A Deadly Education: A Novel (The Scholomance)
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - From the author of Uprooted and Spinning Silver comes the first book of the Scholomance trilogy, the story of an unwilling dark sorceress who is destined to rewrite the rules of magic. FINALIST FOR THE LODESTAR AWARD - "The dark school of magic I've been waiting for."--Katherine Arden, author of the Winternight Trilogy I decided that Orion Lake needed to die after the second time he saved my life. Everyone loves Orion Lake. Everyone else, that is. Far as I'm concerned, he can keep his flashy combat magic to himself. I'm not joining his pack of adoring fans. I don't need help surviving the Scholomance, even if they do. Forget the hordes of monsters and cursed artifacts, I'm probably the most dangerous thing in the place. Just give me a chance and I'll level mountains and kill untold millions, make myself the dark queen of the world. At least, that's what the world expects. Most of the other students in here would be delighted if Orion killed me like one more evil thing that's crawled out of the drains. Sometimes I think they want me to turn into the evil witch they assume I am. The school certainly does. But the Scholomance isn't getting what it wants from me. And neither is Orion Lake. I may not be anyone's idea of the shining hero, but I'm going to make it out of this place alive, and I'm not going to slaughter thousands to do it, either. Although I'm giving serious consideration to just one. With flawless mastery, Naomi Novik creates a school bursting with magic like you've never seen before, and a heroine for the ages--a character so sharply realized and so richly nuanced that she will live on in hearts and minds for generations to come.
The magic of the Scholomance trilogy continues in The Last Graduate and The Golden Enclaves "The can't-miss fantasy of fall 2020, a brutal coming-of-power story steeped in the aesthetics of dark academia. . . . A Deadly Education will cement Naomi Novik's place as one of the greatest and most versatile fantasy writers of our time."--BookPage (starred review) "A must-read . . . Novik puts a refreshingly dark, adult spin on the magical boarding school. . . . Readers will delight in the push-and-pull of El and Orion's relationship, the fantastically detailed world, the clever magic system, and the matter-of-fact diversity of the student body."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The magic of the Scholomance trilogy continues in The Last Graduate and The Golden Enclaves "The can't-miss fantasy of fall 2020, a brutal coming-of-power story steeped in the aesthetics of dark academia. . . . A Deadly Education will cement Naomi Novik's place as one of the greatest and most versatile fantasy writers of our time."--BookPage (starred review) "A must-read . . . Novik puts a refreshingly dark, adult spin on the magical boarding school. . . . Readers will delight in the push-and-pull of El and Orion's relationship, the fantastically detailed world, the clever magic system, and the matter-of-fact diversity of the student body."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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Community Reviews
I had been sitting on this book for a long time and finally decided to read it. I ended up doing the audiobook, and I think the narrator did very well.
This book is quite exposition heavy, but the exposition is in the main character's voice so you get a bit of flavor of their personality along with the info dumps. Sometimes it felt like the story would come to a halt for some fairly irrelevant exposition, while other times the story would plunge along and I felt like I didn't have context to fully understand what was happening. It's a bit of an exhausting story because the Scholomance is such an exhausting place to live. There are monsters, school rules, and complex social hierarchies that make every action and every conversation loaded with potential repercussions, and all of those things constantly need explaining.
All that being said, I did enjoy this book. The main character was a lot more likable than I expected from the blurb, and there were some interesting supporting characters as well. As a character driven reader, these characters worked for me and carried me through the book. I am not sure if I will pick up the rest of the series or not, though.
Content Warnings:
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death, Murder, Child death, and Gore
Minor: Death of parent
I was a bit nervous going into this book as it had been very hyped but then I saw reviewers who were disappointed in the book and I was afraid I wouldn't like it. However, I really enjoyed it and it is probably on a list of top favorites.
the setting is a magical school but also survival as the young witches and wizards are very appealing tasty treats for magical monsters who do everything they can to break into the school to eat the students and you have to be constantly vigilant to survive. There are heavy themes of classism as those who are well off enough to be in enclaves are much more likely to be get into school which even though you might get eaten at school the chances are lower than if you aren't at school. Those who are in enclaves also have built in allies who can help support and protect them. El doesn't come from an enclave and she also isn't well liked. She is blunt and is focused on her goal of survival. I appreciate how much El struggles against her own Mal (dark magic) nature to defy prophecy and determine her own destiny.
the setting is a magical school but also survival as the young witches and wizards are very appealing tasty treats for magical monsters who do everything they can to break into the school to eat the students and you have to be constantly vigilant to survive. There are heavy themes of classism as those who are well off enough to be in enclaves are much more likely to be get into school which even though you might get eaten at school the chances are lower than if you aren't at school. Those who are in enclaves also have built in allies who can help support and protect them. El doesn't come from an enclave and she also isn't well liked. She is blunt and is focused on her goal of survival. I appreciate how much El struggles against her own Mal (dark magic) nature to defy prophecy and determine her own destiny.
I have sooooo many questions!
This school gives me anxiety. I’d die my first day. I’m not doing 100 push ups a night. Bleh.
This world is crazy.
Why?!?
This school gives me anxiety. I’d die my first day. I’m not doing 100 push ups a night. Bleh.
This world is crazy.
Why?!?
I am surprised how much I enjoyed this! I wish it wasn’t YA—in that the premise would be more interesting if some of adult themes of death and danger were explored more. However, Novik has cleverly written the 1st person as quirky and rambling and funny, so it softens the themes for YA. That being said, that’s why it’s getting a 7. Do I want to know what happens to El? Of COURSE I do. Everyone loves a reluctant dark lady! But her monologue was a bit much sometimes and I found myself skimming some of the longer inner thoughts where she circles the drain 15 times before getting to the point. It’s charming but needed a heavier edit. This is because the exchanges between her and her classmates are interesting and sometimes, it gets lost in her sauce. In general, I enjoy darker text that doesn’t take itself as seriously as the themes. I have reserved the other two at the library! Read this if you love a reluctant hero; secrets and murderous magical education (Whomping Willow Revenge).
dnf @32%
возможно вернусь к этой книге, когда ее переведут на русский, и попробую еще раз, но сейчас сил моих больше нет. какой-то чрезвычайно неприятный для чтения текст, через который надо продираться - не знаю даже как объяснить, в другом ревью на другую книгу было выражение painful wordiness, вот это наверное оно. такая детализация, что сюжета за ней вообще не видно. я даже затрудняюсь ответить, что за события произошли в том куске, что я прочитала. помню только, что было страниц пять, на которых описывалось, кто с кем сидит в школьной столовой и почему
возможно вернусь к этой книге, когда ее переведут на русский, и попробую еще раз, но сейчас сил моих больше нет. какой-то чрезвычайно неприятный для чтения текст, через который надо продираться - не знаю даже как объяснить, в другом ревью на другую книгу было выражение painful wordiness, вот это наверное оно. такая детализация, что сюжета за ней вообще не видно. я даже затрудняюсь ответить, что за события произошли в том куске, что я прочитала. помню только, что было страниц пять, на которых описывалось, кто с кем сидит в школьной столовой и почему
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