The Goblin Emperor

[watervole]

 I've read this twice now, and it's very likely I'll read it again.  I also suspect it may hit five stars on the third read.

 

It's a complex book and the names and titles take a lot of getting used to - but, they do contribute to the story and its politics.

 

It's a story of a young man, brought up in virtual isolation, pitched unexpectedly into becoming Emperor when his father and all his older brothers die in an airship accident.  Landing in the middle of complex court life, competing political factions, and surrounded by strangers, he struggles to understand what is going on, and learn how he can survive.

 

It has many characters, but they are well-drawn and all have their own motivations and loyalties.