Scan barcode
A review by blessedbyjupiter15
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
If you are looking for a book about magic, magical schools, amazing world building and great characters similar to Harry Potter this is NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU!
Very shallow characters especially side charachters although the mains suffer from this too no matter how much the book wants to convince you of the opposite. Poorly executed dynamic between characters that leaves you wondering why do they all sound the same. The book tried to be very inclusive with characters of different ethnic backgrounds however it failed massively because other than some superficial descriptions there's not much focus on these charachters nor does the book delve deep into their backgrounds and cultures.
The stakes are very low to the point that when characters (always some background very minor irrelevant to the overall plot) do actually die you as a reader might blink and miss it and if you do notice it it's likely you won't feel anything. The setting that is supposed to be cruel and vicious where only the very best and most resourcful can survive suffers from needless neverending exposition that gets dumped on you mid passage and takes you straight out of the story. Main character is "not like other girls", annoying and arrogant. Her inner monologue is filled with neverending ramblings that often times get repetitive. Her character development is very sudden, without any real work put into it and it reads more like a "chane of mind" than character growth. The main male character is not even worth commenting on.
I'm very disappointed in this book especially because I am familiar with Naomi Novik's other work and I do actually like it.
Got the entire triolgy as a present and I will suffer through the next two installments but my hopes are not high.
For all of you magic lovers you are better of finding your luck with another book.
Very shallow characters especially side charachters although the mains suffer from this too no matter how much the book wants to convince you of the opposite. Poorly executed dynamic between characters that leaves you wondering why do they all sound the same. The book tried to be very inclusive with characters of different ethnic backgrounds however it failed massively because other than some superficial descriptions there's not much focus on these charachters nor does the book delve deep into their backgrounds and cultures.
The stakes are very low to the point that when characters (always some background very minor irrelevant to the overall plot) do actually die you as a reader might blink and miss it and if you do notice it it's likely you won't feel anything. The setting that is supposed to be cruel and vicious where only the very best and most resourcful can survive suffers from needless neverending exposition that gets dumped on you mid passage and takes you straight out of the story. Main character is "not like other girls", annoying and arrogant. Her inner monologue is filled with neverending ramblings that often times get repetitive. Her character development is very sudden, without any real work put into it and it reads more like a "chane of mind" than character growth. The main male character is not even worth commenting on.
I'm very disappointed in this book especially because I am familiar with Naomi Novik's other work and I do actually like it.
Got the entire triolgy as a present and I will suffer through the next two installments but my hopes are not high.
For all of you magic lovers you are better of finding your luck with another book.