Early Reader Review: Goblin Market by A.J. Hackwith

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Goblin Market by A.J. Hackwith 
Publisher: Ace
Publication Date:  October 20, 2026

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A goblin changeling caught between the human and fey worlds must find a way to save her home in this warm and heartfelt fantasy from the author of Toto and the Hell’s Library series.

Being a changeling is hard enough, but Toast was older than most changeling children when her goblin parents stole her back from her human family and returned her to the harsh, bustling world of the Goblin Market, where anything from your fondest dream to your strongest talent can be bought—or sold.

 Nearly a decade later, Toast has grudgingly cobbled together a life there as the Market’s guide for mortal visitors. But when the next arrival is her long-lost sister and the ancient beast whose magic the Market depends on disappears under strange circumstances, everything starts falling apart.

Now the Market itself is dying. With the Summer Court of noble fey plotting to claim the weakened Market for themselves, Toast, her friends, and an infuriatingly charming fey knight with an agenda of her own must negotiate their differences to make the trade of a lifetime and win back the Market's future. To do so, Toast will have to decide what home--and the flawed community within--is ultimately worth.

Review: 

This was a fun, cozy fantasy about Toast, a goblin changeling who was brought to the fae realm later than most. As an angsty teen, she struggled to find her place in this new world, but as an adult, she’s learned to survive in it. Now she works as  'keeper of the door', where she escorts humans who come through to visit the fae world and goblin market.

Things get interesting when her former human sister comes through the door looking for the human version of Toast, who no longer exists. When the two try to solve the problem by seeking out the ancient god, Kulm, of the market, things get even weirder. After a strange encounter that leaves Kulm seemingly gone/reborn, Toast finds herself responsible for Sam (her sister), the god-baby Kulm, and an elf soldier that Kulm has apparently captured for some reason. 

The overall chaos of this book was a lot of fun, and the pacing was pretty good. I really enjoyed the cozy fantasy vibes and the sisterly love at the heart of the story. The romance, however, felt a little unnecessary. It was so light that I honestly think the book could have focused more on friendship instead.

My biggest issue was the occasional modern and human-world references. Mentions of things like AI and the Backrooms (like the Horror movie ones...) felt very current, and they pulled me out of the story more than I think the author intended. Instead of staying immersed in Toast’s world and her adventure, I found myself questioning these references and how they fit into the setting, or why the author chose to include them.

Overall, this was a likable read with plenty of weirdness, fun chaos, and cozy fantasy charm. It wasn’t perfect, but I enjoyed the adventure and especially the sisterly bond and found family at its heart.