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priya_amrev's review against another edition
2.0
Eh. It was okay. Nothing special. The mystery was predictable. A better version of this book would be A deadly Education by Naomi Novik
tencutepuppies's review against another edition
4.0
(4/5) This book was quick to finish as it constantly kept me wanting more until the very end. I’d definitely recommend it for people who enjoy boarding school tropes, murder mysteries and the intrigue of many manipulative people put together under one roof. I know I like all three of those, so that’s what called to me.
My interest was held the entire time. It seemed like every chapter there was some new horrifying revelation or another facet in the mystery that didn’t make sense with what the characters thought they knew before. I was very into it. The political machinations of the school, the shifting loyalties of the students were the best part of this book. It made the setting a very, very dangerous place to even just exist, especially for a newcomer like November.
The characters were another thing that really stood out to me. They were all so lethal, cutthroat and terrible and I loved it. Except for November, which is perhaps why I didn’t click with her very much. Lol. More on that later. But characters like Layla, Ash, Aarya, the Headmistress, Matteo, and even Nyx, were so interesting. I think it was their manipulative, secretive nature that just kept me wanting more every single time they were on the page. Any time I thought I had them pinned down, every time I thought I could predict their next actions, they surprised me.
Okay. So now for November. (Spoilers ahead)
I don’t know exactly where she went wrong for me. And that’s kind of a string statement for me, as I didn’t dislike her at all, I did like her. But only because she was the main character, you feel me? She came into the story knowing absolutely nothing and was constantly fumbling around despite trying her best to not review anything to the others. She was basically what any of us normal people would be in a situation like that. But then as time went on, she started showing these special skills that her father covertly taught her in her childhood, which were a cool reveal. However, by the end of the book, I kind of got the sense that she was too special. There was that whole mom and dad’s true identities being the two most powerful Strategia ever reveal. Like okay. And she turns out to be nearly as genius as them just through the puzzle games she and her father played when she was younger. I don’t know. I don’t think it’s like the most unbelievable thing of all time, but it does give me Super Special Protagonist Who Is Not Like Anyone Else vibes. I also couldn’t decide if I liked her sense of humor consistently or not. There were a lot of times where she was funny, but then there would be one joke of hers that was a little immature and kind of cringe given the grittiness of the school and the other students’ sophistication.
The romance too. Not bad but also didn’t make me need to hold back a scream. So. They were just kind of fast to get together, I think, even if it did happen at the very end. And I wanted to see more of the side of himself that Ash hides, since that would make him more three-dimensional. It was cute and there were some good one-liners, but I won’t be thinking of their relationship after I finish this series. It’s very possible that I’m biased though, because I generally don’t like relationships that give everything juicy up in the first book anyway because I live for the tension. (There was some moments of good tension in this book, just not enough.)
So yeah. Those were essentially all my thoughts. Everything aside from November’s reveal near the end was phenomenal. Anyone who’s reading this review should go read this book for the setting/vibe alone.
My interest was held the entire time. It seemed like every chapter there was some new horrifying revelation or another facet in the mystery that didn’t make sense with what the characters thought they knew before. I was very into it. The political machinations of the school, the shifting loyalties of the students were the best part of this book. It made the setting a very, very dangerous place to even just exist, especially for a newcomer like November.
The characters were another thing that really stood out to me. They were all so lethal, cutthroat and terrible and I loved it. Except for November, which is perhaps why I didn’t click with her very much. Lol. More on that later. But characters like Layla, Ash, Aarya, the Headmistress, Matteo, and even Nyx, were so interesting. I think it was their manipulative, secretive nature that just kept me wanting more every single time they were on the page. Any time I thought I had them pinned down, every time I thought I could predict their next actions, they surprised me.
Okay. So now for November. (Spoilers ahead)
I don’t know exactly where she went wrong for me. And that’s kind of a string statement for me, as I didn’t dislike her at all, I did like her. But only because she was the main character, you feel me? She came into the story knowing absolutely nothing and was constantly fumbling around despite trying her best to not review anything to the others. She was basically what any of us normal people would be in a situation like that. But then as time went on, she started showing these special skills that her father covertly taught her in her childhood, which were a cool reveal. However, by the end of the book, I kind of got the sense that she was too special. There was that whole mom and dad’s true identities being the two most powerful Strategia ever reveal. Like okay. And she turns out to be nearly as genius as them just through the puzzle games she and her father played when she was younger. I don’t know. I don’t think it’s like the most unbelievable thing of all time, but it does give me Super Special Protagonist Who Is Not Like Anyone Else vibes. I also couldn’t decide if I liked her sense of humor consistently or not. There were a lot of times where she was funny, but then there would be one joke of hers that was a little immature and kind of cringe given the grittiness of the school and the other students’ sophistication.
The romance too. Not bad but also didn’t make me need to hold back a scream. So. They were just kind of fast to get together, I think, even if it did happen at the very end. And I wanted to see more of the side of himself that Ash hides, since that would make him more three-dimensional. It was cute and there were some good one-liners, but I won’t be thinking of their relationship after I finish this series. It’s very possible that I’m biased though, because I generally don’t like relationships that give everything juicy up in the first book anyway because I live for the tension. (There was some moments of good tension in this book, just not enough.)
So yeah. Those were essentially all my thoughts. Everything aside from November’s reveal near the end was phenomenal. Anyone who’s reading this review should go read this book for the setting/vibe alone.
pearcactus3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A lovely murder boarding school story
d3vilxl3gacy's review against another edition
3.0
Fun twist on assassin school concept that's actually hits well. Everyone was a bit awkwardly try hard but it made sense I guess while the over emphasis on characters not talking to each other made for some frustrating world building. Really wished the main didn't have to pair off in the end like so much YA tends to but I suppose it was bound to happen. Overall fun.
edshara's review against another edition
3.0
This was good, just not great. It is a typical YA mystery/thriller, with the same basic characters and the same basic plot. Secrets have been kept putting our main character, November, in unknown danger. She’s left to fend for herself while trying to piece together all the secrets. She makes a reluctant friend, there is a love interest, people die or get hurt. Etc. Etc. Etc. The few twists and reveals were interesting but not mind blowing and their were parts of the plot that were predictable.
I read every page, yet at times, I felt I missed something. With all that said, their is some interest in the next novel in the series, but if I don’t continue, I’ll be fine. I may have liked this better, had I not read something like this so many times in the past.
I read every page, yet at times, I felt I missed something. With all that said, their is some interest in the next novel in the series, but if I don’t continue, I’ll be fine. I may have liked this better, had I not read something like this so many times in the past.
sasmith1629's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
my_reading_journey's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
sydniwebb's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
emilye3's review against another edition
5.0
Mystery, assassin/spy school, secret society. Everything I love in a book. This was such a fast paced read and I loved every part of it. Highly recommend this series! Onto the second book now!