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adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
Overall, I enjoyed the book, though I have a few nitpicks. I found book one was stronger, especially in how it handled pacing and resolution. Several big reveals, like the entire school learning about El’s mom, or the mysterious prophecy, aren’t resolved, and the book ends on another cliffhanger without much payoff from the last one.
There are a lot of modern references in El’s narration that don’t quite fit her character. While the first book had a few, they weren’t as distracting as they are here. It pulled me out of the story when she referenced things she shouldn't realistically know. She lived in isolation in a yurt and doesn't have a phone. Where did she hear about Vogue magazine or guns?
As for El and Orion’s relationship, the emotional continuity feels off. The first book ends with a kiss and a clear implication that they’re together. Yet El still insists Orion isn’t her boyfriend. There’s no meaningful conversation til the 90% mark. Strangely, Orion is barely in the book. The narrative focus is more on El and the two other girls in the alliance. I like that she has friends now, but it feels like that came at the cost of Orion’s presence and development.
There are a lot of modern references in El’s narration that don’t quite fit her character. While the first book had a few, they weren’t as distracting as they are here. It pulled me out of the story when she referenced things she shouldn't realistically know. She lived in isolation in a yurt and doesn't have a phone. Where did she hear about Vogue magazine or guns?
As for El and Orion’s relationship, the emotional continuity feels off. The first book ends with a kiss and a clear implication that they’re together. Yet El still insists Orion isn’t her boyfriend. There’s no meaningful conversation til the 90% mark. Strangely, Orion is barely in the book. The narrative focus is more on El and the two other girls in the alliance. I like that she has friends now, but it feels like that came at the cost of Orion’s presence and development.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Classism
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cons:
- I've found both this one and the first book more on the slow side due to the narration style. Very much the main character describing the ins and outs and why's of everything even in the middle of an action scene.
- I do find the love interest (Orion) to be kind of flat
Pros:
- I like how sassy El is and how she's built strong relationships with other characters.
- I love a strong FMC who is absolutely steadfast in her morals.
- I've found both this one and the first book more on the slow side due to the narration style. Very much the main character describing the ins and outs and why's of everything even in the middle of an action scene.
- I do find the love interest (Orion) to be kind of flat
Pros:
- I like how sassy El is and how she's built strong relationships with other characters.
- I love a strong FMC who is absolutely steadfast in her morals.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Classism
Moderate: Gore, Grief
Minor: Sexual content
dark
funny
inspiring
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This time, I knew what to expect. I accepted from the start that I was going to get a rather unemotional account that focuses on the complexities of privilege and alliances in a thoroughly messed-up universe. That way, I could enjoy the clever worldbuilding and snarky narrative voice more than I did with A Deadly Education.
Much like the first book, The Last Graduate reads less like a novel and more like a long essay on the intricacies of the Scholomance and the society that has formed inside it. On the one hand, I found it infuriating. A lot of the story is told in past perfect - like when the heroine tells us that she has been establishing a relationship with a group of other characters over the past few weeks. Why are we told this in one sentence in retrospect rather than being shown how the relationship develops? This is not how you write a novel.
On the other hand, the society presented in this book is so fascinating that I didn't mind the extensive information. If you find the Scholomance microcosm and its complex system of transactions and alliances
interesting, it is absolutely worth reading.
The first two books are a smart (if rather long) setup for the third one, and I am glad I stuck with the series.
Much like the first book, The Last Graduate reads less like a novel and more like a long essay on the intricacies of the Scholomance and the society that has formed inside it. On the one hand, I found it infuriating. A lot of the story is told in past perfect - like when the heroine tells us that she has been establishing a relationship with a group of other characters over the past few weeks. Why are we told this in one sentence in retrospect rather than being shown how the relationship develops? This is not how you write a novel.
On the other hand, the society presented in this book is so fascinating that I didn't mind the extensive information. If you find the Scholomance microcosm and its complex system of transactions and alliances
interesting, it is absolutely worth reading.
The first two books are a smart (if rather long) setup for the third one, and I am glad I stuck with the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Violence, Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief
Minor: Sexual content
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Oh yes - the joy of the second book of a trilogy - a world that’s been built in the first book, and the anticipation of still more to come.
Each book of this trilogy can certainly be read individually. The author is careful to ensure that no critical information is missing, using any reiteration of plot or character to build more interest, more complexity.
And this is a complex book - especially as it looks at cabals, outsider/insider dynamics and friendships and alliances. It is told with no over finger wagging - rather the author is an observer for the reader, always remembering her history and her unique understanding of what she experiences and sees.
I found it even more engrossing than the first; and put it down, very eager to move to the third.
Each book of this trilogy can certainly be read individually. The author is careful to ensure that no critical information is missing, using any reiteration of plot or character to build more interest, more complexity.
And this is a complex book - especially as it looks at cabals, outsider/insider dynamics and friendships and alliances. It is told with no over finger wagging - rather the author is an observer for the reader, always remembering her history and her unique understanding of what she experiences and sees.
I found it even more engrossing than the first; and put it down, very eager to move to the third.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Confinement, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abandonment
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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
A recipe of Hunger Games and Harry Potter, but with a pinch of sinister steampunk and dystopian stirred in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent
A recipe of Hunger Games and Harry Potter, but with a pinch of sinister steampunk and dystopian stirred in.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
Firstly, I obviously loved this book — hence, the five stars. But here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
- This is the 2nd book in the series…so you’ve got a bit of a slower pace at the beginning, which I think stumps some people. However, the cliffhanger at the end of the first book is immediately addressed (which I really appreciated because oh my word that shook me the first time I read A Deadly Education).
- And then we see El really struggling with the concept of no longer being completely on her own — she has to overcome a lot of fear, as well as her natural inclination to think only of her own survival. This makes the pacing of this book a bit slower right at the beginning because El hasn’t quite decided what kind of person she wants to be.
- But once El decides, oh my word the action picks up like crazy! And it is definitely worth it! We see lots of character development, not just in El but across the board. Everyone is challenged — including the Scholomance, which makes for a really engaging story of struggle, sacrifice, and personal growth.
- Remember, Novik is a world builder! And El isn’t necessarily a reliable narrator, which leaves the reader, well, reading between the lines to get at the truth. This creates a lot of suspense, and had me hanging on to the edge of my seat up until the final page.
- And finally, that ending…I mean, we all knew there would be drama and heartbreak and probably some destruction…I think I just didn’t expect that it would be my own! Ahhh! I will be grabbing the final installation of this series ASAP. Send actual help.
But seriously, this book is easily 5/5 ⭐️s
- This is the 2nd book in the series…so you’ve got a bit of a slower pace at the beginning, which I think stumps some people. However, the cliffhanger at the end of the first book is immediately addressed (which I really appreciated because oh my word that shook me the first time I read A Deadly Education).
- And then we see El really struggling with the concept of no longer being completely on her own — she has to overcome a lot of fear, as well as her natural inclination to think only of her own survival. This makes the pacing of this book a bit slower right at the beginning because El hasn’t quite decided what kind of person she wants to be.
- But once El decides, oh my word the action picks up like crazy! And it is definitely worth it! We see lots of character development, not just in El but across the board. Everyone is challenged — including the Scholomance, which makes for a really engaging story of struggle, sacrifice, and personal growth.
- Remember, Novik is a world builder! And El isn’t necessarily a reliable narrator, which leaves the reader, well, reading between the lines to get at the truth. This creates a lot of suspense, and had me hanging on to the edge of my seat up until the final page.
- And finally, that ending…I mean, we all knew there would be drama and heartbreak and probably some destruction…I think I just didn’t expect that it would be my own! Ahhh! I will be grabbing the final installation of this series ASAP. Send actual help.
But seriously, this book is easily 5/5 ⭐️s
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail