A review by katymul
The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

I do love an aftermath book, especially as the finale of a trilogy. Is there a more coming of age gut punch than fixing a major institution against all odds with an act of almost but not quite impossible grace...only to be told by all the adults that you need to sit down and listen to them again...only to find out that they are actively perpetuating evil all along? And that's at least half of their objection?

The book also feels like the payoff of what was earned in The Last Graduate as the younger generations unconditionally trust El now, paving her way and fighting back with her as their moral avatar, allowing her

family's generations-long, sacrificing quest to change the way that enclaves work

to happen as every piece needed falls into place at great cost.

Nothing is free, but this book proves that that cuts both ways. If putting evil into the world always incurs a cost, doing good also opens doors.