A vividly imagined fantasy of court intrigue and dark magics in a steampunk-inflected world, by a brilliant young talent 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 … 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 naïve 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.
Katherine Addison’s The Goblin Emperor is an exciting fantasy novel, set against the pageantry and color of a fascinating, unique world, is a memorable debut for a great new talent.
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This is long and a bit of a high-level book, but it’s so worth the read. The abused and neglected halfbreed becomes emperor after a massive assassination and he has to learn how to do the job, not get killed, and try to make things better for everyone because great power —> great responsibility. We get to watch him grow into a strong and confident person who keeps his serving heart.
I love this book so much. Beautifully written, totally original. What I loved best though was the decency of the main character (and of most of the characters in fact). So refreshing to read about genuine effort to do good in the world.
Such a snooze fest! The names are hard to impossible to read and say. There is little to no action in this book. I feel asleep to it 3 different times and didn’t even get up to the first coup. Skip it!
I loved this book. Read it twice – recommended it to my book group.
I read this on Madeline’s recommendation and she did not let me down! This is a complex story of a half elf/half goblin inheriting a throne he was 4th in line for and totally unprepared for. There is societal prejudice against goblins to deal with and lots of court intrigue from people who had worked for placement with the named successor to the throne and the suddenly deceased king. Friends are few and far between as Maia, the main character, tries to navigate his path with sense and integrity. The admirable character of the main character really drives the story, while the plots and twists add intrigue and interest. It did take me a good bit to become engaged with the story becausse the author spends an awful lot of time creating language and names and pronunciation guides that do not do anything to further the story and actually impede it in some ways…or maybe I am just too old to try and learn new languages like I did upon reading the Lord of the Rings so I could pass notes to friends in runes. Anyway, I was able to ignore most of the names (although some are so similar as to be annoying) and just get on with the truly terrific story. *Sigh* I unhappily discovered that although the author plans a second book from this world, it will be about a minor character and not a continuation of this story. I will definitely read the not-so-sequel, but hope that the author picks up the thread of Maia in the future.
The Goblin Emperor is a classic fish out of water tale. With just a few words, Addison creates a very sympathetic character, the fourth and least regarded son of the Emperor of the Elflands. Maia has grown up far away from his father’s court under the guardianship of a man who hates him. An unimaginable tragedy puts Maia on the throne and he must learn to survive in a society that considers him totally unfit to be Emperor.
Surprisingly gentle, as fantasies go. (Not bloodless, though.) There’s a glossary; advised. A character who navigates a hard position while trying to be just, not snarky.
This is moderately thick fantasy of courtly intrigue spiced with the occasional murder. The story is told from the perspective of Maia, the half-breed, out of favor (exiled) son of the Elven emperor who is sweep into power when his father and half-brothers die unexpectedly in an airship disaster. Maia is unprepared for power or Court life. His mother died when he was 8. He grew up in a very small and informal estate and his guardian was frequently angry and abusive. The Elven court is the opposite: huge, crowed, opulent and suffocating with unspoken rules, obligations and all manner of intrigue. I found Maia to be a tremendously sympathetic character and his struggle to navigate the world in his new role as Emperor made for a very entertaining story. Though there are no armies or dragons and very little magic, I definitely recommend this book.
Very dense story similar to Game of thrones. Well written, but difficult to get into the terminology and lore.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if they dropped Mr. Rodgers into the middle of a PG-rated Game of Thrones? If so, read this book. If not, don’t.
What happens when a 19 year old, unloved, 4th son unexpectedly becomes emperor of a huge empire? These are his adventures, mostly how he learns to adapt to imperial life, lack of privacy, loneliness but a good heart. This is really an adult book and definitely not boring. It’s actually pretty realistic, which is why I like it. Our hero has a full desk, is confused on a daily basis and truly cares about his subjects but doesn’t know how to help them. He’s encased by etiquette but tries to make a difference within it. It’s very well written and decidedly not a cheap YA read!
Exceptional read. Didn’t want it to end, actually began looking for more before finishing. Believable premise as well as likable main characters and not so likable protagonists. Would have liked more visuals as I invested so thoroughly that maps would have enhanced the reading experience for me personally.
The story itself is good, but trying to keep the characters separate is almost impossible. Characters names are too difficult.
I’m a big fan of the GOT/Lord of the Rings fantasy genre, but this is the first book I’ve read in a long time that enthralled me all the way through—enough to put up with the effort of remembering all the different Elven and Goblin names/languages. The unlikely succession to the Elven throne by exiled and reviled fourth son, half Goblin Maia Drazhar sets up a fascinating journey as he assumes the role of Emperor with no preparation, no allies and untold enemies. I hope author Katherine Addison continues Maia’s story in future books.
Sarah Monette writing under the pseudonym Katherine Addison has written a beautifully constructed fantasy. Published in 2014 the lovely story won the three most prestigious awards in that genre, the Locus Award, the Nebula, and the Hugo. A must read for all fantasy/SyFy fans!
I was engrossed in this book from page one, and interested in the story of Maia, the half Goblin son of the Elven Emperor by a disfavored wife who is banished from court. At the start of the book, Maia learns that his father and half brothers have all died unexpectedly leaving him heir to the throne. The writing and world building are amazing, and Maia’s strength is not in swords or sorcery, but in emotional intelligence. Using his wits to navigate an unfamiliar and unfriendly court, he is able to find a few allies and even friends where he had expected none. The intricate Elvish names and titles used in the book are daunting, but don’t let that put you off of a great read.
Much better than I expected!
Really enjoyed the world and characters. I would love to read a sequel.
I adore this book. And the audiobook is fab too. A definite comfort read/listen for me!
It is well-written and a good addition to the fantasy genre. You can find correlations with the current U.S. President Administration’s inner workings as the main character (the goblin emperor) is surrounded by syncophants and advisors who he cannot trust and interweaves a murder mystery as well. This is truly an original work and well worth the time to get into.