A review by trips
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

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

 If I hadn't been listening to this on audiobook, I would have DNF'd this book. The prose kind of lost me at times, El's rambling was entertaining, to a point. Sometimes she rambles so much I would start to forget what she was even doing in any one scene. While I think it was written well, I know it isn't a style I'm super fond of so I'm glad an audiobook exists.
Prose aside, the plot is...ok? There is so much backstory to give us yet a lot is left out. El and Orion's relationship was the most entertaining thing about the book because it was straightforward and to the point. I enjoyed the plot enough, but I also felt like as things were getting better for El, El got more pessimistic about things, and it kinda weighed the story down.

Idk! Not bad, but not great. I definitely understand Dark Academia now though! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings