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In the Republic of Corvain, anybody who has a hint of magical power is rounded up and thrown into prison. They’re doing it to defend the new nation, says the revolutionary government – defend it from the sorcerers and sorceresses who used to be the lackeys of the man-eating Auks in the bad old days of the monarcy. When Grizelda, a young seamstress from the poorer part of the capitol city, suddenly finds herself the government’s target, she fears she is done for.

But in prison she meets a group of rat-riding pixies and earns their undying friendship by mending their clothes. In exchange, they help her to escape and seek refuge in the world below the city. Living underground means Grizelda has to adapt to the strange customs of the goblins, a cheerless bunch who storm around muttering about the dictatorship of the proletariat.

Not content to remain in exile, Grizelda winds up entangled with a group of human revolutionaries. Together they hatch a daring plan to return the Republic to its original ideals, before it decayed into a police state. If their plan is going to work, Grizelda will have to get Communist goblins, irresponsible pixies, and revolutionaries still deeply mistrustful of magic to work together.

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Audio Quality: Out of 12 ratings

Narration Quality: Out of 12 ratings

Writing Quality: Out of 12 ratings

Overall Rating: Out of 12 ratings

By: quandmeme
I don't know how to take lack of any use for magic. On one hand it played up the unfair branding of this poor little girl. But on the other hand the draw of fantasy books about an outcast witch is the magic. I was waiting for an army of origami cranes to overwhelm the prison or something. I guess that's it, I really didn't expect some one to pull in a favor and the whole climax to deflate. Wasn't expecting the fizzle. If I were to take a crack an alternate chapter 29, it would be that some of the goblins were persuaded that the regime was a common enemy with Grizelda and that if that there would be a deal with the undergrounders to help coordinate between Goblin communes in exchange for a massive goblin-assisted breakout. Grizelda and Toby still get captured and still have to flee in order to lay the foundation for a sequel, but instead of deflating, the themes built so well up to that point would have a launching point in the sequel instead of just a back story. O yeah, and a swarm of origami cranes, too.

By: Scott
I loved this book and I've been telling friends about it. I was first drawn to politics and sociology but stayed for the lost yet determined little girl. The world is compelling and original, the characters, whether goblins, humans or pixies, feel real. This is easy to categorize as "youth literature," but adults won't want to stop listening. The audio quality is fine, the narration is surprisingly good. I have no complaints because the author never kept me waiting for a week between episodes, she had it posted nearly as fast as I could listen to it. I've listened to a lot of podiobooks, but there aren't many that have been as thoughtful, well-written or appealing as Grizelda.

By: Chris
Enjoyed the book, definitely lots of social commentary going on, but even with that the story is quite enjoyable.

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