ireadinbed's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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 felt so many fucking feelings.
I cried like 40% of my reading time.
No joke this is a rough one but this series speaks to me on a deep level and this book is by FAR the best. And i say that having rated thd other 2 books 5⭐️ as well.
The character arcs. The deep messages about the radical nature of forgivness and the continuous work of a good life. The hope.
Chefs kiss. 5 stars. Hell 6 stars.
I cried like 40% of my reading time.
No joke this is a rough one but this series speaks to me on a deep level and this book is by FAR the best. And i say that having rated thd other 2 books 5⭐️ as well.
The character arcs. The deep messages about the radical nature of forgivness and the continuous work of a good life. The hope.
Chefs kiss. 5 stars. Hell 6 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: Xenophobia and Racism
emilee_paper_elytra's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
The conclusion of the Scholomance series. Compelling and powerful, El's furious railing against the inequalities of society and power is tempered with understanding and a willingness to take uncomfortable action. While moments of humour shine through, this installment has an emotional depth and complexity that shows how much the characters have grown.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Torture
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Confinement
Minor: Sexual content
the_crooked_neighbor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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? No
5.0
A great finale to a great series. I loved the book. It was a satisfying conclusion that matched the tone of the series. I could write a million words on how amazing this was without fully getting it across. Suffice it to say this is a series I will happily revisit and find new things each time. Mind the trigger warnings but I highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Death, Gore, Emotional abuse, Murder, Torture, and Violence
jla's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Spoiler
This book was 8 hours too long. Everything with the trips to the enclaves, unraveling the mystery, and saving Orion was great. I liked the resolution of the book except for there being no karmic retribution for crimes against humanity. You can kill whoever you want basically?Things that should have been left out. The acid trip with Yancy, all the time spent finding entrances to enclaves and the scholomance (we get it is an illusion and a maze), the whole side story with Liesel. None of this improved the story and made it tedious.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Torture
mandkips's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, and War
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content
coffeebot18's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
A stunning conclusion - to a brilliant trilogy - that . Novik’s magical world is desperately dark, but protagonist El and her people are tenacious in their pursuit of a glimmering, golden hope for a better future.
Spoiler
makes sense of the events of the first two novels and clarifies El’s purpose
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Injury/injury detail, Grief, Body horror, and Violence
Minor: Cursing, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Murder
lolamosk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Violence, Death, Torture, and Murder
kingcrookback's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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
A fitting/satisfying end, and I genuinely mean that as a high compliment. I was a bit apprehensive after reading The Last Graduate because of the pacing issues, but I suppose "second book slump" is kind of a common problem for many trilogies. I liked how the question of who/what has been attacking and destroying enclaves was answered, both how it tied into the major themes of the series (especially the metaphor for class and privilege) and how the reveal resounds back through the previous books. I don't plan on rereading the series, especially so soon, but I can imagine it would be a satisfying experience. Logically, stylistically, and thematically, it's a consistent series. El continues to have a deep-rooted love for humanity; El continues to have to make difficult decisions; El continues to have empathy for other people (for the most part), even if she deeply begrudges them that empathy. I appreciate Novik for constructing a prickly character with such a heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Torture, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and War
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content
caramiaculpa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
This series really stuck the landing. It really drives home that a good system cannot be built on rotten foundations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, and Torture
Moderate: Child death
oliverreeds's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
absolutely crushed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Violence, War, Confinement, Homophobia, Injury/injury detail, Body horror, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Torture, Child death, and Gore