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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 against another edition
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
christinereads1823's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
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
One of the rare cases where the second book is better than the first in a series. Novik's monster-filled magical world is as gripping as ever, her characters just as deliciously tense and (for the most part) lovable. El, Aadhya, and Liu are the girl power threesome of my dreams, and the development of previously smaller or unknown people is done seamlessly alongside the plot. Excellent as always, and I cannot wait for the finale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
cecetomas's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.75
Disclaimer first: This book is DENSE. There is a lot of info dumping and stream of consciousness. It is not a quick read at all so if you're not into that you will hate this book. But me? I LOVE THIS BOOK. I already enjoyed the first in this trilogy but after a few months I decided to pick this one up and continue it and I'm so glad I did. Personally I love a stream of consciousness writing style- I feel like it makes the characters more relatable and entertaining. El's thoughts- particularly about Orion- had me CRACKING UP the whole ride through this book and I can't even count how many times I said "SAME GIRL" to one of her unhinged, mildly aggressive thoughts about a boy 😂
The end of the book had me on the edge of my seat and I absolutely cannot wait to finish this series and see where it takes me.
The end of the book had me on the edge of my seat and I absolutely cannot wait to finish this series and see where it takes me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
littlestdread's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Confinement, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, and Abandonment
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.
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.rachelhelmer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, and Violence