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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
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
Takes a minute to get used to the writing style but then you’re in for a fun trip through a dangerous, murdery school while the MMC learns about the power of friendship. Not really but kinda lol
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolutely brilliant. The narrative voice is so strong and singular. The world building is incredible. Just chef's kiss all around.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The premise is excellent and the characters are interesting, despite falling into that age group that I usually tend to avoid, both in real life and in books. Unfortunately, however, it seems to me that Novik, at least in this first book, is rather muddled and the writing doesn't flow, or at least I found it difficult to keep reading, despite the plot interested me. Let's hope the second book is better, because as a serial reader, I certainly can't stop before the end....
Le premesse sono ottime ed i personaggi interessanti, nonostante rientrino in quella fascia d'etá che di solito tendo ad evitare, sia nella vita reale che nei libri. Purtroppo peró, mi sembra che la Novik, almeno in questo primo libro, sia piuttosto farraginosa e la scrittura non scorra o almeno io ho fatto fatica e non smettere di leggere, nonostante la trama mi interessasse. Speriamo che il secondo libro sia meglio, perché da serial reader quale io sono, certo non mi posso fermare prima della fine....
Le premesse sono ottime ed i personaggi interessanti, nonostante rientrino in quella fascia d'etá che di solito tendo ad evitare, sia nella vita reale che nei libri. Purtroppo peró, mi sembra che la Novik, almeno in questo primo libro, sia piuttosto farraginosa e la scrittura non scorra o almeno io ho fatto fatica e non smettere di leggere, nonostante la trama mi interessasse. Speriamo che il secondo libro sia meglio, perché da serial reader quale io sono, certo non mi posso fermare prima della fine....
I am completely torn when it comes to reviewing this book. On the one hand, I didn't like it much... but I did keep reading it. The main reason for my dislike was the lack of action - so much happened in this novel, but we were just told about it all, with very little dialogue or movement on the page. Just paragraph after paragraph after paragraph of descriptive prose. Don't get me wrong, the prose was good - there was just too much of it! When we did get to enjoy time with the characters, I found them likeable and interesting - but I was left wanting more. Overall, this was a fascinating premise and I think El and Orion make for wonderful characters, but the writing itself didn't leave me wanting to continue the series.
adventurous
dark
slow-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
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Complicated
Novik does it again! I loved this so so much, and it was exactly what I needed right now. Funny, warm, and kind with major found-family energy . I was so desperate to start the second immediately that I went around to FOUR bookstores before I finally got my hands on it!
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Classism
One of the top four books I've read out of the sixty books I've read so far in 2025. This dark academia novel is both a page-turner and also wonderfully heavy on social justice. The world building in the book is singularly unique--there's no book series out there that's anything like The Scholomance series--and I loved the anti-hero female protagonist. The author also adroitly weaves sociopolitical commentary into both the plot and the female main character's motivations in such a way that the commentary exists within the story for a reason. It drives the plot arch in a believable on-point way, becoming an essential part of the story. Lest you worry that the social criticism is offensive and/distracting, it is not. This is, after all, speculative fiction. Naomi Novak can and does get away with pointed commentary precisely because this story and its characters are pure fiction well outside reality. This book is a wonderful story and a solid example of an author who can both turn out a sentence and has something to say.
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes