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sarabanana's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. It was sort of an improved, more spicy, more fun, more entertaining and with a much better school of magic version of Harry Potter. I enjoyed this book a lot, specially the way in with El tells what is happening to the reader, I love the sarcastic and rude way she sees the world.
malejaescorciap's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
lfarron's review against another edition
4.0
A seriously well developed world full of excitement and danger held back mostly by an extremely unlikable MC.
rileyblundellwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dark academia, magic schools, coming of age,
nicholasegan's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? No
3.5
bhnmt61's review against another edition
5.0
A Deadly Education is far from a perfect book, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. There have been enough magical boarding school books now that I think we can stop always referring back to Hogwarts (I read plenty of boarding school books when I was a kid that were written well before JKRowling). But as a shorthand, imagine Hogwarts but students actually die regularly, and since not everyone will make it out alive, students don’t have the luxury of friendships or easy relaxation—unless you are part of an enclave, a group of wizards who have banded together and can send their children to the school with far more resources than un-allied students can manage. It actually has more in common with The Hunger Games than it does with Harry Potter.
I read a fairly vicious takedown of this book based on Naomi Novik’s white privilege and I have to say that I think the reviewer isn’t giving Novik quite enough credit for being aware of what she’s doing. Sure, all of us (including Novik) who are white and come from colonizing countries have ways that we are unaware of our privilege, but I think this book actually does a great job of showing how privilege works, without ever actually mentioning the word. If you have a white friend who doesn’t believe privilege exists, you could hand them this book without a word and let it teach them.
I thoroughly related to socially awkward El, who is trying her best to protect her fellow students at the same time that they have no use for her as either a friend or an ally. After Orion, one of the most powerful wizards in the school, unexpectedly begins to hang out with her, she slowly learns to let other people in. It is occasionally hilarious, even as it is awkward and disturbing as hell. It’s not exactly a five-star book but I’m rounding up because I had so much fun reading it.
I read a fairly vicious takedown of this book based on Naomi Novik’s white privilege and I have to say that I think the reviewer isn’t giving Novik quite enough credit for being aware of what she’s doing. Sure, all of us (including Novik) who are white and come from colonizing countries have ways that we are unaware of our privilege, but I think this book actually does a great job of showing how privilege works, without ever actually mentioning the word. If you have a white friend who doesn’t believe privilege exists, you could hand them this book without a word and let it teach them.
I thoroughly related to socially awkward El, who is trying her best to protect her fellow students at the same time that they have no use for her as either a friend or an ally. After Orion, one of the most powerful wizards in the school, unexpectedly begins to hang out with her, she slowly learns to let other people in. It is occasionally hilarious, even as it is awkward and disturbing as hell. It’s not exactly a five-star book but I’m rounding up because I had so much fun reading it.
cryssofthewild's review against another edition
5.0
Enjoyable, though the writing "tells" more than "shows," relying heavily on inner dialog and narration. The premise, plot, and characters are engaging and the descriptive language is entertaining. I love the take on magical education. Definitely recommend.
tlskayte's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
buer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
El (or Galadriel if you want to annoy her) is a young magician who is currently trying to graduate from school - ie make it out of school alive. At the start of Deadly Education she has resigned herself to not having any friends, which suddenly changes when Orion - the most heroic boy at school - starts to follow her around. El sees an opportunity and convinces her classmates that she's dating Orion and slowly sees her status at school take what she thought was an impossible upswing.
The world building in this series is great. The kids are cutthroat in a way that mirrors the world they are navigating. Schoolroom politics, classroom guidelines, and social dynamics are all heavily influenced by the violent, threatening world that is their school, which makes for really interesting storytelling.
I listened to the audiobook for this one, which I would recommend, although I do think that the narrator (Anisha Dadia) struggles with American accents. The accents never took me out of the story and everything else about the reading was great.
I would recommend this for anyone who likes magic, teen fiction, and imaginative world building.
The world building in this series is great. The kids are cutthroat in a way that mirrors the world they are navigating. Schoolroom politics, classroom guidelines, and social dynamics are all heavily influenced by the violent, threatening world that is their school, which makes for really interesting storytelling.
I listened to the audiobook for this one, which I would recommend, although I do think that the narrator (Anisha Dadia) struggles with American accents. The accents never took me out of the story and everything else about the reading was great.
I would recommend this for anyone who likes magic, teen fiction, and imaginative world building.
claire_blanchard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25