The Goblin Emperor
I probably could give this book three stars; I wavered a bit. The book was reasonably enjoyable overall, I suppose, but it was also wooden, stiff, and entirely expected. I honestly don't even remember if I finished the last chapter or not, if that says anything. The morals that are jam-packed into the otherwise simplistic plot are completely admirable, but the execution feels contrived and hackneyed; for the most part, they induce eye-rolling annoyance ("Oh god, here's the part where he champions the common people...") rather than empathy. Readable, but only if you find it in your hand in an otherwise choiceless situation. Ethically admirable but poorly executed. I think I'll stick with two stars.