Goblin Moon

Theresa Edgerton, I will state right now, is one of my absolutely favourite fantasy authors in the genre today. Within the space of a few hundred pages, she transports us to a world both foreign and familiar, introduces a cast Dickens would envy, and completes a novel that *might* relinquish the reader's attention given the space of a month. While publishers are constantly "upping" the cost and the length (and the dullness) of their new lines, Theresa Edgerton is an excellent foil - slashing through the cliche bilge and shining through the benighted press. Her stories have the added quality of "rereadableness" - for they rest on limited omniscience rather than surprise.In "Goblin Moon," the first book in a duology, Ms. Edgerton creates a world based on eighteenth century Europe, replete with evil duchesses and dashing masqueraders, husband-catchers and Faust mirrors, Guilds of gnomes and dwarves and covens of goblins. Although readers of her other series (The Green Lion Trilogy, and its sister Trilogy - both set in a para-Celtic land) might find the abrupt change in world surprising, yet the first few chapters will certainly convince them to continue reading. Students of this particular era (who suffered through Locke and have been looking for a means of putting such non-knowledge to use) will find her world-building especially delightful, from the Fates to the sheep-drawn carriages.Beware, though. Ms. Edgerton's novels are notoriously difficult to find, but more than worth the agony of waiting.

Goblin Moon is set in a quasi-Victorian time. There are several different species, such as gnomes, blood-sucking trolls, hobgoblins and, of course, humans. The main heroine, Seramarias Vorder, is an appropriately intelligent and resourceful young woman in a rather false society. However, the hero, the elusive Lord Francis Skelbrooke, steals the show. A perfect gentlemen, laced and powdered to perfection...armed to the teeth and with the deplorable habit of shooting enemies at point blank range. Together, Sera and Lord Skelbrooke must find out exactly what the mysterious and bewitching Duchess and her suave minion Jarl Skogsra are plotting. Full of intrigue, ironic humor, the stylized world of the Victorians, and a touch of romance, Goblin Moon is an enchanting read. It is well worth the time and effort to locate a copy.

I found this beaten up paperback on a shelf of neglected paperbacks at my University's library. Everything is hard-bound (the school does it itself) so the few paperbacks are regulated to these four tiny rotating shelves by the bathroom on the first floor in the back of the building. The cover was cheesy and weird and I didn't think I would like it. But read it, I did, and I discovered a new favorite author. I like very few female fantasy writers (they always seem to try too hard) but Edgerton is superb. I like her simplicity, which can ALMOST be compared to the style of Guy Gavriel Kay. Her books are very well-written, but I believe Goblin Moon is the best. Highly recommendable

Usually, I am not a fan of Gothic Romance. However, Ms. Edgerton's novel Goblin Moon reminds me of the works of Tim Powers and James Blaylock. The story is well-written with interesting and engaging characters. Magic, revenge and action as well as romance are seamlessly woven together to make this a worthy read. If you like fantasy, even if you don't care for romance or gothic, give this book a try. I look forward to the (implied) sequel and will attempt to find other books by the same author.