The Summer War by Naomi Novik
Nov. 25th, 2025 11:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iariaI really enjoyed this.
+ I loved Celia. I loved how clever she was. Her explaining to the reader at the beginning how her sly brilliant father plotted his way into power only emphasised how much she was his child because she had to be just as clever to see the truth. I loved that moment where Veris is lost in himself still and Celia has to point out that the obvious move was for her to marry Gorthan. I liked how she changed over the course of the novel - from spoiled child to someone willing to sacrifice herself - either to death or to imprisonment - to save the people of her country from further unnecessary war. I was very pleased when she ended as Queen.
+ I loved Roric going to Celia, when she's firmly still a selfish child, and offering her (and himself) an olive branch. It was so brave of him to take that step, and it was pretty brave of her to accept. I loved them learning to love and like each other. I honestly wanted more of them and was kind of sad we didn't get to see their runaway adventure in Summerland to save Argent.
+ I was pretty sympathetic towards Roric from the first mention of him where Celia is so dismissive and unsympathetic so I loved his whole plotline and him finding love with Celia and getting to save his 'superior' brother and finally getting respect from his father and really just finding peace and confidence in himself.
+ I loved the background love story of Argent and Elithyon. Everything about Elithyon's reactions when Argent turned up in the Summerlands was so good. His increasing worry and frustration was A+. I loved that they got a happy ending together.
+ I was immediately hmmm when we heard third hand about Elithyon gifting Argent with his woven blade but then when Argent returned only to reject his place in the family because he was gay it seemed obvious where that understanding was coming from.
+ I liked that it wasn't just Celia and Roric working together that saved Argent (and his future happiness) but also Veris coming in and thus him choosing Argent this time.
+ I loved Celia. I loved how clever she was. Her explaining to the reader at the beginning how her sly brilliant father plotted his way into power only emphasised how much she was his child because she had to be just as clever to see the truth. I loved that moment where Veris is lost in himself still and Celia has to point out that the obvious move was for her to marry Gorthan. I liked how she changed over the course of the novel - from spoiled child to someone willing to sacrifice herself - either to death or to imprisonment - to save the people of her country from further unnecessary war. I was very pleased when she ended as Queen.
+ I loved Roric going to Celia, when she's firmly still a selfish child, and offering her (and himself) an olive branch. It was so brave of him to take that step, and it was pretty brave of her to accept. I loved them learning to love and like each other. I honestly wanted more of them and was kind of sad we didn't get to see their runaway adventure in Summerland to save Argent.
+ I was pretty sympathetic towards Roric from the first mention of him where Celia is so dismissive and unsympathetic so I loved his whole plotline and him finding love with Celia and getting to save his 'superior' brother and finally getting respect from his father and really just finding peace and confidence in himself.
+ I loved the background love story of Argent and Elithyon. Everything about Elithyon's reactions when Argent turned up in the Summerlands was so good. His increasing worry and frustration was A+. I loved that they got a happy ending together.
+ I was immediately hmmm when we heard third hand about Elithyon gifting Argent with his woven blade but then when Argent returned only to reject his place in the family because he was gay it seemed obvious where that understanding was coming from.
+ I liked that it wasn't just Celia and Roric working together that saved Argent (and his future happiness) but also Veris coming in and thus him choosing Argent this time.
