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Deadly Little Lessons
Luminary is more than just a school. It is a test of moral fiber, strength of will, and human resilience.
Lia Michaels can pick any lock and break into most computer systems. But a life of delinquency has her bouncing between foster homes and juvie. So when she applies to Luminary Prep, a new experimental school created to challenge academic conventions, Lia is surprised by the acceptance letter that follows.
With state-of-the-art technology, fancy cafeteria food, and a campus that looks like a painting come to life, Luminary seems to be the break Lia needs. That is, if she can excel in class and be one of only five students who will be allowed to graduate.
But classes at Luminary are . . . odd. And dangerous. There is a death-trap obstacle course in Physics, a Chemistry exam with explosives, and guillotines in Political Science. As students keep vanishing, one by one, Lia starts to wonder if it's not that five students will graduate—but that only five will survive.
Lia Michaels can pick any lock and break into most computer systems. But a life of delinquency has her bouncing between foster homes and juvie. So when she applies to Luminary Prep, a new experimental school created to challenge academic conventions, Lia is surprised by the acceptance letter that follows.
With state-of-the-art technology, fancy cafeteria food, and a campus that looks like a painting come to life, Luminary seems to be the break Lia needs. That is, if she can excel in class and be one of only five students who will be allowed to graduate.
But classes at Luminary are . . . odd. And dangerous. There is a death-trap obstacle course in Physics, a Chemistry exam with explosives, and guillotines in Political Science. As students keep vanishing, one by one, Lia starts to wonder if it's not that five students will graduate—but that only five will survive.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2026
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September 16, 2026
✨ Rating: 4⭐️
🫧 Vibes: academic squid games
🎶 Song: hold me down - halsey
📚 Would I recommend? yes!
💬 tldr thoughts: a very unique book!
In the package:
📦 dark academia
📦 deadly classes
📦 secrets
Plot: Lia has had a difficult life bouncing from fosters homes and juvie. But when her and her foster sister are offered to attend Luminary Prep School, it all sounds too good to be true. And that's because it is. Delinquent students are given a second chance to see if they can be reformed. The classes are strange and dangerous... and only five 5 students will make it to graduation.
Thoughts: The concept of this book was extremely interesting! Luminary Prep School promises a paid scholarship to elite schools, but only if you can survive the classes. The hands on learning style had me holding my breath any time Lia attended a new class, some of the lessons are completely unhinged and had me saying "surely they can't be allowed to do this!?". There are some really good twists in this book and it's definitely a page turner. The side characters were also great and added a lot to the story. I wish we got a bit more resolution towards the end, it felt a bit rushed but overall, it's a great YA thriller that will keep you engaged throughout!
Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for the gifted ARC!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on instagram ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
🫧 Vibes: academic squid games
🎶 Song: hold me down - halsey
📚 Would I recommend? yes!
💬 tldr thoughts: a very unique book!
In the package:
📦 dark academia
📦 deadly classes
📦 secrets
Plot: Lia has had a difficult life bouncing from fosters homes and juvie. But when her and her foster sister are offered to attend Luminary Prep School, it all sounds too good to be true. And that's because it is. Delinquent students are given a second chance to see if they can be reformed. The classes are strange and dangerous... and only five 5 students will make it to graduation.
Thoughts: The concept of this book was extremely interesting! Luminary Prep School promises a paid scholarship to elite schools, but only if you can survive the classes. The hands on learning style had me holding my breath any time Lia attended a new class, some of the lessons are completely unhinged and had me saying "surely they can't be allowed to do this!?". There are some really good twists in this book and it's definitely a page turner. The side characters were also great and added a lot to the story. I wish we got a bit more resolution towards the end, it felt a bit rushed but overall, it's a great YA thriller that will keep you engaged throughout!
Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for the gifted ARC!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on instagram ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
Want to Read
June 14, 2026thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for access the ARC
September 15, 2026
Luminary Prep is not your average school. Like... REALLY not your average school.
The students are basically a collection of juvenile delinquents who all happen to excel at one skill or another.
And our FMC Lia? She's VERY good at getting into places she isn't supposed to be.
After spending years bouncing between foster homes and even juvie, Lia has become quite the master at sneaking around and picking locks.
So when she's offered the opportunity to attend Luminary Prep, with the promise that succeeding there could eventually get her into the university she's always dreamed of attending, the same one her late mother attended, you can imagine why she jumps at the opportunity.
Except... Luminary is sus. Very, very sus.
The rules are ridiculously strict.
No phones. No leaving campus. Almost no contact with the outside world.
Aaaand then there are the classes.
Because apparently normal Chemistry exams weren't stressful enough, so Luminary decided: You know what these teenagers need? REAL EXPLOSIVES. Ummm... EXCUSE ME??
The entire school is basically one giant survival test disguised as education, and students who don't pass are supposedly sent home.
Except “sent home” starts looking suspiciously similar to... vanishing into thin air.
And there's one other tiny detail. Only five students will graduate.
At which point Lia understandably starts side-eyeing the entire establishment like:
Graduate as in... graduate? Or graduate as in... SURVIVE?!
And from there, things get increasingly intense.
I really liked Lia. She's smart, resourceful and exactly the kind of character you want stuck inside a school where every other lesson seems designed to murder somebody.
I also really enjoyed the survival aspect of the story. As the students slowly realize that something is VERY wrong at Luminary, the tension keeps building, and I loved seeing how they tried to figure out what was actually happening and eventually find a way out.
We also have a little romance situation happening.
And at first...
Is that a love triangle I smell? Side-eyes because, everyone knows how I feel about those.
Initially Lia is more interested in Rani, while Ian St. Clair is firmly sitting in the annoying hometown enemy category. He's the one person at Luminary who already knows Lia from back home and these two aren't exactly delighted to see each other.
Thankfully, since this is YA and the romance isn't the main focus, the triangle never became overwhelming. The survival mystery remained much more important to me, which is exactly what I wanted.
And I have to give a little shout-out to Hank.
HANK!!
The local cop who has dealt with Lia and her various... activities... enough times that they're already on a first-name basis.
I was SO glad he was on her side when it mattered. Having someone outside Luminary who knew Lia, understood her and knew exactly what needed to be done made the later parts of the story even more satisfying for me.
Overall, I had such a good time with this.
The school itself was fascinating, the increasingly dangerous lessons kept the stakes high, Lia was a great FMC, and once the survival element really kicked in, I was completely invested in seeing how the hell these kids were going to get themselves out.
Apparently Luminary Prep believes education builds character.
And if that doesn't work...
Explosives.
That'll do it.
4.5⭐
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
The students are basically a collection of juvenile delinquents who all happen to excel at one skill or another.
And our FMC Lia? She's VERY good at getting into places she isn't supposed to be.
After spending years bouncing between foster homes and even juvie, Lia has become quite the master at sneaking around and picking locks.
So when she's offered the opportunity to attend Luminary Prep, with the promise that succeeding there could eventually get her into the university she's always dreamed of attending, the same one her late mother attended, you can imagine why she jumps at the opportunity.
Except... Luminary is sus. Very, very sus.
The rules are ridiculously strict.
No phones. No leaving campus. Almost no contact with the outside world.
Aaaand then there are the classes.
Because apparently normal Chemistry exams weren't stressful enough, so Luminary decided: You know what these teenagers need? REAL EXPLOSIVES. Ummm... EXCUSE ME??
The entire school is basically one giant survival test disguised as education, and students who don't pass are supposedly sent home.
Except “sent home” starts looking suspiciously similar to... vanishing into thin air.
And there's one other tiny detail. Only five students will graduate.
At which point Lia understandably starts side-eyeing the entire establishment like:
Graduate as in... graduate? Or graduate as in... SURVIVE?!
And from there, things get increasingly intense.
I really liked Lia. She's smart, resourceful and exactly the kind of character you want stuck inside a school where every other lesson seems designed to murder somebody.
I also really enjoyed the survival aspect of the story. As the students slowly realize that something is VERY wrong at Luminary, the tension keeps building, and I loved seeing how they tried to figure out what was actually happening and eventually find a way out.
We also have a little romance situation happening.
And at first...
Is that a love triangle I smell? Side-eyes because, everyone knows how I feel about those.
Initially Lia is more interested in Rani, while Ian St. Clair is firmly sitting in the annoying hometown enemy category. He's the one person at Luminary who already knows Lia from back home and these two aren't exactly delighted to see each other.
Thankfully, since this is YA and the romance isn't the main focus, the triangle never became overwhelming. The survival mystery remained much more important to me, which is exactly what I wanted.
And I have to give a little shout-out to Hank.
HANK!!
The local cop who has dealt with Lia and her various... activities... enough times that they're already on a first-name basis.
I was SO glad he was on her side when it mattered. Having someone outside Luminary who knew Lia, understood her and knew exactly what needed to be done made the later parts of the story even more satisfying for me.
Overall, I had such a good time with this.
The school itself was fascinating, the increasingly dangerous lessons kept the stakes high, Lia was a great FMC, and once the survival element really kicked in, I was completely invested in seeing how the hell these kids were going to get themselves out.
Apparently Luminary Prep believes education builds character.
And if that doesn't work...
Explosives.
That'll do it.
4.5⭐
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
September 22, 2026
"He whispers, Do it, in my ear. Burn it down."
Danielle is one of my favorite authors and this book is one of the many reasons why. She can write any genre and I will be glued to every single damn page. I'm not a huge fan of academia books but I saw the author and jumped right on in.
In no way shape of form is this book what I thought it was going to be. I don't know why I was a tiny bit hesitant at the start because I knew that the author would never let me down. She never has before.
It started off strong and ended the same exact way. It was like jumping off of a tall building waiting for that final impact but it didn't come. Something came out of nowhere and took it in another direction. It was fabulous. I will say that parts did shock me but not the love interest. I called that from jump, so there was no second guessing there.
'Deadly Little Lessons' was a great read and a fantastic addition to the Danielle catalog. I cannot wait to see if she makes this a series. My fingers are crossed that she does.
Danielle is one of my favorite authors and this book is one of the many reasons why. She can write any genre and I will be glued to every single damn page. I'm not a huge fan of academia books but I saw the author and jumped right on in.
In no way shape of form is this book what I thought it was going to be. I don't know why I was a tiny bit hesitant at the start because I knew that the author would never let me down. She never has before.
It started off strong and ended the same exact way. It was like jumping off of a tall building waiting for that final impact but it didn't come. Something came out of nowhere and took it in another direction. It was fabulous. I will say that parts did shock me but not the love interest. I called that from jump, so there was no second guessing there.
'Deadly Little Lessons' was a great read and a fantastic addition to the Danielle catalog. I cannot wait to see if she makes this a series. My fingers are crossed that she does.
September 4, 2026
Deadly Little Lessons was such a fun and unique thriller! I loved the premise of Luminary Prep and how what initially seems like an incredible opportunity slowly turns into something much darker and more dangerous. The strange classes and deadly challenges definitely kept me turning the pages.
Lia was a great main character, and I enjoyed watching her try to figure out what was really happening at the school while questioning who she could trust. There were plenty of twists, secrets, and suspense, and I loved the feeling that something was always going to go wrong.
Some parts felt a little over-the-top, but overall this was a fast-paced and entertaining read with a really interesting concept.
Lia was a great main character, and I enjoyed watching her try to figure out what was really happening at the school while questioning who she could trust. There were plenty of twists, secrets, and suspense, and I loved the feeling that something was always going to go wrong.
Some parts felt a little over-the-top, but overall this was a fast-paced and entertaining read with a really interesting concept.
July 26, 2026
Another win by Danielle Valentine! How to Survive Your Murder and Two Sides to Every Murder are two of the best of its kind. YA thrillers tend to be fun but all run together and are hard to be standouts, but she’s somehow had two SOLID above average hits. And this book’s concept? Her best yet!
Honestly the red flags around this school are through the roof. No phones, laptops, outside communications and leaving campus allowed for an entire school year? Completely cut off from your family with no virtual or physical contact allowed for months? The campus doors sealed promptly at midnight at the start of the semester with no one allowed to leave or come until the end of the semester? NDA’s on top of that? Armed guards on campus? Is this a school or prison? And the biggest question you’re jugging the whole time….just how much about this school are the parents actually aware of? Not to mention the fact that Luminary has partnered with schools like MIT and Princeton? Seeing as I doubt those schools would want to be involved in the murder of teenagers, are you telling me everyone was completely in the dark with all of this? Even with iron clad waivers there’s a level of suspension of disbelief cuz there ain’t no way. And the aftermath of all the disappearances, how would you begin to explain that to the parents or just anyone in their lives? Or even the authorities? There is definitely a huge level of suspension of disbelief because logistically I just don’t see how any of this could work.
The something is off vibes happen right at orientation and solidifies even more when physics class on day one turns out to be an actually deadly obstacle course. These students are thrown into these circumstances because the school’s philosophy is that you learn more effectively when it’s succeed or get physically injured, I guess? And just wait until you find out what the history test and calculus tests ends up being. It’s quite literally, get the equation right or die, because I guess students learn better when the stakes are life or death?
The gaslighting by the teachers, the overboard luxury, the students “leaving the school” with no reason or explanation. In just a week it goes from 50 to 40 students and no one knows why, they’re just never seen again. The classes themselves are harder than college courses. You can feel it all leading up to something and by the time you’re around 60% in, omg shit really starts to get real.
Again, there is a lot of suspension of disbelief (especially the crow scenes? In what world can a crow not only be trained by a teenager to deliver letters but the crow to know exactly where to go if you tell it to deliver a note for you, meant for a certain person?) and a lot is not realistic but, what can I say, if made for a good fiction plot 🤷🏻♀️ I really liked how each chapter even starts with a moral conundrum, where what’s right or wrong is relative, which is not only added fun but genuinely makes this a more thought provoking book than most adult fiction in this genre is.
Not a tightly conclusive ending I was hoping for, but conclusive enough. I liked this one and I’m eagerly awaiting her next!
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unfortunately, I don't care enough to write a full review. I didn't like this book, plain and simple.
Wasn't worth my time, and probably not worth yours unless you're a fan of the author and her previous work.
For one, I didn't care for the romance. And tell my why Lia and Ian were starting to get freaky when they can literally be the next to go missing or be eliminated?
Lia (the fmc) was very much acting like "I'm not like other girls" and it was SO annoying. She made me so mad it isn't even funny.
I'm only going to put one quote, but there were multiple where she said stuff/acted this way.
• "If I was a warm-blooded creature, this is when I'd shiver. As I'm not, I merely smile, canines on full display." •
GIRL WDYM. Yes you are. Don't annoy me even more.
There was also just so much slang and/or trendy words and things currently that were in the book and it just annoyed me so much.
I don't read to see all that, in fact, I want to GET AWAY from what is everywhere 🧍♀️
There were some things that Lia went through, but in my opinion it seemed like most of the stuff was handed to her, which I absolutely hate. I want the main characters to go through it. And maybe I'm just imagining stuff, but Lia did not.
This book was just goofy, I didn't take any of the "threats" seriously because it seriously was not a big deal AT ALL.
Not sure if I'll go back to this author for another book, this is the third book of hers and I'd say I've given her stuff a fair chance, I haven't loved any of them. But I still do appreciate being given the chance to read this arc! So thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for that.
Wasn't worth my time, and probably not worth yours unless you're a fan of the author and her previous work.
For one, I didn't care for the romance. And tell my why Lia and Ian were starting to get freaky when they can literally be the next to go missing or be eliminated?
Lia (the fmc) was very much acting like "I'm not like other girls" and it was SO annoying. She made me so mad it isn't even funny.
I'm only going to put one quote, but there were multiple where she said stuff/acted this way.
• "If I was a warm-blooded creature, this is when I'd shiver. As I'm not, I merely smile, canines on full display." •
GIRL WDYM. Yes you are. Don't annoy me even more.
There was also just so much slang and/or trendy words and things currently that were in the book and it just annoyed me so much.
I don't read to see all that, in fact, I want to GET AWAY from what is everywhere 🧍♀️
There were some things that Lia went through, but in my opinion it seemed like most of the stuff was handed to her, which I absolutely hate. I want the main characters to go through it. And maybe I'm just imagining stuff, but Lia did not.
This book was just goofy, I didn't take any of the "threats" seriously because it seriously was not a big deal AT ALL.
Not sure if I'll go back to this author for another book, this is the third book of hers and I'd say I've given her stuff a fair chance, I haven't loved any of them. But I still do appreciate being given the chance to read this arc! So thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for that.
September 26, 2026
'This isn’t like the escape room at all, this wasn’t a simulation.' (Loc 1890)
YA/Teen Thriller | High-Stakes Survival Game | Exclusive School | Dark Academia | Mystery
'I vow, right here and now, to make it to the end of the year. But here’s the problem: In all seventeen years of my life, I’ve never once managed to avoid getting kicked out of a school.' (Loc 571)
No stranger to trouble, Lia had a legacy of it that others thought to define her by. Which kind of outlines a problem that exists in society, that some of us can be defined by the negative acts/actions of our parents. However, Lia is smart and unknowingly calculating.
'“If I’m not chaotic evil, then what am I?”
“You’re chaotic good, Lia,” Hank says. “You do bad things, but you do them for the right reasons.”' (Loc 188)
This read wasn't as intense as I had imagined it would be when it was described as something like Squid Games, but with an academic twist. The sense of danger is an undercurrent. An understated niggling tickle of fear.
'But there’s a glimmer of something that might be fear in his expression. That fear scares me more than anything else I’ve seen tonight.' (Loc 1437)
It is one of those stories that keeps you riveted, but at the same time the pace is medium to fast and leaves you pondering what to actually say about it that wouldn't give anything away. Low-key thrill and suspense.
'Locks aren’t like boys. They’re easy. All you have to do is thread a pick in a specific way, hold it steady, and . . .' (Loc 2951)
There is also a thread of a forbidden romance with slow slow burn and heated scenes and dreams, but no spice.
As for character development, Lia's desired career really fell short for me, IMHO it didn't really fit her persona or the image that was projected of her. Some of the characters surprised me though.
Uncorrected proof / eARC courtesy of NetGalley | G.P. Putnam's Sons / Penguin Ramdom House
YA/Teen Thriller | High-Stakes Survival Game | Exclusive School | Dark Academia | Mystery
'I vow, right here and now, to make it to the end of the year. But here’s the problem: In all seventeen years of my life, I’ve never once managed to avoid getting kicked out of a school.' (Loc 571)
No stranger to trouble, Lia had a legacy of it that others thought to define her by. Which kind of outlines a problem that exists in society, that some of us can be defined by the negative acts/actions of our parents. However, Lia is smart and unknowingly calculating.
'“If I’m not chaotic evil, then what am I?”
“You’re chaotic good, Lia,” Hank says. “You do bad things, but you do them for the right reasons.”' (Loc 188)
This read wasn't as intense as I had imagined it would be when it was described as something like Squid Games, but with an academic twist. The sense of danger is an undercurrent. An understated niggling tickle of fear.
'But there’s a glimmer of something that might be fear in his expression. That fear scares me more than anything else I’ve seen tonight.' (Loc 1437)
It is one of those stories that keeps you riveted, but at the same time the pace is medium to fast and leaves you pondering what to actually say about it that wouldn't give anything away. Low-key thrill and suspense.
'Locks aren’t like boys. They’re easy. All you have to do is thread a pick in a specific way, hold it steady, and . . .' (Loc 2951)
There is also a thread of a forbidden romance with slow slow burn and heated scenes and dreams, but no spice.
As for character development, Lia's desired career really fell short for me, IMHO it didn't really fit her persona or the image that was projected of her. Some of the characters surprised me though.
Uncorrected proof / eARC courtesy of NetGalley | G.P. Putnam's Sons / Penguin Ramdom House
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks to Penguin Teen and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for this copy.
A mysterious prep school, dangerous classes, students disappearing, and the “only five students will graduate” premise immediately made me think we were in for a ride. And honestly, the first half-ish had me hooked. The school itself was easily my favorite part. The syllabus and practical learning concept were really interesting, and the worldbuilding constantly made me feel like something was very wrong at Luminary.
Things started to go downhill for me with the characters. They felt like they had been pulled straight from a diversity checklist. As a POC, I am all for diverse characters, but diversity shouldn't feel tokenistic. Lia was incredibly difficult to like, her entire personality seemed to be “I’m not like other girls.” She is introduced as an incredibly skilled lockpicker and hacker who has spent her entire life getting into trouble, but I never felt like her character development fully matched the interesting backstory she was given. And I felt this disconnect in actions and description throughout the book. And as if that wasn't enough, a sudden and forced love triangle was also thrown into the mix. Rani (the name choice was weird) felt extremely underdeveloped, while Ian had more personality, but the romance still moved way too quickly. These people are at a school where students are literally getting injured and disappearing, and somehow we're finding time for romantic tension and getting freaky??
The pacing did make this a very easy book to binge, which was a relief because I don't think I would have had the patience to deal with these characters otherwise. The plot had so much more potential than what was actually explored. There were so many interesting questions surrounding Luminary, but instead of giving us satisfying answers, the story kept introducing new things and then rushing past them. For a story where students disappearing one by one is supposed to be such a major source of tension, I wanted to actually care more about the people who were disappearing.
The ending was probably the biggest disappointment for me. After spending the entire book building up this elaborate mystery surrounding Luminary, I wanted something substantial. Instead, we got a rushed ending with far more questions than answers. Some of the biggest developments were summarized in a couple of sentences, as if they weren't supposed to be important. The book kept making me feel like something bigger was about to happen, but it never quite got there. The motivations behind Luminary had me second-guessing myself so much that I started wondering if I had completely lost my reading comprehension skills.
I can't say I hated the book because I did enjoy some parts. I also think this is one of those books where the concept will work much better for some readers than it did for me.
A mysterious prep school, dangerous classes, students disappearing, and the “only five students will graduate” premise immediately made me think we were in for a ride. And honestly, the first half-ish had me hooked. The school itself was easily my favorite part. The syllabus and practical learning concept were really interesting, and the worldbuilding constantly made me feel like something was very wrong at Luminary.
Things started to go downhill for me with the characters. They felt like they had been pulled straight from a diversity checklist. As a POC, I am all for diverse characters, but diversity shouldn't feel tokenistic. Lia was incredibly difficult to like, her entire personality seemed to be “I’m not like other girls.” She is introduced as an incredibly skilled lockpicker and hacker who has spent her entire life getting into trouble, but I never felt like her character development fully matched the interesting backstory she was given. And I felt this disconnect in actions and description throughout the book. And as if that wasn't enough, a sudden and forced love triangle was also thrown into the mix. Rani (the name choice was weird) felt extremely underdeveloped, while Ian had more personality, but the romance still moved way too quickly. These people are at a school where students are literally getting injured and disappearing, and somehow we're finding time for romantic tension and getting freaky??
The pacing did make this a very easy book to binge, which was a relief because I don't think I would have had the patience to deal with these characters otherwise. The plot had so much more potential than what was actually explored. There were so many interesting questions surrounding Luminary, but instead of giving us satisfying answers, the story kept introducing new things and then rushing past them. For a story where students disappearing one by one is supposed to be such a major source of tension, I wanted to actually care more about the people who were disappearing.
The ending was probably the biggest disappointment for me. After spending the entire book building up this elaborate mystery surrounding Luminary, I wanted something substantial. Instead, we got a rushed ending with far more questions than answers. Some of the biggest developments were summarized in a couple of sentences, as if they weren't supposed to be important. The book kept making me feel like something bigger was about to happen, but it never quite got there. The motivations behind Luminary had me second-guessing myself so much that I started wondering if I had completely lost my reading comprehension skills.
I can't say I hated the book because I did enjoy some parts. I also think this is one of those books where the concept will work much better for some readers than it did for me.
July 8, 2026
This was a good one!! A groups of juvenile delinquents chosen to be part of an elite innovative school where their lessons will match their style of learning all in the hope to turn them around. The award for completing the program!? A full ride to a prestigious school of your choice. Sounds great, until people start dying, going missing and being tortured! Nothing at this school is what it seems, including its unique hands on learning style! This book has a fast pace that keeps the pages turning and will for sure be an addition to my classroom next year.
August 14, 2026
I really enjoyed this one! I was so thankful to be able to experience it as an immersion read, with the complimentary eARC from Penguin Young Readers via NetGalley and the audio ALC through the Parable Audio Influencer Program. It really was an awesome way to experience this story!
I thought this was such a unique spin on a YA academic thriller, with so many other elements woven in that I loved. We get self-discovery, romance, found family, coming of age, and so much more. I also think many older teens will find things within this story that they can identify with. There’s a lot of subtext that opens the door for deeper conversations, along with the more overt parallels to the troubled teen industry and foster care.
I was hooked from start to finish and read this in one sitting because I was that engaged. And here I am a few weeks later, finally writing my review, and I’m still thinking about different parts of the plot! I especially loved the science and history elements and how they unfold alongside the characters as the story progresses. Those details added another layer that made the story even more intriguing.
Lastly, I absolutely loved the strength and grit that FMC Lia displays as she tackles every obstacle thrown her way, as well as the fierce love she has for her found family. Her journey really stayed with me.
This is definitely one I’ll be recommending, and I can absolutely see myself reading it again in the future!
I thought this was such a unique spin on a YA academic thriller, with so many other elements woven in that I loved. We get self-discovery, romance, found family, coming of age, and so much more. I also think many older teens will find things within this story that they can identify with. There’s a lot of subtext that opens the door for deeper conversations, along with the more overt parallels to the troubled teen industry and foster care.
I was hooked from start to finish and read this in one sitting because I was that engaged. And here I am a few weeks later, finally writing my review, and I’m still thinking about different parts of the plot! I especially loved the science and history elements and how they unfold alongside the characters as the story progresses. Those details added another layer that made the story even more intriguing.
Lastly, I absolutely loved the strength and grit that FMC Lia displays as she tackles every obstacle thrown her way, as well as the fierce love she has for her found family. Her journey really stayed with me.
This is definitely one I’ll be recommending, and I can absolutely see myself reading it again in the future!
September 18, 2026
#ad much love for my finished copy @simonteen #partner
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC
🅳🅴🅰🅳🅻🆈 🅻🅸🆃🆃🅻🅴 🅻🅴🆂🆂🅾🅽🆂
< @
ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ ɴᴏᴡ
𝑺𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎
“…𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴: 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳.” (10)
Welcome to the 𝗟𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 where only the best are chosen. The Code of Conduct is as follows:
• Sign a NDA
• No cellphones, laptops, or similar devices
• No communication with anyone outside the school
• Strict schedule
• Violations will lead to more serious punishment
It’s a revolutionary school where hands-on teaching is key. How can kids learn without that real-life experience to teach them? I think the premise behind that was a genius idea for this book. It’s all about how we learn. They begin with 50 students but by the end only 5 students will survive and graduate. Be one of the 5 people to graduate and you’ll get a full ride to college. Exactly what Lia wants.
Deadly Little Lessons by Danielle Valentine is such a fun and action-packed read that I never wanted to end. Broken up into parts the story is told through the protagonist Lia’s eyes.
Part 1 - (Admissions): I loved the questions before each chapter in part one. They were each twisted in some way but definitely made you think. They were the perfect preface to the chapters.
Part 2 - (Fall semester): The games have begun and each chapter is a countdown of how many students still remain. We learn what the school is about and how each class is taught.
Part 3 - (The Tests): Takes the second part to the next level. The number of kids still in the program keeps dropping. Loved the escape room.
Part 4 - (Get Out): Carries the story out to the end.
Lia’s life has been a constant struggle since the day she was born. The adults around her see her as a problem - the chaotic child, but what they fail to realize is that her chaos is paved with good intentions. When she gets kicked out of her school there’s only one option left for her: the Luminary Preparatory Institute.
Loved the mystery of what happens to the students who just seem to vanish one-by-one. Also enjoyed all the history that’s throughout the book. Such a fun read.
🎧: Also followed along with the audiobook which is narrated by Jorjeana Marie. This was a new narrator for me but it won’t be my last. She was perfect for this book and did a phenomenal job with this story.
𝕄𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖:
• “Tammy's smile vanishes as quickly as all my positive childhood memories.” 😂👏🏼👏🏼
• “How can you understand the Civil War if you've never experienced it?" 🫣🤣😫
• Most punchable face ever
Riddle:
"I have cities but no houses…I have mountains but no trees. I have water but no fish. What am I?'"
The man who makes me doesn't want me.
The man who buys me doesn't need me.
The man who needs me doesn't know it yet.
What am I?
𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥:
It’s such a twisted thing that we judge kids based on who their parents are. Just because someone’s parent did something terrible doesn’t mean their kid will follow in their footsteps. This also causes a lot of issues in the kids life and wellbeing.
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC
🅳🅴🅰🅳🅻🆈 🅻🅸🆃🆃🅻🅴 🅻🅴🆂🆂🅾🅽🆂
< @
ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ ɴᴏᴡ
𝑺𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎
“…𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴: 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳.” (10)
Welcome to the 𝗟𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 where only the best are chosen. The Code of Conduct is as follows:
• Sign a NDA
• No cellphones, laptops, or similar devices
• No communication with anyone outside the school
• Strict schedule
• Violations will lead to more serious punishment
It’s a revolutionary school where hands-on teaching is key. How can kids learn without that real-life experience to teach them? I think the premise behind that was a genius idea for this book. It’s all about how we learn. They begin with 50 students but by the end only 5 students will survive and graduate. Be one of the 5 people to graduate and you’ll get a full ride to college. Exactly what Lia wants.
Deadly Little Lessons by Danielle Valentine is such a fun and action-packed read that I never wanted to end. Broken up into parts the story is told through the protagonist Lia’s eyes.
Part 1 - (Admissions): I loved the questions before each chapter in part one. They were each twisted in some way but definitely made you think. They were the perfect preface to the chapters.
Part 2 - (Fall semester): The games have begun and each chapter is a countdown of how many students still remain. We learn what the school is about and how each class is taught.
Part 3 - (The Tests): Takes the second part to the next level. The number of kids still in the program keeps dropping. Loved the escape room.
Part 4 - (Get Out): Carries the story out to the end.
Lia’s life has been a constant struggle since the day she was born. The adults around her see her as a problem - the chaotic child, but what they fail to realize is that her chaos is paved with good intentions. When she gets kicked out of her school there’s only one option left for her: the Luminary Preparatory Institute.
Loved the mystery of what happens to the students who just seem to vanish one-by-one. Also enjoyed all the history that’s throughout the book. Such a fun read.
🎧: Also followed along with the audiobook which is narrated by Jorjeana Marie. This was a new narrator for me but it won’t be my last. She was perfect for this book and did a phenomenal job with this story.
𝕄𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖:
• “Tammy's smile vanishes as quickly as all my positive childhood memories.” 😂👏🏼👏🏼
• “How can you understand the Civil War if you've never experienced it?" 🫣🤣😫
• Most punchable face ever
Riddle:
"I have cities but no houses…I have mountains but no trees. I have water but no fish. What am I?'"
The man who makes me doesn't want me.
The man who buys me doesn't need me.
The man who needs me doesn't know it yet.
What am I?
𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥:
It’s such a twisted thing that we judge kids based on who their parents are. Just because someone’s parent did something terrible doesn’t mean their kid will follow in their footsteps. This also causes a lot of issues in the kids life and wellbeing.
September 13, 2026
I love a dark academia book and this book truly hit all the marks for me. I was hooked from the start and couldn’t put it down until I was finished. I was immersed in the story and it gave all the fall, dark academia vibes that I was hoping for. I loved all the characters, especially Lia, and I found myself cracking up at her banter throughout the story. This book had mystery, life or death tests, and a dash of romance and I loved every single moment of it. Also, the ending made me wanting more and hoping for a second book!
Overall, I highly recommend this one if you enjoy dark academia and books like The Inheritance Games and The Luminaries!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Overall, I highly recommend this one if you enjoy dark academia and books like The Inheritance Games and The Luminaries!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
September 18, 2026
Deadly Little Lessons by Danielle Valentine ⭐⭐⭐⭐4/5
Okay, this school is absolutely NOT where I’d want to go to class. 😂
The premise alone had me sold:) imagine showing up to an elite school and slowly realizing that your classes might actually kill you. The lessons get increasingly unhinged, and I loved how ridiculous and dark some of the situations became.
This had that perfect mix of creepy, chaotic, and completely WTF. I definitely had a few moments of, there is no way they’re actually doing this. 😂
It wasn’t perfect for me, but it was such an entertaining read, and the whole deadly-school concept made this one stand out from the typical YA thrillers I’ve read.
Okay, this school is absolutely NOT where I’d want to go to class. 😂
The premise alone had me sold:) imagine showing up to an elite school and slowly realizing that your classes might actually kill you. The lessons get increasingly unhinged, and I loved how ridiculous and dark some of the situations became.
This had that perfect mix of creepy, chaotic, and completely WTF. I definitely had a few moments of, there is no way they’re actually doing this. 😂
It wasn’t perfect for me, but it was such an entertaining read, and the whole deadly-school concept made this one stand out from the typical YA thrillers I’ve read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If there is one thing I have learned from years of diving headfirst into dark academia, it is that the genre loves its polished surfaces—gothic arches, mahogany lecture halls, and tailored uniforms hiding elite corruption. But every once in a while, a book comes along that takes those familiar, glossy tropes, douses them in gasoline, and strikes a match.
Danielle Valentine’s Deadly Little Lessons doesn't just subvert expectations; it brutally dismantles them. At its core, this book rests on a premise that hit me right in the chest: nothing is ever what it seems, and the systems claiming to elevate us are often the very ones designed to break us.
A Heritage of Blood and the Weight of Survival
From the very first chapter, Lia Michaels grabbed my absolute devotion as a reader. She isn't your typical polished YA protagonist, and her backstory is nothing short of harrowing. Born in the absolute dark, Lia entered the world in utero while her mother lay dying—murdered during a violent mental break by Lia’s own father. That foundational trauma leaves an indelible mark on her soul. She doesn't just navigate the world; she survives it.
Bounced through a cold, indifferent foster care system, Lia learns early on that street smarts, sharp instincts, and practical skills—like picking locks and bypassing security systems—are the only security blankets that actually hold up. So when she is offered a full-ride scholarship to the experimental Luminary Preparatory Institute, it feels like the universe finally handing her a lifeline.
Except Luminary Prep is built entirely on a lie.
Advertised as an innovative haven for high-achieving outcasts, the school’s pristine, high-tech facade quickly cracks to reveal a claustrophobic nightmare. The administration drops a chilling bombshell on day one: out of fifty enrolled students, only five will be permitted to graduate. Everyday subjects are warped into lethal survival trials. Chemistry exams involve volatile, explosive reactions; physics lectures transform into dangerous physical obstacle courses; and political science modules utilize functional guillotines to teach brutal lessons on power dynamics.
Found Family Born in the Shadow of Abandonment
What made my heart ache in the best possible way while reading this book was Valentine’s extraordinary handling of found family.
The student body at Luminary isn't made up of privileged legacy kids funded by trust funds. They are teens who have aged out of, or bounced through, the foster system—kids who know the sting of being unwanted, abandoned, or discarded by the people who were supposed to protect them.
In a setting explicitly engineered to force these kids into a cutthroat, zero-sum war against one another, you would expect complete isolation. But watching these young people look at each other—recognizing the shared scars of their pasts—and choose to build a family out of thin air is nothing short of breathtaking. They refuse to be turned into monsters for the amusement of an elite administration. In a world designed to strip away their humanity, their fierce, intentional loyalty to one another becomes their ultimate act of rebellion.
From Bitter Rivalry to Absolute Devotion: Lia and Ian St. Clair
And can we please talk about the romance? Because the emotional arc between Lia and Ian St. Clair lived rent-free in my head long after I turned the final page.
When Lia first sets foot on campus, Valentine tempts us with a subtle love triangle. Lia experiences an immediate, intriguing spark with Rani—a charismatic fellow student who feels like a potential port in the storm. But as the true horrors of Luminary begin to unfold, the narrative shifts toward something far deeper, far messier, and infinitely more satisfying: her relationship with her hometown rival, Ian St. Clair.
There is nothing sweeter than a masterfully executed "enemies-to-lovers" dynamic, and Valentine delivers it with breathtaking heat and emotional precision. Back home, Ian was the thorn in Lia’s side, the boy who pushed every single one of her buttons. But inside the high-stakes pressure cooker of Luminary Prep, that history flips. Ian is the only person in that school who truly knows where Lia came from. He knows her edge, respects her defense mechanisms, and sees through the armor she wears.
Watching their relationship transform from biting banter and mutual suspicion into reluctant teamwork—and finally into a fierce, protective, uncompromising love—is the absolute beating heart of this book. In a place where everyone is wearing a mask to stay alive, Ian becomes Lia’s anchor.
The Dark Truth Beyond the Classroom
As classmates begin to vanish under the guise of "academic failure," Lia realizes that herself and her remaining friends are in catastrophic danger. The school isn't just cruel; it harbors a dark, sinister intent that goes far deeper than anyone suspected. Every rule is a trap, every authority figure is a liar, and the clock is ticking.
Lia doesn't survive by playing by their rules. She survives by embracing every piece of who she is—her lockpicks, her trauma, her brilliant mind, and the people she refuses to leave behind.
Final Thoughts
Deadly Little Lessons is an absolute triumph. Danielle Valentine has crafted a relentless, pulse-pounding thriller that manages to balance high-concept terror with extraordinary human tenderness. It reminded me why I fall in love with storytelling in the first place: because even in the darkest, most deceptive places, the families we choose and the love we fight for will always be worth the risk.
Danielle Valentine’s Deadly Little Lessons doesn't just subvert expectations; it brutally dismantles them. At its core, this book rests on a premise that hit me right in the chest: nothing is ever what it seems, and the systems claiming to elevate us are often the very ones designed to break us.
A Heritage of Blood and the Weight of Survival
From the very first chapter, Lia Michaels grabbed my absolute devotion as a reader. She isn't your typical polished YA protagonist, and her backstory is nothing short of harrowing. Born in the absolute dark, Lia entered the world in utero while her mother lay dying—murdered during a violent mental break by Lia’s own father. That foundational trauma leaves an indelible mark on her soul. She doesn't just navigate the world; she survives it.
Bounced through a cold, indifferent foster care system, Lia learns early on that street smarts, sharp instincts, and practical skills—like picking locks and bypassing security systems—are the only security blankets that actually hold up. So when she is offered a full-ride scholarship to the experimental Luminary Preparatory Institute, it feels like the universe finally handing her a lifeline.
Except Luminary Prep is built entirely on a lie.
Advertised as an innovative haven for high-achieving outcasts, the school’s pristine, high-tech facade quickly cracks to reveal a claustrophobic nightmare. The administration drops a chilling bombshell on day one: out of fifty enrolled students, only five will be permitted to graduate. Everyday subjects are warped into lethal survival trials. Chemistry exams involve volatile, explosive reactions; physics lectures transform into dangerous physical obstacle courses; and political science modules utilize functional guillotines to teach brutal lessons on power dynamics.
Found Family Born in the Shadow of Abandonment
What made my heart ache in the best possible way while reading this book was Valentine’s extraordinary handling of found family.
The student body at Luminary isn't made up of privileged legacy kids funded by trust funds. They are teens who have aged out of, or bounced through, the foster system—kids who know the sting of being unwanted, abandoned, or discarded by the people who were supposed to protect them.
In a setting explicitly engineered to force these kids into a cutthroat, zero-sum war against one another, you would expect complete isolation. But watching these young people look at each other—recognizing the shared scars of their pasts—and choose to build a family out of thin air is nothing short of breathtaking. They refuse to be turned into monsters for the amusement of an elite administration. In a world designed to strip away their humanity, their fierce, intentional loyalty to one another becomes their ultimate act of rebellion.
From Bitter Rivalry to Absolute Devotion: Lia and Ian St. Clair
And can we please talk about the romance? Because the emotional arc between Lia and Ian St. Clair lived rent-free in my head long after I turned the final page.
When Lia first sets foot on campus, Valentine tempts us with a subtle love triangle. Lia experiences an immediate, intriguing spark with Rani—a charismatic fellow student who feels like a potential port in the storm. But as the true horrors of Luminary begin to unfold, the narrative shifts toward something far deeper, far messier, and infinitely more satisfying: her relationship with her hometown rival, Ian St. Clair.
There is nothing sweeter than a masterfully executed "enemies-to-lovers" dynamic, and Valentine delivers it with breathtaking heat and emotional precision. Back home, Ian was the thorn in Lia’s side, the boy who pushed every single one of her buttons. But inside the high-stakes pressure cooker of Luminary Prep, that history flips. Ian is the only person in that school who truly knows where Lia came from. He knows her edge, respects her defense mechanisms, and sees through the armor she wears.
Watching their relationship transform from biting banter and mutual suspicion into reluctant teamwork—and finally into a fierce, protective, uncompromising love—is the absolute beating heart of this book. In a place where everyone is wearing a mask to stay alive, Ian becomes Lia’s anchor.
The Dark Truth Beyond the Classroom
As classmates begin to vanish under the guise of "academic failure," Lia realizes that herself and her remaining friends are in catastrophic danger. The school isn't just cruel; it harbors a dark, sinister intent that goes far deeper than anyone suspected. Every rule is a trap, every authority figure is a liar, and the clock is ticking.
Lia doesn't survive by playing by their rules. She survives by embracing every piece of who she is—her lockpicks, her trauma, her brilliant mind, and the people she refuses to leave behind.
Final Thoughts
Deadly Little Lessons is an absolute triumph. Danielle Valentine has crafted a relentless, pulse-pounding thriller that manages to balance high-concept terror with extraordinary human tenderness. It reminded me why I fall in love with storytelling in the first place: because even in the darkest, most deceptive places, the families we choose and the love we fight for will always be worth the risk.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2026
I didn’t really love this at the beginning, but it really grew on me — until it didn’t
First of all, I really liked the ethics questions that were put at the beginning of some of the chapters. I feel like they did a good job of relating to what was happening in the story and were a nice touch.
The beginning was kind of boring. Reading through all the different school documents could’ve been a really interesting part of the story, but I felt like some of the suspense that could’ve been built there fell flat, as the characters weren’t nearly as concerned as I would’ve expected.
However, the suspense does continue to build, and the rest of the book from there was incredible. The relationships between the characters weren’t definitely a strong point, especially between the two main characters, Lia and Ian, as well as a lot of Lia’s new friends, though I do feel the author could’ve done a bit more showing the relationship between scarlet and Lia. Also, it wasn’t mentioned much but the strained relationships between the characters and their parents/guardians was really interesting when presented and definitely made them and the story as a whole more interesting and meaningful.
The actual plot was also really good. It slowly builds to the realization that the school was not, as it seemed, but I feel like that realization should’ve happened a little early, especially for some of the characters. Their reactions to certain things felt a little too chill, but I understand why/how they were able to rationalize some things. And, to their credit, when they finally did decide it was off, they made whole plans to get out of there that were actually really clever.
Finally, the plot twist. I wasn’t the biggest plan. I feel like the idea that Lia and Ian were “parent-swapped” could’ve been interesting, but neither of them meant their parents, and while it did end up meaning a little bit to Lia, it felt like it was added more for shock value than actual plot. I also didn’t quite understand the point of the whole “it was all fake” thing because either way some of the students were “terminated” which doesn’t sound good, so there were still consequences to all of it, and it didn’t really make it better, so that “reveal” fell flat.
I did like the ending of the admissions interview where maybe the main characters were going to get what they wanted, but the rest of the ending felt weird. First, Lia goes back to her foster parent who sent her away to the school and believed she was going to grow up to be violent and that really isn’t resolved or discussed. Then, they imply that there are still schools out there doing this and they don’t know where all of their classmates are, but besides one or two lines, Lia seems kind of chill for this. It might’ve been to leave it open to a sequel, but, throughout the book, she’s established to care about everyone and to break rules to help them, so her just letting it go felt wrong.
Overall, I had a decent time, especially in the middle, but so much in the beginning and end rubbed me the wrong way
First of all, I really liked the ethics questions that were put at the beginning of some of the chapters. I feel like they did a good job of relating to what was happening in the story and were a nice touch.
The beginning was kind of boring. Reading through all the different school documents could’ve been a really interesting part of the story, but I felt like some of the suspense that could’ve been built there fell flat, as the characters weren’t nearly as concerned as I would’ve expected.
However, the suspense does continue to build, and the rest of the book from there was incredible. The relationships between the characters weren’t definitely a strong point, especially between the two main characters, Lia and Ian, as well as a lot of Lia’s new friends, though I do feel the author could’ve done a bit more showing the relationship between scarlet and Lia. Also, it wasn’t mentioned much but the strained relationships between the characters and their parents/guardians was really interesting when presented and definitely made them and the story as a whole more interesting and meaningful.
The actual plot was also really good. It slowly builds to the realization that the school was not, as it seemed, but I feel like that realization should’ve happened a little early, especially for some of the characters. Their reactions to certain things felt a little too chill, but I understand why/how they were able to rationalize some things. And, to their credit, when they finally did decide it was off, they made whole plans to get out of there that were actually really clever.
Finally, the plot twist. I wasn’t the biggest plan. I feel like the idea that Lia and Ian were “parent-swapped” could’ve been interesting, but neither of them meant their parents, and while it did end up meaning a little bit to Lia, it felt like it was added more for shock value than actual plot. I also didn’t quite understand the point of the whole “it was all fake” thing because either way some of the students were “terminated” which doesn’t sound good, so there were still consequences to all of it, and it didn’t really make it better, so that “reveal” fell flat.
I did like the ending of the admissions interview where maybe the main characters were going to get what they wanted, but the rest of the ending felt weird. First, Lia goes back to her foster parent who sent her away to the school and believed she was going to grow up to be violent and that really isn’t resolved or discussed. Then, they imply that there are still schools out there doing this and they don’t know where all of their classmates are, but besides one or two lines, Lia seems kind of chill for this. It might’ve been to leave it open to a sequel, but, throughout the book, she’s established to care about everyone and to break rules to help them, so her just letting it go felt wrong.
Overall, I had a decent time, especially in the middle, but so much in the beginning and end rubbed me the wrong way
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2026
Another great, entertaining book by this author! A group of juvenile delinquents are put into this school and only 5 will graduate. They go through numerous tests, but once kids start disappearing, Lia suspects that something may be wrong with this school.
Just an all around good storyline. No huge twists or shocks, but it is a really good book that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
Just an all around good storyline. No huge twists or shocks, but it is a really good book that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
September 16, 2026
Thank you Goodreads for my ARC of Deadly Little Lessons!
This was truly a unique YA thriller/mystery. I've been on a kick with those as palate cleansers for between horror and fantasy books so I've been reading much more of them lately and this one is truly unique! I really appreciate the chance to read it! The experience was quite the ride!
This was truly a unique YA thriller/mystery. I've been on a kick with those as palate cleansers for between horror and fantasy books so I've been reading much more of them lately and this one is truly unique! I really appreciate the chance to read it! The experience was quite the ride!
June 16, 2026
This was wild. First of all I love this author both as a thriller author and from when they did horror. I’m a big fan of dark academia and this definitely had that vibe. The characters were great and the school was insane. It was interesting to figure out what was actually going on at the school. And if you’re interested there’s definitely an enemies to lovers vibe between two of the characters. This will be out in September of 2026
July 24, 2026
3.5 stars
This was a fun, light thriller that kept me entertained from start to finish. My only real complaint is that the ending felt rushed….it wrapped everything up so quickly that I was left wanting a little more.
Overall, an enjoyable read that just needed a stronger payoff.
This was a fun, light thriller that kept me entertained from start to finish. My only real complaint is that the ending felt rushed….it wrapped everything up so quickly that I was left wanting a little more.
Overall, an enjoyable read that just needed a stronger payoff.
September 28, 2026
This was a very weird but fascinating thriller. Luminary Prep is really not your average school. It’s advertised as a competitive school with out of the box thinking, but it’s actually something much more sinister.
October 5, 2026
3.5 rtc
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Trust No One, Expect Everything
Lia is a phenomenal main character, and I loved following her as she navigated the school's secrets, questioned who to trust, and tried to uncover what was really going on. That constant, lingering sense of dread—the feeling that something was always about to go wrong—had me hooked immediately.
I love a book that manages to be deeply creepy while remaining exquisitely written. Danielle is easily one of my favorite authors, and Deadly Little Lessons is proof of why. She can jump into any genre, and I will be glued to every single page. (Plus, her novel Delicate Condition was adapted into an incredible TV show—absolutely binge-worthy for October, even if I would’ve swapped out a couple of casting choices!)
I’m usually not a fan of academic settings, but because it’s Danielle, I couldn't pass it up. Having given her previous books 3, 4, and now 5 stars, call me an official super fan. I was a tiny bit hesitant at first, but she never lets me down—and this was nothing like what I expected.
Starting strong and maintaining that momentum to the very end, reading this felt like jumping off a tall building and bracing for impact, only for the narrative to pull a fabulous, unexpected pivot. While I called the love interest right from the start, plenty of other twists genuinely shocked me. It’s a stellar addition to Danielle's catalog, and with an ending left wide open, my fingers are tightly crossed for a series!
Lia is a phenomenal main character, and I loved following her as she navigated the school's secrets, questioned who to trust, and tried to uncover what was really going on. That constant, lingering sense of dread—the feeling that something was always about to go wrong—had me hooked immediately.
I love a book that manages to be deeply creepy while remaining exquisitely written. Danielle is easily one of my favorite authors, and Deadly Little Lessons is proof of why. She can jump into any genre, and I will be glued to every single page. (Plus, her novel Delicate Condition was adapted into an incredible TV show—absolutely binge-worthy for October, even if I would’ve swapped out a couple of casting choices!)
I’m usually not a fan of academic settings, but because it’s Danielle, I couldn't pass it up. Having given her previous books 3, 4, and now 5 stars, call me an official super fan. I was a tiny bit hesitant at first, but she never lets me down—and this was nothing like what I expected.
Starting strong and maintaining that momentum to the very end, reading this felt like jumping off a tall building and bracing for impact, only for the narrative to pull a fabulous, unexpected pivot. While I called the love interest right from the start, plenty of other twists genuinely shocked me. It’s a stellar addition to Danielle's catalog, and with an ending left wide open, my fingers are tightly crossed for a series!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
I just want to start off by saying Danielle Valentine is an incredibly intriguing author. The way her mind works and the concepts she comes up with are fascinating but also a little terrifying. 😂
I really enjoyed Deadly Little Lessons. I absolutely loved Ian, and I especially loved the main FMC and her sister, Scar. Their dynamic added so much to the story for me. Rani character intrigued me at first but by the end I was hoping he’d be terminated. I also really enjoyed the concept of the school and the idea behind whether people can truly be reformed or given a second chance.
The premise was creepy, thought-provoking, and definitely had me questioning where the story was going. I love when a book can make me uncomfortable while also making me think, and this one definitely accomplished that.
My only real complaint is the ending. 😭 I’m giving this around a 4½ to 5 stars because I’m still annoyed that the ending felt so ambiguous. I wanted answers! I wanted closure! Instead, I was left sitting there like… _okay, but WHAT HAPPENED?!_ 😂
Overall, I really enjoyed this one, and Danielle Valentine has officially made me curious and slightly scared of whatever is going on inside her head. Definitely an author I’ll be keeping an eye on!
I just want to start off by saying Danielle Valentine is an incredibly intriguing author. The way her mind works and the concepts she comes up with are fascinating but also a little terrifying. 😂
I really enjoyed Deadly Little Lessons. I absolutely loved Ian, and I especially loved the main FMC and her sister, Scar. Their dynamic added so much to the story for me. Rani character intrigued me at first but by the end I was hoping he’d be terminated. I also really enjoyed the concept of the school and the idea behind whether people can truly be reformed or given a second chance.
The premise was creepy, thought-provoking, and definitely had me questioning where the story was going. I love when a book can make me uncomfortable while also making me think, and this one definitely accomplished that.
My only real complaint is the ending. 😭 I’m giving this around a 4½ to 5 stars because I’m still annoyed that the ending felt so ambiguous. I wanted answers! I wanted closure! Instead, I was left sitting there like… _okay, but WHAT HAPPENED?!_ 😂
Overall, I really enjoyed this one, and Danielle Valentine has officially made me curious and slightly scared of whatever is going on inside her head. Definitely an author I’ll be keeping an eye on!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Deadly Little Lessons” by Danielle Valentine is what happens when someone looks at Squid Game and says, "Okay, but what if we made it academic?" The result is a wildly entertaining dark academia thriller where failing a test isn't just bad for your GPA; it might actually kill you.
Lia Michaels has spent most of her life bouncing through the foster care system, collecting emotional scars, lock-picking skills, and a reputation for causing trouble wherever she goes. She's the kind of protagonist who gets described as "chaotic good," and honestly, that's pretty accurate. When her foster mother gives her an ultimatum of military school or an elite experimental boarding school called Luminary Prep, Lia chooses Luminary. The catch? Her foster sister Scarlett has already been accepted, and Lia has to go with her.
At first, Luminary seems too good to be true. The campus is gorgeous. The food is amazing. Every student gets cutting-edge technology, private rooms, and access to incredible resources. Oh, and five students will receive full scholarships to any college they want.
Sounds fantastic, right? Well, Luminary forgot to mention one tiny detail. Only five students are expected to graduate. And suddenly those unusual classes don't seem quite so innovative anymore.
Physics becomes an obstacle course that feels designed to kill people. Chemistry involves actual explosives. History turns into an escape room where failure could have deadly consequences. Meanwhile, students start disappearing, and the administration is suspiciously uninterested in explaining where they've gone. By the time the body count starts appearing at the beginning of chapters, it becomes very clear that this school has confused "education reform" with "survival horror."
The premise absolutely carries this book, and I mean that as a compliment. It's ridiculous in the best possible way. Every time I thought Luminary couldn't possibly come up with a more unhinged educational exercise, the school somehow found a way. The entire novel feels like a ticking time bomb, constantly escalating the danger while making you wonder just how far things are going to go.
Lia is also a great character to follow. She's smart, resourceful, and stubborn enough to question things that everyone else seems willing to accept. Having grown up navigating broken systems, she's naturally skeptical of authority, which turns out to be a pretty useful survival skill at a school that may or may not be trying to murder its students. Her relationship with Scarlett adds a lot of heart to the story as well. The two make excellent foils for each other, and their bond helps ground the craziness happening around them.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the romance. The book sets up what looks like a very obvious love interest early on and basically says, "Actually, never mind." The relationship that eventually develops feels much more natural, and the chemistry between the characters is genuinely fun to watch unfold amid all the life-threatening exams.
One of the book's biggest strengths is its pacing. Every chapter seems to end with a new mystery, a new danger, or another reason to keep reading. It's the kind of book where you tell yourself you'll read one more chapter and suddenly realize you've accidentally finished half the book. The suspense builds steadily, with disappearances, secrets, ethical dilemmas, and plenty of twists keeping things interesting.
Does it always dig as deeply into its ideas and relationships as it could have? Maybe not. There were definitely moments where I wanted more development for certain characters or more exploration of some of the darker themes. But honestly, I was having too much fun watching this nightmare school spiral further into madness to care too much.
Overall, “Deadly Little Lessons” is a fast-paced, bingeable thriller packed with deadly tests, dark academia vibes, morally gray characters, and enough tension to keep you turning pages long past bedtime. If Squid Game, secretive boarding schools, survival games, and protagonists who specialize in making questionable but entertaining decisions sound like your thing, this one is absolutely worth enrolling in.
“Deadly Little Lessons” by Danielle Valentine is what happens when someone looks at Squid Game and says, "Okay, but what if we made it academic?" The result is a wildly entertaining dark academia thriller where failing a test isn't just bad for your GPA; it might actually kill you.
Lia Michaels has spent most of her life bouncing through the foster care system, collecting emotional scars, lock-picking skills, and a reputation for causing trouble wherever she goes. She's the kind of protagonist who gets described as "chaotic good," and honestly, that's pretty accurate. When her foster mother gives her an ultimatum of military school or an elite experimental boarding school called Luminary Prep, Lia chooses Luminary. The catch? Her foster sister Scarlett has already been accepted, and Lia has to go with her.
At first, Luminary seems too good to be true. The campus is gorgeous. The food is amazing. Every student gets cutting-edge technology, private rooms, and access to incredible resources. Oh, and five students will receive full scholarships to any college they want.
Sounds fantastic, right? Well, Luminary forgot to mention one tiny detail. Only five students are expected to graduate. And suddenly those unusual classes don't seem quite so innovative anymore.
Physics becomes an obstacle course that feels designed to kill people. Chemistry involves actual explosives. History turns into an escape room where failure could have deadly consequences. Meanwhile, students start disappearing, and the administration is suspiciously uninterested in explaining where they've gone. By the time the body count starts appearing at the beginning of chapters, it becomes very clear that this school has confused "education reform" with "survival horror."
The premise absolutely carries this book, and I mean that as a compliment. It's ridiculous in the best possible way. Every time I thought Luminary couldn't possibly come up with a more unhinged educational exercise, the school somehow found a way. The entire novel feels like a ticking time bomb, constantly escalating the danger while making you wonder just how far things are going to go.
Lia is also a great character to follow. She's smart, resourceful, and stubborn enough to question things that everyone else seems willing to accept. Having grown up navigating broken systems, she's naturally skeptical of authority, which turns out to be a pretty useful survival skill at a school that may or may not be trying to murder its students. Her relationship with Scarlett adds a lot of heart to the story as well. The two make excellent foils for each other, and their bond helps ground the craziness happening around them.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the romance. The book sets up what looks like a very obvious love interest early on and basically says, "Actually, never mind." The relationship that eventually develops feels much more natural, and the chemistry between the characters is genuinely fun to watch unfold amid all the life-threatening exams.
One of the book's biggest strengths is its pacing. Every chapter seems to end with a new mystery, a new danger, or another reason to keep reading. It's the kind of book where you tell yourself you'll read one more chapter and suddenly realize you've accidentally finished half the book. The suspense builds steadily, with disappearances, secrets, ethical dilemmas, and plenty of twists keeping things interesting.
Does it always dig as deeply into its ideas and relationships as it could have? Maybe not. There were definitely moments where I wanted more development for certain characters or more exploration of some of the darker themes. But honestly, I was having too much fun watching this nightmare school spiral further into madness to care too much.
Overall, “Deadly Little Lessons” is a fast-paced, bingeable thriller packed with deadly tests, dark academia vibes, morally gray characters, and enough tension to keep you turning pages long past bedtime. If Squid Game, secretive boarding schools, survival games, and protagonists who specialize in making questionable but entertaining decisions sound like your thing, this one is absolutely worth enrolling in.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Luminary Prep advertises itself like it's the answer to every broken kid's future. Fancy campus. Amazing food. State-of-the-art everything. Graduate and you basically get handed your dream college on a silver platter. Then you find out only five students are graduating and suddenly every orientation speech starts sounding like it should've come with a waiver signed in blood.
Lia walked into this place with exactly the right amount of skepticism, which is impressive because I would've been suspicious the second someone offered teenagers gourmet cafeteria food with no catch. This girl has spent her whole life surviving systems that keep failing her, so she has the exact personality type that hears, "Trust the process," and immediately starts checking for hidden cameras. Honestly? Fair.
And these classes... I need us to discuss these classes. Physics has become an obstacle course that seems personally offended by your existence. Chemistry is playing with actual explosives. Political Science somehow involves guillotines. At one point I realized this school had confused "hands-on learning" with "actively attempting to eliminate the student body." Somewhere a regular public school teacher is just begging kids to bring a pencil, and Luminary is over here like, "Today's exam is surviving."
The friendships were honestly what kept me planted in this story. Lia finds people worth trusting, which feels almost irresponsible considering literally everyone could be lying, disappearing, or both. Scarlett was especially the emotional anchor for me. Underneath all the life-threatening academic exercises, there was this quiet thread about finally finding someone who feels like family after spending your whole life waiting for one. That part landed harder than I expected.
And yes, there is romance, because apparently even when your classmates keep vanishing, your heart still decides now is a great time to get involved. Teenagers really do have remarkable confidence in their scheduling. I actually ended up liking how that relationship developed because it grew out of shared survival instead of someone stopping in the middle of a disaster to admire someone's jawline.
About halfway through I realized I had stopped trying to guess the mystery and had switched to, "What fresh nightmare has this school invented for third period?" Every new lesson somehow managed to be more unhinged than the last. The disappearances kept stacking up, nobody in charge wanted to answer a direct question, and the adults had mastered that deeply unsettling talent of smiling while absolutely refusing to explain anything. It gave the entire campus the feeling that somebody had built Ivy League Hogwarts, then let the villains from Squid Game run orientation.
I will say I wanted a little more by the time I reached the end. I had questions that never quite got satisfying answers, and there were moments where I wished we'd slowed down just enough to spend more time with some of these characters before throwing them into another near-death final exam. I wasn't bored for a second, I just found myself wanting one more layer beneath all the chaos because the premise is so good.
Still, I had a ridiculous amount of fun with this. Danielle Valentine took dark academia, shoved it into a survival thriller, added morally questionable educators and one very resourceful lock-picking teenager, then basically told the readers, "Good luck." It absolutely kept me turning pages, and I'm settling in at a strong 3.5 stars while quietly thanking every teacher I ever had for limiting themselves to pop quizzes.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Genuinely Nervous Every Time Someone Announced There Was Going to Be a Test
And thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for the ARC. Next time someone says a school has an "innovative curriculum," I'm going to need several follow-up questions before I pack my backpack.
Lia walked into this place with exactly the right amount of skepticism, which is impressive because I would've been suspicious the second someone offered teenagers gourmet cafeteria food with no catch. This girl has spent her whole life surviving systems that keep failing her, so she has the exact personality type that hears, "Trust the process," and immediately starts checking for hidden cameras. Honestly? Fair.
And these classes... I need us to discuss these classes. Physics has become an obstacle course that seems personally offended by your existence. Chemistry is playing with actual explosives. Political Science somehow involves guillotines. At one point I realized this school had confused "hands-on learning" with "actively attempting to eliminate the student body." Somewhere a regular public school teacher is just begging kids to bring a pencil, and Luminary is over here like, "Today's exam is surviving."
The friendships were honestly what kept me planted in this story. Lia finds people worth trusting, which feels almost irresponsible considering literally everyone could be lying, disappearing, or both. Scarlett was especially the emotional anchor for me. Underneath all the life-threatening academic exercises, there was this quiet thread about finally finding someone who feels like family after spending your whole life waiting for one. That part landed harder than I expected.
And yes, there is romance, because apparently even when your classmates keep vanishing, your heart still decides now is a great time to get involved. Teenagers really do have remarkable confidence in their scheduling. I actually ended up liking how that relationship developed because it grew out of shared survival instead of someone stopping in the middle of a disaster to admire someone's jawline.
About halfway through I realized I had stopped trying to guess the mystery and had switched to, "What fresh nightmare has this school invented for third period?" Every new lesson somehow managed to be more unhinged than the last. The disappearances kept stacking up, nobody in charge wanted to answer a direct question, and the adults had mastered that deeply unsettling talent of smiling while absolutely refusing to explain anything. It gave the entire campus the feeling that somebody had built Ivy League Hogwarts, then let the villains from Squid Game run orientation.
I will say I wanted a little more by the time I reached the end. I had questions that never quite got satisfying answers, and there were moments where I wished we'd slowed down just enough to spend more time with some of these characters before throwing them into another near-death final exam. I wasn't bored for a second, I just found myself wanting one more layer beneath all the chaos because the premise is so good.
Still, I had a ridiculous amount of fun with this. Danielle Valentine took dark academia, shoved it into a survival thriller, added morally questionable educators and one very resourceful lock-picking teenager, then basically told the readers, "Good luck." It absolutely kept me turning pages, and I'm settling in at a strong 3.5 stars while quietly thanking every teacher I ever had for limiting themselves to pop quizzes.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Genuinely Nervous Every Time Someone Announced There Was Going to Be a Test
And thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for the ARC. Next time someone says a school has an "innovative curriculum," I'm going to need several follow-up questions before I pack my backpack.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Random House for the ARC of "Deadly Little Lessons" in exchange for an honest review, with opinions entirely my own.
I would think by now that we all know what lies in store for a wayward, delinquent teen girl when she enters a top-of-the-line, handsomely appointed Prep school featuring the highest of academic standards and a lush campus that looks like a slightly scaled down Ivy League university.
Those ominous three soundtrack notes should pound in our ears.....Dum Dum DUMMMMM!!! Or to put it mildly....This. Does. Not. Bode. Well.
Lia MIchaels, skilled lock-picker, computer hacker, and veteran of many foster homes and juvie lockups, is as stunned as anyone when she's accepted, along with her beloved foster sis Scarlett to Luminary Prep. An all new experiment in secondary education, Luminary has thrown away standard classroom procedures and now accentuates actual hands-on practical experiences and events for every subject taught. Their students are forced to either learn by doing.......or done in. Possibly so permanent, they'll miss prom.
It doesn't take long for Lia and her incoming class to gape in alarm at what this means for their high school careers. At Luminary, you either graduate.......or you evaporate. In the course of their courses, the student body (or bodies) start severely shrinking. Sometimes their 'lessons' leave them maimed, or presumably dead......or erased altogether from the school role call. This place makes The Hunger Games look like Sesame Street. And only one lucky, plucky student gets to move on to college......the last one left alive in time for the graduation ceremony. (We can only assume they'd also have to serve as their one and only Valedictorian. And certainly cuts down on the number of parents in attendance..)
Amid all these catastrophic classroom disasters, the school's instructors merely repeat a pre-written blather that always ends with..."work the curriculum"........which really doesn't sit well with the students still breathing when the the end-of-class bell rings.
But toughened streetwise Lia isn't one to go down without a fight and she and a small band of remaining survivors try to uncover the secrets and motives of Luminary as they prepare to execute a daring escape from the place....... before the school starts executing......well, them.
Similar to dystopian YA, "Deadly Little Lessons" once again proves that no depths exist that adults won't sink to in their efforts to control, dominate and abuse teenagers, thinking they know what's best for them. And to swallow the premise here, you'll really need to park all sense of reality and disbelief deep in the closet somewhere.
Having said that, though, "Deadly Little Lessons" does in fact make for a fun, fast and enormously entertaining entry in that ever popular genre of 'Shady-Prep-School-Is-Even-Shadier-Than-We-Thought' At least the poor kids didn't have to put up with witches, vampires or slobbering, brain eating zombies.......although those ' work the curriculum' jerks really need a stern talking to....or a stake through their hearts.
(My other reviews can be found at www.thesandyquill.blogspot.com)
I would think by now that we all know what lies in store for a wayward, delinquent teen girl when she enters a top-of-the-line, handsomely appointed Prep school featuring the highest of academic standards and a lush campus that looks like a slightly scaled down Ivy League university.
Those ominous three soundtrack notes should pound in our ears.....Dum Dum DUMMMMM!!! Or to put it mildly....This. Does. Not. Bode. Well.
Lia MIchaels, skilled lock-picker, computer hacker, and veteran of many foster homes and juvie lockups, is as stunned as anyone when she's accepted, along with her beloved foster sis Scarlett to Luminary Prep. An all new experiment in secondary education, Luminary has thrown away standard classroom procedures and now accentuates actual hands-on practical experiences and events for every subject taught. Their students are forced to either learn by doing.......or done in. Possibly so permanent, they'll miss prom.
It doesn't take long for Lia and her incoming class to gape in alarm at what this means for their high school careers. At Luminary, you either graduate.......or you evaporate. In the course of their courses, the student body (or bodies) start severely shrinking. Sometimes their 'lessons' leave them maimed, or presumably dead......or erased altogether from the school role call. This place makes The Hunger Games look like Sesame Street. And only one lucky, plucky student gets to move on to college......the last one left alive in time for the graduation ceremony. (We can only assume they'd also have to serve as their one and only Valedictorian. And certainly cuts down on the number of parents in attendance..)
Amid all these catastrophic classroom disasters, the school's instructors merely repeat a pre-written blather that always ends with..."work the curriculum"........which really doesn't sit well with the students still breathing when the the end-of-class bell rings.
But toughened streetwise Lia isn't one to go down without a fight and she and a small band of remaining survivors try to uncover the secrets and motives of Luminary as they prepare to execute a daring escape from the place....... before the school starts executing......well, them.
Similar to dystopian YA, "Deadly Little Lessons" once again proves that no depths exist that adults won't sink to in their efforts to control, dominate and abuse teenagers, thinking they know what's best for them. And to swallow the premise here, you'll really need to park all sense of reality and disbelief deep in the closet somewhere.
Having said that, though, "Deadly Little Lessons" does in fact make for a fun, fast and enormously entertaining entry in that ever popular genre of 'Shady-Prep-School-Is-Even-Shadier-Than-We-Thought' At least the poor kids didn't have to put up with witches, vampires or slobbering, brain eating zombies.......although those ' work the curriculum' jerks really need a stern talking to....or a stake through their hearts.
(My other reviews can be found at www.thesandyquill.blogspot.com)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, as always, to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC! All opinions are of course my own.
Lia Michaels has spent her life in foster care, bouncing from place to place. A bit of a troublemaker, Lia’s fondness for picking locks and breaking into security systems is also seen as a problem.
When her latest foster mother suggests sending her to a fancy private boarding school, Lia is stunned. Of course, the catch is to convince her foster sister, Scarlett, to go too.
Luminary Prep is an experimental school that was created to challenge normal academic convention. The campus is spacious and beautiful, with state of the art technology, really great cafeteria food, and the best part: the offer of a scholarship to the school of their choice to the five students who graduate. And Lia wants that more than anything.
But the classes at Luminary are… far from ordinary. An obstacle course in Physics Class that looks and might actually be deadly, a Chemistry exam featuring explosives, and a History class with an escape room with a hidden bomb that will go off if they can’t get out…
As students begin to disappear, Lia realizes that when they said five students would graduate, what they meant was only five will survive long enough to graduate.
This book is pitched as Squid Game meets boarding school, and I am inclined to agree. It has a very similar energy to Squid Game, though it skews more… educational, to a degree.
Danielle Valentine has truly come through with an excellent third book! Her second book was better than the first, and I think this one was even better than both of them. Shes definitely learning and improving with each novel, and I love to see it.
I loved the premise, and I absolutely loved the characters. Lia was an excellent protagonist, feeling very fleshed out as a person. Scarlett felt like a secondary protagonist in a chunk of the book, and I loved the relationship she and Lia had throughout. They served as excellent opposites of each other, and both opposite to the other character that becomes a primary player in the story.
The romance of the book was actually paced really well. What I enjoyed was the way that Valentine presented a character off the bat that made you think “oh, they’re gonna be the love interest!” And then does a very drastic 180 that catches you off guard.
And honestly? I liked the actual love interest more than the one we meet at the start. The chemistry between them leapt off the page, and you could feel the tension between them grow.
Overall, I liked this book so much. The vibes of the book also reminded me of the Netflix doc “The Program”, and the schools described in that documentary felt on par with how she wrote the inter-workings of Luminary Prep. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a thriller or enjoyed the tension and rapid intensity of the games of Squid Game.
Lia Michaels has spent her life in foster care, bouncing from place to place. A bit of a troublemaker, Lia’s fondness for picking locks and breaking into security systems is also seen as a problem.
When her latest foster mother suggests sending her to a fancy private boarding school, Lia is stunned. Of course, the catch is to convince her foster sister, Scarlett, to go too.
Luminary Prep is an experimental school that was created to challenge normal academic convention. The campus is spacious and beautiful, with state of the art technology, really great cafeteria food, and the best part: the offer of a scholarship to the school of their choice to the five students who graduate. And Lia wants that more than anything.
But the classes at Luminary are… far from ordinary. An obstacle course in Physics Class that looks and might actually be deadly, a Chemistry exam featuring explosives, and a History class with an escape room with a hidden bomb that will go off if they can’t get out…
As students begin to disappear, Lia realizes that when they said five students would graduate, what they meant was only five will survive long enough to graduate.
This book is pitched as Squid Game meets boarding school, and I am inclined to agree. It has a very similar energy to Squid Game, though it skews more… educational, to a degree.
Danielle Valentine has truly come through with an excellent third book! Her second book was better than the first, and I think this one was even better than both of them. Shes definitely learning and improving with each novel, and I love to see it.
I loved the premise, and I absolutely loved the characters. Lia was an excellent protagonist, feeling very fleshed out as a person. Scarlett felt like a secondary protagonist in a chunk of the book, and I loved the relationship she and Lia had throughout. They served as excellent opposites of each other, and both opposite to the other character that becomes a primary player in the story.
The romance of the book was actually paced really well. What I enjoyed was the way that Valentine presented a character off the bat that made you think “oh, they’re gonna be the love interest!” And then does a very drastic 180 that catches you off guard.
And honestly? I liked the actual love interest more than the one we meet at the start. The chemistry between them leapt off the page, and you could feel the tension between them grow.
Overall, I liked this book so much. The vibes of the book also reminded me of the Netflix doc “The Program”, and the schools described in that documentary felt on par with how she wrote the inter-workings of Luminary Prep. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a thriller or enjoyed the tension and rapid intensity of the games of Squid Game.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh man, you know when you pick up a book and you're like "this is going to be an easy five-star read" and you just keep pulling for the book as long as you can?
That's Deadly Little Lessons for me.
I was incredibly excited to get an ARC (thank you publisher!) and was ready to dive it - it has so much I love in a mystery/thriller. Especially a YA.
But unfortunately it missed the mark on too many things - including the end feeling rushed, so rushed.
Things I loved: the premise and all the iterations of how it could have played out. I hot buttoned a PLEASE GIVE ME THIS from that alone.
Lia is fab. She's complex and fun and has skills for a reason. I wish we got even deeper into her in some places, but I really loved her.
And her relationship with her sister. This is a great found family/sisters story. Their relationship and the dynamics between them is great.
I loved the idea of the love interest and their damage, but how it played out was a little quick-handed as well. Which would have been fine except for the spoiler section.
The classes and tests were great. Like so often the school things fall to the side, but building them in as a foundation of the mystery was perfect.
I'll do some spoilers for those of you who want them to understand why it dropped to 3 stars for me. The reasons are all spoilers and some have to do with the end, so please only click below if you want an actual spoiler - no deep cuts or Big Answers to Big Questions tho.
It is set up that there COULD be a sequel. Even with a 3 star rating, I would absolutely grab that so quickly. I really enjoyed the author's writing and the journey until *points back to spoilers* and would love to see where she goes with this.
To summarize: the first 85% is a 4.5 - I could see all the ways the school could play out. The last 10% was a 2.5 for the reasons in the spoiler.
That's Deadly Little Lessons for me.
I was incredibly excited to get an ARC (thank you publisher!) and was ready to dive it - it has so much I love in a mystery/thriller. Especially a YA.
But unfortunately it missed the mark on too many things - including the end feeling rushed, so rushed.
Things I loved: the premise and all the iterations of how it could have played out. I hot buttoned a PLEASE GIVE ME THIS from that alone.
Lia is fab. She's complex and fun and has skills for a reason. I wish we got even deeper into her in some places, but I really loved her.
And her relationship with her sister. This is a great found family/sisters story. Their relationship and the dynamics between them is great.
I loved the idea of the love interest and their damage, but how it played out was a little quick-handed as well. Which would have been fine except for the spoiler section.
The classes and tests were great. Like so often the school things fall to the side, but building them in as a foundation of the mystery was perfect.
I'll do some spoilers for those of you who want them to understand why it dropped to 3 stars for me. The reasons are all spoilers and some have to do with the end, so please only click below if you want an actual spoiler - no deep cuts or Big Answers to Big Questions tho.
It is set up that there COULD be a sequel. Even with a 3 star rating, I would absolutely grab that so quickly. I really enjoyed the author's writing and the journey until *points back to spoilers* and would love to see where she goes with this.
To summarize: the first 85% is a 4.5 - I could see all the ways the school could play out. The last 10% was a 2.5 for the reasons in the spoiler.
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