Justinas Žilinskas, Gediminas Skyrius. Kaukas Gugis ir sielų akmuo (Gugis the Goblin and the Stone of Souls), Vilnius: Aukso žuvys, 2023. – 359 p.  

This book is the third part of a magical fantasy trilogy. The trilogy poetically links Lithuanian mythology, history and fantasy. It tells the story of goblins, including the main character Gugis, as well as bogeys, pucks, hags and other mythical creatures residing in Lithuanian forests and swamps. In the very first book, Gugis – The Forest Goblin and People’s Friend, Gugis helps people fight against the fourth century Teutonic Order. From then on, the mysterious creatures are bolder in approaching the people who are living nearby, in the village of Pagiriai. The fearless and curious Gugis makes friends with the Ruokiai family.
Their friendship continues throughout the other parts of the trilogy: Gugis the Goblin and the War with the Sorcerers and Gugis the Goblin and the Stone of Souls. Along with the brave Lithuanians, Gugis travels to the seaside in search of the stones of souls (amber) and undertakes many challenges and adventures. The residents of Goblin Slope – Gugis, his friend Gražė, bogeys and hags – face hostile people from the castle of Duke Rumbaudas. Readers will discover that one of the characters, Žymantas, is capable of capturing hags and goblins. The characters of the trilogy, including the goblins and other creatures, experience human-like feelings: love, betrayal, and a longing for adventure, family and freedom.

Justinas Žilinskas (b. 1974) writes for children and young adults, as well as adults. He is a lawyer and a university lecturer with a number of prestigious awards to his name. His fantasy book Gugis – girių kaukas ir žmonių draugas (Gugis – The Forest Goblin and People’s Friend, 2006) was nominated for the Book of the Year Award and the Lithuanian Section of IBBY Award for the best debut. Kaukas Gugis ir kerų karas (Gugis the Goblin and the War with the Sorcerers, 2017) was nominated for the Book of the Year Award and won the Lithuanian Section of IBBY Award for the best young adult book. His historical novella Mano Vilnius mano (My Vilnius, 2015) was included by the International Youth Library in the White Ravens catalogue of the best books for children. It was adapted for stage at the Lėlė Theatre in Vilnius. Žilinskas’ novel Bėgliai (Refugees) was selected as the Book of the Year and the best book for children and young adults.

Gediminas Skyrius (b. 1994) is an artist and children’s book illustrator known for his distinctive style. The first children’s book he illustrated was The Glass Children by Kristina Ohlsson (2015). Later he illustrated Neringa Vaitkutė’s books Miestas be padangės (The City Without Sky, 2015) and Devynetas tamsos nešėjų (The Nine Carriers of Darkness), as well as the book by Maria Gripe Tordyveln flyger i skymningen (The Dung Beetle Flies in the Twilight, 2016). He is interested in fantasy and science fiction. He is the illustrator and lead storyboard artist of the animated documentary film Aurora’s Sunrise (2022, directed by Inna Sahakyan), which won the Asia Pacific Screen Award as the best animated film. In 2023, he was nominated for a Sidabrinė Gervė (Silver Crane), a Lithuanian film award, for the best co-production.
Illustrator’s portfolio: https://www.gediminasskyrius.com/

Contact for rights: sigita@auksozuvys.lt