Book review: A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

Book review  on A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik written by Stacey Leerhoff

“A Deadly Education” by Naomi Novik has been recommended for adult Harry Potter fans. And since I’m definitely a Harry Potter fan (I relisten to the series every couple of years), I thought I’d give it a listen. I drive a half hour to and from work each day, so I’ve taken to listening to audio books and it really makes the time fly. The bonus is that I get to read more books and in a day and age when it’s sometimes hard to find time to read, I especially love this bonus. The story takes place in the Scholomance, a magical boarding school similar to Hogwarts. But, that is where the similarities end. In this story, the school has all of the control. The Scholomance won’t let students leave. Until, either they graduate or they die. Literally. You never walk along; there are monsters lurking everywhere to kill you including in your food in the lunchroom so you have to be very observant and very careful. There are no friendships, unless of course it’s someone with either better magic than you or better standing so they will be of help to your survival. The world outside of the Scholomance is hard to survive, so inevitably parents send their children to the Scholomance for a chance at getting into an enclave upon graduation so they will have the combined magic and protection of those in the enclave forever. El, our main character, has no real allies, but very strong and powerful magic, but deadly. She could destroy the school and level mountains. And no one knows it. Because it might also kill everyone in the school. Orion is the star of the school, top of his class, already accepted into an enclave after graduation and therefore already sharing in their powers and protection and he’s a good guy. But, maybe because he is so great, he has nobody. El is prickly and grumpy about and to everyone and everything. When Orion unwittingly saves her life, she complains and grumps. And he does it again! Thus is the start of a friendship. Will it help them survive the year at school? Or will it ultimately be their demise? Check it out in the YA section of the Charles City Public library today to find out. And complete the series to see what happens next in the Scholomance.