Reviews

Los enclaves dorados by Naomi Novik

baileybailz's review against another edition

3.75

Alright Naomi. You had me with the first two, then you kinda lost me here; I came around by the end but I’ve left this series feeling tired rather than triumphant. Honestly I feel like this trilogy could have been a really tight duology. 

You have the first two books each covering an entire year, and the third one covering what, like a few weeks? The pacing was just kind of off for me, bordering on chaotic. I felt as bewildered as a new Scholomance graduate trying to adjust back to the real world (which maybe was on purpose?)

There was simultaneously too much lore and not enough lore, repeating some concepts over and over (and over) while other concepts are only touched on briefly.

Orion’s mom Ophelia

ends up being more or less the big bad (besides the general big bad of wizard capitalism), but we get like, two scenes with them and a letter. I still barely understand their motivations and master plan.

Ironically, Orion remains pretty one-dimensional and ends up being more of a means for El to self-actualize than anything. Hmm… (he’s still babygirl tho)

The last thing I’ll say: the twist about the

maw-mouths

was pretty interesting, except I never found them as scary as I was supposed to. Like I was told—not shown—over and over—to be scared of them, but I never really felt it, so it didn’t have as much gravity for me. 

tigerlillymelody's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Why is it over?!  :(((((((

linzthebookworm's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.0

I enjoyed parts of the book, but I couldn't stay interested in it. It lacked a lot of the danger and excitement of the first two books.

booksbydann's review against another edition

2.5

2.5⭐️

Me gusta todo lo que vemos sobre los enclaves, como se forman, el costo que tienen y la formación de los enclaves dorados. Me gustó el viaje que hace El de enclave a enclave, creo que es lo más entretenido del libro. Fuera de eso difícilmente reconoci a la Galadriel que tanto me gustó en el primer y segundo libro. Se comporta con una idiota durante el 80% del libro y dado que éste estaba narrado por ella no había ningún lugar para escapar cuando se ponía en plan insoportable. 

Also, el final lo sentí muy pelicula Disney, medio a destono a lo que venía siendo esta trilogía.

joanie98's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

2.5

kitvaria_sarene's review against another edition

4.0

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik is hard for me to rate.

I did enjoy it, but I didn't love it nearly as much as I did the two previous books.

I really enjoyed the darker bits, the way no one came out of the Scholomance unscarred. However El and her reactions to the enclaves felt a bit out of character.

The plot was also a bit disjointed, or at least felt that way to me. We jump around from place to place, and I didn't feel like there was as much resolution as I'd have liked plot wise.

Some things just felt a bit too convenient as well, so while I enjoyed the characters and the world, it was more the story itself that didn't work as well for me.

All in all a quick read, not bad at all, just not up to my expectations. 

gsyed1120's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

2.0

richard_morrow's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

4.0

Starting the moment The Last Graduate ended and El is desperate to do whatever she can to reach Orion but after 4 years she is finally home but her homecoming is bittersweet with the realisation of what she may have lost. Where this novel stands out to its two predecessors is the wide world, outside of the scholomance, is completely opened up and explored- it could be the start of a new series of novels based in this universe.

A brilliant ending to a wonderful trilogy but it feels like the door isn’t fully closed. 

sophtaz's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? No

4.0

1000000tbr's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0