The Goblin Emperor – Katherine Addison

It’s hard to review a book that rates five stars and hasn’t got much plot, because the enthusiastic rating is going to be based on the quality of the writing.

The book’s fantasy component is actually small. There are Elves and Goblins (Maia is half and half) and there is magic, but one could write those components out of story without changing it that much.

Rather, the book is very close to being cozy. As Emperor, Maia’s authority is very great - and very circumscribed. He is enmeshed in ceremony. He requires the cooperation of his bureaucracy. He must navigate the aristocracy and what is left of his family. It turns out that Maia is very good at this, by virtue of being decent and caring and willing to work.