Navola is a book that, even as i write this review weeks after finishing, i still have mixed feelings about. i agree with some of the more critical reviews, yet can't bring myself to rate it lower than 4 stars. it's certainly a novel that appeals to specific audiences. the book is described as a literary fantasy but if you go into this with high expectations for fantasy, you're going to be pretty disappointed. the fantastical element lies in the dragon eye/relic, which appears only a handful of times but plays a curious role regarding the protagonist's fate. that said, Navola feels more like a historical novel that tentatively dips into fantasy. if you love political intrigue and don't mind slow-burn novels, i think you'll enjoy this.

Navola takes place in a world inspired by the Italian Renaissance and follows Davico di Regulai, the only son and heir of the most influential banking family in the city of Navola. his father, Devonaci, quietly controls the city from behind closed doors and treats life like an elaborate game of chess. Davico feels as if he doesn't fit the sophisticated and cutthroat image of a di Regulai and has dreams of becoming a physician, valuing a philosophical connection to nature, and living a much simpler and honest life. he's like a lamb among wolves, much too innocent and soft-hearted for the scheming and cunning minds of those around him. despite Davico's dreams of a different life, his father and family allies expect him to learn the politics of the business and master the trade's art of deceit and manipulation.

through the eyes of Davico, the reader is exposed to the intricacies of life in Navola. starting in his childhood years and following him into early adulthood, it's easy to glean Davico's sheltered upbringing away from the harsh and twisted politics of society, and readers will see him struggle to adapt as his time to inherit approaches. i love coming-of-age tales but i couldn't connect with Davico for much of the story. it wasn't that i disliked him—i just felt largely indifferent to his character, his motivations and personality falling flat. i think his naivety and reluctance to rise to his situation disappointed me in a way that Bacigalupi likely did not intend, especially considering how he's surrounded by a cast of unsavoury characters that insinuate the constant threats and dangers about. one review i read had pointed out that Davico's weaker pov highlights the dangerous intrigue of such characters, which i definitely see, but i found his pov too sheltered in a way that made me not care enough about him as the protagonist. about 75% of the book is spent in this slow and formative phase of Davico's life as he navigates the shadows of Navola; however, the last quarter takes a genuinely dark turn and completely throws Davico into the deep end, ultimately testing his strength and resolve and the inherent goodness of his nature. the events that occur are shocking and just like Davico, i was not prepared at all for the cruelties faced. as awful as it sounds, they made Davico's character a lot more compelling in my eyes as it forced him to acknowledge just how twisted the world really is.

this is a book that rewards readers in the end as long as they have the patience to reach it. thankfully, Bacigalupi's elegant prose and immersive world-building made it easy and i found myself drawn to the story even if nothing of note was happening (which essentially describes the majority of this book, crazy i know). much depth and detail went into constructing Navola in order to make the world feel all the more real, including its own Italianesque vocabulary. i also highly enjoyed the side characters and find it no surprise that my favourite ended up being the di Regulai's stilettotore or family dagger man/assassin.

overall, Navola was an interesting one. it's dense and descriptive and lacks plot for the majority of the book, but it still worked for me. the last quarter really blew me away. i only wish that Davico had been a stronger protagonist throughout, but the way Navola ended leads me to believe that this is, hopefully, the start to a brilliant character arc and series.