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2014 Book Review #39: The Goblin Emperor
Title: The Goblin Emperor
Author: Katherine Addison
Genre: Steampunk
Thingummies: 4
Synopsis: The family black sheep unexpectedly finds himself emperor of the elves after an airship crash kills the better part of the royal family.
Thoughts: All ratings are subjective, of course, but I think this one is more subjective than most.
I think this book probably has a bunch of flaws. Not much happens, it's a little Mary-Sueish, and I'm not sure that the villain's actions totally make sense.
But something about the writing just worked for me. I loved the very personal approach to politics, as the protagonist tries to navigate a sea of unfamiliar and conflicting courtiers. I loved the characters, especially our wooby of an emperor, who tries to be decent when he know he can never be appropriately sophisticated. I loved the tone in general.
It's probably not the most brilliant take on fantasy politics ever written. But I know I'll be rereading this one, probably repeated, because it does such a good job of punching my emotional buttons. I'm already looking forward to accompanying Maia again as he slowly makes friends, foils plots in the most unexpected of ways, chooses an empress, meets family he never expected to know. Perhaps the plot is not the most suspenseful, but it's the journey that captivated me here.
Author: Katherine Addison
Genre: Steampunk
Thingummies: 4
Synopsis: The family black sheep unexpectedly finds himself emperor of the elves after an airship crash kills the better part of the royal family.
Thoughts: All ratings are subjective, of course, but I think this one is more subjective than most.
I think this book probably has a bunch of flaws. Not much happens, it's a little Mary-Sueish, and I'm not sure that the villain's actions totally make sense.
But something about the writing just worked for me. I loved the very personal approach to politics, as the protagonist tries to navigate a sea of unfamiliar and conflicting courtiers. I loved the characters, especially our wooby of an emperor, who tries to be decent when he know he can never be appropriately sophisticated. I loved the tone in general.
It's probably not the most brilliant take on fantasy politics ever written. But I know I'll be rereading this one, probably repeated, because it does such a good job of punching my emotional buttons. I'm already looking forward to accompanying Maia again as he slowly makes friends, foils plots in the most unexpected of ways, chooses an empress, meets family he never expected to know. Perhaps the plot is not the most suspenseful, but it's the journey that captivated me here.