A review by third_bookworm
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

I have read this book before but it is so much better than I remember. Either it had a much more substantial effect on my taste in fiction than I realized or it's just catnip for my tastes in particular. Court politics from the perspective of a protagonist who is a genuinely kind, endearing, optimistic person; vaguely fantasy steampunk ish setting; background implications of complex cultural significance of tea; detailed descriptions of architecture and clothing; significant plot points about infrastructure and engineering; detailed and nuanced takes on arranged marriages... The list goes on. Very much looking forward to rereading again in the future.