Reviews

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

mistressviolet's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-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

5.0

 

Loved this! Fantastic worldbuilding. There is a dark and deadly school that reeks of decay coupled with a unique and thoroughly fleshed-out system of magic. There are lots of diverse characters and personality types. And the story is action-packed, with tension and intrigue. 

I will note that this book was a slow start for me. The first chapter read like a bit of an information dump. But once I hit the second chapter, I couldn't put this one down and ended up finishing it all in a single night. 

Book 2 is now on my radar! 

ladyanne's review against another edition

dark tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

greshick's review

dark emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

electricdryad's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

binka_28's review against another edition

5.0

I really enjoyed this book. There was a lot of world building with large amounts of information coming at you. I did really like the relationship between El and Orion, her grumpiness and his golden retriever energy. This book gave me dark Harry Potter vibes. The more I read the more invested I became. I can’t wait to read the next books in this series.

celestialegg's review

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

catiebick's review against another edition

adventurous funny 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

4.75

alicebme's review

4.0

Ooh, this is a good pick. All new things and so much DANGER. Love a fantasy book where no one expects to live.

k_shanahan's review

3.0

A fun read. I feel more excited for the sequel the more I think about it. However, as much as I liked it the characters all still felt kind of flat. El did become much more likeable as her character developed, as she's supposed to. All of her friends and enemies and even Orion just felt like they had interchangeable personalities though.

I always love Naomi Novik's writing style although this book felt like it involved so much exposition in large chunks at times; telling rather than showing in a way I wouldn't have expected. Creating a whole new magic system and history is tricky and the fact that it was completed in the space of this reasonably short book was impressive, however.

I'm obsessed with the cover design and the concept felt super original- a new take on the magic school setting.

threeara's review against another edition

4.25

This was a GREAT time, I loved the magic system and I didn't not expect to develop such fierce feelings for these characters.