A review by thenovelmaura
The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik

adventurous dark emotional 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

You know I usually hate the second book in a series, but this one was a masterpiece. I both re-read A Deadly Education and binge read The Last Graduate in a whirlwind 72 hours! I am truly obsessed with this series; whenever I wasn't actively reading either book I was mentally replaying its last scene or pondering a minute detail about the Scholomance until I could start reading again.

Novik did an incredible job of expanding upon all of the details and conflicts she set up in book 1, as well as paying more attention to many of the side characters we weren't able to know much about (because El had barely started to acknowledge them at the end of the first book). It was sweet to see her starting to form real relationships with her classmates
— and even the school —
after spending so many years with her guard up.

Once again, Novik has given us the most enthralling combination of magic, dark academia, and snark, all topped off with her biting critique of classism. Also, she is a certified genius for coming up with all of these ideas for new mals; they're so fascinating and horrifying and even funny at times. If her outrageous mals don't kill you, that cliffhanger ending definitely will... Is it September yet?
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