Lizzie and Minka might be sisters but, they are nothing alike. Minka is outgoing and personable while, Lizzie is shy and prefers to keep to herself. Lizzie likes that nothing ever happens in their quiet sleepy village. She likes that its safe and comfortable and she hopes nothing ever changes.
However, Lizzie's world comes crashing down when Minka meets a boy. The boy gives her a delicious plum to eat. He is charming, alluring, and handsome. He tells her that she is special and he understands her like no one else does. He tells Minka to join him in the darkness in the forest.
As Minka falls under the zdusze's (goblin) spell, Lizzie will stop at nothing to save her beloved sister. She knows that his words and fruit is poison and she is desperate to get Minka to see the truth. Will Lizzie be able to save Minka before it's too late?
I am not familiar with the poem or the Polish folklore that this book is based off of. However, I thought it was an interesting read. The book was short but, filled with world building details for young readers to enjoy. At times, the book did seem to drag a bit and had a lot of fluff material though. Overall, I found it to be an interesting read and I would read more books by the author.
**Disclosure - I received a free unedited copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion**
About The Book:
Author: Diane Zahler
Pub. Date: August 16, 2022
Publisher: Holiday House
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 256
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
One sister must save the other from a goblin prince in this rich, spooky, and delightfully dark fantasy!
"TERRIFICALLY TIMELESS. . . SPLENDID."—Shelf Awareness
Lizzie and Minka are sisters, but they’re nothing alike: Minka is outgoing and
cheerful, while Lizzie is shy and sensitive. Nothing much ever happens in their
sleepy village—there are fields to tend, clothes to mend, and weekly trips to
the market, predictable as the turning of the seasons. Lizzie likes it that
way. It’s safe. It’s comfortable. She hopes nothing will ever change.
But one day, Minka meets a boy.
A boy who gives her a plum to eat.
He is charming. He is handsome. He tells her that she’s special. He tells her
no one understands her like he does—not her parents, not her friends, not even
Lizzie. He tells her she should come away with him, into the darkness, into the
forest. . . .
Minka has been bewitched and ensnared by a zdusze—a goblin. His plum was
poison, his words are poison, and strange things begin to happen. Trees bleed,
winds howl, a terrible sickness descends on Minka, and deep in the woods, in a
place beyond sunshine, beyond reality, a wedding table has been laid. . . .
To save her sister, Lizzie will have to find courage she never knew she
had—courage to confront the impossible—and enter into a world of dreams,
danger, and death.
Rich world-building inspired by both Polish folklore and the poetry of
Christina Rossetti combines with a tender sister story in this thrilling novel
from Diane Zahler.
"Lush. . . Dreamy. . . Breath-quickening."—The Horn Book
"Resonates with emotion."—BCCB
"Believably wrought."—Publishers Weekly
"Will entice readers looking for some chills."—Kirkus Reviews
About Diane Zahler:
Diane grew
up reading children's books and never wanted to do anything but write them. Now
she’s the author of six middle-grade fantasy novels and a historical novel,
DAUGHTER OF THE WHITE ROSE. She lives in the country with her husband and
slightly neurotic dog in what is aptly nicknamed the Bug House. Visit her
website at www.dianezahler.com.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a finished copy of GOBLIN MARKET, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Schedule:
Week One:
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8/8/2022 |
Excerpt |
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8/8/2022 |
IG Review |
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8/9/2022 |
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8/9/2022 |
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8/11/2022 |
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8/15/2022 |
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8/16/2022 |
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8/19/2022 |
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8/19/2022 |
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