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The Goblin Emperor Review

Cover of The Goblin Emperor book by Katherine Addison on a yellow background with a black bird.

I first came across The Goblin Emperor on a list of Hopepunk Fantasy novels. My curiosity was piqued enough to put a hold on it. And wow! My entire Saturday was consumed by it. Despite the initial culture shock of being thrown into a vastly different world, this book and its characters won my heart. I liked it so much that the next day, I flipped back to the beginning and re-read all of my favorite parts (of which there were a lot).

In this The Goblin Emperor review, I’ll talk about why I loved this book and why you might want to put it in your shopping cart or on hold at your library.

This post is an 8-minute read.

The Goblin Emperor Review

A beautifully-written political fantasy with full-bodied characters and a fascinating plot.

First things first, it takes a minute to get into the voice and world of this story. Before the first chapter, Addison includes a “Note for a Traveler to the Elflands.” Although dry reading, it lays important foundations for the world. Push through. The orientation is helpful, and the story that follows is worth the effort. At least, it is if political fantasy novels are your cup of tea.

A moody twilight scene with an airship in the foreground and a mythical castle in the background.
Illustration by Tom Canty

Intricate dialogue replete with subtext, subtle subterfuge, and careful maneuvering (mostly waged by wits and cunning) make The Goblin Emperor a thoroughly enjoyable book. The world Addison created is rich in detail, social strictures, and varied cultures. The cast of characters is vast and diverse. And the main character is heartfelt, admirable, and clever—even when out of his depth.

This book isn’t ideal for readers who aren’t willing to put in some work. But those who are will be magnificently rewarded.

The Goblin Emperor is a third-person-limited narrative with a male main character, political intrigue, and betrayals. It addressed loneliness, isolation, trauma, gender equality, racial equality, and a worldview of kindness and humility rather than power-grabs and arrogance.

Note: The Goblin Emperor was written by Sarah Monette under the pen-name Katherine Addison.

Quick Overview of the Story (Spoiler Free)

Despite being the youngest son of the Emperor of the Elflands, Maia was raised in isolation and obscurity because his mother was a goblin. He’s spent the past ten years relegated to a bleak household under the care of a cruel and abusive cousin. But when the airship carrying his father and half-brothers goes down in flames, Maia becomes emperor.

The image shows a human-like figure with pointed ears, black skin, curly black hair, and a severe expression wearing elegant high-colored clothes and a golden crown.
Image by AceArt3mis

Unprepared, lonely, friendless, and woefully ignorant of court politics, Maia must consolidate his power or fall to his slew of enemies. They range from the brazen High Lord Chancellor to his vengeful sister-in-law to a noble with murder on his heart. None of them can abide a half-goblin on the throne—much less one who is forging a new course for the country.

With great heart and courage, Maia rises to the challenge, discovering that he is not fully without support or hope.

What I Love About The Goblin Emperor

There is much to love about this book. Here are a few highlights:

Masterful Writing

The writing in The Goblin Emperor is clear, concise, and vibrant. The settings are concrete, the action sequences unfold in understated yet heart-stopping perfection, and the internal and external conflicts build on each other seamlessly from one scene to the next.

Rich Interior World

Addison does a beautiful job of letting us inside Maia’s thoughts, sharing his emotional landscape with its ups and downs, heart-wrenching betrayals, and unlooked-for warmth. We get to know him intimately, accompanying him on a difficult journey of suffering and growth. He is a deeply empathetic character. And even though the characters are all elves, goblins, and half-goblins, the story is a profoundly human one.

An illustration of three men. The central figure has black hair and black skin and is shorter than the others. He is wearing a crown. On the left is a thin, light-haired man wearing  glasses, and on the right a darker-haired warrior.
Mai and his Nohecharai bodyguards. Image by Darthaline

Beautiful Message

I love the way Maia navigates adversity with great humility and heart. He offers a picture of a great leader. Despite feeling isolated and out of his depth, he never stops seeing the people around him as people. He strives to meet them on their ground, offers compassion, combats the darkness in his heart, and builds bridges in the literal and figurative senses.

He is marked by internal and external scars, but his mother’s love and worldview guide his approach to the world. He refuses to view people in only a political manner. Likewise, he refuses to hide behind a mantle of arrogance. Even though he’s told repeatedly that “Emperors don’t apologize,” Maia apologizes for his mistakes, feels for others, and defies conventions he believes are misguided or cruel.

What I Didn’t Love About The Goblin Emperor

As with any fantasy book, it can take a little while to get your footing in an utterly foreign world. At first, I found the language strange and the circumstances bewildering, but the story soon hooked me completely.

Subgenres

The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison’s fantasy novel is perfect for lovers of political fantasy, hopepunk fantasy, and steampunk fantasy.

Here’s why I think the novel fits within these subgenres:

  • Political Fantasy – the story dives into the psychological drama and tactical intrigue of political powers
  • Hopepunk Fantasy – Maia embodies defiant hopefulness, humility, and kindness in the face of cruelty and adversity
  • Coming-Of-Age – Although Maia is 18 when the story begins, he takes on a demanding new role and must grow and mature
  • Low Fantasy – The magic in the story is subtle. Although it isn’t center stage, it plays a small but important role in the tale.
  • Steampunk – In this world, there are airships and a clockwork guild

Trigger Warnings

In the beginning of the story, Maia suffers physical and verbal abuse. References are made to his cousin’s alcohol abuse. There is also a kidnapping, an assassination attempt, a ritual suicide, and some off-page executions. There is no spicy romance and only a few subtle and tasteful references to sex.

The image is the spanish cover of The Goblin Emperor. A solitary figure holds a crown in one hand with a sword behind his back and airships in the orange sky behind him.
The Spanish cover of the Goblin Emperor

The Goblin Emperor Sequel

Technically speaking, The Goblin Emperor is a stand-alone novel. However, if you loved the story, you can continue your reading journey in the same world with The Witness For The Dead. This book is a first-person narrative about Thara Celehar, the clerical witness for the dead we meet in The Goblin Emperor.

Celehar’s story continues in The Grief of Stones, published in 2022, and The Tomb of Dragons, scheduled for release in 2025. Collectively, these books about Celehar are called The Cemeteries of Amalo Trilogy.

When grouped with The Goblin Emperor, they are called The Chronicles of Osreth series.

Other Books Like The Goblin Emperor

What I loved most about The Goblin Emperor was the combination of court intrigue with a morally upright protagonist who is empathetic and committed to fighting for good. They should be thrust into politics or court intrigue and have to learn how to navigate the situation.

Based on that criteria, I can recommend the following books:

The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

This is the third book in Turner’s Queen’s Thief series and follows Eugenides, the reluctant new king of Attolia. It’s a great example of a political fantasy where the protagonist must outwit his enemies and prove his worth amidst the complexities of court and government intrigue.

Although Eugenides has some moral gray areas (he’s a former thief, after all), he is a heartfelt, kind, and empathetic character fighting for those he cares about. The story is cunning, clever, and full of delightful twists. Although there is a romantic through-line, it isn’t spicy or graphic.

Check out my reviews on the first three books in this series: The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, and The King of Attolia.

Court Duel by Sherwood Smith

The second book in Sherwood Smith’s Crown Duel duology is another fine example of a political fantasy. In Court Duel, the protagonist, Meliara, is a young countess who, after a rebellion, must navigate the treacherous world of court politics. Raised in poverty and with little to no education, she’s taken strides to fill the gaps in her knowledge. She is empathetic and determined, embodying hopepunk ideals of fighting for what is right even when she feels hopelessly out of place (and when the chip on her shoulder makes life difficult).

This novel is perfect for readers who love political intrigue, personal growth, and understated romance. Be sure to read Crown Duel first. The prequel, A Stranger to Command, is another great read, especially if you’re into military academy fantasy books.

Potential Other Books Like The Goblin Emperor

Although I haven’t read it, some readers of The Goblin Emperor report loving The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard.

An illustration of Maia, the goblin emperor. He has black skin and black hair and wears elegant white clothes and a crown.
Illustration by Shifting Path

Conclusion: The Goblin Emperor Review

This heartfelt story of political intrigue and an underdog thrust into power won me over completely. I loved the main character, the emotional landscape of the story, and the world-building. If you love character-driven political fantasies, I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

While we’re on the subject of reviews, be sure to check out my posts about The Thief and The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner, Beyond, by Mercedes Lackey, and Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young. Alternatively, read some of my original fantasy stories by heading over to the Short Story Shelf.

What do you think? Does this The Goblin Emperor review make you want to read it? I hope so! And if you’re as into chatting about books, reading, and words as I am, consider joining my mailing list and/or hopping over to my YA Fantasy Enthusiasts Facebook page. I love to connect with fellow lovers of the genre.

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