Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Een dodelijke opleiding by Naomi Novik

131 reviews

lanid's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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rodes's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • 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

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eni_iilorak'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? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Interesting concept of an unusual magical world. Not only the magic system but also the society with its complex mechanisms of privilege are well thought out. Thinking through the details of a complex society is Naomi Novik's strength.

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.
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the_quickening_tree's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Fantastic book, Naomi Novik truly is a master wordsmith. Fast paced and engaging- I've never read a book before that actually triggered and adrenaline response! Very witty, you will be drawn in from the first page.
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considermebooked's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny slow-paced
  • 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

4.5

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iksme's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Solid book, the main character couldn't be more self insert if she tried, if you ignore all the cliche it's kinda a good premace.
The world building is why this book has a 4 star rating because the characters are iffy.
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myaphrodiite's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

‘a deadly education’ is set in a boarding school for magically gifted students. the downside is in this school failure = death, not very inspiring huh? 

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. 
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salty_morton'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

4.25

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jhbandcats's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I’m sorry to report that I found the narrator / heroine so rude, annoying, and just plain bitchy that I didn’t enjoy the book. I got the point about why she was so angry at the world but that didn’t need to be repeated again and again and again. 

I also wasn’t very excited about a school that’s full of dangerous creatures within a world even more full of dangerous creatures - and for that to be the only plot point. There wasn’t a lot of complexity: high school students in endless struggle to stay alive. While I appreciated the wealth of bizarre creatures within the bowels of the school, and I enjoyed seeing how each would manifest its menace, that wasn’t enough to sustain my interest. 

I know everyone else adores this book so clearly there’s a personal flaw that prevents me from appreciating it properly. I just didn’t like it. 
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