it’s getting 2.5/.75 (still unsure) because of the magic and the cliffhanger that actually made me interested in seeing how the next book will continue. the magic system and the characters were great (i really liked orion) but the plot and the writing were not it. was there even the plot before the last 100/50 pages?

i’m actually sad this one did not live to my expectations.

A Deadly Education is a new take on dark academia by a masterful fantasy author! The humor is sarcastic, the vibes are monstrous, the world-building is dense and nerdy (a compliment of the highest order!)!

A perfect fit for readers of the huge dark academia trend, or for folks who wanted a spookier and more diverse Harry Potter!

Okay….okay, ehm I don’t really know how to wrap up this reading experience. I went into this book hoping and praying that I was gonna love it. Since it’s dark academia, magic, wizards, a school that literally wants to kill you etc. But I don’t know man, this book just wasn’t given what I wanted it to give. I still love the premise of this story, but I had a really hard time getting through it. I was bored for the better part of this book, it was just sooo drawn out, even though it’s not a thick book (around 350 pages) it felt like it went on forever without getting to the point. Also the grammar and sentence building felt really off at times. I will still probably read the second book (since it’s literally on my shelves), and fingers crossed it’s better then the first book but yeah.

And oh I have to mention our FMC, Galadriel, yeah that’s another weird thing, all of a sudden the author just name drops Lord of the rings and other pop culture stuff, so you’re like when and where does this book take place?? The world building is SO CONFUSING. Okay back to Galadriel, or El, god I strongly dislike her character for like 85% of the book. Slightly redeemed herself towards the end, heavy emphasis on slightly.

Okay ranting over, this was a very mid/average read. I didn’t hate it (even though it might sound like it) but it was just not for me. 2,5 ⭐️

5 stars I absolutely loved this!!!
I loved the world and the school setting. I also really enjoyed El how strong she was and how sassy!

I'm so glad I finally got around to reading this. I love magical school settings, and this did not disappoint. I got some Wednesday vibes from El and that made it even better.
Dark academia, a magical school where monsters jump out at you when you least expect it, characters you love and some you love to hate. If those things sound good to you, read this book! Also, that ending! I need to know why!

ARC review: 2.5 stars

This was just ok for me. I had a really hard time liking the main character. While I liked some of the world building, I really struggled to get into- let alone enjoy- this book. Perhaps it’s because it sided more on the YA rather than the NA but I left this book feeling as though I have had my fill of this world and story. Not for me, but glad it’s for others.


#ADeadlyEducation #NetGalley

Imagine a mysterious school for magic and spellcasting.... only the school is trying to kill you. Students attending the Sholomance are constantly at risk of being devoured by any of the multitude of sinister beasties any time they let their guard down in their dorm rooms, in the halls, in classrooms, in the cafeteria, in the shower, unless they form alliances and use a buddy system, or have very very quick reflexes and a lot of mana. In this magical school we meet Galadriel, who is a deliciously grumpy, sarcastic, prickly pear with a huge chip on her shoulder and a magical affinity for the types of spells that are less of the generally useful sort like levitation, light, unlocking doors, and more of the leveler of armies, lay waste to cities, destroyer of destroyer of worlds variety. But she's reluctant to fully embrace the darkest arts because underneath her prickly exterior she has a kind and decent heart. Her off-putting personality and shadow magic win her almost zero friends, surprisingly, and she's running out of time to form an alliance with some well-connected group who manages to survive until graduation, a violent and deadly contest which claims more students than it matriculates. And much to her aggravation and ire, the bright and shiny BMOC keeps white knighting his way into her life and saving her from deadly attacks she could probably have managed on her own. He's the Metroman to her Megamind, and I loved the salty banter between them.

The writing is clear and skillful, and the world building and magic system are intriguing. Where this book lost some points for me is that the pacing is inconsistent. We are immersed in peril from page one, but scenes where anything really interesting happens are spread far apart, and the long gaps in action are filled with info-dumpy exposition. I'll be honest - I found myself frequently bored, and this book felt wayyyyyyyy longer than it actually is. It also took me longer to read than it should have, because I didn't really connect with it and never felt excited to pick it up.

There is definitely a type of reader who will adore this book. If you are a lover of dark academia and magic, and want to really immerse yourself in this world and its backstories, you will have a fantastic time with this book. If you want to linger in these pages, you will find yourself flying through them. Unfortnately I don't think I'm that person, at least not at this moment in my life. Normally I love to savour a good book, take my time and get lost in its pages, reread especially tasty passages to let it really sink in. But in this case I felt restless and anxious to to be done, and found myself checking the page count like a school clock on Friday. I didn't dislike it at all. It just didn't have the type of pull and momentum I needed to fully engage me. It's also possible this may have worked better for me as an audiobook, so I'd like to try this in the future and give it another chance. I own another book series by this author and I'm looking forward to reading them, as I think the setting and themes may be a better fit for me.

A Perilous School of Magic

"A Deadly Education" by Naomi Novik delves into the life of Galadriel, known as "El," as she navigates her junior year at Scholomance, a perilous school for magic users where students possess interesting affinities. El's affinity for death and destruction aligns with a prophecy her grandmother bestowed upon her, one she's determined to evade at all costs. Her time at Scholomance is far from typical, compounded by her prickly personality. She's declared Orion Lake her nemesis, a student for whom everything comes effortlessly, and who has saved her life and others on multiple occasions. Strangely, Orion seems to enjoy El's harsh treatment. Together, they find themselves embroiled in school mysteries and undertaking a perilous mission to save lives.
There were aspects of this book that I truly relished, but some elements left me mildly annoyed. The setting is fascinating, but the intricacies of how the school operates are revealed in fragments, making it a bit challenging to piece together. Given that we're in the protagonist's mind during her third year, it feels like we should understand certain aspects more clearly. Additionally, El's internal monologue can be quite negative, and her initial rudeness makes her somewhat unlikable. She often makes self-defeating choices. However, over time, she undergoes character development, becoming a more endearing figure. The romantic aspect of the story feels somewhat one-sided, which was a bit perplexing as it's highlighted in the narrative.
Nonetheless, the setting is incredibly intriguing, and the events that unfold solve one problem while paving the way for a larger one in the senior year. I found myself deeply invested in the story and will undoubtedly continue with the series. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with this Advanced Reader Copy.

A Deadly Education is a unique and engaging story and writing style set in Scholomance a school for young sorcerers. Firstly I would like to say I thought this would be a YA veering to adult but I think it is possibly for a slightly younger audience. However I thought the story and characters were great as you get a love hate relationship with them (especially El, our protagonist) I just don't think I resonated with it as much as I thought it would especially with how much I've seen it trending bit I will e checking out more but this author and I think loads of people will love this and fall in love with this story.

This was mildly confusing but somehow fun. I’m not sure how else to explain it because it fully felt like I was reading someone’s diary.

I was lucky enough to get a copy from NetGalley for my true and honest opinion.

"A Deadly Education" by Naomi Novik transports readers into a world brimming with magic, danger, and a touch of dark humour. Novik's unique take on the magical boarding school trope hooked me from the beginning.

The story unfolds at Scholomance, a school for young sorcerers, where students must fend for themselves against malevolent creatures lurking in the shadows. Novik's world-building is impressive, blending the fantastical and mundane in an intricately detailed setting. Her portrayal of the school's enchantments and diverse student body is immersive and engaging.

El, our no-nonsense protagonist, is a character you'll love or hate, but her wit and resilience make her impossible to ignore. Her unique perspective on life within the Scholomance, where survival is the game's name, adds a refreshing layer to the narrative.

The writing style is crisp and engaging, with just the right amount of sarcasm to balance out the moments of tension and peril. Novik's witty narrative voice had me chuckling more than once, providing a much-needed break from the intense atmosphere of Scholomance.

However, my only gripe with the book is that some magical concepts and world-building details can sometimes be overwhelming. It took me a while to fully grasp the intricacies of the Scholomance and the various types of magic.

Despite this, I'm eager to continue with the series. Novik has crafted an undeniably intriguing world and characters, and the tantalizing glimpse into the secrets lurking in the Scholomance has left me hungry for more. "A Deadly Education" is a promising start to what I hope will be an enchanting series.

In conclusion, if you enjoy a unique blend of magic, danger, and dark humour, "A Deadly Education" is definitely worth a read. I can't wait to see where Naomi Novik takes us next in this magical world.

I loved this book! I will definitely recommend it. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I received an arc via Netgalley, and am leaving an honest review about the book. I’m thankful to the publisher and the author for giving me this wonderful opportunity!

I finished the entire book and I still don’t understand the premise. There was so much info dump on every single paragraph, I had no idea what to even think. I was so lost. I think I like the idea behind it and the FMC and the MMC? I’m not sure if I’ll continue with the series, though, because like I said. I understood none of it.

Thank you to Naomi Novik, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and Netgalley for this free advanced reader copy of "A Deadly Education: A Novel" for an honest review.

--

I flew through this entire series in the space of 6 days, two years after my best friend started requesting of me to read it — Because of that, though, this whole series is a giant blur in my head, and I'm only going to do one review across all three of them together and drop this in all of them. <B>If you happen to be reading this and haven't read Books 2 and 3, avert your eyes!</B>

SPOILERS:

I have so very many feelings about these books.

- About my love of how El had to go through all the struggles of her childhood and of rejecting her nature (due to her mother's love and her own true moral fortitude that is all HER OWN) to be strong enough to do the work that needed doing (and how the prophecy was the only way her grandmother could make sure she was strong enough and would make the right choices not just for herself, but for the whole world)

- About Orion and his creation, what he is and how he is, and that so much that we realize he's missing from book one, and especially in book two, finally makes sense in the end, when we discover what is at the true root of that problem. How he handles it and the choices El makes at the end still make me tear up.

- I do wish we'd gotten to know more about Scholomance. How and why, an what. It's the one thing I went in with my best friend telling me I'd learn more of, but never as much as I'd want to know about it. I do feel the book lacked in shoring that up.

- But I also felt that book 3 foundered for purchase with the Scholomance no longer as the focus of where everyone was and what was happening. My hat is off to the creations of the enclaves and how things piece together. </spoiler>

As I write this I don't know if I'm at two stars or three. I go from one to the other. What I do know is that I am not going to read the sequel.

What happened to me with this book? I didn't connect at all, I didn't like the way it was written (the thing about the character seeming to talk to us and try to explain things to us doesn't work anymore, at least for me) and the story itself didn't end up closing for me. absolute.

It's a shame because it's really the first thing I've read by the author and I wanted to like it. Clearly I am going to read other books by her because I know she is a very popular author and I read very interesting reviews about other books (also this one, but it can happen that one doesn't connect and that's it).

I found the characters quite simple, basic and that's not BAD, I just think I was expecting something else. It was a very hyped book and I think that hype was for the worse here.

However, as I said before, I want to read other things by her because I feel that she has interesting ideas and that her way of writing is good (although here I didn't like that first chatty person that I read when I was 16). That's why I don't consider it to be a BAD book but rather... it wasn't for me.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for the copy I read on NetGallet in exchange for an honest review.

An intense, magical thrill ride from start to finish. What fun dark academia this was! Enter into the world of the Scholomance where students dodge hungry magical creatures, and each other, in order to stay alive until graduation!

I particularly enjoyed our FMC, El, a loner at the school who wields massive, deadly power that she only hopes that she can show off in order to join an alliance (a group of students) or an enclave (a safe house/community for the magically gifted). She reeks of it, although many tend to thick she is on the evil side of magic. What they don't know is how much she actually toes the line. She is snarky, rude but full of heart and a glowing warmth when she discovers that there are people who actually care about her at the school.

Harry Potter meets the Hunger Games in the first stop on this trilogy. Within the first few pages alone, you see what a magical genius Naomi Novik as she maps out a school of incredible proportions with crazy creatures to match.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey and Naomi Novik for e-copy of this book.

"A Deadly Education" by Naomi Novik is an electrifying rollercoaster of a novel that will leave you both thrilled and spellbound. Set in the eerie and perilous Scholomance, where magic and danger go hand in hand, this book keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

The story introduces us to El, a uniquely powerful yet complex protagonist. Her journey through the unpredictable world of Scholomance is nothing short of captivating. Novik's writing shines as she weaves together a narrative filled with dark secrets, formidable monsters, and a school where survival is the ultimate goal.

While the initial chapters might have you navigating a labyrinth of unfamiliar terms and concepts, don't let that deter you. Once you immerse yourself in this world, you'll find yourself rooting for El, a character with a heart of gold hidden beneath her tough exterior. Her journey of self-discovery and the choices she must make are enthralling and thought-provoking.

The ending of the first installment will leave you craving more, eagerly anticipating the next chapter in El's adventure. "A Deadly Education" is a spellbinding start to what promises to be an epic series, and if you're a fan of magic, danger, and complex characters, this book is an absolute must-read. So, dive right in, and get ready for a thrilling ride through the halls of Scholomance!

Thank you to Netgalley & Random House for the digital copy!

For me, this was just an okay read. There were parts I really enjoyed, but overall it felt very copy and pasted.

I may read the rest of the series at some point.

**Thank you to NetGalley, Random House-Ballantine, and Naomi Novik for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

3.5 stars

I wasn't sure what to expect with this Dark Academia novel. For the first few chapters, I was very confused. What do these words mean? A lot of the vocabulary is never straightforward or explained to the reader. I debated whether to continue after the first few chapters because i felt so confused at what was happening. Luckily I powered through and those weird words and vocabulary slowly started to make more sense.

The story gave dark Harry Potter vibes with a dash of Hunger Games. Although it's categorized as YA, I felt like it contained dark subject matter, and violence that leaned more adult.

The setting for this novel is a magical school for young students without adult supervision. Each day students risk life or death. They must survive being killed by creatures lurking in the school, their fellow students, and the school itself. They take classes to improve their ability to learn and cast different spells. With these spells comes the ability for trades with classmates or building alliances. Not everyone makes it out of this school alive. Students must strategize well.

This first of 3 books was mostly informative with a lot of attention pajd to creating this magical school. The author did a good job of world building in this first novel. There isn't much of a plot until the last quarter of the book and the confusing start had be rate it 3 stars. Despite this, I really enjoyed it once I got.the hang of the vocabulary in this world. I'm in for book #2!!

A Deadly Education follows Galadriel, a pupil in a school for magic, plagued by monsters. The concept is familiar yet fun, and the novel's protagonist has a compelling arc. As someone who has been told of her inherent wickedness her whole life due to a prophecy made when she was a child, Galdriel’s begrudging progression into a hero is rewarding. The other main character, Orion, is in many ways the mirror of Galadriel and their eventual friendship is a delight, due to Galadriel’s humorous narrations on the topic.

However despite its compelling characters, the book gets dragged down due to its overly informative nature. As a world building enthusiast I can’t believe I am saying this, but sometimes less is more. Every single intricacy of the world, most unnecessary, are relayed with a dull unattachment despite the fact that these information dumps usually occurred in the midst of action. Due to these routine textbook-esque passages, the plot felt rather lacking, in fact, the whole book felt as if I was sitting in anticipation for the main plot to reveal itself. When said plot eventually comes into fruition at the last minute, the lack of build towards the goal, made it feel somewhat lacklustre.

Overall, A Deadly Education is a dark academia, fantasy blend with intriguing characters, bogged down by a worldbuilding heavy and plot light narrative. However after a cliff hanger like that, I may just have to pick up the next novel!