Nimona by Noelle Stevenson Book Review

Ambrosius Goldenloin in Noelle Stevenson's Nimona is not a true hero until he confronts the evil institution. Before this moment everything the alleged hero did was to satisfy the evil institution so that he could maintain his status. Goldenloin’s villainous ways started with him betraying his good childhood friend Ballister Blackheart, so that he could become the kingdom’s lone hero. Goldenloin would continue to betray his own morals to stay in line with the institution. The moment he confronts the institution Goldenloin is no longer fighting for his own status, but for the good of the town. 

The first chronological glimpse into Blackheart and Goldenloin’s relationship is in their childhood orphanage, “Did father Christmas bring you anything?” said Ambrosius. “No, I suppose I must have been naughty,” stated Ballister. “Oh... well you can share mine, I guess,” responded Ambrosius. “Look this knight is just like the one you have, go get yours so we can play,’’ exclaimed Ambrosius. “You know I think I lost mine...” responded Ballister” (Setevenson,262). A touching moment in which Blackheart gives Goldenloin his toys to comfort him during Christmas. Goldenloin is also willing to share his toys with Blackheart. It would appear the two orphans care deeply about one another. Fast forward to the present time in which Nimona takes place and Blackheart has this to say about Goldenloin when talking with his new assitant Nimona, “ “Can I at least kill Sir Goldenloin, the one guy who keeps messing up all your plans?” asks Nimona. “No. If anyone’s going to kill him it’s going to be me,” responded Blackheart (Stevenson,4). Blackheart and Goldenloin went from orphan brothers to archnemeses, because of Goldenloin’s betrayal. From Ballister’s point of view of the betrayal Stevenson writes, “We’d (Goldenloin and Blackheart) been pitted against each other before, I knocked him off his horse. It was a clean victory, but Ambrosius hates to lose,” said Blackheart” (5). This would be followed by an illustration of Goldenloin shooting off Blackheart’s arm with what appears to be a modified gun lance (Stevenson,6). Goldenloin’s motivation for shooting off his friend’s hand was his greed to be the institution’s hero. Goldenloin admits this to Blackheart, “The night before the joust-the director called me into her office. She told me that I had promise. That I was her choice for the institution’s champion. But she said I’d have to prove myself against you in the joust, or that chance would go away. I wanted it more than anything. You never wanted it as much as me,” (Stevenson,182). Goldenloin’s desire to be a hero outweighed his need for friendship. His origin was based in greed, deceit, and violent action. The joust was the origin not of Sir Goldenloin the hero, but of Sir Goldenloin the wicked puppet of the institution.  

Goldenloin’s assault on Blackheart wasn’t the only betrayal the supposed hero would make to stay in the institution’s good graces. Goldenloin was willing to even betray his own morals.  Stevenson writes, “ “Get rid of the sidekick by any means necessary said the Director. “I swear I will see them both captured and brought to justice” responded Goldenloin. “Do I have to spell everything out for you, DISPOSE of the sidekick,” commanded the Director. “What, I’m not going to kill a little girl” replied Goldenloin. “This is a matter of keeping your job, you think we can’t replace you in an instant?’’ the Director snarled (86-87). Here we learn there is good in Goldenloin, he wants to do his job the just way by brining justice not death. Ultimately under influence of the Institution and Director Goldenloin’s good intentions are set aside by himself so that he may maintain his position. Similar to the duel with Ballister, Goldenloin is choosing to appear righteous through devious deeds rather than to be righteous. Artwork would then illustrate a Goldenloin lead assault on Ballister and Nimona, in which Nimona was believed to be killed as she was decapitated in dragon form (Stevenson, 154-155). Showing that despite all his reservations Goldenloin was just a puppet made by the institution and mostly controlled by them as well. 

Even in his heroics Goldenloin would still put hist interests first. A great example of this is shown on page 13 in which despite Blackheart’s plea for Goldenloin to allow him to pass so his apprentice doesn’t kill anyone else is only met by what the art depicts as a lengthy sword fight (Stevenson). This may sound reasonable to try and subdue a criminal until we learn Goldenloin’s intentions by him saying “this isn’t how things are supposed to go,” (Stevenson,13). This remark was made in reference to how Goldenloin didn’t get his full sword fight as it was interrupted by a self-destruct alarm. Goldenloin didn’t care about stopping the crime just getting his fame. 

Through all his faults, Goldenloin still had just qualities of a hero to potentially become a true one. As I’ve previously eluded to he was hesitant to killing Nimona. So much so he would even offer his archnemeses Blackheart this warning, “ Ballister the Institution is ordering me to KILL your sidekick.”... “Just send her away Ballister. She’ll be safe and things can go back to normal,”(Stevenson,93-94). The artwork in this scene depicts the two at a table and portrays Goldenloin sincerely concerned as he places his hand on Blackheart’s (Stevenson 94). Along with a slight hint of sympathy Goldenloin would also be inspired by an external force of losing his position. In a great trap Goldenloin and his team would cut off Nimona’s head in dragon form, much to everyone’s surprise their victory was short lived as the head can be seen regenerating and then raining down fire (Stevenson, 154-157). “Whatever the case may be, it is no longer your (Goldenloin) concern. You’re being replaced.” said the Director (Stevenson,162). Goldenloin had now lost the thing he so desperately craved, essentially he now had nothing to lose. After Goldenloin loses his position, we witness a conversation between Goldenloin and the imprisoned Blackheart. While the dialogue is important as Goldenloin would admit his mistakes to Blackheart the artwork really captures the despair Goldenloin is in for how he betrayed Blackheart. We see Goldenloin with his head constantly down an expression of shame, and we also even see him break down into tears after a flashback of the duel (Stevenson 180-185). In this moment Goldenloin says, “ I wish we could just go back. I wish things could be how they were,” (Stevenson,186). Goldenloin has admitted his wrongdoings and wishes for a return to the days he wasn’t an institution pawn. 

As I’ve stated earlier Goldenloin is often motivated by his wants. At the joust he did what he did to become labeled as a hero. In his raid on Nimona he was motivated by his want to maintain his power. After his converstaion with Ballister his motivation would for the first time be wholesome, as he wants his friendship back. After Blackheart is shocked while hand cuffed Goldenloin responds, “No! Don’t you touch him again” (Stevenson,197). He would then be depicted as fighting with the institution guards were he would ultimately fail to free Blackheart (Stevenson 197-198). In Goldenloin fashion he’s committed another betrayal, but this betrayal is the one that actually makes him a hero. In doing so Goldenloin was fighting for friendship and against inhumane treatment of both Nimona and Blackheart. Compare this to his usual motive of greed and its easy to see his character arc into a hero. Goldenloin would have the oppurtunity to continue his heroic ways shortly after as Nimona’s cell dragon would begin rummaging through the town. Goldenloin as depicted across several pages would fight the great dragon out of concern of life not greed, this would even leave Goldenloin with many injuries (Stevenson,223,230-235). We know he was  concerned about life in this fight as he pleads to Blackheart, “We’re wasting our time. It’s already started. Innocent people are DYING, Ballister, THEY need our help, not some immortal monster,”(Stevenson,208). In his fight against the institution and dragon Goldenloin truly becomes the hero he wanted to be, as he fights not for himself but for the good of others. 

Works Cited  

Stevenson, Noelle. Nimona. HarperCollins, 2015.