The Golden Enclaves

by Naomi Novik

eBook, 407 pages

English language

Published July 8, 2022 by Random House Publishing Group.

ISBN:: 978-0-593-15836-4

(8 reviews)

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 everywhere.

Ha, only joking! Actually, it’s gone all wrong. …

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. And the first thing I’ve got to do now, having miraculously gotten out of the Scholomance, is turn straight around and find a way back in.

2 editions

Alex Cabe reviewed The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

A Satisfying Conclusion, Although I Miss the School a Bit

4 stars

The characters continued to be a delight and I enjoyed spending time with them.

The ending was strong and satisfying, although the middle third was a bit of a slog and less enjoyable than the prior two books. It took some time for the book to find its footing outside of the school setting.

The allegory was a little heavy handed and didn't always work, but I enjoyed what it was going for.

Retroactively upgrading Book 2 to five stars, because one book in the series deserves it and 2 was the best.

Liesel is best girl.

Tara reviewed The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

a satisfying conclusion

5 stars

a great ending to the great Scholomance trilogy. had some twists i didn't see coming while still bringing everything to a satisfying close.

like the other books in this series, it manages to feel kinda cozy while super dark 😅

i think it's the lovable cast of characters, particularly the primary protagonist who i find quite relatable as an outcast determined not to be the evil the world wants her to be.

also the darkness is offset by the fact that there is hope throughout, even when things get pretty bleak (though often that hope is more stubbornness than anything 😅)

strongly recommended to anyone who loved the first two entries in the series.