A review by luckykosmos
The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik

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

4.25

The first book was somewhat disappointing, between the author including racialized aggressions that took me out of the story and something about Gal was off-putting as well. But I loved Naomi Novik, having started all the way back with Temeraire, so I persevered - and this one did make the first book feel worth it. Gal is still abrasive, but there's a new tenderness to her, with her friends (though she might begrudge calling them that) offsetting her and Orion putting her in sharp relief. I don't recommend it for typical 'boarding school YA' fans because it feels more like a coming-of-age almost, relaying Gal's activities and moving plot along very little until the final stretch, but when that plot did move, it was emotionally charged. I feel re-invogorated!
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