Fun dark academia, sometimes a little too dark without a reason but ultimately with a "it will be ok" vibe that I love it. I already read the last book of the series and despite liking the series as a whole the second book is my favorite.

This was a reread of Lesson Two for me in preparation for it’s NetGalley archive date. The Last Graduate was not your typical act two of a three act play. El is now an incredibly powerful sorcerer and she has powerful alliances. She and Orion are going to save everyone, not just all the seniors. And the school will be destroyed. If the plan works…
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC and the opportunity to post my honest review of The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik.
4 Stars – Pub. Date: 9-28-21 – Archive Date: 10-21-23

I didn't like this one as much as A Deadly Education, but I still enjoyed it a lot! There was much less info-dumping this time and there was more plot going on as well. I also liked the new characters that were introduced and how everyone worked together to help each other out despite previously only looking out for themselves or their individual alliances. I also liked the way the book started immediately after the events of the first book, so it's like you're just reading another chapter instead of a whole new book.

However, I did not like Orion as much in this book, he was just more whiny and reckless and foolish about everything. And I know he has a valid reason to feel that way, but he just rubbed me the wrong way this time. Because of that, I also did not feel as connected to his and El's relationship as I felt that they did not have much chemistry together. But that cliffhanger was SO cliffhangery that I need to read the last book right away!!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

So, I was delayed on receiving this ARC long after I had read the book...but, I highly recommend this series. Especially if you enjoy books about a morally gray heroine, witty banter, cinnamon roll hero, life or death situations daily at a magical school and an ending that leaves you saying WHAT?! NOOOOOOO!

5 stars

I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into the middle book of The Scholomance series. But as soon as I had read a chapter or so of The Last Graduate, I knew I was in trouble because work, social obligations, all that humdrum jazz etc. was gonna get in the way of gobbling this book up faster than a maw-mouth on a rampage. I have finally finished this masterpiece, and I’m shook, exhilarated, thrilled and slightly dazed. I’m not even exaggerating. I’d interpret that as if you enjoyed A Deadly Education, you’re likely to enjoy this one even more.

Things get even wilder than they did in book one while retaining the same razor-sharp, snark-infused narration of alleged dark sorceress, Galadriel Higgins, plus immersive, cut-away exposition and world-building (you’ll either love or hate it), clever parallels to real-life in class and privilege, a gorgeous diverse cast full of authentic culture and languages, and a whole lot more of Orion, Aadhya & Liu.

Beyond that, The Last Graduate was a surprisingly lot more emotional read for me than A Deadly Education. I really cared about El’s character growth, her relationships, and her choices. The book really builds up to one of the biggest crescendos I’ve ever experienced and I’m so darn relieved I don’t have to wait for the third book to come out to find out what happens because I would not know how to cope.

My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey and author Naomi Novik for the opportunity to read this work in exchange for an honest review.

My full review on my blog (link attached).

[...]
I read A Deadly Education last year, at the recommendation of carol. (thanks again, carol., that was a very cool read along!), and while I found it moderately enjoyable there was a bit too much angst, too much desperation in the snark, and too much implausibility for me to fall in love with the world and the characters. I mentally filed the sequels as unlikely to be read, despite many bloggers’ assertions that the series gets better – but when I saw this sequel offered on NetGalley last month I decided to give it a chance.

And I’m happy that I did – I can confirm, humbly, that all those bloggers were right and that the sequel is actually better, in all dimensions that matter to me in a typical genre book – character development, worldbuilding, and storytelling. Even the snark gets a bit more bearable and less desperate – not much, but it’s still progress. And while the main character remains stubbornly less than three-dimensional, which is noticeable since we’re sitting in her head for the entirety of the book – not to mention the supporting cast assembled according to instructions out of ready-made building sets – the story got way more engaging and the worldbuilding improved considerably.

Novik upped her game in that last regard, creating a scenario that requires some suspension of disbelief and feels retrofitted to the shape of the first book, but nevertheless addresses most of my criticisms directed at the first installment. The world gets wider and more nuanced, and thankfully less YA with politics and factions thrown into the mix, and an ongoing (granted, light) commentary on class privilege that together describe the world outside and its incarnation inside the school in more realistic terms.

The Last Graduate is a quick read, and so it will be a quick review. Novik is a decent writer, who can maintain a consistent voice and style. While she still seems to be withholding a lot of crucial information from the reader for the magician’s flourish at what she’ll deem an appropriate time, she did get more control over this little vice compared to the first book. That said, the cliffhanger at the end of the book feels abrupt, and is another of those flourishes this book could live without – I guess considering how you look at it it could be read as a symptom of insecurity on the part of the author or a simple publishing decision. It kind of made me reconsider my budding idea that I could happily read the third installment, the contrarian that I am, but I’m sure many other readers would jump at the chance to read the conclusion. The series is enjoyable, solidly written, and presents a refreshing take on the dark academia trope. While Novik has clearly laudable ambitions to deliver social commentary on class privilege, power and inequality, the execution seems somewhat flat, perhaps stilted by the teenage perspective she assumes in this series. Nevertheless, kudos for trying to infuse the YA genre with some substance!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks.

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik is the second book in The Scholomance series and begins not long after A Deadly Education ends. During the book, our protagonist, El, continues to develop both socially and emotionally and her relationships with her peers reflects this change. Her determination not to harm any living thing drives many of her actions. Orion continues to be a constant presence in her life and time would tell how this relationship would progress. It was inspiring to read as El, who was prophesied to destroy everything, as she became a leader who went from being concerned only for herself to someone who was concerned with the wellbeing of the entire student body. This was El and Orion’s graduation year and they were making every effort to make it out of the school alive. This fantasy world that the author has built is original and incredibly creative. Her ability to write the journey of an extremely awkward, socially inept teen to a still abrasive but much more connected young woman was a joy to experience. The friendships that were formed between the students were important and meaningful.. I found it hard to put this book down, despite the fact that it was harder work to read and follow than the author’s other novels. I wholeheartedly recommend The Last Graduate to all readers of fantasy, especially YA fantasy. It has magic, it has danger, it has friendship and love, and it has a well developed plot, and it ends in a very unexpected cliffhanger. How can it miss? I am voluntarily submitting this honest review after reading a complementary copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey .

Well that book was quite the experience. I liked it more than the first, but I think only because I knew the characters better.
Overall I LOVE her writing and the romance. While slow and sort of sudden at times, El and Orion are such a good depiction of a teen romance. I also liked how El got over her loner behavior and made friends.
Often times in books when the MC tries to step up and overthrow a system it is like they are the hero, but I LOVED that the school wanted them to destroy it and that El COULD NOT do it on her own. She needed other people's powers and Orion.
So far this series is a beautiful mix of teen angst, dark academia, fantasy, and dystopian.

Man, these books are ADDICTIVE.

Going into them I wasn't entirely sure they were going to be my thing, but they're just so readable it's difficult not to get hooked, and this book is a worthy successor to A Deadly Education.

I really appreciate the series' exploration of privilege; El's genuine, furious devotion to making sure everyone gets the same chance at a good life is one of the most compelling parts of the Scholomance for me. I have a huge weakness for characters who've been through horrible things and could so, so easily turn into something rotten, and yet choose again and again to make the right choice, to do something good, even at their own disservice. Wrapping all that up in El's hostile, spiky exterior makes it all the more interesting. Mwah <3

Now, about the things that didn't work as well as they could have.,, Despite my initial expectations, I really like Orion. In theory. Mostly because I think it's VERY funny to present this goldenboy hero character resented by our friendless freak protagonist only to then pull back curtain and reveal he is *also* kind of a friendless freak. But he also feels so... flat? I was hoping for more insight into his character this book, but he's like a cardboard cutout for most of it. I hope book 3 takes him in some bold new direction - it feels like it might! - because I cannot bear another book of this.

Another thing - the first half or so of the book felt a lot like a repeat of A Deadly Education, and while I enjoy the setting and characters a lot, it started feeling a little tired at one point - so I was really glad to see the turn it takes after that. Seeing the school itself as a sentient being take a more active role in the story, with its genuine (if manifested in messed up ways) care for its students, was really fun.

Finally, I'm excited about the huge change to the status quo that the ending makes, and I'm looking forward to seeing what book 3 makes of it!

(Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!)

I loved diving back into the world of the Scholomance with Novik's second of the series. El is a young woman to be reckoned with who finds that she has a lot of heart despite having always believed she was destined for monstrous things. She is amazingly quick witted, courageous and snarky as all hell.

The world building is truly genius and not quite like anything I've read before. I'm very much looking forward to the final book after an utterly explosive ending.

Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and Naomi Novik for an e-copy of this book!!!

I thought this book felt slow up until I got to the last 20 percent and then things just spiraled in both good and bad ways. The ending definitely left me with my mouth agape and I still can’t even process it. Can’t wait to read the next one to find out what on earth happens!!

**Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and Naomi Novik for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

I'm kinda hooked on this series! After reading book 1, I was sucked into this magical dark academic world with its kill or be killed attitude. This was book 2 of a trilogy of The Scholomance series. Galadriel "El" has survived to her final year at the deadly magical school, Scholomance. I've described the school previously as Hogwarts meets The Hunger Games.

In her senior year, El has finally made friends and a very small alliance. This alliance must work together to survive until the final graduation ceremony. The true test of graduation is the deadly ritual to run the gauntlet in the graduation hall, where they must try their best to protect each other with magic and spells against the hungry magical creatures that will likely try to devour them. Only a small percentage of any given class survives the graduation hall to walk out of the gates of Scholomance. During the last couple of years, El has become close with the annoyingly helpful Orion. She is distressed by her mother's urgent message, "Keep far away from Orion Lake". What can her mother mean?

El's senior year proves to the be the darkest and deadliest, with attacks around every corner. She begins to think the school has a personal vendeta against her. She also struggles with her mother's message. Can she trust Orion? As graduation day fast approaches, El and her alliance must decide if "winning" means sometimes thinking outside of the box.

AUGGGHHHHH!! That cliffhanger is so cruel! Onto book #3......

An epic second book in an intended trilogy from a rich and fantastical world with extremely powerful adolescence characters, their exceptionally dangerous and occasionally deadly school and the wider magical community and the secrets that lie at the heart of it. This novel is woven through with themes of social inequality, the everlasting power of friendship, and the importance in questioning the status quo.

Our main character, El, is gifted with an incredibly deadly and destructive affinity to magic. Even the simplest of spells could twist into something cataclysmic and equally dangerous if she isn’t on her guard. She knows what might happen if she gives into this darker kind of magic. A prophecy claims that she would cause the downfall of the magical society as they know it, and so she has fought against these dark powers all her life.

Outside the walls of the school that is meant to keep them protected, is not as all as it seems. A terrible secret festers at the heart of the magical society and El will have to surround herself with people she can trust and embrace her powers. Maybe even her dark affinity, in an attempt to set things right and save her world. But not everything is as it seems. Sometimes the people we trust will ultimately betray us in the end. This is an epic second book in the series that covers so much intricate world-building, character dynamics and rounded out with a fast past plot line. This is a book you don’t want to miss!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy via NetGalley of The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik

This book is very good. I read it in two days and didn't want to stop reading even for sleep or food. The kind of fantasy Naomi Novik writes is one of my favorite ones. She can build characters and worlds so tangled together and so great that is difficult to walk away from them. The Last Graduate gives us a second book really worth reading after the first one. El is nasty and loving at the same time, and she has grown a lot in this book. It was an amazing journey.

The second book of the Scholomance series lived up to all my expectations, just like the first one did!

In this sequel, we follow El, Orion, and their fellow students as they face their final year at the Scholomance, where graduation is a perilous rite.

I love Novik's writing, I immediately pick this up after finishing the first one. It is impossible to put down.

In "A Deadly Education" and its sequel, Novik has crafted a world where magic, danger, and unconventional heroism collide in the most captivating way. If you were a fan of the first book, you're in for a treat with this second installment. I'm eagerly anticipating what comes next in this series!

I will update with links when review is shared

Holy shit I loved this as much as I loved the first one but maybe even more because I felt like I understood the world so much more now, but also because senior year shows our girl El really growing up! It held my attention down to the very last line and I am champing at the bit to start the last book in the series tomorrow. It’s so good, oh my god. I loved how the characters we knew from book 1 were fleshed out, I loved the new ones and the new insight into El and Orion’s being once-in-a-generation talents, and I just loved El’s trademark sardonic take on… everything. She made me laugh out loud at various points and her friendship with Aadhya and Liu is so beautiful! This series is dark and scary but seeing El find so much happiness and light even amidst the terror and chaos and grim determination, as well as seeing her continue to develop her own moral compass and start taking a real interest in social justice rather than vengeance was so soothing and fun to read. Loving this series sooo much and both wanting to savor and devour book 3 asap!

We find ourselves right back at Scholomance, starting El's senior year, and the School has a whole set of plans in store for her and her unconventional group of wizards. El forms an alliance with Liu and Aadhya, while Orion occupies the not-yet-boyfriend spot with a deal to ignore romance now and explore romance "if we make it out of here alive." Senior year is notorious for being the most perilous, cranking up the danger to prepare students for the treacherous graduation gauntlet. However, this year's schedule springs some surprises on El, and suddenly, she's handed everything she's ever desired, only to discover that maybe she didn't truly want it after all.

El still wrestles with her prickly personality and those maddeningly long inner monologues, but this book had me completely hooked. The groundwork laid in the previous installment, with all its foreshadowing, combined with the faster pacing in most parts of this book, made for a lightning-fast read.

“The Last Graduate” felt swifter because there was less info-dumping through inner monologue to explain the school's intricacies. Don't worry, there were still a few drawn-out moments, but they were far between, and the story's momentum kept me pushing forward to uncover the answers. El's character has become more likable in this second book of the series. It's heartening to see her growth continue, and it carries on throughout the narrative. Despite some people labeling this series as a romance, it plays a minute role, and the book would remain just as compelling without it.

The ending delivers a massive cliffhanger, but it's the kind you see coming from a mile away – not in a negative sense, but in that satisfying, "I love Novik's use of foreshadowing" way. Overall, I found this book even more enjoyable than the first installment, mainly because there was less time spent waxing poetic about the Scholomance's inner workings. I particularly appreciated the character development, not just of El but also her alliance and the rest of the cast. If El's inner voice grated on you in the first book, you might still encounter it here, but rest assured she's grown and is much more relatable now.

I currently have a one week wait at the library for the third book “The Golden Enclaves” and it has already become excruciating. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with this Advanced Reader Copy.

It was a lot easier to read than the first book in the series. It felt more polished. It was a bit exposition heavy, but feels like it works as a standalone bringing us up to speed. I stopped at the end of chapter 1 (8%), but I imagine people might enjoy this more than the first based on polish.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great sequel and I loved the academia vibes in this book. I look forward to more in the next book.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for a gifted copy to read and review, all thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

This is the second book in the Scholomance series, the sequel to A Deadly Education, where we follow El, Orion and their friends through their senior year of the Scholomance. This is expected to be their most deadly year.

An overall 3.75 stars from me!

We start off basically right where we left off in the first book, with El and Orion and friends. Since we got most of the Scholomance world building (with pictures and graphs!) in the first book, we don’t need much more here. We do get a bit of scheduling explanations (which do become important) and we do learn more about the enclave regions outside of the school along with the politics that go with those. Those politics are often reflected in school behavior and so do become important throughout the story. Overall, for me, this was woven in really nicely.

Since we do start off where we left off, the atmosphere is similar to the first book, a very dangerous survivalist type school. Things are high stakes and life threatening for the students but with a touch of humor at times. Since El has made friends in the first book, there are some found family and wholesome elements to the sequel more than I found there to be in the first book. I was pretty surprised at this, and didn’t expect it to take that route! I enjoyed where it went even though I was not expecting it, and look forward to more of that in the third book.

The main premise of the plot is not so different from the first book: survive in school both literally and metaphorically. Do you schoolwork, find useful spells and create useful objects etc to take out with you into the world. However, since the atmosphere and plot blend in this bool, I found that the atmosphere took on some of the found family trope, the plot did the same. As the atmosphere became more wholesome, so did elements of the plot. There were points towards the 60-70% mark that were anticlimactic for me. There was a lot of build up, and no culmination to that build up felt disappointing though it is part of the story. There are times where I find the writing to be too detailed from the MC’s perspective. Those paragraphs of details are interesting and make the MC more unique and thoughtful, however they can feel like a lot to slog through when reading the book.

Overall, I had fun reading this book. It’s a different type that I typically read and it’s a quick read. I found certain parts of the plot to be anticlimactic, so I don't know that this would ever be a re-read for me, but I do plan to find out what happens and how the story ends.