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A review by breaktheshell
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
i really enjoyed this!
really solid worldbuilding, and the near-constant stream of strategizing and political intrigue kept me hooked. it is somewhat infodumpy, but i didn't mind; the concepts are fun enough to be enjoyable.
unfortunately i found that the first-person narration took away from the setting - el understandably doesn't pause to take things in, she's focusing on survival, and that leaves you without a strong sense of place. i think third-person narration could have emphasized the dreary/gothic/horror elements of the magic school. as it is you mostly get el's sarcastic YA quips and elaborate descriptions of monsters who are coming to kill her (between trying to form strategic partnership with other students).
i enjoyed el as a protagonist, she's a really interesting take on the question of destiny and trying to be a good person in a world that is designed to implicates you in its horrors. very relevant to all teenagers growing up in the imperial core!
i did not love orion as a deuteragonist, firstly because he's a dweeb, second because he and other side characters weren't fully developed and his rapport with el felt lacking - the friendly insult thing had a very limited effect on me.i will say the execution of their romance as something of a plot twist by the end was really well done. even if i don't love their relationship itself, i enjoyed reading it, and that's what's important!
all in all this is a really fun read. it's full of YAisms, so be prepared for that if you're not the target audience. though some potential is left unrealized, overall it's a good experience.
really solid worldbuilding, and the near-constant stream of strategizing and political intrigue kept me hooked. it is somewhat infodumpy, but i didn't mind; the concepts are fun enough to be enjoyable.
unfortunately i found that the first-person narration took away from the setting - el understandably doesn't pause to take things in, she's focusing on survival, and that leaves you without a strong sense of place. i think third-person narration could have emphasized the dreary/gothic/horror elements of the magic school. as it is you mostly get el's sarcastic YA quips and elaborate descriptions of monsters who are coming to kill her (between trying to form strategic partnership with other students).
i enjoyed el as a protagonist, she's a really interesting take on the question of destiny and trying to be a good person in a world that is designed to implicates you in its horrors. very relevant to all teenagers growing up in the imperial core!
i did not love orion as a deuteragonist, firstly because he's a dweeb, second because he and other side characters weren't fully developed and his rapport with el felt lacking - the friendly insult thing had a very limited effect on me.
all in all this is a really fun read. it's full of YAisms, so be prepared for that if you're not the target audience. though some potential is left unrealized, overall it's a good experience.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
there's a racist worldbuilding detail that is kind of unnecessary and out of left field, iirc the author has apologized for it