but that's what keeps the story moving, and keeps the interest of the reader. As the story continued to build, and the digging for the truth begins, the author ramps up the tension - and this is done beautifully, by the way. I was holding my breath, turning the pages as fast as I could until I finally reached the end. And the ending was abrupt, I won't lie, but it worked because this is just one of those books that doesn't really follow the rules. In short, I think this was a very interesting novel that takes place during World War 2 and features a very unique female protagonist; however, if you are expecting some major fantasy elements, then you may find yourself disappointed.

Goblin is rejected and derided by her Mother who constantly refers to her as Goblin-runt. She runs wild on the streets of pre-war & wartime London with her friends Mac & Stevie as well as her dog, Devil. Goblin lives in a world of stories. She creates a whole fantasy world around herself, her friends and anyone who would listen. This keeps away the terrible fact that her mother hates her & provides a world to escape into later during many difficult events.

We follow Goblin's life as a young girl right up to the 2011 lady in her 80s. Alongside this we see Goblin as she is in 2011 - an elderly lady living in Edinburgh and working in a library. A box has become uncovered in London with some wartime photos. Goblin holds the clue to the photos and the events leading up to them but is she prepared to leave behind her fantasty world and face the truth?

This is a complex book. Much of what Goblin thinks is fantasy and the reader needs to pick amongst this to find out the truth. Life is tough for Goblin and it is no wonder she retreats into this world. I have to say that I didn't see the punchline coming. It was a total surprise to me. With hindsight perhaps I should have wondered at certain events a little more but I didn't.

On the whole I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed meeting the varied characters in Goblin's life. I also felt for Goblin as events happened that made her dig further into her world of fantasy. Goblin is not a character who is easy to like and certainly has her drawbacks but she is definitely very damaged. I would certainly be interested in reading other books by this author.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley.

I spent the first half of this book wondering if Goblin was insane or if we'd find that her fantasy world was as real as she was. Then I found myself wondering if she was real; it's that kind of a book. It's also the kind of book where you spend a lot of time waiting for the worst to happen, for Goblin to lose someone or something she cares about, and when it happens, your heart breaks for her even though she faces each loss with a stoicism well beyond her years. It would be a miracle if she wasn't a little crazy.

Goblin is an unforgettable character, a child who goes entirely her own way because she's learned that she must in order to survive. She's fierce, and clever, and she is always able to give love, at least for a time, to the people who come to care for her. To the animals who she rescues, she is all love and caring. Her sexuality is unashamed, everything about her speaks to her strength and determination. Except for one thing, an event which unfolds over the course of the novel, and which has blighted her life so completely that she's denied it, preferring to live in a fantasy world.

Ever Dundas' writing is spot on. She has an easy style, one slightly reminiscent (to me anyway) of Neil Gaiman. She doesn't balk at telling harsh truths, but she doesn't use them to shock or horrify. Bad things happen. You deal with them. I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to read this because it's given me a new author to follow, and that is always a wonderful thing.

Loved this book in turns it was dark, fantastical, compassionate, disturbing. I grew to love Goblin for the child she was and the woman she grew into against all the odds strong, defiant, loving.

Simply this is the story of one woman's life told from childhood in London during the Blitz through to 2012 and the impact her abused childhood had on her self perception and life. The past she could only face by creating a partly imagined magical world which the writer Ever Dundas describes so well I as a reader totally entered Goblins world following each twist and turn.

The world Goblin inhabits extends from war torn London, Cornwall, life in the circus, post war Europe, the magic of Venice eventually bringing the reader to modern day Edinburgh and the London Riots of 2011. A world Ever Dundas created and kept me involved in throughout the book.

This book is historical fiction but with elements which reminded me of writers like Shirley Jackson and Angela Carter.


I would like to thank Net Gallery and Freight books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Goblin is the best young and old character I have come across in fiction for a long time. She is a fighter, a dreamer, an imaginer and wise beyond her years. In a story told in two different time lines, Goblin experiences a troubled but fascinating war, agonises over the pet massacre, witnesses things she should not have had to witness. Devoid of adult support she makes a life for herself, protecting herself from her fears with people who have suffered in the past and with mythical creatures from the underworld. Their commentary on the story's events lighten the darkness. I loved Goblin at all ages but especially as a child and as an old woman trying to put the past behind her. Goblin is a great mystery with an ending that is sad but satisfactory.

5 stars

What a remarkable book!

I’m in a dither. What should I write about this book? This book is a blend of real life and fantasy. However, the reader is sometimes pressed to determine what is fantasy and what is real. It begins in 1937 and continues to the present. The story goes back and forth between the time of WWII London and Goblin as an adult.

Goblin is a girl who has been disparaged by her verbally cruel biological mother. Her life begins to consist more and more of fantasy. She makes up stories and lives in that world that is much easier to bear. When war comes, the stories include bits about the magical death ray bearing Germans invading England and Scotland. She makes friends of animals and can’t even bear to see a spider hurt.

In flashbacks Goblin tells the story of her life. Abused and basically abandoned by her family, she takes refuge in her animals. She collects them with a passion and takes care of them often going hungry herself to feed them all.

She is relocated during the war and finds herself living in an unhappy situation. She runs away to live on her own in wartime London. She is invited to join the circus where she is adopted by some kindly people. She travels and experiences many things. She meets interesting people along the way, eventually moving to Edinburgh.

In 2011, she receives an unwelcome phone call. She is asked to come to London and aid with the investigation of some bones found in a mass animal grave. She reluctantly goes.

This book is brilliantly written and plotted. I simply loved it. I wanted to read all night. Ever Dundas is a real talent when it comes to writing. She has a fine facility with words. I simply can’t wait until her next book comes out.

I want to thank Netgalley and Freight Books for forwarding to me a copy of this most wonderful book for me to read.