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A review by saramcaps
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? No
2.5
A complex and unique magic system and dark academia setting. The Scholomance school is a character in and of itself and plays both teacher and villain. While the school’s character was laid out right from the start, actual character-building was lacking until the back half of the book.
The stream of conscious, sarcastic ramblings of the stubborn main character El and the massive amount of info dumps was not my favorite writing style. Most of the book lacked the heart to balance the darkness, but by the end, I found that missing piece in the well-rounded group of seniors and the clear setup for a grumpy/sunshine romance in the future. I’m hoping the second book digs more into those friendships and less into world-building.
The stream of conscious, sarcastic ramblings of the stubborn main character El and the massive amount of info dumps was not my favorite writing style. Most of the book lacked the heart to balance the darkness, but by the end, I found that missing piece in the well-rounded group of seniors and the clear setup for a grumpy/sunshine romance in the future. I’m hoping the second book digs more into those friendships and less into world-building.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Violence