The Goblin Emperor (The Chronicles of Osreth, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Jan 01, 2021 Carrie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, goblins

The last book I started in 2020 and the first I finish in 2021.

Maia a half goblin and has lived most of his life basically in exile from the Untheileneise Court, living under guardian care after the death of his mother. He has no friends, no contact with his father the Emperor, who has never cared for him at all. The story opens with him receiving word that the airship that his father and all his brothers were on has crashed and all have died. Now it is he who is next in line.

He knows nothing of ...more

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Jul 15, 2021 Ketutar Jensen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

Definitely the best book I've read this year. Even better than The Way of Kings

So, there's this boy, only 18, who is awakened to find out his father had died. His father, the emperor of the Fairyland. Together with his other three sons. So Maia is the emperor.
He has been sorely prepared for the job, but he isn't stupid and he is wise and compassionate. And he gets help.
This reminds me much of Queen Victoria's ascend to the throne, I assume that was the inspiration for this book. I love how we ...more

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Jan 06, 2025 Teddie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, favorites

Put simply, I loved The Goblin Emperor. The book reminds me a bit in tone, of A Psalm for the Wild-Built in that there is an over-arching sense of optimism that glimmers through anything negative about the world or its people as a whole, and more of a focus on the good in each individual person.

Not yet 20, Maia is thrown into being emperor because of the death of a father (and brothers) who rejected him outright. Banished with his goblin mother to a land far from court, Maia watches his mother ...more

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Oct 18, 2020 Bookworm rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-reads, e-book

Rating: B+

This book felt both exceedingly long, yet very easy to read. I have seen other reviews mention the glossary; it was hard to try and read this book without using the glossary lol, to be honest, I didn't even know there was one. We sort of got there by the end. I have also learnt that I can really only enjoy Slice of Life in the form of comics, because the nature of the story exists to have everything described in infinite detail, even the most boring parts of life. When an artist could Rating: B+

This book felt both exceedingly long, yet very easy to read. I have seen other reviews mention the glossary; it was hard to try and read this book without using the glossary lol, to be honest, I didn't even know there was one. We sort of got there by the end. I have also learnt that I can really only enjoy Slice of Life in the form of comics, because the nature of the story exists to have everything described in infinite detail, even the most boring parts of life. When an artist could just draw that happening.

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison is a novel about Maia, the young, mixed-race son of Emperor Varenechibel IV who is forced to become emperor after his father and all his older sons are killed in the crash of an airship. What follows is a heartwarming and rich story about Maia takes on the mantle of Emperor and welcomes in a new era of kindness, warmth and understanding. The story covers maybe about a year of time in Maia's life showing how he adapts to his new role, while trying to maintain his beliefs and not come across as weak to his people. What I had noticed about this story is that it almost solely consists of nobles of some stature. We never hear about the people that Maia rules or how they are adapting to his rule. Perhaps the results of his actions are yet to be seen, in the kingdom, but as such this is a standalone novel with no sequel released yet. (Additionally the sequel is from another character in the book.)

I found the writing enjoyable to go over, but really struggled with all the names. This would be one of the hardest audiobooks for me to listen to so I'm glad I read it with my eyes instead. I really would have enjoyed to see more between Maia and his future empress. I felt sometimes like I had just read pages without really absorbing the contents of the story. I would really have loved a map. It makes sense due to the contents of the story to never learn about the land or its people besides the two premier races (as Maia can never really leave the palace and is never alone) but it didn't help build the world up. I liked the intricacies of the court and the limits of the emperor's ability for freedom, as well as how humble Maia is and how honest he is about his lack of education.

I found it exciting when he experienced hardship in the palace due to the actions of other characters, but felt like it was all too easily resolved. It seemed like those around Maia, despite being in court for much longer, were exceedingly clumsy and unaware. Maia has the most adept staff, apparently. Some customs of the Ethuveraz were very brutal and almost barbaric, they were great additions to the book. I especially liked when Maia almost ordered his staff to do impossible tasks, not recognising his own power.

I think I would continue on with the sequel though I'm not sure how I feel about novelised SoL. ...more

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