A review by archaicgambit
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

adventurous dark medium-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

5.0

My friends told me I would love this book and they were right (I was worried I wouldn't, since I didn't really like A Deadly Education). Every chapter very carefully built up pieces of the narrative that had super rewarding payoff. The characters were so vivid, and the different perspectives had such strong voices. Even characters like stephon, whose POV I worried I would not enjoy, grew on me.
Mirantius's POV was super fascinating. I loved how every character made difficult choices, and even worked against each other at different points, but you could feel their reasoning was completely sound. Irina and Miryem are brilliant and cutthroat but in different ways. I loved Miryem's selfishness borne out of her parent's selflessness, and how it was both a flaw and a strength. These characters are so rich and complicated. 
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