Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Der letzte Absolvent by Naomi Novik

19 reviews

searchandrescueteam's review against another edition

challenging dark funny hopeful mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

Oh yes - the joy of the second book of a trilogy - a world that’s been built in the first book, and the anticipation of still more to come.
Each book of this trilogy can certainly be read individually.  The author is careful to ensure that no critical information is missing, using any reiteration of plot or character to build more interest, more complexity.
And this is a complex book - especially as it looks at cabals, outsider/insider dynamics and friendships and alliances.  It is told with no over finger wagging - rather the author is an observer for the reader, always remembering her history and her unique understanding of what she experiences and sees.
I found it even more engrossing than the first; and put it down, very eager to move to the third.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

scurvotron's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, and Violence

Minor: Bullying, Gore, Suicide, and Vomit

bunnybird22's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

saskiahill's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Sexual content, and War

sawowza's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

scarlett_f's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

A recipe of Hunger Games and Harry Potter, but with a pinch of sinister steampunk and dystopian stirred in. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent

A recipe of Hunger Games and Harry Potter, but with a pinch of sinister steampunk and dystopian stirred in.

whynotreadwithalex's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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

5.0

Firstly, I obviously loved this book — hence, the five stars. But here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

- This is the 2nd book in the series…so you’ve got a bit of a slower pace at the beginning, which I think stumps some people. However, the cliffhanger at the end of the first book is immediately addressed (which I really appreciated because oh my word that shook me the first time I read A Deadly Education). 
- And then we see El really struggling with the concept of no longer being completely on her own — she has to overcome a lot of fear, as well as her natural inclination to think only of her own survival. This makes the pacing of this book a bit slower right at the beginning because El hasn’t quite decided what kind of person she wants to be. 
- But once El decides, oh my word the action picks up like crazy! And it is definitely worth it! We see lots of character development, not just in El but across the board. Everyone is challenged — including the Scholomance, which makes for a really engaging story of struggle, sacrifice, and personal growth. 
- Remember, Novik is a world builder! And El isn’t necessarily a reliable narrator, which leaves the reader, well, reading between the lines to get at the truth. This creates a lot of suspense, and had me hanging on to the edge of my seat up until the final page. 
- And finally, that ending…I mean, we all knew there would be drama and heartbreak and probably some destruction…I think I just didn’t expect that it would be my own! Ahhh! I will be grabbing the final installation of this series ASAP. Send actual help. 

But seriously, this book is easily 5/5 ⭐️s

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Dysphoria, and War

katjonzz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and War

takarakei's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

5.0

From the start this was so much better than the first book. Being already immersed in the world from the first book allows for a lot of character development and growth (which is a fav of mine to read). I really enjoy El as a reluctant hero. Personally I think Orion reads as neurodivergent. Their relationship is chefs kiss.

I screamed at the ending though and am so glad I read it now and the 3rd book is already out so I don’t have to wait on that cliff.
Spice 3/5 🌶

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying