A white book cover with ared dragon eye

Paolo B’s debut novel, the windup girl, was shockingly good, and I was excited to read Navola.

It started very well indeed, and it as following the exploits of Davico - the scion of a banking family in what can only be described as renaissance Italy, but with dragons.

The story reads as a confession for all the terrible things Davico has done over his life - only we never find out what they are. The story drags on for an absolute age, and although a lot happens to Davico, he never really does anything. Pacing is all over the place.

This feels like it’s the start of a trilogy, but the later books have yet to be written. It’s frustrating.

It’s a rich world, vividly painted, and believable, but the main character rarely actually does anything. Things hapen to him instead. I suppose this is kind of the point as it covers his journey to manhood, and his fortunes are largely due to his lack of motive force, but still, a great read it does not make.