Book #188 of 2017:

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

There’s a little Game of Thrones in this standalone fantasy story of an honorable figure coming to court and facing palace intrigue, but it more closely resembles Assassin’s Apprentice in centering its narrative around an abused and friendless child whose station prevents others from getting close. In this case, that child is the youngest son of the elvish emperor, long exiled due to his mother’s disfavor but now thrust upon the throne after the sudden death of his father and half-brothers. Maia’s mother was a goblin – a racial minority in the empire – and many of his new subjects dislike him as much for his mixed heritage as for his attempts to rein in some of his father’s more excessive policies.

A little of the worldbuilding here could have been clearer, and the huge cast of characters with similar-sounding names was really hard to keep track of, especially in audio format. Audiobook reader Kyle McCarley does a great job with what he’s given, but I think I’ll need to actually read the book next time instead of listening, to make sure I catch everything. Still, it was great enough that there definitely will be a next time at some point. There’s so much heart to this story, and so much neat language, and so many times when I wanted to reach out to the Elflands and give its lonely emperor a hug. It’s a world I fell into deeply, and a book I’m already looking forward to revisiting.

★★★★★

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