birdofalltrades'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Violence, Bullying, Classism, Grief, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Murder, Blood, and Sexism
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Colonisation, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, and Alcoholism
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Infertility
xandry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Death of parent, Suicide, Racism, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Murder
Minor: Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, and Miscarriage
hybridtulips'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
I'm usually not a huge fan of steampunk, but the theme is light enough and handled well enough for me to actually enjoy it. A first time for everything!
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Racism, Alcoholism, Violence, Death, Child abuse, Terminal illness, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Homophobia, War, and Infertility
The while book is themed around moderate to mild racism towards (darker skinned) goblins within the (lighter skinned) elven society, externally from other characters, and internalized by the main character.istiel'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Bullying
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Sexism, Death, Murder, Xenophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Miscarriage, Child death, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Classism, and Homophobia
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
seanml's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Death, Murder, Sexism, Violence, Death of parent, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Blood, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, and Torture
starlit_pathways's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Child abuse, Xenophobia, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, Terminal illness, War, and Classism
Minor: Torture and Suicide
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
anastasiamakes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Self harm and Suicide
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, and Racism
Minor: Homophobia, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness