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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
3.5 This kept my interest despite being low-action, but I found I didn't get the pay off I wanted. I also had some problems with the books politics. Good if want "feel good" court intrigue.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
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
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Nope. Can't do it. From the very start, I didn't think this book would work for me, but there were so very many good reviews that I pressed on. And I still didn't like it, and thought it was boring. Then I read more in the discussion on the Sword and Laser book group, and saw people say that if you don't like the beginning, you won't like the rest because it gets even more slow. So at 80 pages in I'm going to cut my losses. This is just not my thing.
Maia was such a sweet main character. This book is interesting because the main storyline that is advertised on the back cover really takes place in the background, and Maia is never really taking any actions to further that plot line. Instead, other characters are doing work for him 'off page.' The Goblin Emperor follows Maia as he transitions into his new and unexpected position as Emperor, adjusting to the many intricacies of the elven/goblin political systems. It makes for really interesting reading (if you like court politics), and the pace never feels slow. But it wasn't the book I was expecting based on the description! Overall, I would say I'm pleasantly surprised given this difference :)
For a book that ends with some thinly veiled morals about how people should be treated as dynamic individuals, not merely their titles or positions, the vast majority of the characters in this book can be effectively described in just a few words. One can't expect much more of a book with so many characters, but Addison would have done well to limit the character soup for other reasons. Simply put, it's hard to keep track of all of them, especially while drowning in a see of strange names and titles (a glimpse at the back matter is highly recommended, I wish I'd known it existed before I got to the end, though the existence of a list of persons places things and gods is an ill-omen for a book).
Beyond that, the book doesn't really do much. It's nice enough as an examination of one young and unexpected emperor's first few months, but I was expecting something more exceptional, given the award buzz Certainly very little is made of the fact that, as the title says, the main character is a Goblin (well, half Goblin). As it is, the dramatic moments hardly carry much weight. What plot elements exist don't come together. I see people calling it a character driven story [which, caveat, character driven should not mean that a story lacks plots] but Maia drives nothing in the story, and I can't say that I want an indepth look into a character that is built to reflect modern ideas as a contrast to not very modern times, making him feel out of place.
Ultimately I was engaged and enjoyed the book, but I was not impressed.
Beyond that, the book doesn't really do much. It's nice enough as an examination of one young and unexpected emperor's first few months, but I was expecting something more exceptional, given the award buzz Certainly very little is made of the fact that, as the title says, the main character is a Goblin (well, half Goblin). As it is, the dramatic moments hardly carry much weight. What plot elements exist don't come together. I see people calling it a character driven story [which, caveat, character driven should not mean that a story lacks plots] but Maia drives nothing in the story, and I can't say that I want an indepth look into a character that is built to reflect modern ideas as a contrast to not very modern times, making him feel out of place.
Ultimately I was engaged and enjoyed the book, but I was not impressed.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes