Scan barcode
A review by katemilty
The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
funny
tense
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
3.75
I'm in love with the Scholomance and with Galadriel, so imagine my delight when their relationship was the focus of this sequel.
However, I did not love the cliffhanger ending, and the author got a little more convoluted/less tidy with her twisty, bendy plot this time around. Naomi Novik is really good at this kind of thing (see Spinning Silver and a Deadly Education), so I'm holding out hope that The Last Graduate wasn't just needlessly convoluted and every loose end will get wrapped up in the 3rd Scholomance installment.
Some open questions:
- If Orion isn't dead, is he going to come back mutated by his power or something? How would he not be stuck in the void though???
- What the effff is El going to do for all of Book 3 if it's not "fight super villain Orion"?? (This plot seems super unpleasant to follow but my senses tell me that's where it's going???)
- RIP Scholomance. Is book 3 just going to be set in the outside world?? That just sounds honestly not as fun. I am sad the school part of the story is over :( The school year has just such a nice, natural tension arc to it.
- Are Aadhya and Lui just like out of the picture now that everyone is back on their respective continents? Will we ever see them again?
- Where is El going to get mana now that she's not working with Orion???? Is this going to be like a "magic is gone" trope bc she's cut off from everyone's power now that she's on the outside?
- And last but not least, is El going to be pregnant and produce some sort of like, magic-breaking power monster human??? That would be so lame.
Things I *am* looking forward to
- Gwen Higgins dialogue, yessssssss
- Honestly, that's about it unless there's also a happy ending for Orion in the works, which I somehow very much doubt. I just want our number 1 good boy to be happy and not turn into a monster. Is that so much to ask?
However, I did not love the cliffhanger ending, and the author got a little more convoluted/less tidy with her twisty, bendy plot this time around. Naomi Novik is really good at this kind of thing (see Spinning Silver and a Deadly Education), so I'm holding out hope that The Last Graduate wasn't just needlessly convoluted and every loose end will get wrapped up in the 3rd Scholomance installment.
- If Orion isn't dead, is he going to come back mutated by his power or something? How would he not be stuck in the void though???
- What the effff is El going to do for all of Book 3 if it's not "fight super villain Orion"?? (This plot seems super unpleasant to follow but my senses tell me that's where it's going???)
- RIP Scholomance. Is book 3 just going to be set in the outside world?? That just sounds honestly not as fun. I am sad the school part of the story is over :( The school year has just such a nice, natural tension arc to it.
- Are Aadhya and Lui just like out of the picture now that everyone is back on their respective continents? Will we ever see them again?
- Where is El going to get mana now that she's not working with Orion???? Is this going to be like a "magic is gone" trope bc she's cut off from everyone's power now that she's on the outside?
- And last but not least, is El going to be pregnant and produce some sort of like, magic-breaking power monster human??? That would be so lame.
Things I *am* looking forward to
- Gwen Higgins dialogue, yessssssss
- Honestly, that's about it unless there's also a happy ending for Orion in the works, which I somehow very much doubt. I just want our number 1 good boy to be happy and not turn into a monster. Is that so much to ask?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Child death