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readwithsophsx's review
- 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
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
kiwij96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
If you took out all of Galadriel's ramblings, lore/infodumping, and internal monologues, the book would be like 70 pages.
Why was this only 13 chapters? It dragged on so much because of it.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Vomit and Pregnancy
Minor: Racism
gabeagenda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Torture, and Murder
taelights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent
soundlysmitten's review against another edition
- 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
When I first started reading, I thought I was going to hate the book because I found the main character extremely annoying. El’s hostile narration can get repetitive fast, but the way she holds herself makes sense once you learn how her experience differs from others. So I’m glad I kept reading. Truly, I was so happy when things started to look up for El, you’d think she was a real person 😹
My favorite part of the book was the dynamic between El and her allies. The development of their relationships is heartwarming as it marks El's first experience of social acceptance and support.
I also appreciated the ethnic and financial diversity of the different characters and think the author did a good job mirroring certain real world inequalities that are perpetuated by the corrupt social systems we’ve established.
All in all, I'd say give this one a shot. It won't be for everyone, but no book is!
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, and Vomit
coffeedragon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Even though the Scholomance is the safer alternative for a developing wizard, it’s a given that a number of weak and unaware students will be devoured by the mal that sneak past the protection wards of the Scholomance every year; however, this year is special because Orion has saved more than 600 students in the three years he’s been a student, completely changing the climate of the school…and not for the good. Now the mal are starving, the graduating class is desperate to survive, and Galadriel, in her own quest of survival, has found herself in the middle of the whole problem
I was extremely excited when I heard that Naomi Novik was going to release a new book. I had really enjoyed reading Spinning Silver last year and while I was starting to see a pattern in her endings (which always left me crying), I was prepared and longing for my next heartache. Then I learned that A Deadly Education wasn’t going to be a standalone and I panicked. I couldn’t get into her Temeraire series the one time I tried, what if the same thing happened this time too?!
Luckily this wasn’t a problem. I was immediately sucked into this new story thanks to Galadriel (El) who was a completely different heroine to Agnieszka and the girls of Spinning Silver. Galadriel was snarky and sarcastic and didn’t care if she hurt your feelings…or so it seemed to be at first glance. Because of her upbringing as the chosen one of death and destruction, El had to live a life where everyone instantly either wanted her dead or gone. Perhaps in the vein of Myriem, El didn’t have anyone aside from her mother that wanted her and this made her wish for those connections that Agnieszka was lucky to be born with. Actually, up to this moment I’ve been really impressed by how realistic many of Naomi’s characters feel and El is no exception
In terms of other characters, I have to admit that I instantly found Orion an interesting character, not just for the story but as a potential love interest. It was only the first chapter and I instantly shipped the two. Interestingly, while I wouldn’t call this a romance story, the relationship between El and Orion is greatly emphasized in a way that made me want some fluff. Another thing that only Naomi has been able to do to me. When in other stories I wish the romance was less, in this one I wish it was either existent or more! That said, there was much about Orion that was left in the dark in this first book, which I hope we get to explore in the next one, especially with THAT ENDING
One of the things that I can see as a potential turn off for readers is that there are A LOT of explanations to the point that you come to realize that not a lot actually happens in terms of actions in a story. Still, I didn’t find this a problem because El is such a great narrator and makes what would usually be boring, sarcastically fun. With all of this explaining we also get a better understanding about the world that these wizards are living in, such as how enclaves, alliances, and the Scholomance works
I also like how international this world feels with the variety of characters and enclaves interacting with each other. Since El is narrating the story, much of what is said feels cynical but if you think about it, it’s all very true.
As I fall into a pit of restless despair for the next book (HA, the first isn’t even out yet), I keep thinking about where this story might go next. I’ve only read Uprooted and Spinning Silver by Naomi and both of these were fairytale retellings. As I contemplate A Deadly Education, I wonder if there’s something hidden away in there. Orion is a character from mythology and so far he’s been keeping to that image of the hero who is good at combat, but because there’s (apparently) not much information on his history, I wonder how Naomi is going to twist the story. Likewise, Galadriel is a name from the Tolkein stories (which I only know because El mentions it) and while I haven’t read or watched any of his content, it also has a very Western mythological vibe to it. And to put the icing on the cake, many have made the Harry Potter connection (though tbh it didn't occur to me until I saw someone say it)
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Not good at tagging, there may be more! Ps. I tagged sexual harassment because there's a scene where El describes a "fight" akin to being sexually harassed (and describes it)emmahe's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Medical content
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Death of parent
dana_kuku's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder
stormwise's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Our main character, Galadriel "El" Higgins (don't ask about the name) is a really interesting character, a teenager who has the potential to become the most powerful dark sorceress in the world and who is DESPERATELY fighting against her destiny. Her development throughout the novel was fantastic -
This isn't just a "magic school" fantasy novel - the students are fighting to survive without compromising their morals, forced to make sacrifices and difficult choices every day. There is an underlying theme of classism and class mobility that leads to a satisfying finale that sees the students challenging the status quo in an effort to improve not only their own lives but the lives of future students as well.
I did find that there was a lot of info dumping, especially in the first chapter and the pop culture references felt a bit odd in a setting so detached from reality. However, I love complex world building and I got a good laugh out of the references so I can't complain!
Minor: Ableism and Torture