Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

21 reviews

xvicesx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• 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

This was a recommendation from Mr B's Reading Spa, which came my way by the wonderful Rhian. It was an altogether deeply enjoyable book in ways that were quite surprising. Maia was an interesting lead character, with a whole load of baggage and a mind set on not letting it guide his way as an Emperor. It made him deeply appealing, and much relatable, in the way that any of us would feel about coming into a position of great power and being unwilling to abuse it. 

I enjoyed Maia's commitment to being a good Emperor, his willingness to admit his faults and his clever way with people. While he obviously comes into the story as an unexperienced ruler, he has all the hallmarks of a good ruler, and his difficult journey and embarrassments make it all the more relatable. Some very quotable scenes are owed entirely to his diamond of a fiancée, who deserves much credit for her brilliant turns of phrase!

Highly recommended.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Self harm

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Bullying, Sexism, and Xenophobia

Minor: Miscarriage, Death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, and Toxic relationship

littki's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Confinement, Death of parent, Murder, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Violence, and Suicide

Minor: Chronic illness, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders

sashahc's review

emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

One of the other things I did last week was re-read all of Katherine Addison's #book s in the Goblin Emperor world (Together called "The Chronicles of Osreth").  These are "Goblin Emperor," "Witness for the Dead," and "The Grief of Stones."  I really really really like these books.  They are more vibe than plot, but the main characters are so engaging and have such rich inner lives, and the world building is fantastic.  The first centers an unlikely young emperor who is dropped head first into court politics.  The second and third are intertwined murder mysteries solved by a queer depressed cleric who can hear the dead.  It was great to read them one after another because the lead right into each other.  Highly rec'd.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death of parent

pearrots's review

challenging hopeful reflective medium-paced

• 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Child abuse, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Abandonment

kers_tin's review against another edition

funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-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? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Bullying, Child abuse, Abandonment, and Death of parent

birdofalltrades's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

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

clarabooksit's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Sexism, Abandonment, Grief, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Violence, Alcoholism, Death, and Murder

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

bergha1998's review

challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad tense 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

5.0

Maia is woken up unexpectedly with the news that his father the emperor as well as his half-brothers are all dead. Given that news he realizes he is the next emperor, even though he has had no training & has only visited the court once. 

Political Fantasy, Heartwarming, Incredible Character Development 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Violence, Bullying, Grief, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

lex_y's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, and Bullying

Minor: Xenophobia

michmoo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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

Love my boy Maya - he deserves all of the hugs and blankets. 

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.

Also, my goodness, just let him be friends with his guards! Please for the love of god, etiquette be damned, my child is lonely!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Classism, Violence, Murder, Death of parent, Child abuse, Abandonment, and Death

Minor: Racism, War, Misogyny, and Alcohol