Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

85 reviews

paper_elytra's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The conclusion of the Scholomance series. Compelling and powerful, El's furious railing against the inequalities of society and power is tempered with understanding and a willingness to take uncomfortable action. While moments of humour shine through, this installment has an emotional depth and complexity that shows how much the characters have grown. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Torture

Moderate: Violence, Death, and Confinement

Minor: Sexual content

the_crooked_neighbor's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A great finale to a great series. I loved the book. It was a satisfying conclusion that matched the tone of the series. I could write a million words on how amazing this was without fully getting it across. Suffice it to say this is a series I will happily revisit and find new things each time. Mind the trigger warnings but I highly recommend it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Death, Gore, Emotional abuse, Murder, Torture, and Violence

kimmag92's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I can't decide how I feel about The Golden Enclaves.  On one hand I really enjoyed The Scholomance series overall especially the first two books but Enclaves fell a bit short for me.  I found much of the plot happened quite quickly in the last 200ish pages and suddenly wrapped up.  I didn't find the ending all that satisficing but I think it fit the story and the world Novik built.

One thing I would have liked to see from Enclaves and from the trilogy overall was a deeper exploration on the themes of class, privilege, and power that runs throughout the books but only come to the forefront of the story sporadically. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Vomit, War, and Violence

brookesinfinitebooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore and Child death

Minor: Violence

imds's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death of parent, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Body horror, Classism, Grief, Child death, Death, Kidnapping, and Murder

krisalexcole's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.75

The previous two books had "what the fuck" endings in a good way. This one had a "what the fuck" ending in a bad way.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Grief, Child death, Cursing, Kidnapping, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

coffeebot18's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A stunning conclusion - to a brilliant trilogy - that

makes sense of the events of the first two novels and clarifies El’s purpose

. Novik’s magical world is desperately dark, but protagonist El and her people are tenacious in their pursuit of a glimmering, golden hope for a better future.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Body horror, and Violence

Minor: Cursing, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Murder

lolamosk's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Violence, Death, Torture, and Murder

keen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Blood, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Confinement

kingcrookback's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

A fitting/satisfying end, and I genuinely mean that as a high compliment. I was a bit apprehensive after reading The Last Graduate because of the pacing issues, but I suppose "second book slump" is kind of a common problem for many trilogies. I liked how the question of who/what has been attacking and destroying enclaves was answered, both how it tied into the major themes of the series (especially the metaphor for class and privilege) and how the reveal resounds back through the previous books. I don't plan on rereading the series, especially so soon, but I can imagine it would be a satisfying experience. Logically, stylistically, and thematically, it's a consistent series. El continues to have a deep-rooted love for humanity; El continues to have to make difficult decisions; El continues to have empathy for other people (for the most part), even if she deeply begrudges them that empathy. I appreciate Novik for constructing a prickly character with such a heart.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Torture, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and War

Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content