Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a different Paulo Bacigalupi, this is not eco-dystopia.
I appreciate his willingness to take a chance and break into new territory.
This is low magic historical fantasy about an Italian city-state, with its dirty politics.
But while the scheming, plotting and murder are what drive the plot, it is a character driven novel. It is told in first person by Davico, the young heir to a banking family's fortune, and features his talented step sister, a hostage from a fallen noble family that plotted against the bank.
The world building is rich, with a vast trove of myths and legends that inform the characters world view.
Davico is surrounded by a group of his father's best officers that try to teach him how to play the deadly game of politics. But he would rather spend time with the doctor, learning about nature and plants. This is perhaps where Bachigalupi's ecological leanings shile through, as Davico is closer to nature and the mythic than to capitalism and power politics.
This is ultimately a tragedy, Davico is writing a memoir from a dark and harsh place. But the way we get there and the role of the dragon's eye in it where not what I expected.
Narrated by Marc Vietor, the audiobook is excellent and the Italian names and words still ring in my ears.
Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but I see some parallels to Paul Atreides. There are no Fremen, there is no Spice, but it can be interpreted as the story of a Paul who rejected the call to power.
Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but I see some parallels to Paul Atreides. There are no Fremen, there is no Spice, but it can be interpreted as the story of a Paul who rejected the call to power.
If you're into historical fiction, political intrigue, and extensive world building, Navola might possibly be for you. It is not fantasy in any meaningful sense, despite the prominence of the dragon eye on the cover and in the blurb. Said dragon eye plays a role in only 3 moments of the book, and isn't critical to the narrative in any of them. It's a stretch to even call Navola a novel -- there's no coherent narrative arc to speak of.
Literally nothing interesting happens in the entire first half, which consists of a slice-of-life style introduction to the world and the characters. I will say, I do believe it achieves its intent of introducing a very specific world and a very specific character, but the payoff, if you can call it that, doesn't come until the very last page. At least the second half is consistently exciting.
I was wholly unimpressed with the role of women and gender in Navola, both within the society in general and for the few women characters in particular. Women exist solely to serve the needs of men, both in the actual, primarily sexual, needs of the characters, and in the narrative needs of the plot.
Some reviewers say that the ending is left open for a sequel, and I agree that Navola feels lacking as a standalone, but I believe they have entirely missed the point of Navola. The story of Davico is done -- that is the point. If I'm wrong and it’s not the point, then there is no point.
Literally nothing interesting happens in the entire first half, which consists of a slice-of-life style introduction to the world and the characters. I will say, I do believe it achieves its intent of introducing a very specific world and a very specific character, but the payoff, if you can call it that, doesn't come until the very last page. At least the second half is consistently exciting.
I was wholly unimpressed with the role of women and gender in Navola, both within the society in general and for the few women characters in particular. Women exist solely to serve the needs of men, both in the actual, primarily sexual, needs of the characters, and in the narrative needs of the plot.
Some reviewers say that the ending is left open for a sequel, and I agree that Navola feels lacking as a standalone, but I believe they have entirely missed the point of Navola. The story of Davico is done -- that is the point. If I'm wrong and it’s not the point, then there is no point.
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I knew by the end of the first page this would be a 5 star read.
So, I’ve found my new favorite book of 2024. I’ve always enjoyed political intrigue, deeply personal stakes, and secondary Machiavellian characters. In Navola, Paolo Bacigalupi brings goods to the table!
The story follows Davico di Regulai, the reluctant heir to a powerful banking family in the city of Navola. Unlike his ruthless father, Devonaci, who controls the city from the shadows, Davico dreams of a simpler life, one filled with honesty, connection to nature, and kindness. Power and manipulation don’t appeal to him, but alas, he has little choice since his life is just a piece of the giant, ambitious puzzle played by his father.
Some reviewers complain about following the story through the POV of the least interesting character, but I disagree. I think Davico’s goodness and naivete make characters like Devonaci, Lady Furia, and Stilettotore even more fascinating and mysterious. I mean, think of Lord Vetinari in Discworld novels - he’s so fascinating because we witness his machinations mostly through the eyes of lesser minds and this trick emphasises his cunning and ingenuity.
Davico feels inadequate and trapped in a world that perceives kindness as a weakness to exploit and use against you. But I love coming-of-age arcs, and Bacigalupi is shockingly good at writing them. A word of caution, though—he’s also extremely good and ruthless at destroying kind characters. Davico’s foster sister, Celia, plays a crucial role in his life as his closest friend and potential love interest. The dark machinations of his father and his enemies make everything much harder for them and lay the groundwork for shocking twists and turns that left me staring blankly at the pages, muttering WTF.
There’s a fantasy element too—the dragon’s eye kept by Devonaci plays a pivotal role in Davico’s fate. But why on earth would I spoil it for you? Anyway, the relic, a remnant of a long-lost age, suggests the lingering presence of magic in a world increasingly dominated by human ambition and greed. And it’s not looking kindly at the world or its inhabitants.
Navola is a brilliant book. It takes the classic coming-of-age story, sets it in a fascinating Renaissance Italy inspired world and makes it a part of a brutal power play and political intrigue. It plays with coming-of-age storyline beats but twists them significantly. Things you’re sure will happen, won’t happen. Things you’re sure won’t happen, will happen.
Bacigalupi’s world-building is excellent—Navola comes alive through its detailed landscapes, complex societal structures and interactions, and the language filled with faux-Italian / italiante words. The di Regulai family’s influence over the city is immense, and Bacigalupi captures the tension between power-hungry factions and players. He also shows that sometimes calculated violence and unrelenting political maneuvering is the only way to maintain power.
I loved the prose and found it elegant and immersive. The novel’s pacing, while slower in its beginning, builds to a shocking twist that will change everything about the story. Anyway, the opening chapters consist of vignettes that shaped key moments in Davico’s coming-of-age arc. I found them incredibly effective at setting the tone and making readers lower their guard.
In short, Navola is brilliant and juggles heartfelt moments with outbursts of calculated violence and extreme bleakness. I loved every second of it. Some reviews mention it’s a standalone story and while it can be read as such despite an open ending, I choose to think it’s just the beginning of a brilliant epic series.
The story follows Davico di Regulai, the reluctant heir to a powerful banking family in the city of Navola. Unlike his ruthless father, Devonaci, who controls the city from the shadows, Davico dreams of a simpler life, one filled with honesty, connection to nature, and kindness. Power and manipulation don’t appeal to him, but alas, he has little choice since his life is just a piece of the giant, ambitious puzzle played by his father.
Some reviewers complain about following the story through the POV of the least interesting character, but I disagree. I think Davico’s goodness and naivete make characters like Devonaci, Lady Furia, and Stilettotore even more fascinating and mysterious. I mean, think of Lord Vetinari in Discworld novels - he’s so fascinating because we witness his machinations mostly through the eyes of lesser minds and this trick emphasises his cunning and ingenuity.
Davico feels inadequate and trapped in a world that perceives kindness as a weakness to exploit and use against you. But I love coming-of-age arcs, and Bacigalupi is shockingly good at writing them. A word of caution, though—he’s also extremely good and ruthless at destroying kind characters. Davico’s foster sister, Celia, plays a crucial role in his life as his closest friend and potential love interest. The dark machinations of his father and his enemies make everything much harder for them and lay the groundwork for shocking twists and turns that left me staring blankly at the pages, muttering WTF.
There’s a fantasy element too—the dragon’s eye kept by Devonaci plays a pivotal role in Davico’s fate. But why on earth would I spoil it for you? Anyway, the relic, a remnant of a long-lost age, suggests the lingering presence of magic in a world increasingly dominated by human ambition and greed. And it’s not looking kindly at the world or its inhabitants.
Navola is a brilliant book. It takes the classic coming-of-age story, sets it in a fascinating Renaissance Italy inspired world and makes it a part of a brutal power play and political intrigue. It plays with coming-of-age storyline beats but twists them significantly. Things you’re sure will happen, won’t happen. Things you’re sure won’t happen, will happen.
Bacigalupi’s world-building is excellent—Navola comes alive through its detailed landscapes, complex societal structures and interactions, and the language filled with faux-Italian / italiante words. The di Regulai family’s influence over the city is immense, and Bacigalupi captures the tension between power-hungry factions and players. He also shows that sometimes calculated violence and unrelenting political maneuvering is the only way to maintain power.
I loved the prose and found it elegant and immersive. The novel’s pacing, while slower in its beginning, builds to a shocking twist that will change everything about the story. Anyway, the opening chapters consist of vignettes that shaped key moments in Davico’s coming-of-age arc. I found them incredibly effective at setting the tone and making readers lower their guard.
In short, Navola is brilliant and juggles heartfelt moments with outbursts of calculated violence and extreme bleakness. I loved every second of it. Some reviews mention it’s a standalone story and while it can be read as such despite an open ending, I choose to think it’s just the beginning of a brilliant epic series.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Excrement
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oooooh! High highs and low lows. I really wasn't expecting to read a graphic scene of someone having their eyes stabbed out, but when are you ever expecting that?
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes