scarletclarinet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Minor: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol
michmoo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
100% one of my favourites for this year and quite possibly of all time. I will definitely be seeking out the companion novels to keep exploring this world.
Spoiler
Also, my goodness, just let him be friends with his guards! Please for the love of god, etiquette be damned, my child is lonely!Graphic: Grief and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Classism, Violence, Murder, Death of parent, Child abuse, Abandonment, and Death
Minor: Racism, War, Misogyny, and Alcohol
ginpartini's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Minor: Bullying, Alcohol, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, and Death
pvbobrien's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse and Suicide
Moderate: Grief, Blood, Death of parent, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Violence, and Racism
Minor: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Classism, Confinement, Colonisation, Infertility, Alcohol, and War
onironic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, Classism, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Violence
alexalily's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Confinement, Grief, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Bullying, Child abuse, and Death
Minor: Terminal illness, Alcohol, Blood, and Homophobia
brnineworms's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Spoiler
One of the major antagonistic forces is a group of radicals – terrorists – who assassinated the previous emperor and now have their sights set on Maia. They are motivated by an ideal called “Universal Ascendance” wherein “no man holds power over any other,” which is apparently “a cloud-fancy” at odds with human nature (or elf/goblin nature, I guess). The less radical adherents of this ideology believe in the perpetual accumulation of power which thereby facilitates ascension to godhood (a real-world analogue could be capitalism, perhaps?) but of course it’s the leftists who are wicked and insane. I’m not saying they’re right to plant bombs but they are right to oppose the emperor.Considering I’ve spent so long picking apart The Goblin Emperor’s flaws and shortcomings, you may be surprised to hear that I did enjoy the book. It’s well-written, it’s compelling, and though there are some aspects which irked me, it’s a good book overall. Though the story isn’t great and the political assertions are dubious, I appreciate Maia so much I can’t bear to give this book a low rating. I probably won’t read the rest of the trilogy, but I don’t regret reading this.
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Self harm, Sexism, and Suicide
Moderate: Xenophobia, Ableism, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Alcohol, and Terminal illness
Minor: Fatphobia, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, War, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child death, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Incest, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
huldakaren's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Miscarriage, Murder, and Sexism
mayaccountant's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse and Suicide
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism
Minor: Alcohol and Xenophobia