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A review by starstrays
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
FINAL RATING: 3.5 stars
<a href=" https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4696062537?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1">Goodreads</a>
I was excited to pick up this book when the friend who recommended this to me said this book was inspired by Slavic culture, and as a fan of fantasy, I absolutely had to pick it up. Though the book had a strong start to middle, halfway through it kind of... lost my interest in several plot points towards the end.
To start with the pros of this book, I'd like to preface before all else: Wanda best girl. My favorite. Her role in the story was a more passive one compared to Irina and Miryem. Wanda was more of a helpful bystander as the story unfurled in front of her rather than someone who played an active role in the plot, and I appreciated her presence for it. And, as someone who loves sibling relationships, I really love that she grows close with Sergey and Stepon. Wanda's story felt like a breather in between the political turmoil and awful husbands plots with Miryem and Irina.
Not to say that I didn't like the latter two main characters. Miryem and Irina parallel each other. Their personalities, their journey, their motivations. They've both trained themselves to be cold, but their hearts are full of love for their loved ones. Simultaneously, they both manage to see the bigger picture. And they're both stuck with spouses they did not want to marry. Yet, they remain distinct characters.
It was interesting to see Miryem's journey of her heart thawing and opening itself to a kingdom that isn't her own. Irina, meanwhile, surprised me. She comes off soft-spoken and shy, and the general impression I received from her at the beginning was a mousy character after being isolated for so long. But, seeing how she maintains this cold demeanor to her, remaining cool and steady in front of all adversities, and also see glimpses of her craving that warmth as well, she is unafraid and aware of the world around her. My favorite after Wanda definitely has to be Irina. I don't really have much to say about Miryem, though. I feel that her character was sorely limitedconsidering she's basically imprisoned by the Staryk king for like 45% of the story.
I also felt the fantasy and magic in how Novik writes. Her prose is simple and easy to read, but not too much that it's isn't engaging. While not quite there, it reminds me of C.S. Lewis' writing in Narnia.
Despite all the good things I can say about it, I unfortunately didn't find this book perfect.
Much of my nitpick with the book is the author's use of so many perspectives. I had to go back and reread the start of Irina's perspective when she got introduced, since she doesn't get introduced early, and isn't even relevant for a good chunk of the beginning. Miryem, Irina, and Wanda's voices voices do remain distinct, but I definitely disliked the perspective changes not happening by chapter.
There are <b>six</b> point of views in this story, which I wouldn't have really minded at first. But the perspective changes happen within the chapters, rather than the chapters transitioning to another perspective. The story would have been much shorter without the three other additional perspectives.
I also didn't like that Novik chose to use these outsider's perspectives 0n certain crucial moments in the story, likewhen the Staryk was getting captured, but it was told in Stepon's POV . It took the emotion out of this segment, and I would have loved to read this confrontation in the POV of any of the three main characters. These outsider perspectives weren't totally for naught, because I did like the POV of Magreta when Chernobog was confronting Irina, and the reveal of how Irina essentially protected Lithvas with such a simple bargain she's made with Chernobog . That one is an excellent example, because even I felt Magreta's surprise since it was told in her POV.
I would have lowered my rating to 3 stars were it not for the ending because I am a sucker for thatfound family trope, and I wish I could have seen the merged families of Wanda and Miryem interact more before the story ended. It warmed my heart to read Miryem call Wanda and her brothers as her siblings.
Another plot downside,I don't know how I feel about the Staryk king and Miryem being truly married in the end, out of love this time. Maybe with more interactions that wasn't the Staryk being awful, I would have been into it? Miryem seeing the Staryk people as her kingdom - as the Staryk queen - was a plot point I really liked, because I saw her story as one of her heart thawing. But between her and the Staryk king, there isn't much notable interactions between them (other than ones out of necessity and survival) that makes me want to be happy for their marriage. If they had shown more of the Staryk king being kind to Miryem, I'd be less conflicted with Miryem's story concluding like this.
To sum it up: this was a good story, albeit I wouldn't call it a favorite. I can see myself recommending it to those who like fantasy and adventure. And the most important point: Wanda best girl!
<a href=" https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4696062537?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1">Goodreads</a>
I was excited to pick up this book when the friend who recommended this to me said this book was inspired by Slavic culture, and as a fan of fantasy, I absolutely had to pick it up. Though the book had a strong start to middle, halfway through it kind of... lost my interest in several plot points towards the end.
To start with the pros of this book, I'd like to preface before all else: Wanda best girl. My favorite. Her role in the story was a more passive one compared to Irina and Miryem. Wanda was more of a helpful bystander as the story unfurled in front of her rather than someone who played an active role in the plot, and I appreciated her presence for it. And, as someone who loves sibling relationships, I really love that she grows close with Sergey and Stepon. Wanda's story felt like a breather in between the political turmoil and awful husbands plots with Miryem and Irina.
Not to say that I didn't like the latter two main characters. Miryem and Irina parallel each other. Their personalities, their journey, their motivations. They've both trained themselves to be cold, but their hearts are full of love for their loved ones. Simultaneously, they both manage to see the bigger picture. And they're both stuck with spouses they did not want to marry. Yet, they remain distinct characters.
It was interesting to see Miryem's journey of her heart thawing and opening itself to a kingdom that isn't her own. Irina, meanwhile, surprised me. She comes off soft-spoken and shy, and the general impression I received from her at the beginning was a mousy character after being isolated for so long. But, seeing how she maintains this cold demeanor to her, remaining cool and steady in front of all adversities, and also see glimpses of her craving that warmth as well, she is unafraid and aware of the world around her. My favorite after Wanda definitely has to be Irina. I don't really have much to say about Miryem, though. I feel that her character was sorely limited
I also felt the fantasy and magic in how Novik writes. Her prose is simple and easy to read, but not too much that it's isn't engaging. While not quite there, it reminds me of C.S. Lewis' writing in Narnia.
Despite all the good things I can say about it, I unfortunately didn't find this book perfect.
Much of my nitpick with the book is the author's use of so many perspectives. I had to go back and reread the start of Irina's perspective when she got introduced, since she doesn't get introduced early, and isn't even relevant for a good chunk of the beginning. Miryem, Irina, and Wanda's voices voices do remain distinct, but I definitely disliked the perspective changes not happening by chapter.
There are <b>six</b> point of views in this story, which I wouldn't have really minded at first. But the perspective changes happen within the chapters, rather than the chapters transitioning to another perspective. The story would have been much shorter without the three other additional perspectives.
I also didn't like that Novik chose to use these outsider's perspectives 0n certain crucial moments in the story, like
I would have lowered my rating to 3 stars were it not for the ending because I am a sucker for that
Another plot downside,
To sum it up: this was a good story, albeit I wouldn't call it a favorite. I can see myself recommending it to those who like fantasy and adventure. And the most important point: Wanda best girl!