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The Goblin Emperor

Katherine Addison

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Similar in premise + themes

These books are ranked using the premise + themes labels extracted for The Goblin Emperor. Books rank higher when they are close on every selected axis.

Premise labels used: unlikely heir, lost heir, accidental ruler, court politics, imperial succession, fish out of water, outsider at court, political intrigue, murder investigation, friendship quest, kind ruler

Themes labels used: kindness, compassion, justice, belonging, loneliness, grief, prejudice, racism, power and responsibility, leadership, maturity, identity, survival, trust, courtesy, marginalization, social class, gender roles, redemption, civility, ethical rule

This does not mean the books share the same plot, setting, quality, or difficulty. It means their premise + themes embeddings are close.

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Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick

David Wong, Jason Pargin · 2020 · Zoey Ashe

A newly inherited crime boss must clear her name after a corpse frames her during a chaotic Halloween in a futuristic city.

Why this is here

Premise labels: inherited empire · fish out of water · reluctant ruler · murder mystery · framed protagonist · criminal underworld · public harassment · power struggle · surveillance state

Themes labels: power and responsibility · wealth and morality · social commentary · misogyny · sexism · cyberbullying · surveillance · capitalism · class inequality · corruption · tribalism · conspiracy theories · public perception · mental health · social media · civil rights · racism · civil liberties · leadership · human condition

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1698

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Centaur Aisle

Piers Anthony · 1997 · Xanth

A teen regent and his friends cross from magic into Mundania to rescue missing rulers and find a way through the impossible.

Why this is here

Premise labels: missing ruler · rescue quest · temporary regency · magicless world · coming-of-age quest · romantic tension

Themes labels: responsibility · maturity · loyalty · justice · self-discovery · leadership · love · courage · never give up · gender roles

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1779

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Unconquerable Sun

Kate Elliott · 2020 · The Sun Chronicles

A young interstellar heir must outwit court rivals, war, and betrayal while living up to a legendary mother’s legacy.

Why this is here

Premise labels: succession struggle · court intrigue · dynastic politics · interstellar war · military conquest · political thriller · retelling · gender-swapped retelling · heroic heir · companions

Themes labels: succession · power · legitimacy · ambition · destiny · desire · approval · loyalty · betrayal · propaganda · identity · agency · political manipulation · war · class division · xenophobia · queerness · gender roles · racial politics · refugees

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1839

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A Game of Thrones #2

Daniel Abraham, George R.R. Martin · 2011 · A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel

A graphic-novel sequel where a sprawling fantasy court power struggle deepens as rivals, secrets, and loyalties collide.

Why this is here

Premise labels: political intrigue · court intrigue · dynastic conflict · power struggle · war for rule · revelation of treachery

Themes labels: power · treachery · betrayal · moral ambiguity · honor · violence · war · ambition · justice · identity · class status · outsiderhood · leadership · loyalty · political machination · human nature

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1889

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The Infinite

Lori M. Lee · 2015 · Gates of Thread and Stone

A time-bending heroine must navigate rebellion, a lost love, and hidden cities as her world expands beyond its walls.

Why this is here

Premise labels: chosen heir · lost powers · civil unrest · rebellion · diplomatic mission · hidden city · identity crisis · family conflict

Themes labels: identity · humanity · loyalty · guilt · power · morality · family · choice · leadership · trust · responsibility · coming of age

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1889

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Beyond the Empire

K.B. Wagers · 2017 · The Indranan War

A gunrunner-turned-empress fights a coup, hunts the mastermind behind her losses, and tries to save her empire.

Why this is here

Premise labels: reluctant empress · gunrunner heroine · throne recovery · coup aftermath · political intrigue · revenge quest · dynastic conflict · empire in crisis · found family · on the run

Themes labels: leadership · legacy · loyalty · revenge · duty · sacrifice · loss · grief · political power · justice · identity · family · war · equality · gender politics · self-doubt · trust · resistance

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1909

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Oath of Swords

David Weber · 2006 · War God

A reluctant, outcast warrior is chosen by a war god and dragged into a violent, political fantasy journey.

Why this is here

Premise labels: reluctant hero · chosen champion · divine recruitment · unlikely paladin · on the run · political hostage · racial prejudice · escape mission · protect the vulnerable · fantasy quest

Themes labels: racism · prejudice · religious conflict · good vs evil · moral courage · honor · duty · free will · friendship · personal responsibility · outsider status · justice · faith · social commentary · power and abuse

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1911

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Hope and Red

Kelley Skovron, Jon Skovron · 2016 · Empire of Storms

Two orphaned outsiders from opposite worlds grow into a warrior and a thief, then join forces against an empire.

Why this is here

Premise labels: orphan survival · revenge quest · thief protagonist · warrior protagonist · unlikely alliance · criminal underworld · pirate adventure · battle against empire · coming-of-age · shared purpose

Themes labels: revenge · survival · friendship · love · forgiveness · justice · gender equality · sexism · class divide · poverty · power · loyalty · identity · self-discovery · coming of age · moral ambiguity · violence · oppression · community · fate

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1919

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The Rainshadow Orphans

Naomi Ishiguro · 2026 · Rainshadow

In a corrupt island city, five young lives collide after a stolen dragon pearl sparks rebellion, magic, and survival.

Why this is here

Premise labels: found family · revenge quest · corruption · heist · resistance · political intrigue · survival

Themes labels: corruption · poverty · class inequality · immigration · belonging · survival · loyalty · family · social justice · power · morality · destiny · community resilience · oppression · resistance · identity · responsibility

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1960

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Navola

Paolo Bacigalupi · 2024

A reluctant heir in a Renaissance-inspired city-state must navigate family power, intrigue, and a strange dragon relic.

Why this is here

Premise labels: reluctant heir · merchant banking · power struggle · political intrigue · family empire · coming of age · dynastic succession · hidden power · inheritance crisis · rival families · court scheming · family legacy

Themes labels: power · ambition · inheritance · legacy · betrayal · deception · innocence lost · coming of age · duty · family obligation · moral compromise · wealth and influence · political corruption · survival · identity · free will · nature vs civilization · cost of power · gendered power · class power

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1963

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In the Shadow of Lightning

Brian McClellan · 2022 · Glass Immortals

A disgraced leader returns home to solve his mother’s murder as a magical resource runs out and war closes in.

Why this is here

Premise labels: murder mystery · political intrigue · resource depletion · family succession · outcast returns · war on the horizon · magic crisis · investigation

Themes labels: scarcity · power and responsibility · political corruption · loyalty · betrayal · family duty · identity · trauma · survival · social order · war · knowledge and secrecy · trust · leadership · resource dependence

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1971

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The Curse of Chalion

Lois McMaster Bujold · 2002 · World of the Five Gods (Publication)

A battered ex-soldier returns home, only to be pulled into court intrigue, divine schemes, and a kingdom’s curse.

Why this is here

Premise labels: broken hero · court intrigue · royal protection · curse reversal · political struggle · religious conflict · second chance · redemption arc · return home

Themes labels: loyalty · duty · honor · free will · fate · divine will · redemption · healing · trauma recovery · sacrifice · kindness · courtesy · political power · religion and politics · human agency · belonging · goodness under pressure · curse and blessing

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1983

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