The Scholomance Series: Books 1-3

The Scholomance #1-3

by Naomi Novik

Includes the following:
1. A Deadly Education
2. The Last Graduate
3. The Golden Enclaves

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Magic, Romance

1000 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

An avid reader of fantasy literature since age six, when she first made her way through The Lord of the Rings, Naomi Novik is also a history buff with a particular interest in the Napoleonic era and a fondness for the work of Patrick O’Brian and Jane Austen. She studied English literature at Brown University, and did graduate work in computer science at Columbia University before leaving to participate in the design and development of the computer game Neverwinter Nights: Shadow of Undrentide. Over the course of a brief winter sojourn spent working on the game in Edmonton, Canada (accompanied by a truly alarming coat that now lives brooding in the depths of her closet), she realized she preferred writing to programming, and on returning to New York, decided to try her hand at novels.

Naomi lives in New York City with her husband and six computers. Her website is at naominovik.com

Reviews

[Darya Madadvand · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐
هیچی لذت‌بخش‌تر از تموم کردن یه مجموعه و بعد امتیاز دادن به کلش نیست...
گالادریل، دخترم... دلم برات تنگ میشه... البته برای اون ورژنی ازت که تو دو جلد اول بود.
اوریون... پسرم... هر دو میدونیم که تو نباید زنده میموندی ولی به خاطر اینکه کتاب ya بود، موندی (به نظرم علتی جز این نباید داشته باشه... خیلی آبکی زنده موندی، هزار دلیل برای مردن داشتی و حتی یک نصفه دلیل برای زنده‌موندن نداشتی)
اوفلیا... تو فکر کنم تنها برنده‌ی قضیه بودی. تهش هم پسرتو گرفتی، هم تو رو بخشیدت و هم قدرتی که میخواستیو به دست آوردی.
بقیه هم که برعکس اونهمه فضایی که به شخصیت پردازیشون اختصاص داده شده بود، اصلا احساس صمیمیت بهم ندادن...
البته به جز مامانِ اِل... تو دوست‌داشتنی‌ترین بودی🫠💕

[Maliha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rollercoaster ride through a magical school where survival is the ultimate test. Let's break down this wild journey:

**A Deadly Education**: One star. Yes, you read that right. The first book felt like a chaotic mess of magical mayhem. El, our snarky protagonist, was intriguing, but the plot? It was like trying to navigate a labyrinth blindfolded. Too many monsters, not enough coherence.

**The Last Graduate**: Two stars. Improvement? Sure, but still not quite there. El's second year at Scholomance brought more danger and a bit more clarity, but it often felt like running in circles. The stakes were higher, but the pacing was still off. At least El's sarcasm kept things entertaining.

**The Golden Enclaves**: Three and a half stars. Finally, some redemption! The final book brought the series to a satisfying close with twists and turns that actually made sense. El's growth was evident, and the plot finally found its footing. It wasn't perfect, but it was a significant step up from the previous installments.

In summary, the Scholomance trilogy is a mixed bag. It starts off rough, gets a bit better, and ends on a relatively high note. It's a journey worth taking if you can survive the bumpy start. Three stars for the overall experience, with a nod to the finale for finally getting it right.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think Harry Potter with an angstier protagonist and the school is full of monsters trying to kill the students. Well… more monsters.

The final book lost a star for the sexual content but overall still a series I’d recommend.

[Angela Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite series of all time! Different (for me). I listened to these and the narrator was perfect to embody the main character. I loved it so much I listened to it again!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Following commentary is for the entire trilogy but is as spoiler-free as possible.)

What happens to an ecosystem when something takes out the apex predators?

What impact can a loved one’s treatment of you as a child have on the adult you become?

How permeable are social and cultural boundaries when transplanted away from their geographic roots?

Is large-scale capitalism/nationalism inherently evil? Is there any ethical way to consolidate power?

How potent is the power of suggestion? How powerful can sheer will actually be?

How does our belief in something, or disbelief in it, affect that thing’s existence?

Could the Observer Affect apply to prophecy?

Does the universe really seek balance? And if so, can apparent opposites be essentially the same?

What would you do to survive?

What would you sacrifice - what *wouldn’t* you sacrifice - to save your entire society and way of life?

How can economies of scale impact a system that is powered by collective will?

Is it really better to have loved and lost?

All of these are questions that seem to have been on Naomi Novik’s mind as she wrote the Scholomance trilogy, which I finally got around to reading thanks to the encouragement of Kalli at Once and Future Books. In fact, I spent my spring break in the Scholomance and its associated enclaves, which wasn’t the MOST relaxing spring break ever, but certainly entertaining.

Despite playing with these questions, the books aren’t bogged down with philosophy. They’re full of action, witty narration and dialogue, social drama, and just enough intriguing world-building. They just also happen to be rather clever.

I was skeptical for the first part of book 1, A Deadly Education. The protagonist, a Desi/Welsh teenager named El (short for Galadriel), with an innate gift for mass destruction, is caustic and antisocial and generally unpleasant. She spends a lot of the story wondering why no one likes her even as she goes out of her way to be unlikeable.

El is semi-voluntarily trapped, along with 4000+ other magical children, in an adult-free magical boarding school infested with nasty-to-deadly creepie-crawlies called Maleficaria. Although the purpose of the school is to protect magical children and train them to survive the outside world, only about 25% of the Scholomance students survive their four-year stay. It’s like The Hunger Games + Alien all set in Hogwarts without a teacher in sight... and there are no exits.

Of course, being also stuck in a novel, El quickly finds herself in circumstances that allow readers to sympathize with and see past her prickly exterior. She may look like a nascent evil sorceress on the outside, may even believe she is one… but on the inside, there’s something iron-cast preventing her from stomping sullenly over to the Dark Side. And that’s where things start really getting interesting.

The primary and supporting characters are from around the globe and, from my perspective, seem to be written authentically and respectfully with a minimum of exoticism. (The author is a white American, but seems to have done a solid job of depicting her international cast.)

For those who care about such things, I would give this trilogy a “mild spice” rating. There is sex in the second and third books, but it is neither detailed nor gratuitous — not entirely closed-door, but still safe for most teens. Among central characters there are both M/F and F/F liaisons, and at least two central characters are
clearly depicted as bisexual.

And for those like me who worry about HEAs, cliffhangers, etc…. the conclusion to the trilogy was pretty much entirely satisfying.

I haven’t investigated whether this next bit is intentional or not, but my neurodivergence radar went off a LOT in this book. El has some traits of autism and attachment disorder/borderline personality disorder, but I suspect they’re more symptoms of the struggles she faced prior to matriculation. Another central character, Orion, is fairly heavily coded as AuDHD, with some really excellent portrayal of the way autistic and ADHD traits can manifest in a smart, well-supported young man — and be misinterpreted by his peers. His hyperfixations, social difficulties, and atypical strengths and weaknesses could all absolutely be indicative of autism and ADHD. Of course, there’s eventually a magical explanation for all that as well, but in his case I really feel justified in claiming him as One Of Us.

Per Kalli’s recommendation, I read the trilogy via Anisha Dadia’s excellent audiobooks. While marketed as adult fantasy for reasons I don’t entirely understand, they’re entirely suitable for teens who don’t mind a bit of dark and gruesome and political in their fantasy reading - and in fact, I think I’ll be adding at least the first book to my junior high collection.

[Caitlin Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost never write book reviews, because so many books are enjoyable, but they don't stand out. They don't need my voice adding to the cacophony of noise.

This series is different. The Scholomance Trilogy is, without doubt, one of *the* most creative magic systems I have every come across in a fantasy series. It was fresh. It was dark. It was *delicious.* I so, so enjoyed this series. Everything that is WRONG with Harry Potter, this series got right. Why are adults so complacent and accepting of the fact that children seem just *die*, with no attempts at better solutions? Why and *how* do people live with the cognitive dissonance of living in a way that actively thrives off of, benefits from, putting others beneath you? This series asks the same questions we see reflected in our modern day society... and our main character is no heroine. She is simply one of the many young people fed up with it all and done keeping her head down, done just trying to survive.

Novik writes with a style that is uniquely hers. The intricacies of the magic system are stunning. The characters are complex. Even someone such as myself, an ADHD & Autistic reader of a lifetime for whom books and movies and TV shows alike rarely contain surprises, could not predict every twist. It's too original and much too clever. The pattern recognition will have you putting together some pieces, perhaps, but never the whole thing. And sometimes you'll think you've got it, only to have your world swept out from under your feet.

I think this series is one I'll be coming back to for a long, long time. I, for one, am SO glad that I judged this book by its cover back in Barnes & Noble last summer when I grabbed the first one.

[TLuvs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read but I still love it as much as the first time!

[Myah Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so much fun! A fantasy series that managed to surprise me and offer something fresh and new to my cataloge of YA trilogies.

Some plotlines were a little predictable, i.e 'the chosen one', teenagers finding soul-mate level love or character death ressurections (please stop trying to convince me a character is dead if they're not; I'm not falling for it).

However, the series makes up for it by having a wickedly unique magic system. Truly, the more I read the more impressed I was by the complexity and creativity of this world, in which magic is more like a belief system that swings between reality and unreality. Magic is generated through effort and work in a measurable kind of way - a really brilliant idea which allows for the huge politial subtext in the series. The commentary on class inaccessibility, broken government systems, the rich/poor divide, greed and corruption had such a sharp echo to the present day that it barely allowed me any fantasy escapism. One line in particular about the 'mundane's enclaves' gave me chills.

I will note though - some of the 'rules' of this magic system seemed to be conveniently thought up when the plot needed it. It contradicted itself, made no sense at times, and had new elements brought into existence by the authors pen at every turn. I could put it all to the magic in this world being unpredictable and confusing, but I think that's me being a little generous.

Nonetheless! I had a fabulous fun time with this series, and I think it has some real critical merit to it. The finale, in particular, concluded the story in a truly impressive and unexpected way. It was like a plot twist that perfectly tied everything up.

[Britt Brockett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super interesting magic system, and a really unique world. Rating high as it really stood out from the pack among other fantasy/mod fantasy books I've read. Some might find it a little slow, based on other reviews, but I thought that it was pretty well paced except for a few bits and pieces in the 2nd and 3rd books. Didn't stop me reading the series in a couple of days!

Would recommend if you want to read something with a new magic system, a slightly darker take on magic, and some pretty well-developed characters.

[Fantasybook_thoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for ya fantasy readers
It’s not spicy but there is a bit of romance!!

It has:
- magical school
- Plot twists
- Survival
- Mystery
- Snarky main character
- Magic
- Friendschip

I loved the sarcastic main character al short for Galadriel Higgins. Since the beginning I was enthralled and forced to read until the end to discover everything. Book 1&2 end in a cliffhanger that makes you immediately want to read the next book. I loved watching her grow her self-imposed loneliness to having a circle of close and trusted friends that she would never abandon.

[Janelle Mackowiak · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Harry Potter and you enjoyed the Hunger Games, this is their love child. Imagine Hogwarts floating in space, and all the ghosts and monsters inside want to eat all the students. It's just accepted as the "occupational hazard" for learning magic that the students might very well die at school. Nothing has ever changed though everyone knows it needs to. It's a little on the darker side of magic and definitely darker and more mature than the HP series so probably not for kids, just FYI. I really enjoyed it and found the whole concept fascinating.

[A.J. Rubineau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Challenge 2023: #17-19, The Scholomance Series, by Naomi Novik
Audiobooks and Ebooks, from a collection of libraries.

Super satisfying series, with a grumpy misanthropic protagonist, a horrorish squelchy BigBad, and luscious world-building. El Higgins may be my fave fantasy character since Luna Lovegood. Escapist dark academia at its best.

#56booksin2024
#seventeeneighteenandnineteendownthirtyseventogo

[TeaByTheShelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nur zum zweiten Mal in meinem Leben bin ich ab dem ersten Satz eines Buches so hängengeblieben, dass ich nicht anders konnte als die gesamte Serie zu verschlingen. Die Charaktere, die Story, das Magiesystem und allen voran das Worldbuilding ist so INSANE gut. So vielschichtig und magisch und mitreißend. 1000/10, ich würde es jederzeit wieder lesen.

[Alicia Méndez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me engancho bastante, tiene sus tontorronerias y su mundo mágico y su todo. Pero capturó mi interés y no pudo dejar de leerlo hasta terminar toda la trilogía, creo que tiene buenos plotwidt y un mundo interesante. Además me hace un poco de gracia (buena) las dinámicas de los personajes

[Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished reading for the first time and don't know what to do with myself now. Utterly in love with El and Orion and the ways they and everyone else had to break down the twisted fucked up world around them and bend it to their will to live.

[Debbie]

Harry Potter meets Hunger Games. Artfully crafted world building and masterful storytelling. You’ll want to read it twice as soon as you get to the end just to understand the finale. Hooray for this fiesty, uncompromising female protagonist. I loved every minute of this series.

[Marlene Lesley]

Fantastic

[Ray Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

SCHOLOMANCE !!!!! One of my favorite book series Ever. Definitely top 5. It’s disgustingly descriptive with the Yuck monsters and I love it so so much. Please do read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give the first book a 5, but the 2nd and 3rd were 4 stars for me.

Such an interesting premise, and I loved having a main character that had such a different personality then most do.

[Jon McClain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good dark world-building. It is a 3 because nothing has changed, and the cycle will continue within a thousand years. Nothing learned.

[Ingríð Älva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This trilogy is special, but first book is the best.

[Delaney Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This trilogy was so good! It was recommended to me as a fan of Harry Potter. It’s got magic and mystery and a main character who’s trying to survive being killed by others with magic.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scholomance Series 3 Books Set by Naomi Novik – One of the best series I have ever read! Feel free to read the individual reviews on each book! Happy Reading!

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a new way to approach magic, also the story has its twists, ups and downs and catches you from the first to the last word.

[Kell Natalia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series got a very interesting concept of magic and world going on. Sadly, the story didn't deliver. Kinda like the second book though, but the third book definitely flopped.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

My tagline for the series - what if Dark Willow found out about the Omelas closet?

[Zoe Clune · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing read it 3 times as of posting this review, will probably re-read it several times more. I fell in love with El and Lui

[Brage N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely captivating.
Naomi does a stellar job informing the reader of the world through the narrative of the book.
One of the best book (series) I've read

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustaron, me encanta como imaginó/diseñó la escuela. Me gustó la principal y su dinámica con el principal.

[igorama · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been rereading this regularly. Honestly, it's one story, not a series of three, obviously meticulously planned and plotted from start to finish. So much for the cliffhangers.

Someone else said the main character is a human Murderbot, and that's amazingly accurate. She's overpowered but not invulnerable, has extreme trouble socializing, and is absolutely loyal.

Magical children of the most vulnerable age, i.e. teenagers, are sent to a magical school, if they're lucky. The Scholomance is brutal, with no teachers except monsters that kill failing students, but it's worse outside. So everyone is very motivated to learn as much as they can to protect themselves and, if they have energy to spare, perhaps their friends too. But the world is not fair, the privileged kids who come from the magical enclaves have serious systemic advantages. By design.

The book explores the nature of inequality, imperialism, idealism, love and sacrifice. It's also an exciting adventure full of unpredictable twists told by an honest but unreliable narrator. It's absolutely brilliant.

My only minor complaint is that an extremely intelligent and well meaning character overlooks a very obvious issue in the climactic scene, so I have to mentally correct for that.