Reviews

Scholomance - Tödliche Lektion by Naomi Novik

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lucien_png's review against another edition

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adventurous 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

4.75

sunnyjacksonreads's review against another edition

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5.0

Naomi Novik's Scholomance series is a phenomenal read, with fantastic world-building, realistic and interesting characters, and a plot that just doesn't stop.

kstone15's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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

4.0

hermionen's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

chelseacounsell's review against another edition

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4.0

I liked this one! Which is a huge surprise because normally I don’t think I’m too big into YA. I probably just like Naomi Novik’s work. And also the protagonist El, who is a shitlord who nobody likes. Hashtag relatable lol. I think the ending was really really good. I almost wish there could’ve been more of those good ending vibes at the beginning but obviously the book was heading toward that as a peak rather than going to disperse it throughout.

I think it’s weird that anyone would compare this to Harry Potter. Sure there’s a magical school, but like four hundred people have written magical school books and the Scholomance doesn’t feel like Hogwarts at all. Really I would say it’s more like The Hunger Games If we’re going to compare it to a super popular book series, due to its “make it out alive” stakes and its discussion of power hierarchies in its worldbuilding.

I did enjoy Novik’s attempts at creating a world (the Scholomance) that so obviously laid out the privileges and power struggles inherent in “getting ahead” of other people. I feel like there’s some kind of moral there so I’m curious where the series will go next.