Jester by Tim Carter | BBNYA 2026 Spotlight
Welcome to the BBNYA 2026 Spotlight Tour!
Today, I'm featuring Jester by Tim Carter, an adult fantasy that puts the fate of a kingdom in the hands of one very unlikely hero: a goblin who's spent his life cleaning up after everyone else.
Castle Halfsock faces a threat from zombie trolls and undead ogres, but the nobility has its own priorities. Can Shelly, a goblin latrine slave, turn himself into the jester, spy, and unlikely problem-solver his kingdom needs?
Let's take a closer look at this BBNYA 2026 semi-finalist.
About the Book
Title: Jester
Author: Tim Carter
Genre: Fantasy
Age Category: Adult
Length: 295 pages
Publication Date: April 15, 2025
Book Blurb
In a realm ruled by idiots, their only hope is the Fool.
You'd think an army of zombie trolls and undead ogres would catch the nobility's attention. You'd be wrong. The rulers of Halfsock are deeply in denial. Besides, they have taxes to avoid, neighbors to plunder, and relatives to backstab.
With war looming, a goblin latrine slave named Shelly resolves to save Castle Halfsock from itself. He must take on many roles... jester, detective, spy, and political fixer. But his most challenging role - especially after a lifetime spent cleaning other people's toilets - is as a confident secret agent worthy of trust, friendship, and maybe even love.
Can the least powerful person in the realm overcome his insecurities to depose rulers, forge alliances, and fend off an undead horde?
A comic tale of politics, friendship, and found family for fans of Nicholas Eames, Terry Pratchett, and J. Zachary Pike.
Find the Book
Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads | The StoryGraph
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Meet the Author
Tim Carter
Tim Carter writes fiction, video games, and movies. He draws inspiration for his fiction and movies from a lifelong love of strategy and role-playing games, especially Dungeons and Dragons.
He lives with his wife and two dogs in Vancouver, Canada. He is best known for writing the novels Jester and Majordomo, the console game Sleeping Dogs, writing and producing the Dead Rising movie series, and producing the digital series Mortal Kombat: Legacy.
A Little Extra from the Author
Tim shared a few behind-the-scenes details with BBNYA, including an unusual inspiration for the story and the perfect pairing for a reading session.
Tell us a fun fact about your book
It's inspired by the anti-goblin prejudices of my covid D&D group.
What food or drink pairs best with your book?
Red wine and chocolate
What music pairs best with your book?
In its kickier moments, Taylor Swift
About BBNYA
The Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (18 in 2026) and one overall winner.
Learn more at BBNYA and follow @BBNYA_Official.
Explore More BBNYA Features
Enjoy discovering indie authors? Browse my BBNYA 2026 Spotlights for more books featured in this year's tour.
For additional mentions in Friday Finds and other posts, explore my BBNYA 2026 features.
New to the competition? Read my introduction to BBNYA to learn more about the award and its celebration of indie authors.
Let's Chat!
If an undead horde were approaching your castle, would you trust the nobles in charge or the clever goblin who knows what everyone is up to?
Thanks for joining me for today's BBNYA 2026 Spotlight Tour feature!
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