The Goblin Emperor

Katherine Addison

Mar 2019 · Rebellion Publishing Ltd

About this ebook

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 favour 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 spectre of the unknown conspirators who lurk in the shadows, he must quickly adjust to life as the Goblin Emperor. 

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Ratings and reviews

I really enjoyed this book, mostly because Maia is such a loveable and down to earth character. Trying to be a good and honest person, in a world full of not necessarily nice but not necessarily evil characters. I've seen a few people annoyed about the use of "Serenity," which is said many times in the book. But I can't help but feel that's the point, Maia probably feels the same way.

The plot is not what I expected -- it's fairly slow-paced, even if a lot of things happen -- but watching Maia grow from a scared teen into a kind emperor was a treat enough. The world was fascinating too, a steampunkish fantasy elven empire (a little difficult to keep track of all names, but worth it).

Unfortunate Goblin teen becomes emperor out of the blue, struggles to come to terms with it whilst inadvertently doing some solid emperor work and setting up another character for their own spin off series. Good stuff.

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. As Sarah Monette, she is the author of the Doctrine of Labyrinths series, and the Locus Award-winning novel The Goblin Emperor; and co-author, with Elizabeth Bear, of the Iskryne series. She lives near Madison, Wisconsin.