A fantastic combo of clear innocence and creepiness! ( )

Before Rowling (Dobby the house elf even talks like Hob) and before Gaiman (old magic in the modern world, as in American Gods and The Graveyard Book) there was this snip of enchantment. Begins on a bus route in today's London, refers to Wales (cutch), ends with the implied reminder that evil can never be completely conquered, anywhere in the world. It can be read by anyone who likes slightly creepy magic with a modern family and a ancient curse... and the brave little creature who will manage to save them from the goblins, their children, and their King. The illustrations are silhouette-style drawings formed to the initial letter of each chapter - perfect fit for the subject, style, and structure of the book. What is likely to interest some readers a lot, and possibly turn off others, is the language - it's almost like word-play, almost like poetry, and utterly bewitching. ( )

I bought this book to ogle the beautiful initial caps, so I'm not awfully disappointed that I'm bored with the story before getting half way through.

I was not overly impressed with this book, though there were certainly moments that I appreciated. The story of a Hob, and how he comes to help a family despite his lack of confidence (or memory) in himself is a fun read, and often lyrical in ways I would not have put together myself.

Though there are moments that I wish the story would have progressed more quickly (and others where I wish Mayne had taken a bit more time to develop the story), all in all, it was worthy of a few nights of time, reading a bedtime story to my 18 month old.

Just wasn't worth much more than that, in this reader's opinion. ( )