Author: Jennifer Hudock {site | twitter | amazon | facebook}
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Format: Kindle (.mobi)
Published: January 2011
Disclosure: Purchased

Synopsis: {via amazon}

Beyond the Goblin Market lies the remains of a lost and broken kingdom divided by war. The war has been over for centuries, but the kingdoms still stand apart, overrun by a creeping goblin darkness known as the Darknjan Wald. It has been written that only one holds the power to destroy that darkness and reunite the kingdoms, but she has no memory of her former life.

Meredith Drexler must save her sister, Christina, from the wicked goblin king, Kothar, who has kidnapped the girl in order to convince Meredith to uphold an ancient commitment Meredith doesn't remember making. Sent Upland disguised as a human child, she has no recollection of her former faerie life, or her uncle's promised marriage betrothal to Kothar.

When she ventures back Underground in search of Christina, every step Meredith takes brings memories of her forgotten past back to the surface. As the pressures of her former life entangle with her quest to save her kidnapped sister, Meredith's predetermined fate is revealed. Will she embrace it, or walk away forever from a life she barely remembers as her own?

Review:

There was a time, not all that long ago, that I swore I would never read another self-published book. I was scarred by a certain, frightfully disappointing novel for which I had gotten my hopes way, way up. Well, that was then and this is now, and I have to tell you, I'm not only starting to come around, I'm there. I've learned that not all indie authors are careless, lackluster editors with a novel and a dream, some of them are rather amazingly talented authors who simply want to share their work without jumping through the fiery hoops that accompany traditional publishing.

One such author/editor is Jennifer Hudock, author of Goblin Market. I first encountered this dark fantasy, the first book in her "Into the Green" series, when she began podcasting it in the summer of 2009. I was instantly taken with the story, eagerly awaiting each episode, and trust me when I say that I was never disappointed.  In the intervening year and a half, Jennifer has edited the Goblin Market, releasing it in e-book format last month. No surprise, I scooped up a copy the first weekend it was available and set to getting reacquainted with Meridith's journey into the Darknjan Wald, where she risks all to save her sister, Christina, from the goblin king, Kothar.

Inspired by Christina Rosetti's poem by the same name, and by the film Labyrinth (Henson/LucasArts 1986), Hudock's Goblin Market is a completely engrossing. Her characters are well developed and sympathetic, including Kothar, who I loved despite myself. Though it's abundantly clear that he's the villain, I couldn't help but sympathize with where he was coming from. After all, who doesn't want a villain driven by unrequited love? And I, in turn, fell in love with him, flaws and all. Otherwise, the dark and fantastic settings, from the English countryside to the dangerous Darknjan Wald, are rich and vivid in detail. The book is at times humorous, at others remarkably dark, our heroine persevering dispite the many deadly challenges presented along the way.  There're many twists, accompanied by some terribly sad moments, neither of which I'm going to share here -- you'll just have to read the book!

I'm sure, then, that it will come as no surprise that I highly, highly recommend this book. Jennifer does fantasy as a genre, as well as her influences, immense justice with this work. I simply cannot say enough good about this debut novel and I cannot wait for the follow-up, Jack in the Green. Goblin Market is so reasonably priced, at $0.99, that it's definitely a steal. It's well worth ten times as much! Now go, buy the book, what're you waiting for?!

Rating:



Available for {kindle | pdf | nook | paperback (limited)} at {amazon | smashwords | author | barnes & noble}

*Cover by Jennifer Hudock

As an author, I'm always interested in meeting other authors. It's amazing to see the process of others and has been a definite learning experience. It has also been incredibly encouraging, even inspiring, to be surrounded by others who love words as much as I do.  I have friends who write, Phoena for example, who is a writing machine. I'm so incredibly inspired by her eternal optimism about writing!!  Over the last few years, Twitter has also been enormously helpful in connecting with other authors; I've met some of the most amazing people via Twitter!

Two of those amazing people, Michele Bekemeyer and Jennifer Hudock, have just this week published their novels! I'm so thrilled for the both of them and if I said I'm not inspired by their successes, I'd be lying.

Michele Bekemeyer's novel, At Journey's End, is the second novel in her "Scandal's of the Heart" series. Both At Journey's End, and her first novel Trapping a Duchess, are beautifully written regency romance! I've had the opportunity to read both novels, and I cannot wait for the next to be released, I'm dying to know what she has in store!! I highly recommend both novels, which are available in both print and e-book through Republica Press, Michele's website, or from Amazon.com.

At Journey's End synopsis, from Michele's website:

Alexandra Wolter is beautiful, intelligent, wealthy…and ruined. She’s spent the last two years abroad, making peace with her fate while searching for happiness on distant shores. When an unexpected revelation changes her plans for the future, she finds the man who stole her innocence at the helm of her self-discovery. Returning to England may mark the end of her travels, but her journey has only just beginning.

Charles Devon has spent years regretting the way he treated Alexandra. When fate gives him a second chance, he is all too willing to take it. But Alexandra isn’t the timid girl she was before she left. Altering her perceptions is hard enough, but when danger threatens, he is faced with the most difficult task of his life: Saving her.

The first novel in the series, Trapping a Duchess, is also available in print, e-book, and podcast via Podiobooks.

Jennifer Hudock's novel, Goblin Market, is a wonderful dark fantasy inspired by Christina Rossetti's poem by the same name.  In 2009, Jennifer began podcasting Goblin Market, and has this week released her debut novel as an e-book on both Smashwords and Amazon.  I cannot wait to get my paws on it for my Kindle -- I've had the chance to hear it via podcast and I loved it!!  Jennifer has also written and released several short story collections, with another on the way, so check out her Amazon page when you head that way to get Goblin Market, she's truly talented!

Goblin Market synopsis, from Jennifer's website:

Meredith Drexler has been the sole caretaker for her young sister Christina ever since their father went away. Sacrificing her life and her freedom to ensure Christina has a better life, Merry’s only escape from the monotony of every day life is her daydreams. When Christina arrives home late one evening speaking in delirious riddles, Meredith discovers her sister has been poisoned by Goblin fruit obtained in the Goblin Market.

She must travel to the heart of the Goblin Kingdom to retrieve the antidote to save her sister’s life, but at a price no sister should ever have to pay. Along the way, Meredith falls in love with the forest god who names himself her consort, and discovers a strange truth about her past and her identity.

Currently, Jennifer is working on the sequel, Jack in the Green, and like Michele's next book, I simply cannot wait to find out what Jennifer has in store!

So, now that you know, go get them!  They're both talented ladies, with great novels, and you'll enjoy them, I promise!!