third_bookworm 's review for:

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

5.0

emotional hopeful slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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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.