Thara Celehar is a Witness for the Dead. Able to glean some information from those who have died, Celehar was essential in helping half-goblin emperor Maia discover the truth behind the deaths of his father and half-brothers. Now assigned to the city of Amalo, Celehar serves the people with his skills, attempting to keep a quiet life while navigating the religious hierarchy where he is an outsider. Yet it is Celehar's skills and decency that lead him out of the quiet and into a morass of treachery, murder, and injustice. No matter his own background with the imperial house, Celehar will stand with the commoners, and possibly find a light in the darkness. Multiple well-paced plotlines weave together in a delightful story, and Celehar's personal insights and issues bring a contemplative tone that further supports the work. VERDICT The follow-up to the acclaimed The Goblin Emperor brings back a favorite character and expands the elaborate world Addison has created. Fans of the first book--and new readers--will find this novel delightful and immersive--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

Addison returns to the land of Ethuveraz in this vivid stand-alone sequel to The Goblin Emperor. Thara Celehar, a Witness for the Dead who is capable of speaking to the deceased, leaves the Royal Court behind when he is appointed to serve the provincial city of Amalo. Though unable to escape politics entirely, Celehar enjoys that his position allows him to help the Amaleise people. But his quiet life is disrupted when he is summoned to witness for an elven opera singer, Arveneӓn Shelsin, after she is found dead in a canal in a dodgy part of the city. Thrust into a murder investigation, Celehar's search for answers leads him from the glamorous halls of the Vermilion Opera to the bustling streets of Cemchelarna, all while he tries to balance the increasing requests of other townspeople who seek his aid. Addison's steampunk-infused scene-setting and assemblage of characters from all walks of life combine to create a vibrant fantasy world. The story is driven more by character than plot, with Celehar's personal and professional relationships, and unwavering duty to his calling as a Witness, taking center stage. This is more spin-off than sequel, and returning fans and new readers alike will find it easy to be swept up in Celehar's story. (June.)

Addison's welcome return to the world of 2014's Locus Award-winner The Goblin Emperor reintroduces readers to Thara Celehar, the titular Witness for the Dead, in a new role in the city of Amalo far from the imperial court setting of the previous book. The story is an unusual blend of slice-of-life and murder mystery as Celehar, whose abilities as a Witness for the Dead allow him to commune with the recently deceased to learn how they died, goes about his daily business in Amalo while also investigating the murder of an opera singer. There are just enough links between the murder investigation and several subplots to prevent the book from seeming disjointed. The urban underbelly setting and mystery plot of this book give it a very different tone from the imperial court intrigue of its predecessor, but the simple pleasure of reading about a kind and quietly competent character who always aims to do the right thing will enchant fans of The Goblin Emperor and new readers alike.