Recent Reads: The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik 
Series: The Scholomance #3
Publisher: Del Ray Books
Publication Date:  September 7, 2022

 

Format: Paperback/ Audio
Source: Own both

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Saving the world is a test no school of magic can prepare you for in the triumphant conclusion to the New York Times bestselling trilogy that began with A Deadly Education and The Last Graduate.

The one thing you never talk about while you're in the Scholomance is what you'll do when you get out. Not even the richest enclaver would tempt fate that way. But it's all we dream about, the hideously slim chance we'll survive to make it out the gates and improbably find ourselves with a life ahead of us, a life outside the Scholomance halls.

And now the impossible dream has come true. I'm out, we're all out--and I didn't even have to turn into a monstrous dark witch to make it happen. So much for my great-grandmother's prophecy of doom and destruction. I didn't kill enclavers, I saved them. Me, and Orion, and our allies. Our graduation plan worked to perfection: we saved everyone and made the world safe for all wizards and brought peace and harmony to all the enclaves of the world.

Ha, only joking! Actually it's gone all wrong. Someone else has picked up the project of destroying enclaves in my stead, and probably everyone we saved is about to get killed in the brewing enclave war on the horizon. And the first thing I've got to do now, having miraculously got out of the Scholomance, is turn straight around and find a way back in.

Read my Review for Book 1! Click the Cover

 

Review: 

THERE WILL BE SPOILERS! 

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I started book 3 much later than I expected but the worldbuilding it so good, that you feel immediately back with the students of the Scholomance when you begin reading... Not much re-cap though, so there is a pro and con already... take that as you will.

The immersion that comes with the students being IN the Scholomance and school setting is obviously a bit lost in this installment. They are in the real-world now. 

El is thrust into a world of Enclaves that need her help. The mals, the worst kind are attacking Enclaves and someone or something is also attacking. She is the only one that has ever been able to defeat one without dying. 

There was so much here that was a mind-spin. Some were very off the wall others were like.. ok.. that makes sense. I felt like some of the things should have been developed on more, like Orion's background and his mother. I also wanted to learn more about her mother and father and their intentions around the Golden Enclaves, it felt like there was more there than said. 

I think that this book felt a bit rushed compared to the others, there was just a lot of realizations and things happening. With all the movement and places as well the vibe was just really different from the first two books. It was still a great book. I would love more in this world. I would love more IN the Scholomance. I felt somewhat fulfilled as this was the third book of the series but also thought it had enough to keep pushing forward as well.

Early Reader Review: The Knitting Witch by Norma Kassirer

Source: From Librarything Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

The Knitting Witch by Norma Kassirer, illustrated by Mark Richardson 
Publisher: The Collective Book Studio
Publication Date:  October 1, 2024

 

Format: Paperback ARC


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Eloise meets Coraline in this spellbinding tale by the beloved author of Magic Elizabeth.Ivy Lou seems to have it all—except friends. So when a witch appears and knits up some magical playmates, Ivy Lou’s parents hire her. Things quickly turn for the worse for Ivy Lou as her new friends, parents and fancy house disappear and she suddenly finds herself captive in the witch’s hastily knit Horrid Little Hut. The witch has her own motives—to groom Ivy Lou to be a witch’s child. Ivy Lou, who turns out to be terrible at making potions, casting spells, and riding on a broomstick, has met her match. Even her threat of Tantrum #3, to turn herself inside out, doesn’t faze this witch. Finally, as the witch is out on her nightly broomstick rounds, a terrified Ivy Lou, enchanted knitting needles in hand, has only until midnight to unknit the Horrid Hut and restore the life she knew. Could a magic star that came from her mother’s kiss in her former life help? Will Ivy Lou manage to get back home, or is she doomed to become a witch’s child forever?

Review: 

This story has a very 'classic' vibe. A very Brothers Grimm feeling tale. 

A young, misbehaving spoiled girl Ivy Lou always gets her way or she will throw a tantrum. They shake and scare her parents and the neighbors. Her parents feed into her and one day a witch shows up to help... instead she takes over the house and parents and bosses Ivy Lou around in an attempt to make a witch out of her. 

The book is all about behavior and how the witch does in fact help, but not in the way expected. 

The illustrations fit that old fairy-tale/ folk-tale feeling very well. They are great, detailed illustrations but pretty monotone to fit the vibe. They also help the story along and I think younger readers will like having them. They can be a little spooky though, and the witch is pretty scary as well. She really is evil. It is a quick read at 88 pages but that includes the full page illustrations. 

A few negatives, not sure that Ivy Lou really understands why she should behave, she just knows she doesn't want to be with the witch anymore. She is sad and lonely with the witch and that is why she wants to leave. 

I also didn't really love the explicit note about black hair being evil. It might paint the wrong picture for young readers... that all dark haired people are evil and all blone/ blue-eyed people are 'good'.

Overall, it was a fun book and It is coming out just in time for spooky season.