A review by amphipodgirl
The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

adventurous dark tense medium-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

5.0

This is a wonderful, fitting end to the series, full of reveals that make you want to go back and reread the previous volumes to see where/whether the groundwork was laid. I've started re-listening to volume 1 and I am certain that Novik had this all planned out meticulously from the get-go. There was one half-chapter in here that I found irritatingly wandery and vague, but I loved everything else about it. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Torture, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

A secondary character is threatened with severe crushing, of a sort that would not be survivable without magic. She is rescued, but not until she has suffered severe injury. This is done with the knowledge and consent of people who should have a duty of care towards her. Also, we find out where maw-mouths come from and it is absolutely gruesome.