Here's a synopsis of Ringle's book,
Hey All!
I'm crazy excited to tell you about The Goblins of Bellwater, a super recent release by author Molly Ringle and Central Avenue Publishing. First, a smidgen of back story so that both the title of this post, and the book itself, make a bit more sense to you.
(Pretend to hear xylophone music and wind chimes. Everyone plays xylophones and wind chimes during flash backs.)
About ten years ago now I was first introduced to The Goblin Market by Christina Rosetti, by my high school English teacher. Granted I did have to read the Canterbury Tales and Beowulf first; in case you can't tell I was an avid reader even then, and to this day appreciate the crap out of this teacher. Now Goblin Market is an oddly sensual and violent poem when you read it through, it's also intoxicating, magnificent, and powerful considering it was written by a woman in the mid 1800's. Also, I personally find it great that Christina was just as miraculous a poet as her brother, Dante.
When I heard about The Goblins of Bellwater I got excited. Rosetti's poem is a narrative about two sisters, and is very sexual; probably not for children regardless of her insistence. Ringle's modernization of the story brings mythos and lore to the 21st Century. While it isn't solely based on the poem, Ringle certainly found her inspiration there and went with it.
Skye, a young barista and artist, falls victim to a goblin curse in the forest one winter night, rendering her depressed and silenced, unable to speak of what happened. Her older sister, Livy, is at wit's end tryin to understand what's wrong with her. Local mechanic Kit would know, but he doesn't talk of such things; he's the human liason for the goblin tribe, a job he keeps secret and never wanted, thrust on him by an ancient family contract.
Unaware of whats happened to Skye, Kit starts dating Livy, trying to keep it casual to protect her from the attention of the goblins. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Kit, Skye draws his cousin Grady into the spell through an enchanted kiss in the woods, dooming Grady and Skye to become goblins and disappear from humankind forever.
It's a midwinter night's enchantment as Livy, the only one untainted by a spell, sets out to save them on a dangerous path of her own."
I was captivated by the story, the relationship between Skye and Livy seemed a bit magical before the magic began. Personally, I LOVE how the goblins get their names in the human world, they're eccentric and eclectic, a few are down right ridiculous. I enjoyed how Ringle made everything feel real. I was lost in her forest with Skye, wrestling with my own good and evil sides with Kit, I was inspired by Livy's somewhat idiotic bravado, and even felt for Grady. However, I did find a few issues with this book. Personally, this is for those 18 and older, the poem its sparked from is, as I've said, pretty darn sexy and the book keeps true to that; though it seems forced at times. Also, while the story has this truly timeless feel to it, the characters do not. They're all a tad to young for some of their lines and life experiences. That doesn't actually trip you up while reading though, just something I picked up on when discussing the book with other readers. A few times I just turned my head and said, "wait a second."
Overall this is a novel that will suck you in from the cover art, to the romance, to the history, and lore. I'd love to see more of these characters, especially a few of the goblins. You'll fall in love with these familial relationships, and then some. Oh! But do read the original poem first, it will really help.
To learn some more about Molly Ringle and The Goblins of Bellwater, check out this awesome Q&A!
XoXo
BrainyHeroine
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