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clarabooksit'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
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Grief, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
lex_y'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
4.0
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Xenophobia
ethuiliel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny and Racism
amandaterasu'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism and War
A lot of the Content Warnings (but not all!) here are about recovering from the trauma inflicted by the content listed. This is a book about healing and moving forward after trauma.localcryptid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
The writing itself was a big drawback. The shift between plain English and more archaic English (thee, thou, willst, etc) felt forced and a bit jarring. I think the intent was to demonstrate a level of formality and ritual, but it didn't feel particularly well executed. It maybe would have worked a bit better if we had had more time with Maia before he was taken to the main court.
The characters also feel immensely underdeveloped. Maia is the narrative focus, and unfortunately this means that none of the other characters get much time to develop. The antagonist stay antagonistic for exactly the reasons you expect them to. They feel very one-dimensional and boring.
There are several plot points that feel, at best, dissappointing in the way they are treated. Spoilers for discussion of the plot, discussion of suicide, and discussion of homophobia.
The big "twist" of the novel is also dissappointing in that the first time it happens it's shocking. Unexpected! Exciting! And then it happens again. And then it happens *a third time*. And it doesn't feel shocking or unexpected or exciting anymore. It just feels like a waiting game to see if we get to make it to the end of the book before the another antagonist tries for another round of the same plot point.
In all, I had friends who were excited about the book, loved the characters, and loved the plot, but for me there were just too many small issues that piled up and never let me enjoy it. I was dissappoined in the book and I was dissappointed in not being able to join my peers in enjoying it.
Moderate: Suicide and Xenophobia
Minor: Homophobia and Sexual harassment
Ritual suicidemarsh_mall0w'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
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Xenophobia
Minor: Homophobia
mal_eficent'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
What plot there is isn't hugely complicated or action filled–even when it gets fully into the politics–but it is thorough look. Every aspect of life as an Emperor is considered and addressed, and Maia is the perspective we learn everything about this world through. The world building is excellently paced and explained. Information is there precisely when the story needs it without overwhelming the narrative.
Except the information at the beginning of the book. There's a couple of pages explaining the naming systems, court addresses, and pronunciation (presented as an in world travel guide). Since I started with the audiobook I didn't realise it was there, and was a little confused for the earlier part of the narrative as it introduced a ton of characters with 'the same name' but never explained why. Turns out I was confusing the 'Sir and Madam' of this world for names. So, bear in mind if you're starting audio first you'll be missing some information - and about five pages of chapter 30, which are just missing. The pay off is that the narrator, Kyle McCarley, is fantastic. His accent and cadence suits the formal setting of the world immeasurably, and the voices he gives each character makes them come alive off the page. Even Maia's speaking voice or direct thoughts sound slightly different to plain narration.
If you enjoy works like Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy, Tamora Pierce's Tortall books, Chris Bunch's Dragon Master series, or even Game of Thrones (though this is much 'simpler'), then I'd recommend Goblin Emperor 100%.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, and Grief
Moderate: Sexism, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Classism
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: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child death, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, and Classism
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: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Homophobia, Terminal illness, Blood, and Alcohol
thereadinghammock's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The book is super slow in the first half and only really picks up after chapter 18, but even then, that level of set up isn't for everyone. It's a slog and while Maia and the folks he's close with are good characters, it did still feel like a struggle to make it to the end of this one.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Grief and Car accident
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs