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The Goblin Emperor

(The Goblin Emperor #1)

Katherine Addison (Goodreads Author)

4.03 · Rating details · 22,129 ratings · 3,639 reviews

Even on the throne, you're only as good as your wits—or your heart.

Maia, the youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor, has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it.

But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an “accident”, he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving ...more

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Paperback, 480 pages

Published March 21st 2019 by Solaris (first published April 1st 2014)

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Feb 21, 2014 Crowinator rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, genre-fantasy, characters-i-love, arcs, 2018-reads, feel-good-fic, 2016-reads, favorites-of-all-time, steampunk-clockwork, netgalley-edelweiss

We thoroughly enjoyed this book, but we have been unable to stop thinking in the majestic plural for many hours after reading many passages of dialogue written as such. We fear that our adoption of this narrative strategy will result in some confusion amongst our peers and are attempting to restrict it to our thoughts and not our spoken words. We could not avoid writing a brief and enthusiastic recommendation for this most absorbing high fantasy novel; however, we will bide our time until this ...more

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Mar 29, 2014 Hanne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

If you ask me, no-one is going to rain on this parade – simply because there is no rain on the books here.
No matter how much I often enjoy a dark and epic fantasy book, having one that is completely different in tone is refreshing. It’s a fantasy novel told from the perspective of one humble and utterly likeable young man – somewhat back to the fantasy novel style of the ’80s. Throughout the book, I honestly couldn’t shake the feeling that in another life Maia might have been raised in Aunt Pol If you ask me, no-one is going to rain on this parade – simply because there is no rain on the books here.
No matter how much I often enjoy a dark and epic fantasy book, having one that is completely different in tone is refreshing. It’s a fantasy novel told from the perspective of one humble and utterly likeable young man – somewhat back to the fantasy novel style of the ’80s. Throughout the book, I honestly couldn’t shake the feeling that in another life Maia might have been raised in Aunt Pol’s kitchen at Faldor’s farm.

Maia, fourth son of the Elflands’ emperor and born from his fourth and purely political marriage with a goblin princess, was raised in seclusion far away from court. In a country dominated by pure elves, his existence had always been considered somewhat of an abomination, and he only set foot in court at one occasion: his mother's funeral. Fourth sons are never expected to raise the throne, but accidents do happen and Maia is forced to the capital city.

This is sort of a political fantasy book, chronicling the struggles of an unprepared boy to take the throne and stand up for himself. Anyone who demands fast action in their fantasy novels should probably walk away, but if you like character-based books this would suit you. There is a lot of court intrigue, but above anything else it has heart, a sense of friendship, responsibility and a lot of humour.

“He thrives on brambles. The thornier a problem is, the happier he seems to be in the solving of it.” Her smile made her lovely. “Our thanks is worth little, to be sure, but nevertheless, we thank you, Serenity. For landing him in the brambles.”

The language in the book - with the royal ‘we’ - works really well: it fits its premise and the court environment without getting heavy or difficult to read. I also loved the little quirks that were added, including the subtle notions of elf ears that might betray some emotions by twitching or flattening, leading to Maia's internal instructions to appear self-confident: "Back straight, chin and ears up."

Behind the hopeful tone of the book are a lot of current world themes: No-one lets him forget how he is ‘the goblin emperor’ and not a white, pure-blood elf. I personally cannot stand the way media (and people) keep referring to others: Obama, the first black president, or how some CEOs will always be referred to as ‘the female CEO of company X', or even how Belgian’s Elio Di Rupo is referred to as the first (openly) gay prime minister. The fact people feel the continued need to point this out means that we still regard it as 'not normal'. So I keep wondering whether this is anything to celebrate, or whether it is just really depressing.

Another theme is gender equality and the right for everyone to get proper education no matter what race or background they have. In the Elflands, high society women are for babies, point. Maia is giving women a chance to pursue the things they want to pursue. When one of his step sisters asks why he helped her to study the stars, he answers “We were not considered worth educating, either.”
I won’t lie: that one small sentence got to me. It really did. ...more

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Apr 01, 2014 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: steampunk, coming-of-age, need-to-reread, fantasy

The Goblin Emperor is an unusual fantasy, but I really enjoyed it. Maia is the rejected and unloved 18 year old half-goblin son of the fourth wife of the emperor of the elves (I know his name sounds like a girl's name, and this description is starting to get complicated already, but stick with me here). Maia has been living in exile and isolation for years, but unexpectedly becomes the emperor when his father and three older half-brothers die in an accident(view spoiler) The Goblin Emperor is an unusual fantasy, but I really enjoyed it. Maia is the rejected and unloved 18 year old half-goblin son of the fourth wife of the emperor of the elves (I know his name sounds like a girl's name, and this description is starting to get complicated already, but stick with me here). Maia has been living in exile and isolation for years, but unexpectedly becomes the emperor when his father and three older half-brothers die in an accident(view spoiler). Suddenly Maia has to learn everything from the methods and processes of ruling to dancing and social skills. Maia is dealing with a truly severe case of self-doubt, but he's determined to do his best, and also to try to do what's right. Which is going to cause some ripples in an elven kingdom that already isn't at all certain that a goblin half-breed is the right emperor for them.

I had a few minor beefs: The names were terribly confusing--at least until I discovered the glossary in the back of the book when I was halfway through, after which point I read the rest of the book with one finger stuck in the glossary. The pacing of the story is ... maybe not quite slow, but deliberate. For better or worse, there's not a lot of action or romance: this is more of a tale of political intrigue and coming of age. Interestingly enough, there's also very little magic actually happening in this fantasy. What there is, is a lot of introspection on Maia's part as he tries to figure out how to be a good king and whether he even has it in himself to be one. It was fascinating to watch him learn how to relate to the characters around him, and to see his growth as a person and as a ruler.

But as soon as I finished it I had the urge to immediately start reading it again from the beginning, which is one of the two things that will generally get a book a 5 star rating from me even when it has weaknesses. (The other is when I immediately start looking up other books the author has written and considering which one to buy.) The worldbuilding is unusually strong and well thought out. Maia is a sympathetic and intelligent (if sometimes awkward) protagonist. If Addison writes a sequel, I'm there.

ETA: Katherine Addison has announced (in 2018) that she’ll be writing another book set in this world. Cheers! ...more

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May 16, 2014 Lois Bujold rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: readers who like court intrigue fantasy

Recommended to Lois by: accumulated internet reviews; plus, cool cover

Well, that was riveting.

The exiled half-blood son of an emperor's discarded fourth wife suddenly and unexpectedly inherits the throne after a terrible airship accident, and must scramble to find his feet in a Byzantine several-thousand-year-old elvish court. I adore the fact that this isn't a war story at all, for a wonderful, wonderful change, though it does have a nice murder mystery going on in the background at times.

It reminded me a lot of The King of Attolia, a favorite, with a bit of ...more

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Jan 04, 2017 Melindam rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favourites, fantasy-by-female-authors, uno-2020

This is one of those rare books, which I wanted to start re-reading right away after I finished.

The novel is a combination of political intrigue, coming of age and whodunnit with a positive outlook/outcome, where the majority of characters stays alive instead of dying cruel, overdramatic or unnecessary deaths.

Titanic wars & armageddon do not feature in the book either, so if you prefer dark, grim, action- and war-packed fantasy books where the world is hopelessly doomed, then you most ...more

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Apr 01, 2014 Sherwood Smith added it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

It is said that Samuel Richardson, after being hectored by readers and critics following the runaway success of his novel Clarissa (a success, one gathers from reading period chatter, due in large part to his witty villain Lovelace before his inevitable and lugubrious end), promised he would write about a good man.

So he gave the world Sir Charles Grandison, who was so firmly aware enough of his perfection that he converses lengthily to all and sundry between the busyness of kidnappings, ...more

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Dec 05, 2014 Nikki rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favourites

When I finished The Goblin Emperor, I was sad there wasn’t more of it. Is there higher praise?

The things other people have critiqued do make sense: the fact that is very much character-driven rather than plot driven; the plethora of names and titles to get used to; the language stuff which may superficially appear just gimmicky and faux-archaic; the fact that Maia is often reacting rather than being proactive. Me, though, I loved it, for all of those things and more. For example, the thee/thou When I finished The Goblin Emperor, I was sad there wasn’t more of it. Is there higher praise?

The things other people have critiqued do make sense: the fact that is very much character-driven rather than plot driven; the plethora of names and titles to get used to; the language stuff which may superficially appear just gimmicky and faux-archaic; the fact that Maia is often reacting rather than being proactive. Me, though, I loved it, for all of those things and more. For example, the thee/thou stuff was annoying me until someone pointed out to look closer: normally people who use thee/thou don’t get that it’s an informal form of address (presumably at least partly because of the ubiquity of the Lord’s Prayer, which uses that address for God) and so for someone who is familiar with Old and Middle English and French like me, it becomes very annoying to have people addressing their king as if he were their equal or inferior. Here, however, the pronouns are all intentional. If a character uses the first person plural, most often they are actually being formal; if they then drop into using ‘I’, then they are speaking as a private person, among friends. It’s worth watching what Addison does with pronouns, because when they change, you know something’s up. In a way, the conflict between I/we is a central part of Maia’s character and his relationships.

When it comes to the invented language, it’s a little more difficult. You end up with various forms of address depending on marital status and rank, and there are suffixes which alter names according to number and gender. This is something we’re just not used to dealing with in English these days, and it can make it very difficult to keep track of a character as they switch spheres and are referred to in different ways. There is actually a helpful section in the back, which is probably easier to refer to if you’re reading it in dead tree, which explains all of these things if it’s something you’re interested in. For me, I liked puzzling it out, and context often helped.

(From this point in the review, there are some minor spoilers!)

But all that could be there and interesting and it wouldn’t have made me care about the book like the central character did. People are right to talk about the massive contrast with “grimdark” fantasy; Maia is pretty unambiguously good, and though he may sometimes feel angry, or vengeful, he tries to be fair and not to use his newfound rank to punish those who have done him wrong. He has plenty of opportunity, he has the right, but he holds himself back. He cares about his social inferiors and servants, and though he was never trained to be emperor, never expected to be emperor, he gives himself to the role without reserve. I loved him and the characters around him, loved the moments when he pushed the boundary by apologising to them or showing concern, and the moments in return where they took a more personal interest in him. I wanted to see more of his closest guards, especially Cala, but the public/private formal/informal boundaries prevent that; we just get glimpses. I loved the moment where Cala buttons up Maia’s sleeve for him to hide the marks of abuse, the way Beshelar reacts.

I enjoyed that Addison evaded some things that would’ve spoilt my enjoyment. For example, Maia gets a crush on an opera singer, and yet there’s no seduction, no abuse of his power over her or vice versa. When she offers to have a ‘closer relationship’ with him, in a personal sense you want Maia to say yes, because it may make him happy — but because of the situation, you want Maia to remain the person he is, reluctant to abuse his role, and it’s a relief when he does. Addison shows Maia struggling with the role, but never betraying it or himself. I love that, I love that we’re not expected to forgive him a betrayal of his self because shiny happy love or something.

In terms of female characters, it’s interesting, because it’s set in a proto-medieval type world (though the religion implied at is somewhat Buddhist, with meditation taking a key role for Maia) and women are marginalised, but they’re not happy with it, and nor are all the men around them. There are educated women, women who pursue their skills and interests, women who are not afraid to defend their rights, their children, and in Maia’s fiancée’s case, her husband! Even one of Maia’s guards is, in the end, a woman. While I think the proto-medieval-Europe thing can be overdone, and there are shades of it here, Addison goes further than others in showing that world changing. For example, Guy Gavriel Kay’s A Song for Arbonne is ostensibly set in the world where women are given freedoms, educated, political, etc, and yet not one of them chooses to take an unambiguously unfeminine role — we don’t see female warriors, there remains a definite line between the roles of the sexes. Addison blurs that, shows it in the process of blurring, which I enjoyed very much.

When I say that I’m sad there isn’t more of this, it’s not because the story is incomplete. Of course, Maia’s life goes on afterwards, but I don’t want more because I need to know what happens next, or because there’s anything unsatisfying about it. I want more because I love the world, love engaging with Addison’s characters and figuring out her world, and I think there’s plenty more there for her to play with if she chooses. This is a book I’m sure I’m going to reread — I could almost just start it again right now, which is very rare for me. There are few fiction books I engage with on this level of looking for language, history, figuring out customs and conventions. It’s not on the same level as Tolkien, who spent a lifetime refining his world, but there is a complexity here which I really love.

Discuss this review on my blog! ...more

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Jan 01, 2020 Charlotte rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: women-and-nb-of-speculative-fiction, rest-of-2019

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. "'We consider it cruel,' Maia said. 'And we do not think that cruelty is ever just.'"

Welcome to my first review of 2020! Today's book is Katherine Addison's The Goblin Emperor , 2014 winner of the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. Spoilers follow, and a mention of abuse.

So What's It About? (from Goodreads)

"The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons ...more

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Aug 11, 2013 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, review-copy

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...

On a trip to China a few years ago, I got to visit the Forbidden City in Beijing. Surrounded by such a display of magnificent splendor and so much opulence, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole tour group was thinking the same thing: how wonderful it must have been to be emperor, to be the son of heaven and have your word be law, all the luxury in the world at your fingertips and an army servants to cater to your every 4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...

On a trip to China a few years ago, I got to visit the Forbidden City in Beijing. Surrounded by such a display of magnificent splendor and so much opulence, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole tour group was thinking the same thing: how wonderful it must have been to be emperor, to be the son of heaven and have your word be law, all the luxury in the world at your fingertips and an army servants to cater to your every whim.

What would it be like to live a modest life, then to be suddenly elevated to such a position? The premise of The Goblin Emperor explores this very idea, following the life of the youngest, half-goblin son the the Elven emperor, a youth named Maia who has lived his entire life as a cast-off, far away from the business and affairs of the Imperial Court. But when his father and three older brothers all perish in an airship accident, being the next in line in the royal succession, Maia is plucked from exile to take his rightful place on the throne.

But for our protagonist, palace life and being emperor is not about the glamorous parties or eating fancy food and wearing fancy clothes. The Imperial Court is a whole new world for Maia, and his inexperience with running an empire is proving to be the least of his worries. Having been mostly forgotten in his exile, he arrives at the palace to find himself with no friends, no allies, and not even a clue as to how an emperor is supposed to act. Everyone seems to want something, and distinguishing obsequious flattery from genuine kindness is nigh impossible. Add to that, the airship crash than claimed the lives of his father and brothers turns out to have been no accident, and whoever assassinated the last emperor might be coming after Maia next.

Suddenly, being emperor does not sound like such a cushy idea anymore. The Goblin Emperor explores the role of a supreme ruler, but rather than focus on the glitz, Katherine Addison decides instead to paint a picture of uncertainty, frustration, and abject loneliness. Though he is surrounded by people at all times, Maia has no one to turn to and knows not who to trust.

And yet, the story also puts forward hope. Viewed as a character study, the book offers a unique perspective as well as a fascinatingly immersive experience. Maia is someone you can root for, and despite his moments of sadness and self-doubt, he possesses amazing strength at his core. A survivor of a horrible childhood who goes from being ignored to being the most important person in the empire, everything that happens affects and changes Maia, but his actions and feelings are always and ever guided by the goodness in his heart. There's something to be said about a character who can forgive past cruelties and betrayal, and instead look to the future with optimism and a mind to mend fences and build bridges. As the story progresses, the nature of Maia's relationships with others as well as his own reflections of himself begin to evolve, and that's when the depth of his character really shines through. Who needs glitz?

Clearly, so much care and thought went into the writing of this book. If I could make one suggestion to the prospective reader, flip to the end of The Goblin Emperor to familiarize yourself with the naming conventions as well as pronunciation of words in the Elflands before tackling this book. Someone gave me the same advice and it was a huge help. Otherwise, a lot of the similar sounding names and complicated forms of addresses might prove confusing. It still took me some time to get used to the language and style, but at least knowing some information beforehand made it much less overwhelming.

Powerful and touching, The Goblin Emperor is a strong entry into the high fantasy genre. I loved the world building, including Addison's inventive approach to elves and goblins as well as the intrigues of the Imperial Court. It's a setting rife with plots, politics, and power-plays, though most of this is handled at a much more subtle, muted pace. As such, this won't be a book for everyone, but readers who enjoy a more in-depth look into character portrayal and the setting will find plenty to love here. Highly recommended for fantasy fans looking for an introspective read and those who enjoy layers of complexity in their characters. ...more

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Jan 13, 2014 First Second Books added it · review of another edition

Shelves: gina

You know how sometimes (frequently) when you read lost heir stories, the lost heir is a peasant who can’t read and doesn’t even know who the current king is, much less understands how a constitutional monarchy works? And then two weeks later, he’s been crowned king! And the only problem is a mustache-twirling usurper (or else, war! – but that’s always pretty easy to deal with) who can easily be handled by just killing him or throwing him in a dungeon.

This is not that book.

In The Goblin Emperor, ...more

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May 25, 2014 Mimi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-of-manners, favorites, coming-of-age, 2017, 2016

Not quite 5 stars, but I'm rounding up for the deftness of the writing.

This isn't fantasy in the traditional sense. It's fantasy in the Guy Gavriel Kay sense, or what I come to think of as "very little magic" high fantasy, and I find myself preferring this kind of fantasy over the elaborate magic-system-based fantasies because there's more focus on the characters, their individual stories, and the histories and current events of these made-up worlds, rather than a detailed or complex magical ...more

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Mar 27, 2017 Mayim de Vries rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

We, Mayim de Vries, first of this name, have a confession to make. For a long time we have needlessly hesitated before reading the Goblin Emperor feeding on our superstitions. Mainly, do to the fact that when we hear “goblin” we see either this:

description

or this:

While the phrase “goblin king” brings only this picture in our imperial mind:

description

We apologise. We behaved ungraciously and based on ill premises, which we should not have inflicted on this fine book. We should have not disparaged its quality based ...more

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Apr 09, 2015 Bradley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: steampunk, worldbuilding-sf, mystery, fantasy

That goblin was just the sweetest child emperor I've ever known. He was always courteous and polite, even when he was abducted. He was so centered and contained even during that that time he almost took the knife of that assassin. Do you remember his name? Yeah. That windbag elf. Well, I don't care what any of his peers say about this dear child. He's looking forward to the future, I tell you! He even says goodbye to the cleaning staff of his late mother, bless his soul.

This novel, in case you That goblin was just the sweetest child emperor I've ever known. He was always courteous and polite, even when he was abducted. He was so centered and contained even during that that time he almost took the knife of that assassin. Do you remember his name? Yeah. That windbag elf. Well, I don't care what any of his peers say about this dear child. He's looking forward to the future, I tell you! He even says goodbye to the cleaning staff of his late mother, bless his soul.

This novel, in case you haven't guessed, is a delightful take on normal people raising an Emperor. It is NOT, however, a tale of war, oppression, or magic. There's plenty of intrigue, but mainly it's a coming of age with a very healthy dose of fish out of water syndrome. On a personal note, it was charming and well paced and very, very political. It had elements of stab you in the back, of course, but the focus was mainly on trying to do a good job in a situation where no one seems to trust you. Believe me, I was very charmed.

This delightful novel was part of this year's Hugo nominations, and in spite of the controversy, I'm reading each novel deeply and seriously because I respect and cherish the Hugos. Anyone nominated will carry prestige because we, the readers, want it to be so. The moment we start devaluing the award in our own minds is the moment we lose a little light in our life.

As for being a contender, this novel definitely is. If I read this outside of the controversy or the nomination, I would still be gibbering and drooling about it, because, after all, it turns our archetypal conventions over to cook more evenly.

The writing is clear, the story is suspenseful, and the mystery around his father's death and his own assassination attempt keeps everything moving nicely. Most importantly, I felt real sympathy for our dear Emperor. If you think that the story is short on wonder or depth, think again. Everything is vividly imagined and deeply drawn, down to the airships or the clockwork bridge or the guard who sang our young Emperor to sleep.

This novel is a breath of fresh air with a huge heart, and that's saying a lot for a novel about a goblin.

Brad K Horner's blog ...more

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Apr 04, 2014 Gavin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This was an enjoyable read. The story was engaging despite not being all that exciting. This was a character driven fantasy that mainly focused on court intrigue.

Maia, who is half goblin, has spent his entire life living in an isolated country estate. First being looked after by his mother and then his banished cousin after his mother died. As the outcast fourth son he was largely ignored and forgotten by the court and his cruel neglectful father. An accident on an airship changes all this as ...more

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Nov 03, 2014 Geoff rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: locus-winner, fantasy, library

Despite the generally great ratings & reviews of this book, and its recent Nebula nomination, this book did not bring ‘it’ in many categories.

The good: Maia, the new emperor, is a great character. Despite his lack of confidence, he performs admirably in his new job with the help of his secretary, Csevet.

The not-so-good: The world. I’ve seen in some places this book be called a ‘fantasy of manners’. I suppose there are readers who would be interested in this kind of thing but it’s definitely ...more

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Apr 01, 2014 Wanda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2014, female-authors, speculative-fiction

This is a charming tale of an unprepared young man, launched into a world that would be daunting even if he had been trained for it. Exiled by his father, abused by his guardian, disregarded and despised by everyone but his mother, Maia must find his way in a court that is complicated, unforgiving, and hostile.

I appreciated some of the real world concerns that found their way into this work of fantasy: the issue of skin colour, the status of women, the ways that people treat one another as “ This is a charming tale of an unprepared young man, launched into a world that would be daunting even if he had been trained for it. Exiled by his father, abused by his guardian, disregarded and despised by everyone but his mother, Maia must find his way in a court that is complicated, unforgiving, and hostile.

I appreciated some of the real world concerns that found their way into this work of fantasy: the issue of skin colour, the status of women, the ways that people treat one another as “lesser than.” I also enjoyed the steampunk details included in the book.

Although there is violence—it begins with the airship explosion that kills the Emperor and the three sons ahead of Maia for the throne after all—this is not a novel about war, battle or force. This is a tale about kindness conquering all and about how much it matters who the man or woman at the top of the hierarchy is. Years ago, I was involved in a large organization as a volunteer when said organization hired a man of dubious reputation as CEO. Rumour had it that he had quit the last executive position before sexual harassment charges could catch up with him. Soon, all the women in our organization were on high alert and knew to never be alone with this creep. Eventually even the men on staff figured things out and finally Mr. Creepy CEO was turfed, but the organization continues to suffer from the years he spent at the helm. One of my male friends told me that he had always considered that it really didn’t matter who was at the top of the heap, that he just ignored that detail and did his job—until this situation, when he realized that company culture really does emanate downwards from the person in charge.

Having said all of that, Maia demonstrates that the Golden Rule is an excellent way to run one’s life or one’s kingdom—do unto others as you would have them do unto you. He doesn’t win every encounter by practicing this philosophy, but by unflinchingly attempting to be fair, to really listen to people and to care, he shows the qualities of a real leader.

Two criticisms, both to do with names: one, Maia to me sounds like a female name and it bugged me attached to a male character. Two, there were too many very complicated names. If the names had dissimilar or if there had been fewer characters, I might have had a hope of keeping them straight. As it was, when one turned out to be important, I had to backtrack a bit and figure out exactly who they were. Otherwise, I just treated them as background wallpaper and didn’t try to distinguish one from another—and this despite the fact that I am usually good with names and that fictional names actually matter a great deal to me.

Despite the naming issues, I enjoyed this book very much and in fact stayed up much too late one evening to finish it. I am still trying to catch up on sleep, but The Goblin Emperor was worth it.
...more

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Feb 18, 2015 Rob rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: stand-alone, sword-and-laser, fantasy, read-2015, author-female

Executive Summary: The second half of this book is far superior to the first half making for a rather enjoyable read for me in the end. It won't be for everyone though.

Full Review
I must say I'm surprised to be giving this such a high rating. And not a 3.5 rounded up, but a solid 4. At the start of the book this was more like the 2.5 area.

The writing is fine. The world building, though sparse was decent. And I liked Maia from the start. With the reading funk I was in, this seemed like a good Executive Summary: The second half of this book is far superior to the first half making for a rather enjoyable read for me in the end. It won't be for everyone though.

Full Review
I must say I'm surprised to be giving this such a high rating. And not a 3.5 rounded up, but a solid 4. At the start of the book this was more like the 2.5 area.

The writing is fine. The world building, though sparse was decent. And I liked Maia from the start. With the reading funk I was in, this seemed like a good option to get me out of it. But despite all that I was bored. I barely touched it for a week. I'd read maybe one chapter a night. I skipped a few nights without reading it all. There just didn't seem to be much plot. Maia kept meeting a bunch of people whose names I still can't keep straight.

Then somewhere around the midway point, the plot finally seemed to kick in and I was hooked. I read the first 200 pages in 12 days. I read the rest of the book in 2. I was hoping to put a good dent in this book this weekend because it's due back to the library soon. I wasn't expecting to finish it.

If it hadn't been a group pick, I might have quit on it. I haven't quit on a book in years though, and I didn't hate it, I just wasn't really into it either.

I'm really glad I stuck with it. It was a lot of fun. I just wish the first half of it hadn't been so slow. I think that may turn a lot of people off who might end up liking it in the end as I did. There are just too many books out there to stick it out.

I'm not sure if this deserves the Nebula it's been nominated for, but I can see why it was nominated. But I expect a lot of people will question it however. The sense of danger prevalent in most fantasy novels is never really there. The conflicts may be a bit too light/easy for some. For me though, it was just what I needed.

And I'm glad that it's a stand alone. That is so rare these days. I'd read more books about Maia, but I think sort of coming of age/learning how to rule story is sufficient as it is. ...more

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Dec 17, 2016 Alissa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-ebooks

5 heartfelt stars. This novel is one of those rare gems that are probably even more valuable over time and it’s all wrapped up in a neat, standalone package.

The beginning is very powerful: at I first struggled a bit to fall into step because everything is not laid out cut and dried before the reader and there are lots of nuances to catch and names to remember, but soon I was utterly and helplessly drawn into Maia's reality.
It’s a testament to the author’s skill that she achieved such delicate ...more

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Aug 27, 2014 Elizabeth rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Enchanting, delightful and totally unexpected. I was charmed and intrigued from the get go. Elegantly written and almost effortless to read this book reminded me of why I fell in love with fantasy all those years ago.

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Jan 02, 2014 Sherwood Smith added it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I read this novel in draft a year ago. I just checked to see when it would be published--April. So I will have more to say when I get the actual book.

But it is on my buy-at-once list: since it's not out there is little to say that isn't spoilery. but put it this way. I was struggling with some devastating family news, and this novel is about the only thing I read during the month of January 13 that took me out of grief, and absorbed me completely. I loved it.

More in a few months.

REREAD

It is said ...more

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Mar 15, 2014 Nathan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2014, author-female, rated-4-star, high-fantasy

Fantasy Review Barn

I finished The Goblin Emperor and found myself smiling. Not just from the joy of reading a really good book, but because for the first time in a long time I read a fantasy novel with a hopeful tone. Obviously the current trend of the genre is quite the opposite of hopeful, and those that break out of the dark tone tend to end with everything wrapped up in a package and happily ever after. But to end just on a hopeful tone? Well, that just causes smiles.

The blurb really tells Fantasy Review Barn

I finished The Goblin Emperor and found myself smiling. Not just from the joy of reading a really good book, but because for the first time in a long time I read a fantasy novel with a hopeful tone. Obviously the current trend of the genre is quite the opposite of hopeful, and those that break out of the dark tone tend to end with everything wrapped up in a package and happily ever after. But to end just on a hopeful tone? Well, that just causes smiles.

The blurb really tells you what you need to know. This tale opens with Maia being woken by his guardian to be given news of an airship crash that was carrying not only the emperor, but everyone ahead of Maia in the line of succession. Suddenly the half goblin, hated by his father and unknown to the court, must leave his exile to take the reign as Emperor. No longer subject to his guardians apathy and abuse, but all alone in the complex elven court, this is the story of a man over his head but doing what he can.

I find myself struck by the realism of this book; specifically when it comes to character personalities and their interactions with each other. Maia is an outsider, an other, as unknown to the court as it is to him. Immediately he finds himself surrounded by false friends and those who feel they can hold power over him. In lesser hands the major players of the court would have come down to the good guys and the bad guys; many books promising political intrigue seem to fall into this trap. But Addison actually took the time to craft her characters; each has their own unique motivations. While those who are truly against Maia are hard to find common ground with, almost everyone else has motives that are believable and even sympathetic, even when the characters are putting a false face forward for Maia.

As a main character Maia does not disappoint, a good thing because this is his story and his story alone. Though told in the third person the perspective never leaves his side. The hopeful tone I mentioned works because he is so likable. I felt his loneliness and isolation, understood his follies and false steps in court, and felt the joy for him as he discovered who in the court he could really count on, even hope to call a friend. He may be out of his depth but he is not naïve, and it led to interesting interactions.

This is a book with long names and some strict speaking conventions that are unofficially enforced in court. As such I had a bit of a false start as I lost track of a couple of characters and had to back track and restart early in. But Addison was consistent in her use of the language, and most names had a shorted form, so it was not long before I was in the flow of the book and forgot I had any issues with it to begin with. It was a well-paced story, smart and interesting when a bit slower but with a bit more action than early reviews suggested sprinkled in. As an unlikely man on the throne and holder of some more liberal ideas he makes some real enemies, and they are not afraid to attempt some extreme measures. And while his dealings with the necessities of court makes up the main plot of the book, the question of his father’s death needs to be answered as well.

My quibbles were minor; I really enjoyed almost every aspect of this book. I had a bit of an eye roll moment when a letter dealing with the investigation came in; handwritten and of much importance it was page after page of ‘this is what has been happening off the screen.’ And as big of a deal as his Goblin heritage seemed to be at first I was a bit surprised at how quickly certain parties were ok with it. Perhaps this is purely expectations; I expected this to be a bit more of a racial prejudice parallel that never really materialized. Or perhaps Addison was too successful, her subtlety messing with my expectations one more time.

Almost every review I have read of this book thus far have pointed out that this book can be seen as the antithesis of the GRIMDARK trend. I can’t help but agree. With its slower but meaningful pace and hopeful tone I hope it gains a following that proves that this type of story has its place out there as well.

4 Stars

Review Copy received through NetGalley. ...more

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Feb 04, 2015 Mona rated it liked it · review of another edition

Flawed but Likeable Coming-of-Age Fantasy Tale

I have mixed feelings about this novel.

I could have done with less of the unpronounceable and unspellable names and places (Edrahasivar, Varenechibel, the Untheileneise, etc.); elaborate rituals, and endless descriptions of dress and costume , as in the following passage:

"Maia suffered himself to be adorned. Rings for his fingers, silver set with jade and moonstones, bracelets like manacles, silver set with dull cabochon emeralds; a series of rings ...more

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Feb 13, 2014 Althea Ann rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A perfect court intrigue.

Maia never expected to become much of anyone. Although he’s technically a prince, after his mother died his father the emperor relegated him to exile at a remote manor, under the care of an abusive guardian. He never really expected to escape his position of disfavor, due to his mixed racial heritage. However, when a terrible airship accident not only kills his father, but also wipes out all the other people ahead of him in line for the succession, in one fell blow, Maia A perfect court intrigue.

Maia never expected to become much of anyone. Although he’s technically a prince, after his mother died his father the emperor relegated him to exile at a remote manor, under the care of an abusive guardian. He never really expected to escape his position of disfavor, due to his mixed racial heritage. However, when a terrible airship accident not only kills his father, but also wipes out all the other people ahead of him in line for the succession, in one fell blow, Maia is unexpectedly recalled to court to take up the crown.

Although unprepared for this responsibility, he’s determined to make a go of it, and give it his best shot. However, the swirl of sophisticated society is overwhelming to him, let alone the nuances of ruling an empire. And although Maia would like to make friends, enemies are already waiting for him.

I requested this book without reading up on anything about it. At 16% of the way through, I said, ‘no way this is a debut author – the writing is too sharply honed,’ and I looked it up. It’s Sarah Monette! I LOVE Sarah Monette! (And I believe I actually read about this book coming out under a pseudonym on her blog, several years ago, but forgot about it!)

No matter what name she uses, this is a truly excellent work. The characters are finely drawn, and treated with sensitivity. There’s a constant, well-paced tension as Maia navigates this new and alien world, forms alliances, discovers plots, and tries to investigate his father’s death. The concerns of different factions of the aristocracy, the working classes, women, and different cultures are all dealt with for a complex, convincing setting. The positioning of elves and goblins at the brink of an Industrial Revolution(?) is unusual but convincingly done, without any sacrifice of ‘magic’ and the rich panoply of a faerie court. Even the language and the social hierarchy felt fresh and new.

I know it’s only February, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this is the best book I’ll read this year.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor/Forge.
...more

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Feb 25, 2015 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: nebula-winners-or-nominees, sword-and-laser, sci-fi-fantasy, read2015

I probably would not have read this book if it hadn't been selected for the Sword and Laser book club for March 2015, and in the same month get announced as one of the Nebula nominees.

It's not my normal fare, in other words. It was described to me as a steampunk-fantasy court drama novel, but I would characterize it more as a coming of age, fish out of water, court drama novel. The steampunk is far in the background and as much as I don't geek out about those kinds of details, I think more of ...more

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Mar 01, 2014 Kristen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-is-my-jam

3.5/5 stars

WARNING: This review is pretty long (and also quite boring). I didn’t write a novel on purpose, there were just so many aspects I felt like I needed to mention. OKAY!

"After a time, he felt a deeper rhythm, the rhythm of the stone and water, not the rhythm of his words and heartbeat. He breathed into this deeper rhythm, let it teach him a new mantra, a wordless mantra that waxed and waned, ebbed and flowed, moon and stars and clouds, river and sun, the wordless singing of the earth ...more

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Nov 11, 2018 Doug rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A book whose quality totally caught me off-guard, and one of the best books I've read all year.

I was dragging my feet when it came to reading this book because the title made it seem to me like it was going to be much zanier than it was. In fact, this book is one of the few fantasy books I've read that treats its reader like they are intelligent. Sure, the Malazan series takes its reader to be intelligent too, but it's in a very different way: the Malazan books leave a lot implicit and A book whose quality totally caught me off-guard, and one of the best books I've read all year.

I was dragging my feet when it came to reading this book because the title made it seem to me like it was going to be much zanier than it was. In fact, this book is one of the few fantasy books I've read that treats its reader like they are intelligent. Sure, the Malazan series takes its reader to be intelligent too, but it's in a very different way: the Malazan books leave a lot implicit and subtextual; not everything is on the page. This book, on the other hand, lets each event and episode be pretty much easily understood, but hits you over the head with names, people, etc., so much that you feel completely immersed. This book pulls no punches when it comes to giving you a world, even if it (very often) comes at the expense of your memory.

This book is not at all action-y. In a sense, it is all politics. It's about a young adult who becomes emperor unexpectedly: nobody really knows who he is, and he has no idea what he's doing. He's well-meaning but entirely in over his head.

But this is not a book about political intrigue, even though it sometimes comes across that way. It's a book about coping: coping with your life, with who you are, and who you have to be. It's a book about loss and commemoration, and about redemption. It's the fantasy genre at its very best. And it doesn't try to shoehorn in any action or military scenes/plots. This book focuses squarely on emotional development dressed up as political intrigue.

It's also a deeply heartfelt book with a warmth that I would not have anticipated from a story about a goblin becoming emperor.

It's one of my favourite fantasy books, and perhaps the best book I read all year, but it's not perfect. The main character is a little too "good," too much of an angel, too "sensitive," especially against the backdrop of a culture that isn't at all that way, and I find that a cheap way of selling the character to the reader. It also struck me as a bit one-dimensional. This character feels lots of things in response to his circumstances, but his anger and hatred never really boil over, and he's always too "good" even when it comes to moderating that anger.

But this book is fantastic and really worth the read. ...more

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Oct 19, 2015 Kaitlin rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: booktubesff-awards

So I have finally finished up all of the BooktubeSFF Awards now (yay!) and this was the last one I had to read. I am giving this a 3.5* rating because I found it a very likeable read, but honestly, that's all it was for me. The story follows the character of Maia as he (being half Goblin, half Elf) comes to power and takes the throne of the Emperor after the death of most of his (estranged) family in an airship crash.

The story itself is very much a political drama story which concerns itself So I have finally finished up all of the BooktubeSFF Awards now (yay!) and this was the last one I had to read. I am giving this a 3.5* rating because I found it a very likeable read, but honestly, that's all it was for me. The story follows the character of Maia as he (being half Goblin, half Elf) comes to power and takes the throne of the Emperor after the death of most of his (estranged) family in an airship crash.

The story itself is very much a political drama story which concerns itself with lots of long names (as they're elvish) and a lot of long passages of negotiations. This wasn't a problem for me, as I do often like political drama if it's done well, and I believe this was, but still I did wish that there was a little more travelling and action in the wider world rather than just at the court.

The interesting thing about following Maia in this book is that although he's now the Emperor, he has no formal education because he had a few brothers ahead of him in the line of succession and he was exiled with his mother by his father. Due to this he's lived the majority of his life in the middle of a isolated part of the world with just his mother (until she died) and his guardian (rather a nasty character). He has no official training, and the only forms f companionship he's experienced vary greatly from a loving and kind mother, to an evil and malicious guardian. He has knowledge of how to be kind and caring, but he also knows what it's like to be cajoled and threatened and when he comes to power he has to decide whether to take up the mantle and be a tyrant such as his father was, or to act upon what his mother taught and try to find truth and fairness for all.

I do think that the way Maia developed as a character and the things he learned were done well. He knows little when he arrives and is bombarded with names and titles and problems but he has to face these and solve them. I think seeing how quickly Maia feels himself insufficient to the task was realistic, and seeing the internal (and sometimes external) struggles and pressures he has put on him and puts on himself, was convincing.

Overall I thought that for a standalone book it did have a good conclusion and I liked that I couldn't fully anticipate the way everything would go, but I do wish we'd had a little more exploration of the wider world and the society. Although we do see the steampunk elements of clockwork and airships, I didn't feel that we fully were introduced into the society of the people and I guess this is due to the fact that Maia himself is Emperor and is expected to stay and govern - it's just something I, personally, would have liked to see and have insight into.

On the whole I liked the book and there were some good moments. I thought that the first half was a little dry in places and did get a little stale at points, and of course the influx of names means it's one you need to concentrate on a lot whilst reading, but once I got to the halfway mark I found the next quarter very exciting and the final one a good ending. It's a political drama of intrigue, mistrust, and scheming and I have to say once you're into it it does work. A good 3.5*s book and one I'm glad I have read :) ...more

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Apr 01, 2014 Liviania rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

THE GOBLIN EMPEROR grabbed me tight and didn't let me go until it finished. Not an easy feat for a book with approximately one half of an action scene in over four hundred pages. That doesn't mean the scope of the book is small - the health of an entire empire is on the line, as civil war and external war both loom on the horizon.

Maia was the youngest and least favored son of the emperor. He's half goblin and not exactly attractive by court standards, to top it off. When his father and brothers THE GOBLIN EMPEROR grabbed me tight and didn't let me go until it finished. Not an easy feat for a book with approximately one half of an action scene in over four hundred pages. That doesn't mean the scope of the book is small - the health of an entire empire is on the line, as civil war and external war both loom on the horizon.

Maia was the youngest and least favored son of the emperor. He's half goblin and not exactly attractive by court standards, to top it off. When his father and brothers die in an accident shortly before his eighteenth birthday, he his unexpectedly crowned emperor. Given his youth and isolated childhood, he's ill prepared to take the throne. That doesn't mean, however, that Maia is prepared to roll over and be a puppet. He's critical of his father's rule and determined to do better, but he'll need to find allies he can trust if he's going to figure out how to make "better" happen.

Katherine Addison is a new penname of Sarah Monette. I've read her novels as Monette, but I didn't know she had something like THE GOBLIN EMPEROR in her. It has the elegant descriptions I expected, but it works in a way The Doctrine of Labyrinths didn't work for me. Part of that is Maia himself. He's a terrific central character, thoughtful, clever, but perhaps a bit too trusting and with a potential for cruelty. And cruelty is a bad trait to be seeded in an emperor.

I quite liked the other characters too. Maia has bodyguards that must constantly be with him, as well as a secretary who is far below him in class and rank but far above him in interpreting the people of the court. He also has a fiancee, because he must guarantee the succession. I wished for more of their awkward courtship, although I understood the book already had so much going on. But it was quite fascinating to see two people who don't want to get married attempt to make overtures to each other.

And, okay, while there's only half an outright action scene, there is tons of intrigue. I love me some intrigue. There is backstabbing, opportunism, trade disagreements, fear of progress, and more. It's delicious. I could eat it up with a spoon, and I did.

I felt that the ending of THE GOBLIN EMPEROR came too soon. There is a resolution, a true indication of the type of ruler Maia will be, but honestly I could've spent five hundred pages more with these characters in this world. I would give my left arm for a sequel. (I will, however, need my right arm to turn the pages.) ...more

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Apr 27, 2014 Ben Babcock rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015-read, from-library, fantasy, hugo-nominee

Nearly two years ago, I read a book by Sarah Monette called Mélusine, and I hated it. I considered it a train wreck of a novel. I wasn’t looking to read anything more by Monette in a long time. Now she’s back under the pen name of Katherine Addison (apparently for career reasons, which is a little silly, but I can also understand why). And not only am I giving The Goblin Emperor four stars, but I consider it every bit worth the Hugo nomination it has received, and I will not be disappointed if ...more

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Dec 29, 2019 Maja Ingrid rated it it was ok

Shelves: fantasy, disappointments

Unpopular opinion time, yay! This was a bit of a let down.

It wasn't really what I expected. In a bad way. I don't mind political intrigue, but this was too much for my taste, and too little action and pace. Was bored most of the time. Didn't care for the character either, or what world-building there was. Skim-read a lot of it. Not completely the book's fault, as this book wasn't really for me.

If I hadn't been gifted this book by a dear friend of mine (after telling them I had an interest for ...more

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About Katherine Addison

Katherine Addison

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A pseudonym of Sarah Monette. Both Sarah and Katherine are on Twitter as @pennyvixen. Katherine reviews nonfiction. Sarah reviews fiction. Fair warning: I read very little fiction these days.

Sarah/Katherine was born and raised in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, one of the three secret cities of the Manhattan Project.

She got her B.A. from Case Western Reserve University, her M.A. and Ph.D. from the ...more

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“ 'In our inmost and secret heart, which you ask us to bare to you, we wish to banish them as we were banished, to a cold and lonely house, in the charge of a man who hated us. And we wish them trapped there as we were trapped.'

'You consider that unjust, Serenity?'

'We consider it cruel,' Maia said. 'And we do not think that cruelty is ever just.' ” — 77 likes

“He remembered the moment when his thoughts had inverted themselves—that shift from not being able to please everyone to not trying—and the way that change had enabled him to see past the maneuverings and histrionics of the representatives to the deeper structures of the problem; it was the same with the Corazhas.” — 20 likes

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