emvdw's Reviews (341)

A bit cheesy, a bit gimmicky, but overall a fun read. The audiobook is such fun (gotta love an full-cast audiobook). Not a book I'll be thinking about for a long time, but definitely one I'd recommend if you need a diverting, breezy read.

I really liked this one! I often see it recommended as cosy fantasy, but I don't feel it quite fits that category. But it is a very nice read nonetheless! The world-building is incredibly rich and I was a bit sad that we only get to see a very small corner of the Elvenlands (and beyond).

The main character does get off a bit too easy, he is suspiciously good at being an emperor and lucks out with the choice of his personal secretary

who was basically the first person he met from court, the only one he knew and then promoted, even though he used to be in the employ of his enemy at court, the Lord Chancellor

  So sometimes, things go a bit too easy, but overall a lovely read.

Initially I was quite happy to learn that this one is standalone (my TBR is long enough already!) now I wish there was more of Maia's story!

And fair warning to those that don't like that kind of thing: this book is one of the worst offenders in the Fantasy Name Syllable Soup that I've read in recent memory!

Not what I'm looking for right now

Very interesting. Lot's of food for thought. 

This is really, really good. 

It's pretty funny, which I had expected. I had quite a few out-loud chuckles with during the reading. 

Initially, there feels like a lot of overlap with the TV-series * The Good Place*, which again was not unexpected but I didn't feel like this was going to be such an exceptional read. 

But in the end, what is covered here goes above and beyond. I particularly enjoyed the discussion of how morality/ethical behaviour intersects with privilege. As a parent, the coda made me cry a little. 

As for the audiobook: excellently narrated with cameo's from *The Good Place*'s cast. The footnotes were fantastically handeled.