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modalmle's review
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
beardedmug's review
adventurous
dark
fast-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
bookswithcuppatea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.5
The second book of the series, an excellent continuation of the story.
I love El, her snarky, prickly personality and her deep moral convictions result in a lot of internal conflict which impacts how she responds to the other teens around her (since there are no adults in the Scholomance). This book and the first in the series, A Deadly Education, are great cathartic reads.
The main focus for El and her fellow seniors is getting ready for graduation, knowing they face getting through the enormous hall at the bottom of the school filled with vicious monsters (maleficaria). Six months of classes and six months of physical training ahead of them, there is little time for other thoughts.
But the school has more surprises in store, and has focused on El.
The ending sets up well for a third book, and I look forward to seeing the story continue into the world beyond the Scholomance, to see how adults respond to what has happened, and what the graduates do next.
One of my favourite things in this series is the role of languages. An international school for magical children from the entire world, it offers instruction in both English and Chinese, as well as subjects in many other languages. El can use 'the big 4' of English, Spanish, Chinese and Hindi, as well as having studied other languages. The difficulty of using a spell in a language you don't know well, and the extreme challenge of translating a spell into a different language are both so realistic, avoiding using magic as a solution as many other authors choose to do.
I enjoyed watching El develop friendships as well as gain better insight into other peers, and in particular enjoyed the challenge she faced in having homeroom with a group of 14 year olds who had just arrived in the Scholomance.
I love El, her snarky, prickly personality and her deep moral convictions result in a lot of internal conflict which impacts how she responds to the other teens around her (since there are no adults in the Scholomance). This book and the first in the series, A Deadly Education, are great cathartic reads.
The main focus for El and her fellow seniors is getting ready for graduation, knowing they face getting through the enormous hall at the bottom of the school filled with vicious monsters (maleficaria). Six months of classes and six months of physical training ahead of them, there is little time for other thoughts.
But the school has more surprises in store, and has focused on El.
The ending sets up well for a third book, and I look forward to seeing the story continue into the world beyond the Scholomance, to see how adults respond to what has happened, and what the graduates do next.
One of my favourite things in this series is the role of languages. An international school for magical children from the entire world, it offers instruction in both English and Chinese, as well as subjects in many other languages. El can use 'the big 4' of English, Spanish, Chinese and Hindi, as well as having studied other languages. The difficulty of using a spell in a language you don't know well, and the extreme challenge of translating a spell into a different language are both so realistic, avoiding using magic as a solution as many other authors choose to do.
I enjoyed watching El develop friendships as well as gain better insight into other peers, and in particular enjoyed the challenge she faced in having homeroom with a group of 14 year olds who had just arrived in the Scholomance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism and Violence
bnielsen214's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-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
lovest's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
barbora_j's review
adventurous
dark
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? N/A
4.25
rikerandom's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.75
schmidi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
isipet's review
5.0
Wow! This book is amazing.
It is so, so dark and I love it.
I also love El, she is such a bitter person. SO incredibly pessimistic, and I can relate a bit to much to that. She is also super funny. (All the side characters are really good too.)
And I will just say that, I always have a hard time with romance in book, but... This was good shit ;)
It is so, so dark and I love it.
I also love El, she is such a bitter person. SO incredibly pessimistic, and I can relate a bit to much to that. She is also super funny. (All the side characters are really good too.)
And I will just say that, I always have a hard time with romance in book, but... This was good shit ;)