The Goblin Emperor

Katherine Addison

Apr 2014 · Sold by Tor Books

About this ebook

A lush tale of deadly court intrigue and a modern classic of fantasy by Locus award winner and Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award finalist Katherine Addison

Unbound Worlds 100 Best Fantasy Novels of All Time

A Best Fantasy Novel of the Decade Pick for BookRiot

"Striking."—The New York Times

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 half brothers 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 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.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Ratings and reviews

While not on a level with Tolkien in linguistics, Addison deftly builds an entire elvish culture and a significant amount of language drawing from Eastern European and French influence. The plot, and even the characters, suffer slightly as much effort was needed to make this world self consistent and vibrant, but little is lost. The story itself is quite simple, and it's never truly the focus; learning the culture and rituals a la Jane Goodall sociology is the true gem here. Fine writing rounds out a well constructed creation.

Really riveting story of court intrigue. I couldn't stop turning pages. I'm not sure if a sequel is in the works, but I would like to see what happens next. The world created is very inventive, and while there isn't a lot of time spent on setting up the more fantastical elements of the world as one might expect in a lot of fantasy novels, a lot of effort is clearly put in to creating a beleivably intricate and fleshed out society in this novel. Really love it.

Absolutely loved the protagonist and watching his growth. The characterizations were true to life and, though the world itself was a little intimidating, being thrust into it certainly gave me sympathy for the hero and his unexpected responsibilities.

About the author

KATHERINE ADDISON’s short fiction has been selected by The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror and The Year’s Best Science Fiction. The Goblin Emperor won the 2015 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel and was a finalist for the Hugo, the Nebula, and the World Fantasy Award. The Angel of the Crows was nominated for the 2021 Locus Award. As Sarah Monette, she is the author of the Doctrine of Labyrinths series and co-author, with Elizabeth Bear, of the Iskryne series. She lives near Madison, Wisconsin.