I am a big fan of Naomi Novik’s other books, especially Spinning Silver and Uprooted, so of course I pre-ordered A Deadly Education and read it immediately. The marketing of this book as a dark, feminist Harry Potter does it a disservice. Instead, it is a more introspective story of one girl’s struggle with her darker inclinations and her striving to survive in a school that doesn’t protect its students.

I’ve seen a lot of critiques of this book, saying that nothing really happens until the last 75% of the story. And it’s true, if you expect a “typical” action-packed story, you’ll be disappointed. The book is narrated by Galadriel (yes, like that Galadriel), who in her third year at the Scholomance has resigned herself to be a loner. She’s prickly, but for a good reason; everyone in her past has been afraid of her. As her senior year, and eventual graduation approaches, she is trying to figure out how to survive both the day to day and the graduation trial. Much of the book is El’s strategizing and setting the scene for us. It feels very info-dumpy but in a compelling way.

What I love about this book is the unique world that you get thrown into. Novik has created a terrifying, almost sentient school full of monsters. It’s a very intriguing world. I also loved the diversity of the characters: El is half-Welsh, half-Indian and her classmates are from all over the world. El herself is kind of infuriating at first, but as you start to understand why she acts the way she does, you will start to empathize with her.

I think this book struggles the most in its length. If it had just been a bit longer, I think the story would feel more satisfying. That said, it was an enjoyable read, with a fascinating world and a cliffhanger that made me eager for the next book.

TW: death of children; scary monsters/situations

This is not Hogwarts. It is however the start to a great trilogy and gives all the dark academia vibes you want. The characters are great, it's completely bananas why anyone would stay there (if they survive) and it's one of the few trilogies that are cohesive, and satisfying. Definitely pick this one up.

Already read and loved this one, but it was a happy reminder that it's time to reread the trilogy when this popped up on my "granted wish" shelf many moons post pub!

This is a very fun, almost wacky book. Like, what a wild ride. The school setting is unique and interesting, as is the magic system. I also loved the characters. Basically I gobbled this up and then immediately read the second one, if that tells you anything!

This book. I can not explain the entertainment that this book provides. I can not wait to see what happens next!
El is a fantastic main character! She isn't popular with her classmates, or anyone she has ever met. I loved watching her grow into her role and seeing the effect she had on her peers.
Please, please do not compare this book to Harry Potter, they are on complete opposite sides of the magical school spectrum. This school is like Hogwarts meets Deadly Class with a large dose of Hunger Games. It has a fair share of darkness and humor.

It was a mistake to read this after Ninth House, but I was very excited about this and the first line hooked me. And then, instead of being reeled in, I had to sit through the world's longest intro being told by a teen who had never once in her life been told to shut up. I can see why this style works for other people, and even though I usually like cocky protagonists, the infantile tone caught me off-guard at the very beginning and I couldn’t shake it off. I didn’t like the tell-not-show style of this novel at all. I didn’t mind the weak plot – I vibed with the setting and the plot, as sparse as it was.

I can see why people like it, but the rambling only annoyed me and I hated how the narrator broke the fourth wall. It just went on and on and on and I barely made it through this.

Dark Academia? Magic? Yes, please!

There’s something metaphorically poetic (and morbid) in the idea of a school actively trying to kill its students. It was a unique concept and I loved the characterization of the school itself throughout the book.

El is one of my favorite main characters I’ve read in a while. She’s smart, snarky, and knows what she wants. (Or at least she thinks she does.) As we get to know her, her vulnerabilities make it that much easier to connect with her. And I know I already mentioned the snark, but it’s a highlight for sure!

All that being said, some things are so typical they’re easily predictable here. And there were definitely a couple of moments that had me thinking a sarcastic, “Of course.” But I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. A little predictability is good. A dash of unbelievable is expected.

I may have read this one a while ago, but it’s definitely a favorite and one I’m happy to dive back into at any time.

I received a copy of this book from Del Rey via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I don’t know what the point is of a publisher granting a wish nearly THREE YEARS after the book has already been published, but whatever.

I loved this one! A solid 4.5 and such a great and fun opener to the series. I thought the idea and worldbuilding was so cool and I loved El and Orion’s relationship. Since I’ve already read the entire series by now (lol), I’ll give you 3 reviews for the price of one! I think this first book is my favorite, but I also thought the second was great, too. Unfortunately did not much enjoy the finale but I do still love Novik’s books and will continue to read what she writes!

This is a magic school story done right!

I just got approved for this book which had been on my wishlist for a couple years, so by the time I got approved I had already read it a while back. I'm a newcomer to Naomi Novik and am glad that this isn't just another run-of-the-mill magic school HP knockoff. On the contrary, the premise is built well and the story is great. The writing style really worked well and kept the story moving at a great pace. I binged the book in a single day, which is not something I do often.

Overall, it's a great book and I highly recommend it. I will be checking out Novik's other works.

I've always liked books that take place in a school, whether or not it's a magic school. I liked it when El, the main character, talked about her classes, books, language practice, and other things. There was sometimes a little too much information about how the magic system and the school itself work, which I didn't mind because when it comes to fantasy, I'm generally more interested in the world building than the actual plot. This book is set in a very interesting and unusual place: a magic school that actually tries to kill its students. I've never read anything like this before. The way the world is put together is great! At first, I was a little lost because I didn't know many of the words. Once you figure it out, though, you are completely submerged in the dark and sometimes creepy atmosphere of the school.

I really liked the main character, who was a cocky and snarky girl who didn't need anyone. I liked reading the story from her point of view because I think she has a very interesting personality. Sometimes she's a little too angry and mean, but let's just say it's because she's a teenager.

My first thought about this book was "no plot, just vibes," but i was wrong. In the second half, the story starts to come together, so by the end of the book, I was really into it, especially in the last pages. This book definitely got my attention, and I'm sure I'll also read the second book in the series, The Last Graduate.

4 stars

*Thank you to the publicist at Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me this book to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

A Deadly Education is set in a world not so different from our own, but of course, some have the gift-- or curse-- of magic. The problem is that there are monsters roaming around that just happen to feed off of this magic. For the older more experienced magic wielders, it's not as big of a deal because they are able to defend themselves. The young? Not so much. However, they were able to come up with a solution. The Scholomance. It's the safest place for young wielders to be as they learn to use their gifts. The catch is that this school, with no teachers and even fewer friendships, provides many deadly lessons. The only way out of the school is to graduate, but some don't make it that far.

The Scholomance is basically Hogwarts, but it's trying to eat the students. Honestly a really great read. I would say it's a it on the darker side, but not so much that I would call it gruesome. There are brilliant characters, so many obstacles, and even a little bit of romance. However, I'd say that the best part about this book was the world building. I liked how it was so modern, but at the same time so enveloped in this fantastical school. It just all felt so mechanical and dangerous and I ate it up. Novik didn't actually come up with the Scholomance, as it is already an existing fable, but the way she incorporated it so flawlessly into her book made it really unique and different from what I've read in the past.

Each kid has a sort of magic affinity or specialty, and it was really cool to hear about all the abilities. (I really liked how the magic was tied to languages as well.) Our main girl, El, has the affinity of world destruction…ya. As you can probably guess, that makes her a bit of a loner, since nobody really wants to associate with the kid who might kill them one day. I feel like this was a bit of a flaw in Novik's writing. I liked how it made El such a tough independent character, but it felt like we weren't able to meet other characters as much and it all revolved around El. I would have liked to see more side characters and watch them develop as well as El, but I still loved reading about her fight to survive the Scholomance.

I've actually attempted reading both Uprooted and Spinning Silver (other works by Naomi Novik) in the past, but I found that I couldn't get into them and ended up DNFing them within the first 50 pages. However, I'm glad I had the chance to read her newest series because I've found I enjoyed it so much more. I've already read the second book, in the series, The Last Graduate, and I'm excited to get into the finale.

"a deadly education" is the first novel in a new series by naomi novik. this is my first time reading novik's work, but i've heard great things. unfortunately, this read like YA to me.

galadriel, el for short, is in the scholomance, a school for witches and wizards that is incredibly dangerous. students fight for their lives day and night; it is even dangerous to remain in your dorm room alone.

el is a bossy, rude character, but i appreciate her independence and superb lack of grace. she has a good grasp on the construct of magic and building malia. but, she seems to be the helpless maiden as orion saves her constantly.

near the end of this novel, it became increasingly obvious that it was a romance novel. i felt that there was an extreme lack of description. you never know what anything looks like, even the characters themselves. it was difficult to follow most of the time, but i did enjoy it.

I just got an email saying my wish for this was granted. Ummmm, that was probably three years ago, since this has been out since 2020. So, now I have to give feedback. I didn't really like this book when I read it two years ago. It did not live up to expectations. I did not continue the rest of the series.

A dark academia novel that is the first in a trilogy. I read this novel 3 years ago and was just wish-granted so just throwing my 2 cents in. I enjoyed this novel, and the subsequent 2 that followed, immensely.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House (even 3 years later) for this e-arc.*

What a wild ride!

A bit Harry Potter, but darker and I thoroughly loved it. It pulled me in from the start and didn't let go through the entire series with interesting characters, non-stop action and complex worldbuilding.

Can't wait for book 2.

I absolutely love this series, and THE END is totally gripping. I appreciated how fresh the worldbuilding is, with the school's structure and the danger that seems to lurk around every corner.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to have access to this title.

Considering I read this three years ago, heres my completed review! Fastest in the west right here.

I loved this dark academia adventure! Naomi Novik is a masterful storyteller and has a vision when she writes her stories. This book is definitely a dense one so prepare to really dive in. If youve read Babel, then you know exactly what im talking about. This is a completed trilogy and I can't wait for wait Naomi comes out with next!

I absolutely loved A Deadly Education. This is such a unique take on the wizarding school, with beautiful prose (Naomi Novik always has the most incredible descriptions and world building) and deadly stakes. Even though only a quarter of the students make it out alive, this is the safest these wizards will be in their entire lives. You'd think with such a dark outlook, this book would be bleak, but it's honestly hilarious and charming and fun. Even with the killer creatures lurking around every corner waiting to eat you alive.

"Nobody gets to live or not live because they deserve it, deserving doesn’t count for a thing."

The relationship between the two main characters, El and Orion, was also incredibly fun. I loved his protectiveness, even though El really didn't need it. We love a MMC who can see beyond the stereotypes and the opinions of the "popular kids", and whose also incredibly un-self-aware. He's the hero who isn't trying to be a hero for any other reason than... he just wants to kill stuff. And El is prophesized to bring death and destruction to the world. The perfect pairing.

Highly recommend this weird, unusual story.

3.5

I had to re-evaluate this one in light of the racial micro aggressions being pointed out. I overlooked many while reading as I liked other aspects of the book and other books by this author so much.
*Update* Naomi Novik made a public apology on her Twitter and promised to do better going forward, so that was definitely a step in the right direction that I really appreciate.

This book was not at all what I was expecting it to be, but I still enjoyed it a whole lot! There's something to be said for a story set in a school where the students must actively fight for their survival till graduation (whether it's against magical opponents or their fellows) that still somehow manages to inject humor and sarcasm in a fun way. It's entertaining, and, though the start is a bit slow, like the other Novik novels I've read, it definitely picks up!