Review: Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs

From Goodreads: While trying to save her brother from a witch’s fire four years ago, Greta was thrown in herself, falling through a portal to Mylena, a dangerous world where humans are the enemy and every ogre, ghoul, and goblin has a dark side that comes out with the eclipse. To survive, Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter - and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young goblin king, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her will to escape. But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. An ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal, and with the next eclipse mere days away, every bloodthirsty creature in the realm is after her - including Isaac. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back ... 

My Rating: 3.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs was a book that started off great, but could have used a little more clarity towards the end. Here’s what I liked and disliked about the novel: 

Pros:

• One of two female bounty hunters in the story, Greta is a likeable protagonist who’s quite capable of taking care of herself due to her career choice. However, she also displays moments of physical and emotional vulnerability. For example, having been stuck in Mylena for the past four years, she desperately wants to return home yet also wonders how she’ll fit in once she gets back.
• There’s plenty of action in Greta and the Goblin King.
• Mylena has tons of fantastic creatures.
• I liked the allusions to Hansel and Gretel.

Cons:

• I didn’t really enjoy the romance between Greta and Isaac. At the beginning of the novel, Greta is angry at Isaac for manipulating her; but midway through the book, she suddenly starts feeling differently and begins making out with him. The change in heart was way too fast for me!
• The attraction between Greta and Isaac stems from their first meeting – a meeting that Greta keeps referring to. However, we’re never given a proper flashback of it, and so I couldn’t really understand why Greta found Isaac so appealing.
• There’s a love triangle. Unfortunately, Greta comes to care about Wyatt pretty quickly too.
• I felt the ending was slightly rushed and so was left a little confused by the time story wrapped up.                               

Greta and the Goblin King was released in December 2012 by Entangled Teen.

Comments About the Cover: I love the cover since it indicates that the novel is most likely a fantasy, features a heroine who can wield weapons, and probably has a hot guy who may or may not be a villain. 

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (Entangled Teen) for free.

original image from thegate.ca

Charming Canucks: Interview and Giveaway with Chloe Jacobs

Charming Canucks is a feature I’ve created that will be posted every other month or so in an effort to spotlight more Canadian YA authors and their books. 

Today, I'd like to welcome Chloe Jacobs.

 

A bit about Chloe (as found on Goodreads): Chloe Jacobs is a native of nowhere and everywhere, having jumped around to practically every Province of Canada before finally settling in Ontario where she has now been living for a respectable number of years. Her husband and son are the two best people in the entire world, but they also make her wish she'd at least gotten a female cat. And although the day job keeps her busy, she carves out as much time as possible to write. Bringing new characters to life and finding out what makes them tick and how badly she can make them suffer is one of her greatest pleasures, almost better than chocolate and fuzzy pink bunny slippers. 

Greta and the Goblin King, your debut novel, was released on November 13 by Entangled Teen. Give three reasons why everyone should read it. 
Well, I think everyone should read it because Greta is totally kick ass. I also think everyone should read it because otherwise you’ll never believe a goblin could be so hot! And finally, everyone should read it because it’s a fantastic, high-action story, with themes of home and friendship and responsibility, that I’m really proud to have written :) 

Greta and the Goblin King is a fantasy. Is there another genre you’d love to try your hand at someday? Is there a genre you could never see yourself writing? 
I love writing stories in all different kinds of genres. I’d like to try some contemporary and steampunk, although I don’t think I will ever be the type to write mysteries. Even if there is some mystery in my books, if I were writing a book where the mystery was the main point I think I would always keep thinking I was ruining it. The answer would be too obvious and no one would be surprised at the end. 

What is your writing process like? Are you a pantser or a planner? 
I like to plot the main story – just the first couple of big points, and then see what I can do with the rest as it starts to unfold. Sometimes that means the book deviates from the original plan, but I think that’s ok and I’m willing to go with it most of the time. 

Describe your writing space. 
I can pretty much write anywhere as long as I have my laptop. I’m not constrained to a desk or a particular “spot” although I usually tend to write in a cushy chair in my living room, or out on the deck when the weather is nice. As long as there’s coffee somewhere, I’m good. 

I know Greta and the Goblin King is the first book in the Mylena Chronicles. Can you give a hint of what to expect in the sequel? 
I can’t say much, sorry! Except that Greta and Isaac still have much to overcome and a dangerous path to follow. I hope that readers will be excited by their journey and the reappearance of certain characters from book 1!

Quick Questions: 

Your website mentions that you’ve lived in practically every province of Canada. Growing up, where did you love living (city or province) and why? 
My family moved around a lot. When I was young in Alberta, there was a really harsh recession and my dad ended up out of work for a long while. We moved to a couple of places while my parents tried to make a better life. Finally, that meant settling in Ontario, where I’ve been ever since, although I did my fair share of moving around after I left my parents home too. 

You go on a cross-country trip across Canada. What is the one place you have to visit? 
Drumheller, Alberta. It’s called Dinosaur Valley and I think everyone has to check it out. Even if you aren’t a ten year old boy in love with all things dinosaur, the museum and badlands are amazing to see!Although … it’s hard to pick just one place in Canada. If you love nature and the outdoors, then Canada is THE place to be. I LOVE visiting Northern Ontario in the summertime, and the City of Ottawa with all its museums and the National Art Gallery of Canada. I love the Rocky Mountains, and the downtown Toronto skyline, and going to Kensington Market.There’s also Niagara Falls, and Jasper National Park, and the Bay of Fundy, and … wow I could really go on a tangent here. LOL. 

What's your favourite book by a Canadian author and why? 
I have read and loved many many books by Canadian authors so I hate to pick just one, but a classic that stuck with me when I read it a few years ago is The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence. It’s a disturbing book published more than 30 years ago, but it stands the test of time. One of Canada's most revered authors, Ms. Laurence won two Governor General's Awards for Fiction and was given more than a dozen honorary degrees in her lifetime. 

A huge thank you to Chloe for taking the time to answer my questions!

Chloe can be found on: [her website] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Goodreads]

..................................................................................................

Click here to find out more about Greta and the Goblin King!

For this giveaway, one person will get the chance to win a copy of Greta and the Goblin King. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway