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The intricate and often brutal political machinations of the notorious Italian Renaissance Medici family provide the foundation for Paolo Bacigalupi’s latest novel Navola. Set in a secondary world that is familiar and very different from the real world, the narrative follows the life of Davico di Regulai, the only son and heir of the di Regulai family that rules the city-state of Navola from the shadows. Thanks to generations of careful banking and trade agreements, the di Regulai family has become as powerful and wealthy as entire kingdoms. One of the symbols of their wealth and power sits on Davico’s father’s desk: the crystallized eye of a seemingly dead dragon, the only one of its kind, which reminds supplicants that the di Regulai are not ordinary bankers. Into all of this comes young Davico, who is learning how to navigate the intricate trade deals and interpersonal relationships critical to leading the family once Davico comes of age and begins to work alongside his father. But Davico is not sure he is made for all this plotting and planning. He loves nature and all the animals he comes across, and he’s confident that his adopted sister, Celia di Balcosi, might be better at heading the di Regulai bank than he will. Yet he recognizes that his path is already laid out for him, and so he does his best to learn how to manage his father’s schemes, as well as learn all the terrifying things the family retainers have to teach him. But while the di Regulai family is powerful, they are surrounded by enemies who are just as skilled at plotting as they are, and unless Davico can figure out who is behind the plots against his family and master the latent magic within the dragon’s eye, the di Regulai family may find itself condemned to fall into the dust of history. Navola is a compelling, dark, and slow-paced story of one young man’s coming of age in a world that is not kind to soft-hearted people like he is. Being soft-hearted does not mean being foolish, though. Davico is intelligent and clever in his own way, though he wishes his world and his place in it were different. His characterization is beautifully developed, and no element of his education is wasted. As the story progresses, Davico draws upon all of his knowledge to survive- even his soft-heartedness. The small kindnesses he shows to people who seem unimportant when he meets them prove valuable later on. Davico is not the only well-rounded character in the book, either. Bacigalupi has made a world full of complex characters whose decisions are directed by their own loyalties and desires. His adopted sister Celia di Balcosi, for example, has a well of motivations of her own, and though your heart might break over the decisions she makes, they are all believable given her personality and her history. The world of Navola, too, is rich and complex. Bacigalupi clearly draws upon historical parallels, but does not make Navola a one-for-one recreation of Renaissance Florence. This world has its own beliefs and stories, its own prejudices and sayings, its own clearly-drawn character. Its politics are complex and long-ranging enough to make George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire’s characters cry for mercy. And though it has plenty of darkness, Navola has beauty, too. Bacigalupi does not stint in his inclusion of art, music, food, clothing, and landscape. Navola feels like one of those worlds that you could step into and live within, and yet you’re glad you can close it and return to reality. There is an open ending to this story. It leaves off in a perfect spot for a sequel, though I don’t know if one is in the works. If not, I can imagine how Davico’s story might continue. But if there is a follow-up, I will be first in line to pick it up. Thank you to NetGalley and Alfred A. Knopf for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion. (This is a backpost from my previous Wordpress site) Traveling in Books is free today. But if you enjoyed this post, you can tell Traveling in Books that their writing is valuable by pledging a future subscription. You won't be charged unless they enable payments.
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