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ashction's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't quite sure about this one when I started (especially with the controversy of a white author writing an Indian MC), but by the halfway point things really started to pick up and then the last 15% was BANANAS and the ending line was the work of an EVIL GENIUS.
So, clearly, it was really freaking good!
A Deadly Education is about a different kind of magic school than you've probably ever seen. There's no fancy magic spells here, no kind professors to help our main protragonist, El, through her time here. Instead, The Scholomance feels like a gladiator game where your only goal is to make it out alive. The school is full of murderous monsters and deadly classrooms, alliances and enemies, a void where people can send others to disappear forever - and that's only a fraction of what you'll experience in this world. Our story follows El, a student who's great-grandmother prophesized her as a harbinger of destruction using mal - evil magic, essentially - but she plans to stick to strict mana - good magic - and try to make it out alive. She's friend-less and grumpy at best when Orion Lake, the school's golden boy and killer of monsters, happens to save her life, much to her chagrin. From there, we follow El as she goes from friend-less to finding herself carefully making acquaintances and alliances, in part because of her sudden ties to Orion, but also because El begins to demonstrate how powerful she truly is.
This book was a bit difficult for me at first because it's more heavily character-oriented than I think I'm used to reading. On top of that, there is so much rich, deep world-building that occurs consistently throughout the book, which can sometimes just be difficult for me to read since I prefer more action-packed movement in a story. However, once I hit the halfway point, I began feeling really connected to the characters, and as I saw El start to grow and come into her own and find a place within The Scholomance, I felt much more attached to the story. Also, El and Orion become truly hilarious in their interactions with each other, so that helped a lot, too! This book is heavily viewed through El's eyes, and the voice in this story is so powerful and demanding. But the journey is a rewarding one, as we get to see El grow and become more open.
And then, naturally, the last 15% or so was CHAOS and I was VERY STRESSED. And then the FINAL LINE! OH MY GOD. WHAT DOES IT MEAN!?
I'll definitely pick up the sequel when it's out next! This was my first Naomi Novik book, and though I wasn't sure at first this was for me, I definitely wound up really enjoying the story and I'm excited to see where it goes next.
I received a digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Edelweiss and Del Rey Books for providing me a review copy!
So, clearly, it was really freaking good!
A Deadly Education is about a different kind of magic school than you've probably ever seen. There's no fancy magic spells here, no kind professors to help our main protragonist, El, through her time here. Instead, The Scholomance feels like a gladiator game where your only goal is to make it out alive. The school is full of murderous monsters and deadly classrooms, alliances and enemies, a void where people can send others to disappear forever - and that's only a fraction of what you'll experience in this world. Our story follows El, a student who's great-grandmother prophesized her as a harbinger of destruction using mal - evil magic, essentially - but she plans to stick to strict mana - good magic - and try to make it out alive. She's friend-less and grumpy at best when Orion Lake, the school's golden boy and killer of monsters, happens to save her life, much to her chagrin. From there, we follow El as she goes from friend-less to finding herself carefully making acquaintances and alliances, in part because of her sudden ties to Orion, but also because El begins to demonstrate how powerful she truly is.
This book was a bit difficult for me at first because it's more heavily character-oriented than I think I'm used to reading. On top of that, there is so much rich, deep world-building that occurs consistently throughout the book, which can sometimes just be difficult for me to read since I prefer more action-packed movement in a story. However, once I hit the halfway point, I began feeling really connected to the characters, and as I saw El start to grow and come into her own and find a place within The Scholomance, I felt much more attached to the story. Also, El and Orion become truly hilarious in their interactions with each other, so that helped a lot, too! This book is heavily viewed through El's eyes, and the voice in this story is so powerful and demanding. But the journey is a rewarding one, as we get to see El grow and become more open.
And then, naturally, the last 15% or so was CHAOS and I was VERY STRESSED. And then the FINAL LINE! OH MY GOD. WHAT DOES IT MEAN!?
I'll definitely pick up the sequel when it's out next! This was my first Naomi Novik book, and though I wasn't sure at first this was for me, I definitely wound up really enjoying the story and I'm excited to see where it goes next.
I received a digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Edelweiss and Del Rey Books for providing me a review copy!
alilbitofeveryth1ng's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
caelda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
princessraya's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
osean93's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tinidoc's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This book took me absolutely forever to finish, if I wasn’t reading it with my husband and the last hundred pages didn’t pick up I probably would’ve DNFd!
The stream of consciousness drove me absolutely nuts, I can definitely see what draws young people to this book however, for me, a 28-year-old, it was absolutely so tough to get into. My husband doesn’t read a ton, and he got me this book to read with him for our anniversary. the world was really hard for him to follow as well. He is a low IQ reader but felt like the narrator was just TUFF to read.
The use of random large words and confusing use of “Malia, malifcaria, mana…etc” was senseless. I was extremely disappointed in this read!
Ending picked up, cliffhanger was meh. Nothing I haven’t read before to be honest.
Going to read the next one with my husband, just took us a WHILE to get into.
The stream of consciousness drove me absolutely nuts, I can definitely see what draws young people to this book however, for me, a 28-year-old, it was absolutely so tough to get into. My husband doesn’t read a ton, and he got me this book to read with him for our anniversary. the world was really hard for him to follow as well. He is a low IQ reader but felt like the narrator was just TUFF to read.
The use of random large words and confusing use of “Malia, malifcaria, mana…etc” was senseless. I was extremely disappointed in this read!
Ending picked up, cliffhanger was meh. Nothing I haven’t read before to be honest.
Going to read the next one with my husband, just took us a WHILE to get into.
passivemoon's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0