Summary of Goblin King: A Permafrost Novel by Kara Barbieri

Experience the frosty adventures in 'Goblin King' by Kara Barbieri, where love and goblins collide in a whimsical tale of chaos and romance.

Welcome to the Goblin King, where the only thing colder than the icy landscape is the character development-or should I say, lack of it? In this chilly second installment of the Permafrost series, we're thrown right into a world where goblins reign supreme, love is as cold as the glacial winds, and everyone seems to have a secret. Spoiler alert: some of those secrets are just plain silly!

Our heroine-who you might actually forget the name of because there's a 99% chance you've encountered her before in a dozen other fantasy novels-finds herself navigating a perilous world filled with goblins, political intrigue, and a love story that's about as frosty as the tundra. As we dive into the narrative, we learn that our lead has a certain talent for getting herself into trouble. Who knew? Not me. It seems every time she tries to save the day, she ends up needing saving herself-how original!

What about the Goblin King, you ask? Ah, yes, the titular character. He's brooding, handsome, and has a flair for dramatic entrances. Naturally, he's got a whole lot of emotional baggage (who doesn't in a YA novel?). Our heroine dances around him like he's the most dangerous game of musical chairs-if she sits the wrong way, she's toast. Or worse, she might have to start caring!

As the plot thickens (like the ice on a frozen lake), we're treated to a series of plot twists that will leave you saying, "Did I really need another love triangle?" Seriously, there's more back-and-forth here than in a game of tennis. The stakes are raised as our heroine discovers alliances are as slippery as the ice underfoot, and not everyone can be trusted. Shocking, right?

Now, let's discuss the goblins. Because what's a story about the Goblin King without goblins, am I right? These creatures are depicted as quirky and kind of ridiculous, like that one friend who insists on wearing sunglasses indoors. They have their charming moments, but at the end of the day, they still seem like they just walked off the set of a low-budget fantasy movie.

Now for a little dose of reality: the pacing of this novel feels like a brisk jog through a snowstorm-sometimes exciting, sometimes exhausting, and mostly leaving you wondering why you started in the first place. The prose is sprinkled with dreamy imagery and metaphors that sound nice but often lead nowhere. There's a lot of atmosphere, but occasionally you might catch yourself wishing for a map-or at least a ~little~ more direction.

As for the big "twist" at the end? Well, let's just say it's about as predictable as a Hallmark movie. What can you expect when you're dealing with creatures from the underbelly of the fantasy world? It's all very 'meh' by the time you get to the final pages, and you might find yourself rolling your eyes harder than a goblin hoarding treasure.

In summary, Goblin King serves a delightful mix of magical chaos and dramatic romance, but don't expect Shakespearean depth from it. If you're looking for escapism, this book is like a comfy blanket on a cold night: warm and cozy, but you might just end up falling asleep.

So grab your hot cocoa, snuggle up, and dive in if you dare-but remember, no one guaranteed you'd come out of this read without a wacky goblin side quest or two! Enjoy the ride-just don't expect it to warm your heart too much!

Maddie Page

Classics, bestsellers, and guilty pleasures-none are safe from my sarcastic recaps. I turn heavy reads into lighthearted summaries you can actually enjoy. Warning: may cause random outbursts of laughter while pretending to study literature.