This book was a struggle to read. The author’s writing style did not resonate with me. I found the characters uninteresting, the storyline confusing and the pacing extremely slow. It was basically a very boring read for me. As a caveat, I must point out that some other reviewers were thrilled with this book.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, Facebook and my nonfiction book review blog.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

This book is a political historical fiction with a touch of fantasy.

The book was an okay read, but not something I would grecomment highly or puck up to read myself.

There are just so many other great books out there to be read.

For me, this was just average, and I would read if I couldn't find anything else to rad.

Three stars for me.

Even for as “twisty, twisty” as the Navolese are portrayed to be and for all the plotting, manipulation, and violence in the story, I did not expect the story to turn out the way it did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC.

This was overall a very exciting read, with classic twists and turns of high fantasy. I thought the MC was well written and complex. However, I initially had a really hard time getting into this book. I knew going in that the world-building would be extensive for a plot so intricate, but I found said world-building to be both a little overdone and also too close to reality, if that makes sense. The inspiration from Renaissance Italy was at times rich and vivid but mostly a bit claggy. I'd recommend this book for huge high fantasy fans, but I think a more "casual" reader would find this a bit over-the-top.

I thought this book would have more fantasy based on the dragon eye cover but it’s still
A well written and enjoyable book! It’s a bit of a slow burn, so if that’s not your cup of tea, this may not be for you.
There’s a lot of character development. Hang in there! The last half of the book picks up pace and leaves you wanting more!

4.5 Stars

"Navola" by Paolo Bacigalupi immerses readers in a richly woven tapestry of intrigue, power, and the timeless struggle for dominance. Set in the bustling city-state of Navola, where the di Regulai family reigns supreme, this tale unfurls with the grace of a master storyteller, drawing readers into a world where business is the ultimate currency and navigating its treacherous waters requires a keen mind and a cunning spirit.

"Navola" is a stunning feat of world-building and a mesmerizing depiction of drive and will. Bacigalupi's masterful blend of political intrigue, familial drama, and supernatural elements creates a narrative that is both epic in scope and intimate in its portrayal of the human heart. Rich in detail and brimming with tension, this is a book that will linger in the mind long after the final page has been turned.

This book is a captivating read that transcends genres, offering readers a gripping tale of power, ambition, and the enduring bonds of family. With its richly drawn characters, immersive world-building, and skillful storytelling, it is sure to delight fans of historical fiction, fantasy, and political drama alike. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in search of a truly unforgettable reading experience.

As a lover of fantasy, and a lover of Renaissance Italy, it is nice to see a book that provides a rare combination of the two.. The city is Navola, which is ruled by, among others, the di Regulai family. Sitting on the desk of power sits a rare dragon’s eye. The stage is set straight out of Game of Thrones. Davico is the heir apparent to this dynasty. The intrigue and danger settles around him and the question of whether or not he is capable of taking on the task. There is a power behind all of this that we don’t understand. I loved the character of his adopted sister Celia and how integral she was. The book drew me in. I found it difficult to put down and was pulled into their world. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Navola by Palao Bacigalupi
Is a twisty-turny Italian renaissance-inspired political intrigue novel from a known master of world building. In it, the young bull, Davico di Regulai, is coming of age in a dangerous world full of intense political scheming. Davico is tested in this game of faccioscuro throughout his life, and repeatedly he is found to be lacking the suspicious nature that is needed to become a master in it. What happens when Davico puts his trust in the wrong hands?

Let me lead off with the fact that this book is not for the faint of heart. Honestly, it is brutal, imaginative, and complicated. Especially at first where the reader is as a sociologist uncovering the layers and lingo of Navolese society. However, the payout is absolutely incredible. If you like dark fiction, immersive worlds, and a touch of fantasy this book is for you. It definitely is of a type with Game of Thrones, in that it doesn’t gloss over things that have definitely happened in human history. The debauchery, torture, and joking style are very much accurate in a sense, even if it sometimes feels gratuitous. I am a huge fan of Bacigalupi and have been for a long time. This novel is 5/5 stars for me, but may not be for some readers.

Navolo is set in a fictional world based on the medieval city states of Italy and shows mafia like tendencies. It highlights the good and bad of people and how love can blind one or turn to hate. The story recounts the life of Davico, a prince of Navolo and how his life is shaped by the treachery and death around him. I felt for Davico and my heart broke with each betrayal.

The book is a bit wordy, and some background parts drag on, but each build on the latter part of the story. We see how the world Davico lives in shapes his destiny and the lives around him. There are a great deal of Italian words thrown in, some are explained and some not. Many are obvious if you use the text to decipher the meaning.

Be advised, there are triggers here. Parts of the story recount bloody murders, torture, and a brief sex scene.

I am really confused with this one. It is definitely a vibe.

It wasn't for me. Kind of fantasy, kind of political but I just could not get into it.

The author tackles themes of social justice and the ethics of technology with nuance and depth. At the heart of the story is Navola, a young protagonist navigating the complexities of a society transformed by advanced technology and rampant inequality. As she grapples with questions of identity, agency, and belonging, Navola becomes a compelling and relatable protagonist whose journey resonates on both personal and societal levels.
An amazing prose and story-telling, I truly enjoyed the work!

I loved Navola because it was easy to jump into., unlike other fantasy books where the first 100 pages are a labor of love to get through, It has a Renaissance Italy feel - the Medicis crossed with Game of Thrones. It’s full of political intrigue and struggles for power. I am a slow reader who read this book surprisingly quickly!

Unlike a typical fantasy read! More like historical fiction, but in a fantasy world. I loved the world building, the character development, and the way the plot unfolded. It was a slow build, but I thought that worked really well for the story. I enjoyed the "memoir" feel of it, and the way the main character examined his life.

Firstly, thank you so much to NetGalley, Bacigalupi and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC.

I was disappointed in this book. I do believe it may be through its misrepresentation as a fantasy because there are very little fantasy aspects to it. I think it's more of a historical fiction with a very faint hint of magic thrown in.

Davico di Regulai is the heir to his family's merchant banker business in Navola, basically a state that is run by wealthy families with a hand or two in organized crime, for lack of a better word. He is a reluctant heir that feels the pressure to not only be a player in the power dynamics of Navola but to always be three steps ahead in all manners of the "game." This is a story that is rife with political intrigue and highly reminiscent of Game of Thrones, in my opinion.

I loved the cover, which is initially what drew me in. The dragon eye is a recurring element throughout the book as Davico's family has a real dragon eye in their possession that is the key to Davico's future.
Another element that initially drew me to the book was that it was going to be mafia-esque in Renaissance Italy; and I supposed there is a bit of "The Godfather" vibe to it. This takes place in a fictitious city of Italy and the highly descriptive world building scene setting was done impeccably. It had a rich, immersive vibe that really allowed the reader be drawn into the story.
Unfortunately, I think the highly detailed world building also lent to the slow-pacing of the plot. I found myself waiting and waiting for the story to start and found it difficult to stay engaged while reading. For anyone that has read any of Dan Brown's book, especially "The DaVinci Code" or "Angels and Demons," this book had the same over-detailed prose that Brown employs.
I didn't find myself rooting for Davico or really caring about him in any way. While a lot of the book does use flashbacks to childhood, I felt Davico spent much of the story moaning and groaning about his future with his family's bank. I think I would have been more empathetic to the character had more time been spent on how he overcame the pressures and expectations his family placed upon him.
There is also a bit of an uncomfortable relationship that is incestuous-lite that had me scratching my head.

This was my first book by Bacigalpi and I'm not sure he's my cup of tea. He is, without a doubt, a talented and prose-like writer but I don't think I feel the need to read anything else by him.

Light on fantasy, but heavy on politics and power, this is a book that feels set in Renaissance Italy, but with themes that could be from any time period. It uses at times, possibly too much Italian terminology for a non-Italian speaker, but I powered through and found myself rewarded for my efforts.

Navola by Paola Bacigalupi
Received as arc. An amazing story of a boy Davico being primmed to become his father’s heir. The story is a fantasy world but in a form of Italy and Navola mafia like family who ruled the banks and held kingdoms. Davico a more tender heart than his father most learn the way of this world and life forced upon him. But there are always enemies abound to see his family fall from power.

There are definitely parts of this book that are interesting and I enjoyed some of it but I just cannot seem to care what happens. I just felt like this book said a lot of stuff without really saying much at all. This book seems to move in slow motion for me and as much as I wanted to love it I just can't see myself finishing it. Sadly I have to DNF at 50%. I am sure plenty of readers will love this one and it's not bad, it's just not for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I really love fantasy that has a strong political element and so was intrigued by this book.
It is written well and works excellently in terms of that political element and general story building. But it was less fantastical than I’d hoped for from the description. More a situation of slightly off advertising than a bad book, as the book was still rather good. Just might disappoint some readers looking for more fantasy elements.

This was a really interesting read, It had that fantasy element that I was looking for and I enjoyed that I got to learn about the classes of this world. The characters for what I was looking for in this type of world and I loved the concept overall. Paolo Bacigalupi has a great writing style and left me wanting more in this series.

Summary
In the city of Navola, Davico DiRegulai is the heir to the quiet power that controls the city and much of the region. But the DiRegulai legacy is one of trickery and violence, and Davico is a poor fit.
Review

For some years, I confused Paolo Bacigalupi and Christopher Paolini – for no reason other than that I knew nothing about either and both had Paol in their names. Gradually, though, it seeped through that they were different people, and that I kept hearing good things about Bacigalupi. So, I took this opportunity to read one of his books. It’s not what I expected. One of the mentions of Bacigalupi that I kept seeing mentioned his book, The Windup Girl. I still haven’t read it, but perhaps I should have started there.

Navola, rather to my surprise, relies heavily on Italianate language and references. On the one hand, that’s great – I can’t think of many other English language books that do this, and it was a fun chance to exercise my long-rusty Italian skills. On the other hand, it’s so heavily Italian inspired that it felt often like a Neapolitan alternate history rather than a third-world speculative story. That’s in part because there’s very little actual magic in this fantasy story; it’s much more on the Mary Stewart Crystal Cave line than, say, J.V. Jones’ Baker’s Boy. That’s fine in itself (sometimes a plus), but I frankly felt that if I knew more of the history of the Italian peninsula, I’d recognize a lot of what was happening. It seemed to me from very early on that there were echoes of Naples, Rome, the Borgias, Leonardo Da Vinci, and a host of other (not always contemporaneous) matters. For me, that real world similarity made the book much less interesting.

Bacigalupi is certainly a skilled writer. The prose is rich and flows smoothly. However, I would also have liked to feel much more engaged by his protagonist and other characters. There was a distance and almost clinical/mechanical feel to things that kept me from really investing as I’d have wanted to. Also, while the Italianate references were fun for me, I felt a non-Italian speaker would have been fairly confused at times.

The base story – person growing up to defy expectations – is a familiar one, but often here felt subsumed to the descriptions of Machiavellian intrigue and manipulations. I wish, honestly, that Bacigalupi had brought this personal element more to the fore. To my mind, that would have made a more engaging and involving story.

Overall, interesting, and obviously a help in properly identifying Bacigalupi. But I’m not sure that I feel a need to go on to his other books. I’m willing, but, on the basis of this one, will likely not search him out. If the opportunity does arise, I’ll look for a book that’s more firmly either fantasy or science fiction, and less alternate history. This one was well written, but not gripping.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.