Reviews

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

greshick's review against another edition

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

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 against another edition

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 against another edition

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 against another edition

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.

prof_chronotis's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

janagaton's review against another edition

2.0

im confused. im pissed. was this just me bc i just felt like i blacked out every time i opened it. how did el and orion not know they were dating. why was there so much world-building and barely any plot. el tried way too hard to be sarcastically spunky but i didnt find any of her dialogue funny at all. i could count the number of times i smirked while reading and it was when she was in narrator mode. im disappointed. i really wanted to love this. i paid full price for it and i love the cover and the premise sounded so cool, but i unfortunately really disliked it/: