A whimsical yet thoughtful cosy fantasy romance, How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is brilliant debut about a goblin and a halfling learning to see past fear and find something truly special.
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- Publisher : Orbit
- Publication date : 20 Jan. 2026
- Edition : 1st
- Language : English
- Print length : 368 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0356524868
- ISBN-13 : 978-0356524863
When a halfling, Pansy, and a goblin, Ren, each think they’ve inherited the same cottage, they make a bargain: they’ll live in the house together and whoever is driven out first forfeits their ownership. Amidst forced proximity and cultural misunderstandings, the two begin to fall in love.
But when the cottage – and their communities – are threatened by a common enemy, the duo must learn to trust each other, and convince goblins and halflings to band together to oust the tall intruder.
How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days Review
Jessie Sylvie’s How to Lose a Goblin in 10 Days is a debut that blends cosy fantasy and romance into a story that feels both whimsical and human.
At its heart are two wonderful outcasts – Ren, a goblin who has found a clan where they belong, carries a heavy sense of guilt and a feeling that they owe everything to their adopted family. That emotional weight shapes much of who they are, making them thoughtful, reflective and emotionally intelligent. They don’t shy away from analysing what they feel! I thought all this made them especially endearing in a genre where goblins are so often written as generic henchmen.
Pansy has always walked to the beat of her own drum. Curious, questioning and determined to know more about the world, she never quite fits into her halfling community. Like her grandmother before her, she doesn’t conform to the narrow expectations placed on her, which leaves her misunderstood and underestimated. Yet Pansy’s generosity, warmth and open heart make her impossible not to love.
The inherited mistrust between goblins and halflings creates plenty of tension, especially as Pansy’s innocent comments are often taken the wrong way, leading to some uncomfortable confrontations. Jessie Sylva handles this beautifully, showing how prejudice distorts even the most well-meant interactions!
Thankfully, their forced domesticity while sharing a cottage brings moments of genuine humour and charm as they slowly begin to see one another more clearly.
When Ren and Pansy have a common goal and begin to work together against the manipulative wizard Agvaldir, their growing friendship — and budding feelings — turn them into a surprisingly formidable team. I really enjoyed watching their trust build.
I loved Pansy’s journey into learning about the properties of flora and fauna, especially how she uses it to enhance her cooking. It adds a lovely sustainability-focused thread to the story and reinforces just how nurturing and thoughtful she is as a character.
One of my favourite moments in the book takes place at the Goblin Market. The sheer wonder of it all — the strange and magical wares, and the sense of a hidden world just beneath the ordinary (literally!)— came across so vividly to me that I felt like I’d stepped into the scene alongside Ren and Pansy.
With my “special needs support” hat on, I was struck by how well this book explores emotions — how they’re felt, misunderstood and processed. It would make a fantastic springboard for helping young adults talk about feelings and emotional awareness.
Warm, inclusive and thoughtful, How to Lose a Goblin in 10 Days feels to me like a fairy tale for the modern world. It tackles sustainability, cultural difference and belonging, all while delivering a sweet, slow-burn romance. A truly lovely debut.
Author Info
Jessie Sylva is a recovering lawyer living in Toronto with her wife and two cats. She writes fantasy with an emphasis on queer joy, telling stories full of magic, adventure, and, of course, kissing. The cosy fantasy HOW TO LOSE A GOBLIN IN TEN DAYS is her debut novel, although her first writing commission was THE OFFICIAL DRAGON AGE COOKBOOK.
