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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one went up and down for me a bit. I really like Bacigalupi's writing style and his recent delving into fantasy realms and you can't fault him for thoroughness of world building. The start of the book felt deceptively simple, and it took me a while to warm up to the characters, and sometime it felt like the world-building was the whole point rather than any narrative. That said, the complexity of the book builds up as Davico grows up, and I enjoy the symmetry of that. That said, the beginning and the end sort of feel like two totally different books the tone shifts so dramatically, and definitely check the trigger warnings.
I finished the book a little conflicted, but interested to see where it goes, and I'll probably pick up the sequel once it's available. If you like an intricate high fantasy story that can go pretty dark, this one is probably for you. And if you are the type of person to check "Does the dog die" before watching a movie,don't worry. She is okay but I spent the whole second half of the book worrying about her .
I finished the book a little conflicted, but interested to see where it goes, and I'll probably pick up the sequel once it's available. If you like an intricate high fantasy story that can go pretty dark, this one is probably for you. And if you are the type of person to check "Does the dog die" before watching a movie,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Vomit, Grief, War
Navola masterfully blends intricate world-building with a gripping narrative, immersing readers in an Italy-esque city-state brimming with power struggles and hidden dangers. The setting, reminiscent of Renaissance Italy, adds authenticity and creates a world that is both familiar and unique.
The story’s gradual pacing allows for deep immersion into the world of Navola. This slow build mirrors Davico's journey, drawing readers into the intricacies of political machinations and personal revelations. As the plot accelerates, both Davico and the reader are plunged into a whirlwind of intrigue, betrayal, and suspense.
The cast of characters is well-developed, each operating with their own hidden motivations and agendas. The dynamics of power, family loyalty, and ambition are explored with nuance, adding richness to the narrative.
Navola is a remarkable literary fantasy, offering a captivating blend of world-building, character development, and plot complexity. It is deeply engaging and thought-provoking, making it a must read.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
The story’s gradual pacing allows for deep immersion into the world of Navola. This slow build mirrors Davico's journey, drawing readers into the intricacies of political machinations and personal revelations. As the plot accelerates, both Davico and the reader are plunged into a whirlwind of intrigue, betrayal, and suspense.
The cast of characters is well-developed, each operating with their own hidden motivations and agendas. The dynamics of power, family loyalty, and ambition are explored with nuance, adding richness to the narrative.
Navola is a remarkable literary fantasy, offering a captivating blend of world-building, character development, and plot complexity. It is deeply engaging and thought-provoking, making it a must read.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Bacigalupi has always been a fine worldbuilder and it's a joy to see him set those skills free in a longer-form series. Plotwise, there are obvious parallels to The Name of the Wind and The Count of Monte Cristo, so he's not breaking new ground. On the other hand, his Italianate fantasy world is terribly fun and twisty and lush. The sensory details are A+. There's also a deep and rich influence of Italian history, classical philosophy, Machiavellian politics, and a Dante's Inferno-esque joy in filth, violence, and fart jokes. It also reminds me a bit of Candide, in that the hero is dumb as rocks, but so that the book can make points, not because the author is dumb as rocks. It's a little like reading Robert Greene's 48 Laws of Power, but with a dragon eye and some pretty good twists.
dark
medium-paced
If you are a fan of Bacigalupi's other books, I think you will enjoy this. Sounds like there will be a follow up book.
I just reviewed Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi. #Navola #NetGalley
I just reviewed Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi. #Navola #NetGalley
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Incredibly slow start with too much time spent in the childhood of Davico. Liked the political machinations, really didn’t like some things that happened toward the end.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Let me just preface this by saying, I thought this was a standalone novel, turns out it’s the first of a planned series!
It’s about the first family of Navola, the Regulai, wealthy and powerful and ruthless.
The parallels to the Medicis of Florence is quite clear in that both families are in banking, and both are extremely powerful. The old remnants of the language used and the myths and historical figures mentioned clearly point to Rome.
The heir to this wealth is Davico di Regulai, and much is expected of him.
He must excel at accounting, politics, sword fighting, and protecting the family, just like his father, but what Davico lacks in academic knowledge he makes up in empathy and other sensibilities.
In his vast art collection Devonaci di Regulai has a dragons eye, and his son Davico is especially attuned to it.
This book was not fast paced, but I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
Beautifully written, shocking in bluntness sometimes. The dialogue was exactly what I would expect to hear from real life enemies trying to goad and throw threats.
I loved the twists. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
It’s about the first family of Navola, the Regulai, wealthy and powerful and ruthless.
The parallels to the Medicis of Florence is quite clear in that both families are in banking, and both are extremely powerful. The old remnants of the language used and the myths and historical figures mentioned clearly point to Rome.
The heir to this wealth is Davico di Regulai, and much is expected of him.
He must excel at accounting, politics, sword fighting, and protecting the family, just like his father, but what Davico lacks in academic knowledge he makes up in empathy and other sensibilities.
In his vast art collection Devonaci di Regulai has a dragons eye, and his son Davico is especially attuned to it.
This book was not fast paced, but I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
Beautifully written, shocking in bluntness sometimes. The dialogue was exactly what I would expect to hear from real life enemies trying to goad and throw threats.
I loved the twists. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
When I see that there is a new fantasy out by an Italian author that is based on the history of Florence and the Medici family, you bet I’m going to read it! I decided to tackle Navola as an audiobook, all 20 hours of it, and I must commend the narrator who, though American, did a good job with the Italian-style pronunciations. I will tell you upfront that I have mixed feelings about this book having completed it, and I am conflicted about whether or not I would recommend it because there are many great elements and then a few things that I know will discourage particular readers. So I’m afraid you’ll have to go through the full (spoiler free) review and see if what I talk about sounds appealing.
First of all, Bacigalupi’s writing is lush. People use that term to describe prose often, and I don’t always think it makes sense, but in this case I find it very fitting. From the start he weaves an intricate story and fills the space with the type of detail that make it impossible not to imagine that this world might truly exist, somewhere. But crucially, it does not feel overwhelming. It’s like walking into a room full of displays, ornaments, and furnishings and seeing that together they make a splendid picture, and that if you wanted you could then walk around and observe it’s details more carefully. In this respect, and in the way the characters and politics are laid out, I was reminded a lot of Robin Hobb’s writing. Navola is a twisty city, built on trade and control, holding its own against stronger nations through its wealth, and the Regulai family sits at the centre of that web.
Out of necessity, the pace of this book is slow. The politics and the setting need to be built up enough that the consequences of them resonate, and I think this is done very cleverly. We meet Davico di Regulai as a boy, and learn to navigate his world alongside him. He is the sole heir to an empire he does not want, and he loathes the way his city runs on the art of faccioscuro, or deception. We see the world through his eyes, as he narrates in first person, though from the start we know that he is looking back on his formative years from a distance and there are frequent allusions to what would later happen. Again, this put me in mind of Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy where Fitz’s tale is framed as his own musings as a grown man. For the most part, I enjoyed lingering in Davico’s childhood, though there was at times a little too much repetition, but I could see that through many seemingly-inconsequential scenes and the highlighting of various characters, that the pieces were being laid out for the action.
When the action did come, it was brutal and did not really stop. Maybe because I was listening instead of reading, there was no way for me to skim the gorier parts of the book, so it really stuck with me and turned my experience sour at the very end. I had no illusions that I was in a brutal world when reading Navola, but I think the way it was all grouped together at the end was a bit much for me, and made it feel as if I had toiled through it all for nothing. Those were my thoughts at the time, but it has been quite a few months since I finished it, and seeing it from some distance it does feel as if the finale was inevitable in some ways, and does leave things open for the story to continue, though I have not seen anything anywhere about this being a series.
I think my lingering feelings about this book are mostly positive, especially given the feat of storytelling and worldbuilding that it is. For fans of Robin Hobb, George R.R. Martin, and RJ Barker I would definitely recommend it. For those who get a bit bogged down by the detail in epic fantasy and want to be taken for a ride, this might not be for you. Overall, I am glad I read it and would probably dive straight in if a sequel were to come out.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes