A Deadly Education (The Scholomance Book 1)
by Naomi Novik
REVIEW POSTED ONLINE: APR 15, 2025
El is trying to survive at a special school for teenage wizards that attract tons of mana hungry monsters. Technically it's safer than anywhere else for magic wielders like her, but only a fraction usually make it to graduation until the self-appointed hero Orion starts to disrupt the balance
AUTHOR: Naomi Novik
GENRES: Young Adult, Fantasy
CATEGORIES: I Have a Secret
REVIEW
What I Liked:I was intrigued by the concept of a magical boarding school filled with danger that forces students to learn to survive.
What I Didn't Like:The story didn't really pull me in. There wasn't a whole lot of relationship building because the main character, El, is such a loner. This first book if very much centered on her journey and self-discovery.
Overall:YA is not my favorite, but I took a chance on this one because it sounded like a cross of Harry Potter and Lord of the Flies. The characters very much act like the teenagers they are, but if that doesn't put you off then it's a fun story to explore. Despite being on the fence with this one, I have added the next book in the series to my tbr list because I have hope that the world, characters, and relationships will develop more quickly now that everything is established.
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Heat Index: 🔥 (1/5)