A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I came into A Deadly Education without very high expectations, since I’ve been told people found this “boring,” but I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book. While I do agree that there is plenty of info-dumping (which probably makes up 50% of the book), I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it mimicked a train of thought that suited the narration. I found the elements of the magic system and the worldbuilding to be quite well done: while I admit it was excessive at times, it helped me disconnect from reality for some time, as all good fantasies tend to do.

I am a total sucker to all things with a magic school involved, and the Scholomance did not disappoint. Novik used quite a different approach from the usual magic academies – the Scholomance is a school that appears evil, with hoards of monsters ready to tear apart the students. This school isn’t trying to be what it’s not. In a way, it has its own personality, and its goal is to be as aggravating and dangerous to the students as possible. While it kills many students, the school’s method also helps train the rest and acclimate the strongest to the real world. It’s survival of the fittest.

Speaking of the fittest, take our main girl, Galadriel or El. The unique characters were by far my favorite parts of the book. They might at first seem unlikable or naive, but as the story progresses, these characters and their interactions with others are golden. El is moody, antagonistic, and relatively unfriendly, and her slightly ominous personality seeps into the narration. However, it becomes quite clear that underneath gloomy and slightly obnoxious exterior, El is brave, thoughtful, and caring, more than she herself would care to admit. She empathizes with people despite her best efforts to remain aloof, and she understands what it’s like to be at the bottom of the food chain. However, she also knows that she alone can do nothing to truly bring change. El goes through a serious mental shift when she reassesses her goals and morals, and if I go on more I’ll probably spoil the beautiful thought dumps she has. Trust me, it’s heartwarming. There’s nothing better than a character whom you feel for deeply, and I’m happy to say that El truly became a protagonist I could cheer for.

(Side note–this book does a pretty decent exploration of the elite and the underprivileged and all the interactions between these two pretty distinct groups. It has that conflict central to dark academia but in a more lighthearted tone and setting. So if you’re interested in that, definitely check this out!)

Another character I loved was our shining hero, Orion Lake, who goes around saving the day and pretty much messing up the whole balance of the school. While at first he appears clueless and naive, his banter with Galadriel rivals that of the best romance novels. Their relationship progresses rather slowly, but it’s that background burn that always hits different. They’re just so awkward and endearing. I love it. In addition to our two mains, Galadriel makes more friends and forms a found family that genuinely supports one another in a way quite rare in the cutthroat academy. Their whole little group are such cinnamon rolls.

This isn’t a perfect book. The narration drags on sometimes, the explanations are a little confusing at times, and the plot is a little nonexistent. But even with these characteristics, I thoroughly enjoyed A Deadly Education.

Be warned–don’t expect a complex plot when going into this book. In fact, I’d say that the dark academia vibes and actual worldbuilding took a big priority over plot (if it exists). If you’re someone who is all about fast-paced books without too much convoluted explanation or prefer intrinsically likable characters, maybe stray away from this book. But if anything else from this review sounded like it might be up your alley, I’d strongly recommend you check this book out!

BTW, thanks for listening to my ranting. I appreciate you! 🙂 —Review by Lily P. ’27

View all my reviews