TW: torture, death, gore, violence, child death, classism, murder, confinement, emotional abuse, child abuse, racism, war
#3/3 in the Scholomance Trilogy
Book 1: A Deadly Education: 4/5 stars
Book 2: The Last Graduate: 5/5 stars
[original mini review on Instagram]
Synopsis:
Saving the world is a test no school of magic can prepare you for in the triumphant conclusion to the New York Times bestselling trilogy that began with A Deadly Education and The Last Graduate.
The one thing you never talk about while you're in the Scholomance is what you'll do when you get out. Not even the richest enclaver would tempt fate that way. But it's all we dream about, the hideously slim chance we'll survive to make it out the gates and improbably find ourselves with a life ahead of us, a life outside the Scholomance halls.
And now the impossible dream has come true. I'm out, we're all out--and I didn't even have to turn into a monstrous dark witch to make it happen. So much for my great-grandmother's prophecy of doom and destruction. I didn't kill enclavers, I saved them. Me, and Orion, and our allies. Our graduation plan worked to perfection: we saved everyone and made the world safe for all wizards and brought peace and harmony to all the enclaves of the world.
Ha, only joking! Actually it's gone all wrong. Someone else has picked up the project of destroying enclaves in my stead, and probably everyone we saved is about to get killed in the brewing enclave war on the horizon. And the first thing I've got to do now, having miraculously got out of the Scholomance, is turn straight around and find a way back in.
~ ~ ~
To say I've enjoyed this series is an understatement. Did the first book have a questionable anecdote? Yes it did, but it was fixed and readers have seemed to forgive Novik for her shortsightedness and appreciate her candor and urgency in fixing the wording. For that, I did not feel conflicted in finishing this series.
I’ve really fallen in love with the Scholomance series. I think Novik has created a main character that is so incredibly realistic. I was kind of nervous about how she would represent the diaspora that comes with being from two cultures, but I also am not of that demographic. I can’t firmly speak to it, but from what I studied and from the classes I took in college, this seemed to be so beautifully done. Obviously, if POC readers disagree, what they say is so much more important that what I think. I can’t speak to it. I really really loved how El's character shifted and changed with her environment for the better. Her character growth was absolutely lovely. She really was a powerhouse in this book.
The Golden Enclaves exceeded my expectations. I really wasn't sure where she was going with this book when I finished The Last Graduate. It was incredible and I really had no idea what to expect. Once I read it, everything made so much sense. Every little puzzle piece fit just right and the little moments mentioned in the first novel came back full circle at the end. I loved it. That's one of my favorite things about reading fantasy novels with such lush and interesting worlds.
Overall, I really loved this book. Novik’s writing style and the way she builds worlds and progresses story arcs is just phenomenal. I wish more people talked about these books in my little social media circle. They’re so good! I plan on diving into her dragon series once I'm back into my epic fantasy mood.
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