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The Goblin Emperor

by Katherine Addison

★★★★☆ 4.06 (55 610 ratings)
2014 · 448 pages · ~7h 28m read · Fiction

Maia, the youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor, has lived his life in exile, far from the glittering court of the Ethuveraz. When his father and brothers are killed in a suspicious airship crash, Maia is suddenly thrust onto the throne. Surrounded by sycophants and assassins, he must navigate the treacherous waters of imperial politics while maintaining his inherent kindness. This character-driven fantasy is a refreshing take on court intrigue, focusing on empathy, leadership, and the profound isolation of power.

A well-known book with a dedicated readership.

Atmosphere: FantasticalVibe: TenderPacing: Relaxing
politicsmagiccoming-of-age

Notable Quotes

"'In our inmost and secret heart, which you ask us to bare to you, we wish to banish them as we were banished, to a cold and lonely house, in the charge of a man who hated us. And we wish them trapped there as we were trapped.' 'You consider that unjust, Serenity?' 'We consider it cruel,' Maia said. 'And we do not think that cruelty is ever just.'"
"He remembered the moment when his thoughts had inverted themselves—that shift from not being able to please everyone to not trying—and the way that change had enabled him to see past the maneuverings and histrionics of the representatives to the deeper structures of the problem; it was the same with the Corazhas."
"Yes, but one cannot prevent change simply by wishing it not to happen,"

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