TBR & Tangents by Rachel

Big thanks to Netgalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for an ARC copy. All opinions are my own.

It has been longer than I care to admit where a historical fantasy novel caught and held my attention. Navola did that within the first few chapters and I was hooked from the start to the finish (especially from halfway on!!). This was a total breath of fresh air for me to read as it was incredibly unique and well-written. There is only a small portion of fantasy elements which I honestly didn’t mind in the slightest.

The full scope of Novola’s world is astoundingly large, but the plot always remains intimate and detailed for the reader. I never felt overwhelmed at the different developments occurring or the large cast of character. This story follows Davico from childhood all through adulthood. I liked how the book was split up between not only chapters but larger sections depicting Davico’s age. It helped create space for the reader and allow for good pacing while still devouring the plot. There was rich character development throughout the story and many noteworthy scenes and quotes that struck me. There are portions of a secondary language which was delightful and kept the reader immersed in the overall Italian vibe.

Speaking of the vibe, I had no idea that I needed a story to be set in Renaissance Italy?! This was incredibly unique and continuously eye-catching for me. I loved the language, the scenery and the representation of power. There were some lulls in chapters, but I felt the pace was perfect. Of course, the second half presents much more action, but I loved the incredible strong world building in the first half. I was happy to see that it did not slow in the second half but only took a backseat. As you might expect there were a lot of plot twists and surprising parts. I always felt on edge trying to discern what could happen next. There isn’t much spice, but with everything else going on it didn’t feel like a drawback. I mentioned earlier that the fantasy themes are very nondescript, and I do think it’s important to note. This story is more of the whims of men and their struggle to obtain power. It is very human in nature, which is extremely refreshing. It leaves off in a cliffhanger with an open door to future adventures, which I truly hope we will get to see more of.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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