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malley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Toxic friendship
eule's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
What was a little off? The nearly constant inner monologue with sometimes too much details (info dumping about unnecessary politics and background stuff)? Her personality was somehow too careless in my opinion…?
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy
applezing's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Drug use, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Classism
athryn's review against another edition
- 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
If you have a Harry Potter type itch, this book will do a great job of scratching it, with being a far superior story to boot.
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy
eni_iilorak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Writing emotions is not.
A first-person narrator with little interest in other people is a baffling and unfortunate choice. As a result, most of the other characters are completely forgettable. As the protagonist rarely talks to anyone, there is very little dialogue. The narrator takes us through the details of this fictional world. Very little is shown or discovered, almost everything is explained. Large parts of the book read less like a novel and more like an essay that outlines the rules of its universe. This style of writing left me detached from the story and characters.
I'm not sure I would have finished the book if it hadn't been for the excellent audiobook narration.
With one single sentence, the very last one in the book, Naomi Novik made me want to read the sequel, and I don't know if I am impressed or angry.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, Vomit, and Medical content
Minor: Drug use, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
danicakvcs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
quirkykayleetam's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
In a school full of monsters where, it's established, the only way to survive is to look out for yourself, the prophecised Destroyer of the World discovers that she would rather help everyone else make it out too. And, yeah, she's grumpy about it.
El, full name Galadriel, has seen how the system works, how it throws anyone not born in The Right Families under the bus. She's focused on being smart to stay Not Evil and alive. Then she meets Orion, the Boy Wonder, who comes from privilege, but has been White Knighting his way through the school, saving everyone who can, and she tells him that he's doing this in the stupidest way possible.
Watch El and Orion join forces, make friends (a new concept), and maybe find a way to make things better for the future.
El's snarky, suspicious, and permanent pissed first-person narration makes this book a hilarious read that tackles racism, classism, bullying, grief, and how freaking annoying it is to be a good person sometimes, even when you discover it's the only thing you can bring yourself to do.
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, and Classism
myaphrodiite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
in this school survival is more important than anything, due to the school not letting students leave until they graduate..or die.
el, the main character of this story is a student determined to rebel against what the school wants to make her, which is evil.
this book is magical and dark with lots of tension and suspense, it’s a good read that i would recommend to anyone.
Moderate: Child death, Gore, Racism, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Bullying and Fire/Fire injury
chalkletters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
El’s character development is awesome, and ties seamlessly in to an action-packed plot. It’s rare that a moment of intense self-discovery will also be an attempted murder, but Naomi Novik manages it. Against the background of self-interest and betrayal, El’s developing friendships shine particularly brightly. While there is a romance, it doesn’t overshadow the platonic relationships.
Even though El’s mother never appears 'on stage’, their relationship is beautifully portrayed. Gwen Higgins is the goodest of good witches, but the mother-daughter bond isn’t all unconditional love and endless support; it’s complicated and realistic and oh, so fantastic to read about.
It’s always a good sign when there’s enough plot going on that the reader can make guesses about a situation and be wrong. No detail of the plot felt wasted or cumbersome, and Naomi Novik manages to set-up such a brilliant cliffhanger that even if you know there is one, you probably won’t guess what it’s going to be.
A Deadly Education was a complete joy to read, despite the darkness of the world and setting, and I can hardly wait to move on to the next book in the series!
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
takarakei's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Racism, Grief, and Pregnancy