The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison -> Restarting March 4th, 2024

[Alaina]

Nominated for the Nebula and Hugo awards, and a World Fantasy Award Finalist, Katherine Addison's The Goblin Emperor is a vividly imagined fantasy of court intrigue and dark magics in a steampunk-inflected world.

Unbound Worlds 100 Best Fantasy Novels of All Time

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 rightful heir.

Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment.

Surrounded by sycophants eager to curry favor with the na�ve new emperor, and overwhelmed by the burdens of his new life, he can trust nobody. Amid the swirl of plots to depose him, offers of arranged marriages, and the specter of the unknown conspirators who lurk in the shadows, he must quickly adjust to life as the Goblin Emperor. All the while, he is alone, and trying to find even a single friend . . . and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne-or his life.

[Alaina]

Starting this now!

[Aly]

I'm starting this after Unbirthday, so probably tomorrow

[Alaina]

You got this girl!

[Alaina]

I totally forgot that I had the audio for this one. I thought I had the ebook 🤣🤣

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

I'm gonna jump in on this too so feel free to take your time ladies, I prolly won't get to it until June :P

[Alaina]

Woohoo! Come to the dark side Crystal!

[Alaina]

Part 1: (view spoiler)[Hmm.. so far it's interesting in some ways. I think the characters are okay so far but I'm hoping things pick up a bit. (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Alaina wrote: "Woohoo! Come to the dark side Crystal!"

It's my favorite place to be 😈😈

[Alaina]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Woohoo! Come to the dark side Crystal!"

It's my favorite place to be 😈😈"

Heck yeah!

[Alaina]

Ch 6-14: (view spoiler)[Maia and his little crew are kind of a fun found family in a way. Not a fan of court politics for him since he knows next to nothing about this due to being exiled for most of his life. Hopefully he can prove everyone wrong? Maybe?

I also don't trust a lot of people - like Chavar. Sorry not sorry. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 15-End of Part 2: (view spoiler)[I feel like my brain hurts from all of what happened lol. Something isn't clicking for me and I think I missed something or it hasn't been said yet. Not sure. I just know that there has got to be a hidden agenda. Again, not sure with who though. I just have a feeling. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 19-25: (view spoiler)[What the what? KIDNAPPED? I wasn't expecting that. I mean I could smell a betrayal or something fishy happening soon but that was a nice surprise. Also I'm so in awe of the narrator's pronunciation of all the names in this book. I would be butchering everything. It wouldn't even be English lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 26-30: (view spoiler)[Okay I think I might love the goblin crew.. and I'm not even sorry about that. Also the death spell? Oh shit. How is this going to end? Cliffhanger? Maybe? (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 31-Finish: (view spoiler)[Well, well.. that was a surprising ending. Avar naming Maia his heir. Also he definitely grew into this role and I'm very proud of him. I hope things continue to get better for him. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Okay, why do people refer to themselves as 'We'? "We would like to introduce you" like no, you're only one person

[Alaina]

HAHAHAHAHA

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Part 1: [spoilers removed]"

Same here. I need action!

[Aly]

Part one (view spoiler)[ I feel bad for Maia that he's been thrust into all this and I hope his team are trustworthy since he has to lean on them. The court politics are kind of interesting but I'm hoping for battles and traitors and excitement (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 6-14: Maia and his little crew are kind of a fun found family in a way. Not a fan of court politics for him since he knows next to nothing about this due to being exiled for most of his life. Ho..."

Agreed, I like that he can rely on them

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 15-End of Part 2: [spoilers removed]"

I really can't keep most of the characters straight. There's way too many and some of their names are very similar

[Aly]

Part two (view spoiler)[ Maia is trying his best, but these politics are so confusing. I am still holding out for an assassination attempt or something exciting to happen (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Part one [spoilers removed]"

I mean.. there's betrayals?!?

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Ch 15-End of Part 2: [spoilers removed]"

I really can't keep most of the characters straight. There's way too many and some of their names are very similar"

Yeah, there are a ton in this one.

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Part two [spoilers removed]"

Yeah court politics are weird and boring

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Aly wrote: "Part one [spoilers removed]"

I mean.. there's betrayals?!?"

True. At least there's that

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 19-25: [spoilers removed]"

Whoo, finally something exciting happens!

[Aly]

Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[I knew his sister in law would be trouble and that other guy Chevar or whatever is a douche. I'm glad Maia is okay and I feel bad for his nephews and nieces. I'm not totally sure who Doges(?) is but his death was pretty sad. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Ch 19-25: [spoilers removed]"

Whoo, finally something exciting happens!"

LOL

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 25 [spoilers removed]"

I mean the name Chevar makes it seem like he's an asshole anyways.

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Aly wrote: "Chapter 25 [spoilers removed]"

I mean the name Chevar makes it seem like he's an asshole anyways."

So true

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 26-30: [spoilers removed]"

Tbh I missed (view spoiler)[ the death spell. I'm really struggling to pay attention. This is too long. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Oh nope I didn't miss it I just wasn't at that part yet apparently. LOL

And I like the goblins too. They seem like way more fun than the elves

[Alaina]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Alaina]

You're getting closer to the end though.

[Alaina]

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Oh nope I didn't miss it I just wasn't at that part yet apparently. LOL

And I like the goblins too. They seem like way more fun than the elves"

Heck yeah! Team Goblin all the way!

[Aly]

Part four (view spoiler)[ There are multiple conspiracies. So confusing!

Is the guy who made Maia his heir the Goblin King? Would Maia be the Elf Emperor and the Goblin King? Cuz that would be cool (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Part four "

Ahh court life. Conspiracies on conspiracies.

[Aly]

It's over! (view spoiler)[ Okay well there's a lot I didn't understand. I'm glad Maia is okay and still has his friends around him. It seems like he'll be a good Emperor. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "It's over! [spoilers removed]"

LOL yay! You did it! Yeah, I'm thinking that Maia will be a good emperor too.

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Finally getting to this one....

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

25% (view spoiler)[Geez I feel as lost as the MC. So much politics 😦 How crazy to be thrust into the role of emperor when you’ve not even been raised as an heir. Also really took me by surprise they (goblins) have ships, just weird to me lol (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Alaina wrote: "Aly wrote: "Part two [spoilers removed]"

Yeah court politics are weird and boring"

Soooooo boring lol and so many ppl he and I could care less about smh

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

50% (view spoiler)[Well geez this is kinda dry and I'm losing focus a lot. Now he's getting married, swear I was in and out on that whole conversation lmao. At least he tried to be kind and welcoming and even wrote his betrothed a letter, one she didn't take as kindly lol (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

75% (view spoiler)[Does this ever end?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I mean there was some minor minor action with the almost coup but ugh it's just so dry. I wish there was more to them being goblins as well, feel like they could easily just be replaced with humans. It reads just like many other books. (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Finished (view spoiler)[apologies for swearing but HOLY SHIT I did it lol. Thought my life would end when this book finally did. I mean this was rough and ummm what was the point of it all? Most of the time the MC hated where he was and I was right there with him. There was also so many characters it was hard to keep track or remember with all the info being thrown around. It needed a lot more action and perhaps, perhaps it’d be a better read 🥱🥱 (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

Congratulations! lol I feel you

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Aly wrote: "❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

Congratulations! lol I feel you"

Goes to show that just because you have an audio book doesn't mean it'll be easier to read or faster lmao

[Alaina]

LOL preach! I also think it's funny that we all rated it 3 stars