![](https://image.librarything.com/pics/fugue21/magnifier-left.png)
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0593158350.01._SX180_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg)
Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
Loading... The Golden Enclavesby Naomi Novik
![]() No current Talk conversations about this book. ![]() ![]() I must admit, I usually find books over 300 pages to be a bit daunting, often feeling like a slow march to the finish. There were definitely moments in this 400+ page book when I needed to take a break and gather my focus, but every time, the story's compelling nature eventually drew me back in. I HAD to find out what happened! The narrative was peppered with fast-paced, thrilling, and deeply emotional scenes that made the journey worthwhile. Particularly satisfying were the revelations that tied up the mysteries introduced in the first book, offering a sense of closure that was immensely gratifying. By the end, I found myself shedding a few tears during an especially poignant moment. The book, overall, was enchanting. El, the protagonist, is a richly complex character who initially challenged my empathy but ultimately won my heart in the end. A good ending to the series that I couldn’t put down. I’m glad I just found this series this year and so didn’t have to wait to finish it. This book picks up just where the previous one ended and wrapped up everything nicely. I love to see a new series following El in the rest of her life. It make a good television series. This isn't your childhood Harry Potter. "I didn’t want to get up and go on in the world, agreeing that it was in any way acceptable for the world to keep going itself." This is not a comfortable read. A friend noted that I had shown a lot of enthusiasm for this series, and it's true, I have. Novik blends intense emotion with unremitting danger, and the combination makes for an intoxicating, immersive read. Book three in the series is no different. "But they’d loved Orion only in exactly the same way they’d hated me. Neither one of us were ever people to them. He just made himself useful, and I refused to." But not always a fun one, as El is processing a lot of difficult emotions, and of the trilogy, this one will cut the deepest. Also of the three, this one felt like it had the most filler material. My thoughts on this are subject to change, as I discuss further with my buddies and as I go through a second, more leisurely read. From here on out, there will be general/thematic spoilers. You have been warned. I'll be honest--big surprise, I know--there's a lot of filler here. I can't even tell you what all of it is about, but much is about pocket dimensions. Some of it is how the Scholomance is hidden. Another chunk is El running her personal gerbil wheel of emotions and events relating to Orion. I think the repetitiveness around that is part of what provides the emotional intensity and frustration of the book. El's always been single-minded--they all have, to survive Scholomance--so although this should probably be no surprise to the reader, it does make for a more jarring experience witnessing her being unable and unwilling to fit into the outside world. On the positive side, Novik has done something amazing, and woven LeGuin's Omelas story into her book. I'm still a little stunned at how well it was accomplished. It's also--and this is really fascinating--one of the most female centric books I've read in a long time, notwithstanding Orion's role (which still manages to be more thoughtful than the gender-traditional [b:Senlin Ascends|35271523|Senlin Ascends (The Books of Babel, #1)|Josiah Bancroft|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1502224161l/35271523._SX50_.jpg|24467682]). Male characters are quite adjacent. Really quite impressive. On the meta level, Novik is kick-ass. No snark here. I don't want to spoil anything, but she has beautifully looped in the themes we have been reading all along in unexpected but completely story-congruent ways. It makes me a little crazy when authors think they are being clever by pulling in an element that hasn't been hinted at or developed within the story. That is not the case here. It's the reading equivalent of looking at the picture of the young woman and suddenly seeing a wrinkled old one with a stole. It's brilliant and wrenching. Without becoming overly preachy, although I felt that it was repetitive enough to venture into 'filler,' the themes of who we become and choices, and choices we make as a community and survival come to fruition here. This is where the Omelas connection comes in, and this is where people note things like climate change and fossil fuels. Truly remarkable. Thankfully, this time there's no cliffhanger ending. Four golden stars. thanks to Jennifer, Nataliya, Samuel for the buddy read! And Emily and Emma for all the discussion!
To start things off, the story in "The Golden Enclaves" was simply enchanting. Naomi Novik built a deep and thorough world that was so easy to get lost in. The plot was full of twists and turns that made it impossible to stop listening. The characters were developed so well, and were so relatable. El, the protagonist, is a complex character who is tough and determined..... Belongs to SeriesScholomance (3) Is contained inAwardsNotable Lists
Saving the world is a test no school of magic can prepare you for in the triumphant conclusion to the New York Times bestselling trilogy that began with A Deadly Education and The Last Graduate. The one thing you never talk about while you're in the Scholomance is what you'll do when you get out. Not even the richest enclaver would tempt fate that way. But it's all we dream about: the hideously slim chance we'll survive to make it out the gates and improbably find ourselves with a life ahead of us, a life outside the Scholomance halls. And now the impossible dream has come true. I'm out, we're all out--and I didn't even have to turn into a monstrous dark witch to make it happen. So much for my great-grandmother's prophecy of doom and destruction. I didn't kill enclavers, I saved them. Me and Orion and our allies. Our graduation plan worked to perfection: We saved everyone and made the world safe for all wizards and brought peace and harmony to all the enclaves everywhere. Ha, only joking! Actually, it's gone all wrong. Someone else has picked up the project of destroying enclaves in my stead, and probably everyone we saved is about to get killed in the brewing enclave war. And the first thing I've got to do now, having miraculously gotten out of the Scholomance, is turn straight around and find a way back inches. No library descriptions found. |
Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers
![]() GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.6Literature American literature in English American fiction in English 2000-LC ClassificationRatingAverage:![]()
|