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queenofsages's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
- 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
5.0
I think this book is very much an acquired taste. El is acerbic, unpleasant, self destructive on the surface. The Scholomance itself is a speed run of tragedy, that can potentially teeter on comical. There is almost no comfort for the hurt in this novel. And yet I loved it. I was fully captured in the stakes, the prose, and El. El is, frankly, an asshole, but in her internal world you can understand why she is how she is. She is as flawed as any teen, and that makes her real to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death
living_dead_ghost's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.5
This book is genuinely very good. There is a lot of exhibition and world building so its a little slow to move despite having taken place only over the course of 2 weeks. The ways its written allows for the reader to feel as if these events take more time, and therefore makes the character development feel properly fleshed out. It’s definitely angsty and a little cliche, but the tropes are used sparingly and it doesn’t come across as annoying or predictable. The main character is always anticipating the worst, which can get a tad frustrating, but there are effective reasons for this and as the story progresses we’re able to see her growth in this area which makes this aspect actually feel as if it has pay off. Overall, highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and War
Moderate: Child death and Classism
It’s a book about the main character essentially fighting and killing her way to survive in a magical school. The above tags make sense because of this. Classism is touched on as a way to explain preferential treatment of certain individuals.auboo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
kshertz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
There’s a chance this book got too hyped up for me. I enjoyed it once I got through all the worldbuilding and understanding of this magical realm. It did take a while though. I’m not sure if I’m gonna continue with the series because I’m not too invested in this couple. I’m also not too invested in the school. But I am interested in, what happens with all these monsters. TBD.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
geckotigerwolf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
A magic school where there are no teachers, the school itself is out to get you and every friendship is strategic - everyone's just trying to make it to graduation a) alive and b) allied with the right people to ensure they continue to stay alive after graduation too.
I love protagonists who take action based on the most strategic move and this protagonist is really smart. I loved watching her. Really interesting world and unique situation. I couldn't get enough of it and ordered the sequel (I think it's a duology) from the library within minutes of finishing.
(PS the magical world is nicely diverse, with students from around the world and lots of spellcasting languages mentioned, from Mandarin to Sanskrit to Finnish, which was a nice breath of fresh air.)
I love protagonists who take action based on the most strategic move and this protagonist is really smart. I loved watching her. Really interesting world and unique situation. I couldn't get enough of it and ordered the sequel (I think it's a duology) from the library within minutes of finishing.
(PS the magical world is nicely diverse, with students from around the world and lots of spellcasting languages mentioned, from Mandarin to Sanskrit to Finnish, which was a nice breath of fresh air.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Vomit, and Death of parent
dreadfulreader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
Naomi Novik's just got it, y'know. I often read her books in a fever, devouring them is 48 hrs, staying up late to get just one more chapter in. Partly because I find her romances so satisfying, and partly because she can keep a plot moving while developing those characters. Delicious, perfect.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Violence
chris_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Classism
Moderate: Torture, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury
sydemorr's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It was a little confusing at first to get into the rules of this world, but it made it more intriguing and different from other “magic” books. El’s growth and development was so gradual that it really brings you into the book to grow with her. Her affinity of being a good dark sorcereress was super entertaining. Top notch trope of black cat and golden retriever but loved how that’s also super slow burn so it’s still interesting in the other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
fiercereadsfiction's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Death and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
bethaneekay's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Classism
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, and Pregnancy