How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days

Opposites attract when a halfling and a goblin vie for ownership of a forest cottage in Sylva’s utterly enchanting romantasy debut. Halfling Pansy Underburrow inherited the house from her grandmother and sees renovating it as an opportunity to assert her independence from her overbearing family and conservative community. Goblin Ren Woodward has been the cottage’s caretaker since their family laid claim to the seemingly abandoned property 20 years prior and needs the space to grow the crops upon which their clan depends. With halflings and goblins historically at odds, the two agree to cohabitate; the first to leave forfeits all claims to the cottage. Initially they each do all they can to drive the other out, but the two find an uneasy truce while adding their individual touches to the cottage, with Ren sharing their botanical expertise and Pansy sharing her culinary passions. Mutual appreciation blooms into friendship, then romance. However, their respective clans may not be ready to accept their interspecies relationship. Underneath the comforting focus on food, home, and fulfillment, Sylva layers in deeper, more complex themes of tradition, obligation, and duty. Pansy wants to challenge how her community perceives her, while Ren, willing to sacrifice almost everything for their clan, must learn to grasp happiness for themself. The result is cozy, heartfelt, and deeply satisfying. (Jan.)