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squinnittowinit'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
Naomi Novik's story makes poignant remarks on prevalent real-world topics such as classism and privilege, through the lense of a magical society controlled by a fortunate (and greedy) few. She delivers genuine complex emotion as her characters grapple with their anger, their uncertainty, and at the end of the day, their humanity.
4.5 stars because I'm not sure if the author hired a sensitivity consultant or not; there were a couple small moments I didn't feel great about. Additionally, I wasn't sold on the design of the school in this book. Not the literal design, but more the way it was designed and how it's been handled since.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Classism
michaelatrelby'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
4.5
Moderate: Gore and Violence
Minor: Sexual violence
There is one page where a monster fight is described similarly to sexual assault, which is a bit unexpected, so I figured I would give a warning. It takes place duringbethanycrowepowell'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
4.5
Scholomance was built to protect teen wizards from the evil creatures drawn to their magic, but after some major technical failures, it doesn't quite work that way. Instead, students have to be on guard constantly, and their graduation is a gauntlet through where the largest of the monsters gather. When El starts to question whether it can be fixed, she's up against a lethal status quo that not everyone wants to change.
This book launches a trilogy that deconstructs magical school escapism with an eye to societies built around power disparities, full of compellingly complicated characters. El is a cranky but very relatable heroine whose fight against her prophesied destiny as a dark sorceress kept me reading through the whole series in a matter of days.
Graphic: Violence and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and Sexual violence
slimepuppy'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
4.0
The characters were detailed, multidimensional and flawed, while still having plenty of charisma to go around the wiiide variety of personalities available. Galadriel and Orion were especially endearing, and I found myself rooting for them, despite not being a huge fan of romance. Thankfully, that's not really the focus of the book, because the slowburn worked wonders for me.
The world and the setting are intersting and surprisingly detailed for such a contained tale; the reader never gets to leave the school and see what the life is like for wizards outside, but you still get the broadest idea.
Despite liking it a lot, there are still some... considerable flaws to talk about. You can read all about them online, I'll just point something that irked me, personally:
I hope Naomi has read the plenty of justified criticism this book garnered and taken them into account, I'm very excited to read whatever comes next in the series.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
carbs4life'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
3.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death and Sexual violence
eve_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
⁕ The main character is 90% a Katniss Everdeen “angry girl” trope and 10% a soft cinnamon roll who is anxious about having friends. I love her a lot.
⁕ There is LOTS of info dumping, and it slows the story down at points.
⁕ The monsters and magic in this novel are ridiculous, bordering absurd at some points. Maybe it’s just me, but I had a hard time envisioning some of the things depicted.
⁕ I probably will read the next book in this series (duology?) just because the cliffhanger at the end was so shocking.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, 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