August 1, 2011
Husk constructs a unique mythology for the goblin hero in her paranormal debut. Once a Celtic king, Roan will either fade or become part of the soulless Goblin Horde unless he breaks the curse of a druid who sent him to the Shadowlands. Teen Eliza summons a goblin to save her from an attack, and Roan responds. Though she remembers the rescue as a dream, she calls for him years later when life with her dangerous fiancé becomes too terrible to contemplate. Other than this cry for help, Eliza is frustratingly passive, primarily shaped and motivated by her relationships with men (including her father, whose death distressed her so much she gave up on a promising career). Roan's dilemma is romantic and intriguing, and Husk does a credible job of bringing the two worlds to life, but there's little reason for either Roan or the reader to care about Eliza.