I've had a bit of a love hate relationship with the original school of good and evil series, but wanted to give this one a try to see where it all came from. It was fascinating and great to read, I'm glad I gave it a shot!

Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the advanced electronic audio review copy of this book. This is a great fairytale retelling. I really enjoyed the audiobook narration, liked how each character was believable and well developed , and enjoyed the plot. Can’t wait to share this great book with my middle grade students!

I really enjoyed this one. I enjoyed the story but holy cliffhanger!!

This is book 0.5 and it is best to read book 1 first.

Two brothers one to head the evil (never’s) and one to lead the good (forever’s). The two train the kids and teach them all they need to know, until that day when it all changed. One brother tried to take on both sides after the other left only to change things for the worst now is it too late to fix them and restore the balance between good and evil.
Though I had an automated audiobook version I can easily see with a good narrator that this book will easily become a fast favorite and I hope a series, as I can’t wait to see what happens next. I really liked the book and the use of Disney character has become a thing lately but it is interesting to see how each author sees each character. I liked this book a lot and can’t wait to hear it with a proper narrator.

The Rise of the School for Good and Evil is a prequel to the School for Good and Evil series. I have read no other titles in the series, and I think I would've been a bit less lost if I had.

There are a lot of characters in this story and some solid world building. The narrative follows the beginnings of the school and the two brothers who founded it, Rafal and Rhian. The brothers are deeply devoted to each other and have worked together to facilitate the running of the school. Characters from other fairy/folk tales are thrown into the mix (Aladdin, Captain Hook), as the solidarity of the brothers' relationship is tested affecting the running of the school as well. I appreciated the "R" names as a nod to the founders of Rome and the shifting sand of morality between the characters actions and intentions. This is a great title for middle grade fantasy readers, and while I don't think a familiarity with the series is necessary, it would probably help.

Rise of the School for Good and Evil is the origin story prequel that fans have been eagerly anticipating. It follows twin schoolmasters Rafal and Rhian, as they encounter a student who they are uncertain where to place. That student turns out to be Aladdin, who may tear the two brothers apart as they battle for power and true control of the school they built together.

Soman Chainani has such a fantastic imagination and I love spending time inside this world. I enjoy how it takes stories we assume we already know (like Aladdin) and adds exciting twists and turns. There is never a dull moment as the rift between the brothers grows and they battle for the incredible school that they’ve created. Chainani tells a nuanced and heartbreaking tale of siblings, morally gray characters, and LGBTQ+ rep.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves fairy tales with a twist and fans of The School for Good and Evil. Rise of the School for Good and Evil releases on May 31, 2022. Thank you so much to Soman Chainani, Harper Audio, and Netgalley for a Voicegalley advance audio edition in exchange for an honest review.

When I requested this from NetGalley, I didn’t realize there were seven books in the series and this is a prequel. Technically I guess it could be read as a standalone, but I’d have preferred to read the other books first to fully understand this world. Other reviews I’ve seen also recommend it.

Twin brothers Rafal and Rhian are headmasters for evil and good sections respectively at a prestigious boarding school where heroes and vilains are trained and taught. They also watch over the Endless Woods. As long as the twins love each other, good and evil are in balance. Previous students of the school are recognizable names – Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Snow White – but this prequel features Aladdin and Captain Hook (James). The school masters are certain Aladdin is destined for Rafal’s school of evil, but when he’s dropped off at Rhian’s school of good, their world goes askew and the adventure begins.

The brothers’ relationship is challenged when feelings of betrayal, jealousy, and mistrust enter the equation. Add in a competition, pirates, and a bungled genie-granted wish, and you have a fun MG read. Although I enjoyed this book, I know I’d have appreciated it more if I’d read the others in the series, and it looks like a Netflix movie is coming. I know I’ll be watching.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

We will purchase the hardcover of this title. I have not read the series but this book was full of adventure and trials.

While it is clear to me it would have been a much more enjoyable read had I read the other books in the series first, I was only momentarily lost. Within the book are well-known characters like Aladdin and Captain Hook who are students at NeverEver, a magic school. The retellings of the stories the students attending Ever Never made it much easier for me to follow along. Yet, the the battle of the good vs evil twin headmaster is new to me and key to the progression of the story, In the end, I concluded that the dynamics of the book may be better understood had I read the series first, but this is a good middle grade book. I’m happy I had the opportunity to read it. I don’t recommend this book as a standalone.
I recommend this to middle grade readers and fans of The School of Good and Evil.

This is the origin story of how the School for Good and Evil came to be as it is today. It is also the story of two brothers sworn to love each other forever and never betray the other under penalty of losing the immortality the Storian gave them in exchange for becoming Good Schoolmaster and Evil Schoolmaster. Sounds simple, except for the whole living-forever thing and growing bored of the only companion they’ve had for the past hundred years. But there are consequences for upsetting the balance between Good and Evil. Prepare for a roller coaster ride of betrayal, treachery, desire, trickery, love, romance, jealousy, and magic.

Loved this series and this prequel type story just as much. The characters and twists and turns of the storyline were perfect.

I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book. Soman is a magnificent storyteller, and his world are astonishing. This book is set in the world of “The school for Good and Evil” but readers that haven’t got to that series will also enjoy and understand, since in this book there are other set of characters and the author keeps the rules of the world clear and understandable from the very beginning.
I absolutely adored the characters, they might not be particularly relatable, but the reader truly connects with them, despite their differences. I truly cared about the characters, and their decisions, this made the story flow easily.
There are so many twists, and the author manages to make them unpredictable and keeps the reader on the edge, wanting to know what comes next.
This book is for everyone that likes fairytales, magic, friendship, adventure, intrigue, brotherhood, and a heartwarming story.

I found this narration hard to follow. It felt robotic and there was much distinction which character was speaking which meant I had to pay attention even more. It was not fun to follow. With human narrator atleast you heard different voices for characters which helped with tone and added fun to the story. This was lacking in this story in my opinion. I could finish the book because I wasn't connecting with narrator. It made me want to just read the book myself instead of listening to it.

Rafal and Rhian are twin brothers: one is the school master for good and the other is the good master for evil at a prestigious boarding school where heroes and villains are trained and made to storybook perfection. But the twist is: who is the good twin and who is the evil twin and does one always stay evil or good or does it change over centuries of proceeding over a school? Read on to find out.

It all started with Aladdin. Both twins were certain he was destined for the school for villains, but the storybook pen had other plans - so off to the school for good for Aladdin. And things unravel rather quickly from there. Be warned: avast there be pirates... and fairies... and future telling Satyrs. While only a few known fairy tales borrow characters for this one, the new characters and the school masters all make up for it. Which school comes out ahead: good or evil? That was a question that haunts me even after the last pages.

I loved all the twists and turns in this one. And I loved when the characters broke into the reader's realm (aka the people who actually read the stories.. ahem... us... about the characters in Rafal and Rhian's realm). I loved how morally grey some of the characters were and how manipulative they could be. The pages are filled with dynamic characters.

Once upon a time, there was a pen, named The Storian. It has a story to write and needed a schoolmaster to run the school. It chose two twin sorcerer brothers to become the Headmasters of the School for Good and Evil. The two must rule side by side and while they are opposites of the coin for good and evil, it is their unwavering love for each other that they were able to rule the school peacefully for many years. As long as the two twins loved each other, The Storian favors neither of the brother nor their schools, as the balance was set for both good and evil. Break that bond and they will each grow old and die. Together, the two watch over the Endless Woods. Together, they choose the students for the School for Good and Evil. Together they train the students, teach them, prepare them for their tales within the stories. That is until one day, a student, named Aladdin arrived and changed everything between them.  Between Aladdin, a fake magic lamp, a joke that turns into a bet, fractured egos, self-worth, narcissism, the crush, a Snow Ball dance, all tore everything apart and the schools are torn apart. Can love and forgiveness bring about redemption and repair what was lost? Or have things been so broken, only heartache and despair will be in their future?

I loved the new characters that came in and the author,  Soman Chainani, still kept the lineage of one of the families from The School of Good and Evil. We witness how it all began and we see, there is no hard line as to a person who is good or evil. We all have a bit of both within us. It’s just a matter of degree.

Voice Galley Review - This is an excellent addition to the School For Good and Evil series. It answers some questions that readers may have had when they read the series. Perfect for fans of the original books.

Rise of the School for Good and Evil is a fun book based on an imaginative concept. It tells the story of twin brothers and several familiar characters, but this book ismostly about the brothers. One is presumed good and the other presumed evil-- like a Hogwarts only for Gryffindor and Slytherin-- but different in important ways.
The story is self-aware, for one. It both rules and must be protected. The brothers sincerely love eachother, but that love is tested.
Ulitmately, this is a book that will help younger readers understand that good and evil are not really descriptions of a person's character, but of their choices.

An interesting look at the founding of the school that started the series. Definitely the prequel we wanted, but some of the "answers" left more questions. Not great.