Imelda & the Goblin King

Imelda & the Goblin King

By Briony May Smith
Published by Flying Eye Books

I've been looking forward to getting my hands on this title since I heard Briony May Smith was to have her first book published through Flying Eye Books. The wait was definitely worth it and Briony's signature style works well in this beautifully presented picture book debut (I love the gold foil lettering and forest symbols on the cover!).

The story here is about a human girl called Imelda who lives next to a wood. And this is no ordinary wood as its enchanted and full of fairy folk. Imelda would play with the fairies everyday and learn all of their secrets and all is perfect until a big nasty bully turns up - THE GOBLIN KING! And what a nasty brute he is.  

After storming the enchanted forest, the Goblin King announces that he's the new boss and takes the fairy queen as a prisoner - even after her being so welcoming! So Imelda is called upon to save the day, and with some help from her fairy friends she comes up with a cunning plan to stop the horrible Goblin King for good! And with the Goblin King being a greedy brute, its not long until he gets his just desserts!

Briony's illustrations echo back to vintage illustrations you would expect to see in vintage fairy tales, using traditional techniques to bring her illustrations to life. Each spread is filled with energetic pencil and watercolour illustrations - with lots of gorgeously rendered characters to be spotted all over. 

I couldn't help but think of David Bowie as the Goblin King in the classic 80s movie the Labyrinth. Of course Imelda & the Goblin King has no relation to the movie at all, but I always find a bit of nostalgia can be found in all forms even if it was just 'Goblin King' that triggered it! And I would let your nostalgic get the better of you and buy this book as it's a modern classic! Perfect for children and adults alike, a modern fairy tale for all to enjoy. 

Imelda & the Goblin King is available to buy in all good bookshops and online at the Flying Eye Books website.