Review: The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

Synopsis
Maia, the youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an “accident,” he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving rightful heir.

Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment.

Surrounded by sycophants eager to curry favor with the naïve new emperor, and overwhelmed by the burdens of his new life, he can trust nobody. Amid the swirl of plots to depose him, offers of arranged marriages, and the specter of the unknown conspirators who lurk in the shadows, he must quickly adjust to life as the Goblin Emperor. All the while, he is alone, and trying to find even a single friend . . . and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne-or his life.

What I thought
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.

I loved this book so much.  I think that Maia is just the sweetest person ever.  There is a scene in the book that really cemented this for me but I can’t exactly tell you without spoiling what happens.  Just be assured he has a heart of gold.

Maia is the youngest son of the Emperor and has essentially been banned from the court for his entire life.   At the age of eight Maia’s mother dies and he is left in the case of an abusive drunk.  So he is vastly unprepared for being thrown not only into life at court, but to hold the highest position there.  Maia constantly checks himself because he wants to be a good person and knows what it feels like to be on the wrong end of an angry person.  It would be so easy for him to be the person they expect him to be as a half-goblin emperor, but time and time again he shows patience.  Maia’s character shows that we do not have to be a product of the way we are raised everyone has a choice and it is our choices that make us who we are.  Through his journey, you see how wonderful a person he really is.  The world would be a better place if we had more people like Maia.

Maia truly has a heart, which you can tell is unexpected.  Even his sister was surprised when she realized that he really cared about what she wanted to do with her life.  He saw her as a person and not just a pawn to be used.  Part of what makes Maia such a good emperor is due to the fact that he was not raised to be above everyone.  He is more accepting of what previous emperors would not have allowed to happen.  For example, by the end of the book, one of his guards is a woman.   

Maybe what I needed at this time was Maia.  No matter how horrible his past was he is trying so desperately to be a good person.  He is a good reminder that no matter what situation we are in or who we are dealing with we can always strive to be better.

My Rating: /5

Have you read this book? If so what did you think? Tell me in the comments below.