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ashley_reya'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? It's complicated
5.0
I took some time after finishing the first book in this series for book club to come back and read the next in the series. Which was exactly what I needed, because this time I picked up the story b/c I missed the characters/world. I missed Aadhya, Liu, Orion, The Scholomance, and most of all I missed El.
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!(now that they made it out..for the most part 🤞)
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Murder
naturallylazy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was a fun book from start to finish. You do need to read book one first, this one will almost not make sense without it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and War
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.
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.
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Violence
Minor: Bullying, Gore, Suicide, and Vomit
star_witch's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
carleneslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
I am enthralled. This series is so good? El is such a good narrator, she can do all the worldbuilding by telling stories about her life and I enjoy it. The characters are dynamic and real, and I am invested in the plot. I needed to know how El would get out of the school and graduate as the plot moved. The romance was sweet and realistic, and though there was more spice than I usually like, because the two characters were so themselves and sweet, and it was tastefully vague, it didn't feel like a spicy scene and it was easy to skip. I need the next book now so I can see how the story ends!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
thebooknook13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
katasaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
bookswithcuppatea's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.5
The second book of the series, an excellent continuation of the story.
I love El, her snarky, prickly personality and her deep moral convictions result in a lot of internal conflict which impacts how she responds to the other teens around her (since there are no adults in the Scholomance). This book and the first in the series, A Deadly Education, are great cathartic reads.
The main focus for El and her fellow seniors is getting ready for graduation, knowing they face getting through the enormous hall at the bottom of the school filled with vicious monsters (maleficaria). Six months of classes and six months of physical training ahead of them, there is little time for other thoughts.
But the school has more surprises in store, and has focused on El.
The ending sets up well for a third book, and I look forward to seeing the story continue into the world beyond the Scholomance, to see how adults respond to what has happened, and what the graduates do next.
One of my favourite things in this series is the role of languages. An international school for magical children from the entire world, it offers instruction in both English and Chinese, as well as subjects in many other languages. El can use 'the big 4' of English, Spanish, Chinese and Hindi, as well as having studied other languages. The difficulty of using a spell in a language you don't know well, and the extreme challenge of translating a spell into a different language are both so realistic, avoiding using magic as a solution as many other authors choose to do.
I enjoyed watching El develop friendships as well as gain better insight into other peers, and in particular enjoyed the challenge she faced in having homeroom with a group of 14 year olds who had just arrived in the Scholomance.
I love El, her snarky, prickly personality and her deep moral convictions result in a lot of internal conflict which impacts how she responds to the other teens around her (since there are no adults in the Scholomance). This book and the first in the series, A Deadly Education, are great cathartic reads.
The main focus for El and her fellow seniors is getting ready for graduation, knowing they face getting through the enormous hall at the bottom of the school filled with vicious monsters (maleficaria). Six months of classes and six months of physical training ahead of them, there is little time for other thoughts.
But the school has more surprises in store, and has focused on El.
The ending sets up well for a third book, and I look forward to seeing the story continue into the world beyond the Scholomance, to see how adults respond to what has happened, and what the graduates do next.
One of my favourite things in this series is the role of languages. An international school for magical children from the entire world, it offers instruction in both English and Chinese, as well as subjects in many other languages. El can use 'the big 4' of English, Spanish, Chinese and Hindi, as well as having studied other languages. The difficulty of using a spell in a language you don't know well, and the extreme challenge of translating a spell into a different language are both so realistic, avoiding using magic as a solution as many other authors choose to do.
I enjoyed watching El develop friendships as well as gain better insight into other peers, and in particular enjoyed the challenge she faced in having homeroom with a group of 14 year olds who had just arrived in the Scholomance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Classism