Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense tale of teen goblin fighters has graphic violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
As NOT GOOD FOR MAIDENS opens, the Wicket family of witches finds itself pulled back into the worlds of black magic. Lou's niece Neela is kidnapped by goblins and taken to their market. Half the novel takes place 18 years earlier, as May Wicket makes the mistake of trying to best the goblins, an act that will have serious repercussions for three generations or more.
Is It Any Good?
Goblins don't appear often in modern horror, but this intense fantasy uses their full potential. Author Tori Bovalino weaves a gritty tale of subterranean terror based on Celtic folklore. Each of the female characters is multidimensional, each captured by the magic of the Goblin Market. There are plenty of creepy bits of business as humans fall prey to the goblins, but horror fans will enjoy the intricate, surprisingly romantic narrative. Bovalino shows the dangers of winning your heart's desire and proves herself to be a young fantasy writer to follow.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about No Good for Maidens and its depiction of immigrant families. How are the York witches treated differently from refugees of other nationalities?
Goblins live according to strict rules that can be interpreted in many ways. How do they trick mortals into breaking their contracts?
One of the characters identifies as asexual. What does that term mean to you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Page Street Kids
- Publication date : June 21, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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