Book Review: The Goblin Emperor
Contributed by Christina Nixon, Contributor
The Goblin Emperor
By Katherine Addison
Maia is the disregarded half-goblin son of the Elvin emperor. The emperor and his three eldest sons died in an accident, leaving the unprepared Maia to assume the throne. He faces many challenges in court-whom to trust, the resentment of his father and brother's widows, learning court politics, choosing a bride, and making the right choices for himself and his empire. This is a wonderful story filled with intrigue and politics with a hint of romance. The protagonist Maia is very well developed and he makes mistakes without appearing stupid. The supporting characters are three dimensional and have interesting personalities and backstories. Kyle McCarley makes each person come alive with his or her own voice. Even without the explanatory text, the listener knows who is speaking based upon McCarley's narration alone. Though the synopsis places this book in the young adult category, the writing, character development, and story are very mature and adult. Maia is young and naïve and new to court but he faces his situation with remarkable courage and self-awareness.
The setting is highly developed and the dialogue realistic and engaging. Addison's world contains some magic, some of which is spiritual. The goblins aren't the typical short treasure-hoarding little monsters usually found in fantasy. They are more civilized and have their own culture. Though the goblins and elves are separate species, Addison depicts them more as different ethnicities. I can't compliment this book enough. I've been recommending it to everyone I know who has even the slightest interest in fantasy. My only complaint is that The Goblin Emperor is a stand-alone title. At this time, Addison doesn't plan to write a sequel. The story ends very neatly; however, I am disappointed no further adventures are forthcoming.
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