Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

Liesel knows the story of the old ways and about the Goblin King.  She follows her grandmother around putting salt on the window and door frames to keep him out of the house.  At least she does until her brother is having a concert trying to become an apprentice to a master violinist.  Then she follows her mother's demands.  She also loses her sister...

Thomas Dunne and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published February 7th.

Every time I hear the words Goblin King, I think of David Bowie in the movie Labyrinth.  He looked otherworldly and acted just like you would think a Goblin King would.  The whole time I read this book it was like he was with me again.  Yes, I had a crush on him.

Liesel had played in the woods with the Goblin King as a child and she promised to marry him then.  But as she grew older, she forgot him.  He didn't forget her.  When he came looking for a wife, he knew who he wanted.  

She knows he's magical.  She can see him when others can't.  When her sister Kathe falls under his spell and goes to the underground with the Goblin King, Liesel is determined to get her back.  Unfortunately, there's only one way.  She has to stay and be his wife.

This is a tale of fantasy that spoke to me.  Liesel has her music, a fondness for the Goblin King, and no one notices her at home.  Why not stay?  Soon she finds out she misses her family, her siblings especially.  It doesn't help that she has a mirror that shows her family.  She decides she made her choice and she'll live with it.  Or perhaps I should say die with it.  But the Goblin King falls in love with her...

I enjoyed this fantasy story and the romance although the ending is a bit sad.  Most tales of magic are not all sweetness and light and this one isn't either.  It is a good read, though.