9.66k reviews for:

The Golden Enclaves

Naomi Novik

4.14 AVERAGE


The scene when El realises how enclaves are build... I got nauseous while reading and it still terrifies me to my very core (good!)
I also enjoyed the casual queer rep but the rest was pretty slow and sometimes even dragging... oh well.
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This one is better, by virtue of being outside the Scholomance, so the descriptions are much better and more interesting. I do hate Novik’s habit of getting to a very exciting part and then spending the next 6 pages with El’s inner realizations and monologue. They’re just very misplaced as is.

Perfect ending. Everything made sense and clicked into place. That feeling when you put down a book like totally satisfied.
adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
fast-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
adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense fast-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

3.5? The book is so long, but some parts felt a little rushed — ending felt a little too neatly tied. Also was not fond of the threesome(?) / cheating (but not really?) plotlines, felt a little thrown in there and could’ve worked if the emotional parts were further explored.
adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring slow-paced
adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced