trickingloki's review
5.0
It was a solid 4. Until the last... fifth or so of the book.
And then it was easily one of the best books I read this year. I loved how everything came together. I will say that I wish the protagonist would have had an actual epiphany about her character, but I feel like she did and we just didn't quite get it.
And then it was easily one of the best books I read this year. I loved how everything came together. I will say that I wish the protagonist would have had an actual epiphany about her character, but I feel like she did and we just didn't quite get it.
mariahistryingtoread's review
3.0
Ghoulish Song is a companion novel that exceeds the quality of its predecessor though admittedly that’s not too difficult considering the middling quality of Goblin Secrets. I liked it more solely because of Kaile being a superior protagonist to Rownie, but make no mistake the issues I had with the first book are present here as well.
This book takes a look at what a girl who is a less than minor character in Goblin Secrets is doing on the day of the great flood Rownie and the goblins are seeking to prevent. Unbeknownst to them she has her own part to play in the events of the day. Due to her shadow being removed Kaile is pronounced dead - that is, everyone around her is going to ignore her as if she is as a means of protecting themselves from vengeful spirits. Through her attempt to join her shadow back to her she becomes wrapped up in the flood plotline.
However, interestingly enough the two do not converge in the way you’d expect. In fact, the two stories do not make direct contact at all outside of a small interaction somewhere in the middle. It’s very much two completely independent sides of the same story about one big event. I found this kind of fun because it provided further insight into the world which I believe is the strongest part of this entire series.
I liked learning more about the traditions, superstitions and overall culture of Zombay. Admittedly, I did not remember a lot of details about Goblin Secrets, but Alexander makes it easy to slide right in. He excels at creating a diverting, immersive atmosphere. I was a little confused yet entertained; kind of like Kaile, herself.
In contrast to Rownie, Kaile is a much more supportable character. She knows what she wants, and she is the one to strike out to make her own way. She relies on her own intrepid spirit to keep her going. I also think the ‘chosen one’ trope not being projected onto her helped immensely.
Her secondary cast, consisting of a secret musicians guild her late grandfather belonged to, is unfortunately as similarly underdeveloped as the goblin theatre troupe - I’d almost go so far as to call them knockoffs - but thankfully, she’s a strong enough character to combat that.
Most books can fit into a three act construct and I have no problem with it because it’s not even noticeable unless you’re looking for it or particularly attuned to it. I definitely could feel the transition in this case. The trek to unite her and her shadow is milquetoast. It involves a murky magical system that doesn’t get explained too well. This causes the ending to be underwhelming as it relies heavily on the aforementioned magical system. The mystery regarding the flute is not well interwoven into the rest of the story as the puzzle of it doesn’t require much effort to figure out. It’s basically known from the beginning so most of the book is simply biding time until it’s confirmed later.
Also there’s the question of how much Kaile really is impacting given what we know of Rownie’s influence. Conversely, there’s the same question of Rownie’s impact in relation to what Kaile does.
All in all, an average read, though slightly more enjoyable than the previous installment.
Goblin Secrets Review
This book takes a look at what a girl who is a less than minor character in Goblin Secrets is doing on the day of the great flood Rownie and the goblins are seeking to prevent. Unbeknownst to them she has her own part to play in the events of the day. Due to her shadow being removed Kaile is pronounced dead - that is, everyone around her is going to ignore her as if she is as a means of protecting themselves from vengeful spirits. Through her attempt to join her shadow back to her she becomes wrapped up in the flood plotline.
However, interestingly enough the two do not converge in the way you’d expect. In fact, the two stories do not make direct contact at all outside of a small interaction somewhere in the middle. It’s very much two completely independent sides of the same story about one big event. I found this kind of fun because it provided further insight into the world which I believe is the strongest part of this entire series.
I liked learning more about the traditions, superstitions and overall culture of Zombay. Admittedly, I did not remember a lot of details about Goblin Secrets, but Alexander makes it easy to slide right in. He excels at creating a diverting, immersive atmosphere. I was a little confused yet entertained; kind of like Kaile, herself.
In contrast to Rownie, Kaile is a much more supportable character. She knows what she wants, and she is the one to strike out to make her own way. She relies on her own intrepid spirit to keep her going. I also think the ‘chosen one’ trope not being projected onto her helped immensely.
Her secondary cast, consisting of a secret musicians guild her late grandfather belonged to, is unfortunately as similarly underdeveloped as the goblin theatre troupe - I’d almost go so far as to call them knockoffs - but thankfully, she’s a strong enough character to combat that.
Most books can fit into a three act construct and I have no problem with it because it’s not even noticeable unless you’re looking for it or particularly attuned to it. I definitely could feel the transition in this case. The trek to unite her and her shadow is milquetoast. It involves a murky magical system that doesn’t get explained too well. This causes the ending to be underwhelming as it relies heavily on the aforementioned magical system. The mystery regarding the flute is not well interwoven into the rest of the story as the puzzle of it doesn’t require much effort to figure out. It’s basically known from the beginning so most of the book is simply biding time until it’s confirmed later.
Also there’s the question of how much Kaile really is impacting given what we know of Rownie’s influence. Conversely, there’s the same question of Rownie’s impact in relation to what Kaile does.
All in all, an average read, though slightly more enjoyable than the previous installment.
Goblin Secrets Review
skundrik87's review
4.0
This author is so imaginative and does excellent worldbuilding with not many pages to work with. Kaile accidentally plays a bone flute which severs her from her shadow. She is now considered dead. She leaves to find a way to reattach it. Fantasy, but creepy.
amcg's review
4.0
aunque yo leí este libro hace un tiempo, es uno de los que se ha quedado conmigo. la historia de una niña y la sombra fue linda y conmovedora. uno de mis favoritos desde siempre.
amcgillen's review
4.0
aunque yo leí este libro hace un tiempo, es uno de los que se ha quedado conmigo. la historia de una niña y la sombra fue linda y conmovedora. uno de mis favoritos desde siempre.
saragrochowski's review
5.0
William Alexander's Ghoulish Song is a short read and an adventurous, magical tale. Though technically the companion to Goblin Secrets, in which readers are first introduced to the city of Zombay, it isn't necessary to read this previous offering to enjoy Kaile's story.
Kaile dreams of being a musician and following in the steps of her grandfather, who recently passed away. In Zombay, music is magic that musicians use to protect the city and its inhabitants. Kaile often refers to stories and advice her grandfather shared, which serves to give the reader an understanding of Kaile's devotion to her grandfather as well as an understanding of the power of music.
"Music ties knots, and unties them, he had told Kaile. Think about a lullaby, one that ties up the world to make it a safe place for sleeping. It doesn't just convince the child - it convinces the world. Think about a funeral song. It can untie the string we use to hold our grief and let it all spill out. The same song, the very same song, can tie us back together again after we've spilled out." - Pg 32-33 of arc
Kaile tries to be good and follow the direction of her mother, who she feels cares more about her bakery and her position as the best baker in town than about Kaile, but she can't seem to say no when it comes to the magic of music, even when she knows she should. After an unfortunate incident with a goblin troupe, Kaile comes into possession of a flute made of bone, which, when played, separates her shadow from her feet, and sets into motion the events of the novel.
One of my favorite aspects of Ghoulish Song was Kaile's commentary regarding the other characters, like her brother, Snotfish. These descriptions feel realistic. Though she lives in the magical city of Zombay, she still has to deal with her annoying little brother.
"Doctor Boggs hadn't paid a visit to Broken Wall since the Snotfish broke his leg - again - by doing exactly the same thing he had been doing the first time he had broken his leg. He fell from a crate stacked on top of another crate, which he had stacked on a table in the public room. He had been tying several lengths of twine to the rafters. Kaile didn't know why the Snotfish had been tying twine to the rafters, and she had never asked. Either he wouldn't answer, or else he would for hours and hours, and either way she would regret asking." - Pg 47 of arc
Kaile's shadow becomes a central character as well. Like Kaile in some ways, yet a definite individual, Shadow's observations and dialogue offer depth and maturity Kaile has yet to achieve. In essence, Shadow completes Kaile and possesses half of the qualities that ultimately allow her to defeat the ghoul that's bent on destroying Zombay.
"'Tell me why you left,' Kaile said. 'Tell me why you aren't attached to my feet anymore.'
I heard music, the shadow said. It was beautiful and wrenching. It unmoored me. It cut me away from you. I huddled in our room while so many other people came in. Then they all left, and you left with the lantern. You left me almost in the dark. I followed. The only thing I know how to do is follow you. I don't want to. You never noticed me when you dragged me across the ground while walking. You never noticed when someone else stepped on my face. I don't want to be anywhere near you. But near you is the only place I know." - Pg 55-56 of arc
Ghoulish Song is creative with beautiful writing. I think young readers will identify with Kaile while enjoying the delightful world Alexander has created.
Kaile dreams of being a musician and following in the steps of her grandfather, who recently passed away. In Zombay, music is magic that musicians use to protect the city and its inhabitants. Kaile often refers to stories and advice her grandfather shared, which serves to give the reader an understanding of Kaile's devotion to her grandfather as well as an understanding of the power of music.
"Music ties knots, and unties them, he had told Kaile. Think about a lullaby, one that ties up the world to make it a safe place for sleeping. It doesn't just convince the child - it convinces the world. Think about a funeral song. It can untie the string we use to hold our grief and let it all spill out. The same song, the very same song, can tie us back together again after we've spilled out." - Pg 32-33 of arc
Kaile tries to be good and follow the direction of her mother, who she feels cares more about her bakery and her position as the best baker in town than about Kaile, but she can't seem to say no when it comes to the magic of music, even when she knows she should. After an unfortunate incident with a goblin troupe, Kaile comes into possession of a flute made of bone, which, when played, separates her shadow from her feet, and sets into motion the events of the novel.
One of my favorite aspects of Ghoulish Song was Kaile's commentary regarding the other characters, like her brother, Snotfish. These descriptions feel realistic. Though she lives in the magical city of Zombay, she still has to deal with her annoying little brother.
"Doctor Boggs hadn't paid a visit to Broken Wall since the Snotfish broke his leg - again - by doing exactly the same thing he had been doing the first time he had broken his leg. He fell from a crate stacked on top of another crate, which he had stacked on a table in the public room. He had been tying several lengths of twine to the rafters. Kaile didn't know why the Snotfish had been tying twine to the rafters, and she had never asked. Either he wouldn't answer, or else he would for hours and hours, and either way she would regret asking." - Pg 47 of arc
Kaile's shadow becomes a central character as well. Like Kaile in some ways, yet a definite individual, Shadow's observations and dialogue offer depth and maturity Kaile has yet to achieve. In essence, Shadow completes Kaile and possesses half of the qualities that ultimately allow her to defeat the ghoul that's bent on destroying Zombay.
"'Tell me why you left,' Kaile said. 'Tell me why you aren't attached to my feet anymore.'
I heard music, the shadow said. It was beautiful and wrenching. It unmoored me. It cut me away from you. I huddled in our room while so many other people came in. Then they all left, and you left with the lantern. You left me almost in the dark. I followed. The only thing I know how to do is follow you. I don't want to. You never noticed me when you dragged me across the ground while walking. You never noticed when someone else stepped on my face. I don't want to be anywhere near you. But near you is the only place I know." - Pg 55-56 of arc
Ghoulish Song is creative with beautiful writing. I think young readers will identify with Kaile while enjoying the delightful world Alexander has created.
wheems01's review against another edition
4.0
Summary:
Kaile lives in Zombay, a city always on the verge of flooding. Her mother is a baker, and on the day of inspection Kaile allows a goblin troupe to perform in her mother’s bakery. When her mother finds out, she sends Kaile’s father to get rid of the goblins, and the goblins feeling slighted start to curse the family. Fearing the curses, Kaile sneaks out to pay the goblins with the best bread mean to the inspection, and in return receives a bone flute, that separates her from her shadow, her family, and sends her on a quest to find both herself and to save Zombay from the flood.
Review:
The timeline for this novel is interesting. It takes place at virtually the same time as the previous novel about Zombay, Goblin Secrets. It was interesting to see. These two completely separate stories overlapping and intertwining. On that note, you can read either novel as a stand-alone, but they are better when read together.
One of my greatest qualms about the first book was that I wanted more explanation, more detail. That didn’t bother me as much in this book, partly because the book delivered the more I was looking for, and partly because the place was now so familiar.
I loved Kaile’s story and I loved her shadow. Both are compelling and diverse characters. Kaile has her faults, but so too does Shade. The quest is fascinating and keeps the book moving.
Audiobook Review:
Like with the previous book, Goblin Secrets, the author reads this book too and does a fantastic job. His narration is entertaining and engaging. The audio is produced by Simon and Schuster Audio and consists of four sound discs. This book is relatively short at only 240 minutes and would make an excellent selection for a family trip. I recommend the audio to anyone who likes shorter audiobooks or is looking for something the whole family can listen to together.
Overall:
Overall, this book was both engaging and entertaining. I hope Alexander continues writing more about Zombay and its inhabitants, because I can’t seem to get enough of his remarkable storytelling. You will want to bring this audio book with you on your next family trip, or better yet, bring this one and Goblin Secrets and enjoy the overlap between these two stories. In fact, I may go back and listen to Goblin Secrets again and see if I missed anything!
Cautions for Sensitive Readers:
Very mild. Some violence, talk of ghouls, curses, and mentions of death and suicide.
Kaile lives in Zombay, a city always on the verge of flooding. Her mother is a baker, and on the day of inspection Kaile allows a goblin troupe to perform in her mother’s bakery. When her mother finds out, she sends Kaile’s father to get rid of the goblins, and the goblins feeling slighted start to curse the family. Fearing the curses, Kaile sneaks out to pay the goblins with the best bread mean to the inspection, and in return receives a bone flute, that separates her from her shadow, her family, and sends her on a quest to find both herself and to save Zombay from the flood.
Review:
The timeline for this novel is interesting. It takes place at virtually the same time as the previous novel about Zombay, Goblin Secrets. It was interesting to see. These two completely separate stories overlapping and intertwining. On that note, you can read either novel as a stand-alone, but they are better when read together.
One of my greatest qualms about the first book was that I wanted more explanation, more detail. That didn’t bother me as much in this book, partly because the book delivered the more I was looking for, and partly because the place was now so familiar.
I loved Kaile’s story and I loved her shadow. Both are compelling and diverse characters. Kaile has her faults, but so too does Shade. The quest is fascinating and keeps the book moving.
Audiobook Review:
Like with the previous book, Goblin Secrets, the author reads this book too and does a fantastic job. His narration is entertaining and engaging. The audio is produced by Simon and Schuster Audio and consists of four sound discs. This book is relatively short at only 240 minutes and would make an excellent selection for a family trip. I recommend the audio to anyone who likes shorter audiobooks or is looking for something the whole family can listen to together.
Overall:
Overall, this book was both engaging and entertaining. I hope Alexander continues writing more about Zombay and its inhabitants, because I can’t seem to get enough of his remarkable storytelling. You will want to bring this audio book with you on your next family trip, or better yet, bring this one and Goblin Secrets and enjoy the overlap between these two stories. In fact, I may go back and listen to Goblin Secrets again and see if I missed anything!
Cautions for Sensitive Readers:
Very mild. Some violence, talk of ghouls, curses, and mentions of death and suicide.
hollowspine's review against another edition
4.0
Ghoulish Song is a companion to Goblin Secrets, one really couldn't call it a sequel. The story takes place in the same city, Zombay, as Goblin Secrets, and at about the same time.
Kaile is the daughter of the finest baker in all of Southside. She lives and works in the bakery, her mom, the finest baker, has little time for songs, Kaile's passion. After inviting a troupe of Goblins to play in their public room everything goes wrong. Kaile looses her shadow and is exiled from her house. They don't pass their inspection and the floods are coming...
As in Goblin Secrets Kaile must discover her hidden talents, despite others trying to impose their own ideas and plans on her. The story is exciting, and reveals more interesting tidbits about the city of Zombay, which is a very rich world, full of mysteries.
I would recommend reading Goblin Secrets before Ghoulish Song, but either work could be read alone without affecting the wonderful storytelling and interesting world. Looking forward to more stories of Zombay in the future.
Kaile is the daughter of the finest baker in all of Southside. She lives and works in the bakery, her mom, the finest baker, has little time for songs, Kaile's passion. After inviting a troupe of Goblins to play in their public room everything goes wrong. Kaile looses her shadow and is exiled from her house. They don't pass their inspection and the floods are coming...
As in Goblin Secrets Kaile must discover her hidden talents, despite others trying to impose their own ideas and plans on her. The story is exciting, and reveals more interesting tidbits about the city of Zombay, which is a very rich world, full of mysteries.
I would recommend reading Goblin Secrets before Ghoulish Song, but either work could be read alone without affecting the wonderful storytelling and interesting world. Looking forward to more stories of Zombay in the future.
otterno11's review against another edition
4.0
Ghoulish Song is a pretty worthy companion to William Alexander’s first work in his Zombay series, Goblin Secrets. Taking place at roughly the same time and featuring some of the same characters, the story here focuses on the magic and importance of music. Under the stern tutelage of her mother, Kaile is learning to be best baker in Zombay’s Southtown, but her heart remains with music and the musicians her grandfather used to meet with to perform on the Zombay Bridge. However, when Kaile makes some bad choices involving a goblin performance at the bakery, she finds herself without a shadow and declared legally dead, while due to the city’s unjust and arbitrary laws, her mom winds up in a cage hanging over the Zombay River. Meanwhile, rumors insist that a great flood is coming, a flood that could threaten everything Kaile holds dear. Embarking on a journey down the river to try to get her shadow back, Kailie encounters some of the dark secrets the river holds, but just might discover her own strengths as well.
All in all, Ghoulish Song definitely has it’s spooky moments but Kaile’s strong will to make things right kept the narrative flowing. It was also nice that, in such a strange world, she still seemed like a real kid. The weird customs of Zombay and its vibrant personalities and neighborhoods make the series feel, as I remarked in my review of Goblin Secrets, a little like a middle grade version of the Bas Lag series, which in my mind, is a good thing. I’d recommend the novel for kids and their parents who are looking for something gripping, unconventional, and fun. A plus, the audiobook is narrated by the author himself, and he really imparts it with a strong storytelling voice, evoking emotions and personality to all of the characters
All in all, Ghoulish Song definitely has it’s spooky moments but Kaile’s strong will to make things right kept the narrative flowing. It was also nice that, in such a strange world, she still seemed like a real kid. The weird customs of Zombay and its vibrant personalities and neighborhoods make the series feel, as I remarked in my review of Goblin Secrets, a little like a middle grade version of the Bas Lag series, which in my mind, is a good thing. I’d recommend the novel for kids and their parents who are looking for something gripping, unconventional, and fun. A plus, the audiobook is narrated by the author himself, and he really imparts it with a strong storytelling voice, evoking emotions and personality to all of the characters