Book excerpt: Always busy squabbling, the goblins who live in the great towers of Clovenstone spend all their time fighting and looting. Only clever young Skarper understands that dark magic created by a vanquished sorcerer is rising again. From the lands of men come fortune-seekers - and soon trolls, giants, cloud-maidens, swamp monsters, tree-warriors, humans and bloodthirsty goblins alike are swept into a fabulous magical conflict! Enter a wild world of magical creatures and heroic adventure in this thrilling new fantasy from the extraordinary imagination of Philip Reeve.