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A Deadly Education: A Novel (The Scholomance) Paperback – May 4, 2021

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 17,219 ratings

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of Uprooted and Spinning Silver comes the first book of the Scholomance trilogy, the story of an unwilling dark sorceress who is destined to rewrite the rules of magic.

FINALIST FOR THE LODESTAR AWARD • “The dark school of magic I’ve been waiting for.”—Katherine Arden, author of the Winternight Trilogy

I decided that Orion Lake needed to die after the second time he saved my life.

Everyone loves Orion Lake. Everyone
else, that is. Far as I’m concerned, he can keep his flashy combat magic to himself. I’m not joining his pack of adoring fans.

I don’t need help surviving the Scholomance, even if they do. Forget the hordes of monsters and cursed artifacts, I’m probably the most dangerous thing in the place. Just give me a chance and I’ll level mountains and kill untold millions, make myself the dark queen of the world.

At least, that’s what the world expects. Most of the other students in here would be delighted if Orion killed me like one more evil thing that’s crawled out of the drains. Sometimes I think they want me to turn into the evil witch they assume I am. The school certainly does.

But the Scholomance isn’t getting what it wants from me. And neither is Orion Lake. I may not be anyone’s idea of the shining hero, but I’m going to make it out of this place alive, and I’m not going to slaughter thousands to do it, either.

Although I’m giving serious consideration to
just one.

With flawless mastery, Naomi Novik creates a school bursting with magic like you’ve never seen before, and a heroine for the ages—a character so sharply realized and so richly nuanced that she will live on in hearts and minds for generations to come.

The magic of the Scholomance trilogy continues in
The Last Graduate and The Golden Enclaves

“The can’t-miss fantasy of fall 2020, a brutal coming-of-power story steeped in the aesthetics of dark academia. . . .
A Deadly Education will cement Naomi Novik’s place as one of the greatest and most versatile fantasy writers of our time.”BookPage (starred review)

“A must-read . . . Novik puts a refreshingly dark, adult spin on the magical boarding school. . . . Readers will delight in the push-and-pull of El and Orion’s relationship, the fantastically detailed world, the clever magic system, and the matter-of-fact diversity of the student body.”
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"All the Little Raindrops: A Novel" by Mia Sheridan for $10.39
The chilling story of the abduction of two teenagers, their escape, and the dark secrets that, years later, bring them back to the scene of the crime. | Learn more

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From the Publisher

deadly education;school of magic;witchcraft;witches;epic fantasy;YA fantasy;coming of age;scifi

Editorial Reviews

Review

“I loved this book. It’s such a nail-biter, it’s funny, it’s thought-provoking, and it’s such a good read.”BuzzFeed

“Novik deliciously undoes expectations about magic schools, destined heroes, and family legacies. A gorgeous book about monsters and monstrousness, chockablock with action, cleverness, and wit.”
—Holly Black, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“At the Scholomance, monsters are everywhere and the breakfast might kill you, but the wonderful cast of characters will grab ahold of your heart and you’ll never want to leave this deadly school. Naomi Novik skillfully combines sharp humor with layers of imagination to build a fantasy that delights on every level. I loved this brilliant book.”
—Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series

“Eyeball-meltingly brilliant . . . Novik is, quite simply, a genius.”
—Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of And I Darken

“Hilarious and wild! Take any fictional magic school, make it as over-the-top dangerous as possible, and populate it with a bunch of snarky teenagers; the result is pure batshit fun.”
—N. K. Jemisin, New York Times bestselling author of The City We Became

A Deadly Education is a nightmare from which I never wished to wake: savage, inventive, and soulful. Novik grasps the totems of childhood that linger in your mind—schools of magic, curses, cutthroat classmates, monsters—only to twist them into a grand new tale that’ll make you believe in magic again.”—Pierce Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Dark Age

A Deadly Education is a book that lives up to its gobsmacker of an opening sentence and follows right through to its shocker of an ending that promises more to come. Naomi Novik is relentlessly innovative and entertaining.”—Terry Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Druid

“Friendship in spite of itself; danger that doesn’t quit—what a wildly magical ride!”
—Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author of Tempests and Slaughter

“The magic and mystery of this chillingly lovely novel will appeal to both YA and adult fans of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. . . . An unresolved ending leaves readers eager for the next installment.”—Library Journal (starred review)

About the Author

Naomi Novik is the New York Times bestselling author of A Deadly Education, The Last Graduate, and The Golden Enclaves,  the award-winning novels Uprooted and Spinning Silver, and the Temeraire series. She is a founder of the Organization for Transformative Works and the Archive of Our Own. She lives in New York City with her family and six computers.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Del Rey; First Edition, First Printing (May 4, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593128508
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593128503
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 17,219 ratings

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Naomi Novik
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An avid reader of fantasy literature since age six, Naomi Novik is also a history buff with a particular fascination with the Napoleonic era and a fondness for the work of Patrick O'Brian and Jane Austen. She lives with her husband and daughter in New York City along with many purring computers.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
17,219 global ratings

Review this product

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable to read. They appreciate the well-developed characters and unique magic system. The writing quality is praised as excellent and addictive. Readers find the humor witty and humorous, not goofy. However, opinions differ on whether the story is boring or satisfying at the end.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

400 customers mention "Readability"400 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and unique in its storytelling. They describe it as a wonderful novel with relatable characters and an imaginative take on a wizard school. The worldbuilding is also interesting, though some readers dislike the excessive world-building. Overall, customers enjoy the book and look forward to the series conclusion.

"...added to the story, just fantastically well-done, believable, and relatable (if you’re an evil sorceress in the making or other potential evil human)..." Read more

"...me with a solid take and a hard attitude, combined with deep veins of creativity and imagination. This book is rich...." Read more

"...Also thought the diversity in the book was lovely to see. (Maybe a little gruesome for some readers, but it's not that scary.)" Read more

"...I however greatly enjoyed this book and look forward to completing the series. I enjoy books with out of the norm characterizations...." Read more

198 customers mention "Believable characters"169 positive29 negative

Customers enjoy the believable characters. They find the book helps them form a relationship with the main character, and they appreciate the diverse personalities and personality types. The grumbling of the main character is very entertaining. The smart, tough protagonist is described as a true anti-hero. The personification of the school also appeals to readers.

"...So many relatable and likable characters...." Read more

"...If you like fantasy stories, strong on premise and peopled with great characters and great moments, this one is firing on all cylinders...." Read more

"Absolutely amazing, loved it. Totally recommend!!! Riveting story and characters and world...." Read more

"...Deadly Education" isn't just because it's fun watching a smart, tough protagonist make her way through an intriguing world, but because the meat of..." Read more

120 customers mention "Writing quality"84 positive36 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find it excellent and original, with an addictive voice. The author consistently handles the narrative well, with likable characters and plenty of narration. Readers describe the book as rich, semi-stream of consciousness, and delightfully British and young adult.

"...There was great inner monologue that really added to the story, just fantastically well-done, believable, and relatable..." Read more

"...This book is rich. A tad over-wrought in places, but primarily fun, edgy, rewarding, and well worth the time and attention...." Read more

"...The other piece was there's tons of writing that's unbroken, my guess is because Galadriel is sort of a loner in the beginning and has no one to..." Read more

"...The book is written semi-stream of consciousness, and follows a pattern of describing 1 part action, 1 part dialogue, 3 parts worldbuilding, 5 parts..." Read more

116 customers mention "Take on magic"116 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's magic system. They find the concept interesting and well-developed. The world-building is enjoyable, and the magic aspect seems consistent. Orion learns valuable life lessons and has a clear path forward by the end.

"...a bit more in the next book, but I really like that the focus is on the action, not the romance of a high school student under 18." Read more

"...long which I'm a huge fan of, it usually means there's lots to get through in a good way and nothing is rushed...." Read more

"...book is written semi-stream of consciousness, and follows a pattern of describing 1 part action, 1 part dialogue, 3 parts worldbuilding, 5 parts..." Read more

"I do find this book quite enjoyable. There are plenty of actions and intriguing situations. Maybe some more background about the histories, etc...." Read more

80 customers mention "Wit"69 positive11 negative

Customers find the book's wit engaging. They describe the main character as witty and humorous, with a dry sense of humor. The book is described as natural and not goofy, with a quirky yet relatable tone.

"...This book is rich. A tad over-wrought in places, but primarily fun, edgy, rewarding, and well worth the time and attention...." Read more

"...Her sarcasm is humorous, and you really can’t help but like her. I liked her from the very start...." Read more

"...I loved El's snarky and sarcastic voice immediately, but the first 20 pages was a struggle for sure because there was a lot of info-dump on her..." Read more

"...There are plenty of actions and intriguing situations. Maybe some more background about the histories, etc...." Read more

92 customers mention "Boredom"42 positive50 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book. Some found it satisfying at the end and worth reading, with an endearing struggle. Others felt the storyline was thin and inconsistency-filled, with little action and a disappointing climax.

"...I really appreciate the fact that there is no romance or spice in this book. El is 16 years old...." Read more

"...The story is the lesson, with no bludgeons required. Just realistic situations and reactions. Kudos!..." Read more

"...At least, that's the interesting part. The problem is that the UNinteresting part (angsty high school drama) is the majority of the book, and drowns..." Read more

"...in places, but primarily fun, edgy, rewarding, and well worth the time and attention...." Read more

83 customers mention "Pacing"42 positive41 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some find it nice and fast, with world-building happening quickly. Others feel it's tedious, frustrating, and confusing at times.

"...it usually means there's lots to get through in a good way and nothing is rushed...." Read more

"...she is always the smartest person in the room, and her blatant rudeness to a young man that saves her life more than once - - - makes it hard, as a..." Read more

"Such a fun and manageable read. Can’t wait to start book 2. No smut so good for young adults! Yay" Read more

"A little slow and difficult to start, but improves. By the end, very engaging. Looking forward to the next book in the series." Read more

60 customers mention "Explanations"35 positive25 negative

Customers have different views on the explanations in the book. Some find the world complex and engaging, with enough information to become invested in the characters. Others feel the book is too detailed at times, with exposition dumps and generic creature descriptions.

"...So many relatable and likable characters. Enough information that you become invested in the characters and hope that they survive their deadly..." Read more

"...And basically there's exposition laden throughout the entire affair, and every exciting moment is watered-down while the main character has to..." Read more

"...But this book hooked me with a solid take and a hard attitude, combined with deep veins of creativity and imagination. This book is rich...." Read more

"...but the reader is inside El’s head getting an inside scoop of information from her POV. So I didn’t even mind it...." Read more

Absolutely loved!
5 out of 5 stars
Absolutely loved!
El is a junior in a school for magic users. A school riddled with creatures hungry to devour young students. The only way out is to graduate. If you can survive until then.I am a sucker for magic school tropes. And this one did not disappoint. There was a lot of what felt like info-dumping, but the reader is inside El’s head getting an inside scoop of information from her POV. So I didn’t even mind it.El is a pessimist who no one really likes. Compared to a rain cloud in the book. She is rude to everyone and focused on her own survival. But she would never do anything to intentionally harm anyone else. The whole time I was asking myself, why do I love her so much? Her sarcasm is humorous, and you really can’t help but like her. I liked her from the very start. And deep down, she’s a decent person who was treated badly all her life.I really appreciate the fact that there is no romance or spice in this book. El is 16 years old. There is another student who has a crush on her, but she is oblivious until the very end. This crush will probably be explored a bit more in the next book, but I really like that the focus is on the action, not the romance of a high school student under 18.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2020
    A Deadly Education (The Scholomance Book 1) was just way too much fun. It was one of those books you just don’t want to put down because the world is just so engaging. Yes, there were elements that seemed derivative, except some ideas are universal and Novik adds her own unique twists, for example: moving staircases became so much more deadly and purposeful than some other famous moving staircases, as the school ratchets itself down, moving the students over the course of four years down to the graduation hall.

    There was great inner monologue that really added to the story, just fantastically well-done, believable, and relatable (if you’re an evil sorceress in the making or other potential evil human). So many relatable and likable characters. Enough information that you become invested in the characters and hope that they survive their deadly education.

    And there are some astonishingly well-incorporated life lessons. Trust me, I’ve just finished a couple of books where the themes were bludgeoned into the hapless reader over and over with no hint of subtlety or finesse. Novik does it right. The story is the lesson, with no bludgeons required. Just realistic situations and reactions. Kudos!

    I’d recently come off a semi-binge on Novik’s Temeraire series and have really been enjoying it, so I had to grab A Deadly Education when it came up recommended. (Wish I’d noticed it when it first came out.)

    If I were to meet you in an isle at the local bookstore, I’d steer you over to this book as a must-read. The only downside to A Deadly Education is that I hit the end full-stop, almost shattered. I’d assumed, for some reason, that the next book was already out and popped over to buy it, only to discover it was a preorder. (Instantly preordered.) Now, I shall have to practice waiting patiently for the next installment. Just to be clear; this is not a cliffhanger or a serial. This is a true series where minor and many major plot lines are wrapped up, but some are left to be answered in the next story.

    Highly recommended to fantasy lovers and those who love a good story.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2024
    Usually, the idea of mixing together the “magic school” trope with the “strong female protagonist” trope sees me respectfully moving onto another book. Not quite my cup of tea. But this book hooked me with a solid take and a hard attitude, combined with deep veins of creativity and imagination.

    This book is rich. A tad over-wrought in places, but primarily fun, edgy, rewarding, and well worth the time and attention.

    I especially enjoyed the idea of a self-running self-aware school, without staff or faculty whatsoever, full of students only, and absolutely over-run with beasties and baddies, and built halfway between the real world and “the void”.

    Look, it’s hard to explain this book’s appeal without spoiling it. If you like fantasy stories, strong on premise and peopled with great characters and great moments, this one is firing on all cylinders. Excellent writing from a rock-solid author. I think I’ll track down the next book in the series.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2024
    El is a junior in a school for magic users. A school riddled with creatures hungry to devour young students. The only way out is to graduate. If you can survive until then.

    I am a sucker for magic school tropes. And this one did not disappoint. There was a lot of what felt like info-dumping, but the reader is inside El’s head getting an inside scoop of information from her POV. So I didn’t even mind it.

    El is a pessimist who no one really likes. Compared to a rain cloud in the book. She is rude to everyone and focused on her own survival. But she would never do anything to intentionally harm anyone else. The whole time I was asking myself, why do I love her so much? Her sarcasm is humorous, and you really can’t help but like her. I liked her from the very start. And deep down, she’s a decent person who was treated badly all her life.

    I really appreciate the fact that there is no romance or spice in this book. El is 16 years old. There is another student who has a crush on her, but she is oblivious until the very end. This crush will probably be explored a bit more in the next book, but I really like that the focus is on the action, not the romance of a high school student under 18.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely loved!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2024
    El is a junior in a school for magic users. A school riddled with creatures hungry to devour young students. The only way out is to graduate. If you can survive until then.

    I am a sucker for magic school tropes. And this one did not disappoint. There was a lot of what felt like info-dumping, but the reader is inside El’s head getting an inside scoop of information from her POV. So I didn’t even mind it.

    El is a pessimist who no one really likes. Compared to a rain cloud in the book. She is rude to everyone and focused on her own survival. But she would never do anything to intentionally harm anyone else. The whole time I was asking myself, why do I love her so much? Her sarcasm is humorous, and you really can’t help but like her. I liked her from the very start. And deep down, she’s a decent person who was treated badly all her life.

    I really appreciate the fact that there is no romance or spice in this book. El is 16 years old. There is another student who has a crush on her, but she is oblivious until the very end. This crush will probably be explored a bit more in the next book, but I really like that the focus is on the action, not the romance of a high school student under 18.
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    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2024
    Absolutely amazing, loved it. Totally recommend!!! Riveting story and characters and world. Also thought the diversity in the book was lovely to see. (Maybe a little gruesome for some readers, but it's not that scary.)

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Jose
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great start, and a grater tsunderere
    Reviewed in Mexico on December 27, 2021
    The main charachter is just such a lovely tsundere. The kind of girl with a resting bitch face and a death stare to make weaker boys to go running, but with a mushy lovable interior a penchant for always doing what's right, no matter the cost, and a great brave heart full of love for her friends and significant others.
  • K. Stefan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Whole Book Series is very entertaining Fantasy.
    Reviewed in Germany on November 18, 2024
    Whole Book Series is very entertaining Fantasy.
  • Becky Crook
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic series starter
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 31, 2024
    A Deadly Education was not at all what I expected it to be, and I can see why it wont be for everyone, but the uniqueness of the writing style and Novik’s ability to drag me head first into whatever world she builds made sure I left this one still a firm fan.

    El is not what you would call ‘Likeable’ she lives her life on the fringes, which for life in the Scholomance means risking her life 3-4 times a day. That is until the maddening good boy Orion saves her life for the second time ( not that they’re counting) and then starts sticking to her like glue. El is initially greatly annoyed by his presence, but soon realises she can work it to her advantage. She wants into an alliance and a Enclave invitation after graduation and Orion, golden Boy of the New York Enclave might be her way in. What starts as a wary alliance, soon blooms into a semi-reluctant friendship and El comes to realise that she may have more friends in the Scholomance than she realises… but also more enemies.

    El is a really unique perspective to read from in that the book is 75% her inner thoughts and her feeding you bits of information. Don’t get me wrong, their is action and dialogue, but those parts are few and far between, I have never read a book with this much inner dialogue and I admit to being put off a little at first. But once you get to know El, Orion and the other kids in the Scholomance you feel inexplicably tied to them, no matter how little page space they actually get.

    Novik does something with El that few authors do, she allows her to be unforgiving , rude, prickly she didn’t try to fix her. Does she start to lay off a little towards the end? Yes, but not enough for her to be classed as likeable. She want’s so much to be at the start, but she quickly realises there is a strength to people being wary of her. Everyone assumes she is using Malia (magical energy drawn from living beings who are more than likely killed in the process), the only problem is if El used even a little of it she could level mountains, cities with a click of her fingers. Instead she lives on a strict diet of Mana (magical energy formed from physical or mental exertion) which limits her powers to the city block kind of destruction. El and Orion’s relationship had me in literal hysterics in parts:

    ”You know, it’s almost impressive,” he said after a moment, sounding less wobbly. “You’re nearly dead and you’re still the rudest person I’ve ever met. You’re welcome again, by the way”

    she starts off unbelievably annoyed by his attention, even when that means more people start talking to her. But when she realises the truth of him, she realises that they are similar in a way, both being used for what they bring to the table and not who they are.

    High school was the worst for most people, but imagine high school where you had to shower in pairs, with one person keeping watch for any Mals (demons) that are trying to kill you, where you have to check the food in the canteen before sticking your hands, or mouth anywhere near it, where sitting by yourself in the cafeteria can be a death sentence. So you would ask why people willingly send their children here right? You would be right in assuming it would be to weed out the weaker magic users, those not part of an alliance by graduation essentially become cannon fodder to the other groups fighting their way out on graduation day ( if you make it that far). Novik not only introduces us to both Mana and Malia users, but also different types of magic people specialise in which fits into three main categories: Incantation, alchemy and Artifice.

    We get a lot of information, not just about what is happening in the Scholomance, but the outside world, insights into El’s past and the history of magic users. I can see where some people would say it was a little dumpy and if I’m being honest I was close to DNF’ing in the first few chapters but I’m so glad I carried on. Novik is a rare talent who can give you enough information to completely immerse yourself in the world, past and present, whilst never loosing out on character interaction or growth.

    I did wonder when reading this how it would turn out to be a series, whether it would get a little monotonous, but Novik weaves little tid bits of information throughout the book so that when you get to the ending, where she throws a complete spanner in the works, you find yourself questioning every interaction and scene. I am unbelievable eager to get my hands on book two, and for anybody starting this one… get past chapter two and it will pick up I promise!
  • isabel Lima
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bom livro
    Reviewed in Spain on June 7, 2023
    Bom livro. Chegou rápido
  • Emy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Novo favorito
    Reviewed in Brazil on February 9, 2021
    No começo fiquei triste que paguei mais caro no livro e tinha o mesmo mais barato, porém valeu cada centavo. A história tem muitas explicações no meio pra você entender e cada reviravolta, o que vai acontecendo e como aquilo vai rolando, a atitude da Galadriel com todo mundo foi muito bem desenvolvido, eu adorei o livro e estou em choque com o final, muito ansiosa pro próximo, já reservei, com esperanças de que seja um livro bem maior pra eu demorar mais apreciando isso.
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    Emy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Novo favorito
    Reviewed in Brazil on February 9, 2021
    No começo fiquei triste que paguei mais caro no livro e tinha o mesmo mais barato, porém valeu cada centavo. A história tem muitas explicações no meio pra você entender e cada reviravolta, o que vai acontecendo e como aquilo vai rolando, a atitude da Galadriel com todo mundo foi muito bem desenvolvido, eu adorei o livro e estou em choque com o final, muito ansiosa pro próximo, já reservei, com esperanças de que seja um livro bem maior pra eu demorar mais apreciando isso.
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