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ashley_reya'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? It's complicated
5.0
Novik did it again! Another beautiful story, a plot twist I didn’t see coming, and a cliffhanger that had me running to the library to pick up the next installment. Delightful dark academia…can’t wait to see what happens next!
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Murder
evbyrd's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Vomit
searchandrescueteam'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? It's complicated
4.0
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.
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
scurvotron'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
4.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Violence
Minor: Bullying, Gore, Suicide, and Vomit
star_witch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
saskiahill's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Sexual content, and War
scarlett_f'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? Yes
4.5
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.rachelhelmer'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? Yes
4.5
Minor: Child death, Death, and Violence
_rowantree_'s review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Moderate: Child death and Death
Minor: Sexual content
whynotreadwithalex'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
5.0
- 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
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