Book Review: The Goblin Emperor

The Goblin Emperor, written by Katherine Addison and published by Tor in 2014, is one of my favourite standalone books. I can’t add any more in praise that hasn’t already been said better by others over the past ten years, but having reread it recently, I simply had to try. Having reread it a few times whenever I want something familiar and comfortable, I can genuinely say that it’s a beautiful story. 

It opens with Maia, the relegated fourth son of the current Emperor of the Elflands, living in squalor at the edges of the realm under the thumb of an abusive cousin. Maia suddenly ascends to the throne after his father and three older brothers die in a tragic accident, and after spending his entire life in exile has to navigate the dangerous political waters into which he has found himself. Surrounded by contempt for his youth, his ignorance, and his mixed heritage, Maia decides that while he cannot truly trust anyone, he must choose to trust someone. First and foremost that being his secretary Csevet and his vow-sworn bodyguards Beshelar and Cala. As the months pass, he finds allies and slowly comes to terms with his new reality of responsibility and loneliness. No one is equal to the emperor, and therefore the emperor cannot truly have friends. Nevertheless, in the face of hardships, conspiracy, and coups, Maia never forgoes his commitments to kindness, respect, and warmth, forgoing the temptation of using power for personal gain.

It’s Maia’s commitment to kindness and the strength of his character that makes this story so comforting in spite of its exclusive focus on court intrigue. While at its core The Goblin Emperor is a dense political drama (within which Maia does not truly drive the action as opposed to simply reacting to circumstances), the story chooses to dig deeply into its many characters rather than leaning on its plot. Addison masterfully captures the essence of dozens of complex and compelling characters in only a few sentences, and every one of them is crucial within the rich tapestry that she weaves. That isn’t to say that the plot is weak, quite the contrary, I think it’s quite strong as a political intrigue. But this is certainly a character driven story rather than a plot driven story. Issues like misogyny, homophobia, race, and class are all touched on and addressed delicately, but with a firm belief in what is right and just. The language and writing style is impeccable. Addison makes masterful use of Old English conventions to mark the various layers of implication and intimacy of conversations, while also creating a detailed and complex series of naming conventions that truly elevate her worldbuilding. The story’s voice is wonderfully unique and immersive. 

Ultimately, I give this book a 10/10 and cannot emphasize enough how dear this book is to me. It’s cozy, comforting, and brings to mind those slow winter nights with a soft blanket and mug of hot chocolate. The Goblin Emperor takes our hands gently and says that kindness is a strength to be cultivated in spite of, and in fact because of, the hardships of the world, and says it convincingly.