A review by jkneebone
The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik

adventurous dark inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

In the sequel to A Deadly Education, El and her allies/friends face down their senior year in the Scholomance, and the terrifying graduation run that will conclude it. However, it quickly becomes clear that it’s not going to be a normal year for El, or for anyone - the school knows how powerful she is, and is taking action because of it. 

I loved this one, if possible, even more than the first book. Naomi Novik continues to build on the already-amazing world building by giving us new features and new cognizance from the Scholomance. We get to find out more about the friends El made in book one, such as Aadhya and Liu, while meeting even more players. And similarly to what I adored in book one, El continues to make the harder choices - the ones that are right and good - at every step of the way.
And obviously the fact that everyone had to learn to work together - the opposite of what everything else about the Scholomance had taught them! - in order to save everyone really got me. Plus, Novik gives us such a tragic full circle moment with that ending - even though I was expecting something might happen to Orion, I wasn’t expecting it LIKE THAT. Gah.


If you liked book one, you will like book two - and if you didn’t like book one, you probably don’t want to read book two anyway!
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