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A review by theravenkingx
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
2.5
The only thing that is spinning is my head, and it's definitely not silver.
I I had high hopes for this book, recommended by one of my most trustworthy Booktubers, but unfortunately, it didn't work out for me.
It might be controversial, but I disliked Naomi Novik's writing style. The characters felt one-dimensional. The narrative switches between four different POVs without any warning, sometimes even within the same chapter, which was disorienting and confusing. Each character's voice sounded the same, making it difficult to navigate the story. I often found myself reading a paragraph or two before realizing whose perspective I was following.
The concept was intriguing, but the execution fell short. The world-building felt inconsistent, with new elements conveniently appearing to aid the protagonists. For instance, the main girl suddenly being able to spin silver into gold and another main girl teleporting from one place to another. We never learn how this magic works, where it comes from, why the silver from the Staryk world is different, where the fire monster comes from, why it wants to feed on people, or why they can't break their oaths. It would have been so much better if the author had established some rules to the madness instead of brewing solutions out of nowhere.
There were many interesting concepts, but none were properly developed or explored. While I understand the need for some suspension of disbelief in fantasy, leaving so much to the reader's imagination, especially in a book over 400 pages long, is problematic to say the least. The book lacked any complexity and depth. The author repeatedly mentioned that the main character is Jewish but never explored why it matters. Was it racism? Xenophobia? We never witnessed any of that, just Jewish stereotypes like the main character having a big nose.
In conclusion, while the book had potential with its intriguing concept, it fell short in execution. The lack of character development, confusing narrative structure, and underdeveloped world-building made it a frustrating read. I wish the author had delved deeper into the characters and the magical elements to create a more immersive and coherent story.
Plot: ★★☆
Characters ★★☆
World building ★★
Reread value ★★☆
I I had high hopes for this book, recommended by one of my most trustworthy Booktubers, but unfortunately, it didn't work out for me.
It might be controversial, but I disliked Naomi Novik's writing style. The characters felt one-dimensional. The narrative switches between four different POVs without any warning, sometimes even within the same chapter, which was disorienting and confusing. Each character's voice sounded the same, making it difficult to navigate the story. I often found myself reading a paragraph or two before realizing whose perspective I was following.
The concept was intriguing, but the execution fell short. The world-building felt inconsistent, with new elements conveniently appearing to aid the protagonists. For instance, the main girl suddenly being able to spin silver into gold and another main girl teleporting from one place to another. We never learn how this magic works, where it comes from, why the silver from the Staryk world is different, where the fire monster comes from, why it wants to feed on people, or why they can't break their oaths. It would have been so much better if the author had established some rules to the madness instead of brewing solutions out of nowhere.
There were many interesting concepts, but none were properly developed or explored. While I understand the need for some suspension of disbelief in fantasy, leaving so much to the reader's imagination, especially in a book over 400 pages long, is problematic to say the least. The book lacked any complexity and depth. The author repeatedly mentioned that the main character is Jewish but never explored why it matters. Was it racism? Xenophobia? We never witnessed any of that, just Jewish stereotypes like the main character having a big nose.
In conclusion, while the book had potential with its intriguing concept, it fell short in execution. The lack of character development, confusing narrative structure, and underdeveloped world-building made it a frustrating read. I wish the author had delved deeper into the characters and the magical elements to create a more immersive and coherent story.
Plot: ★★☆
Characters ★★☆
World building ★★
Reread value ★★☆