The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
UK Publication: September 2021
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★]

This ARC was provided by Random House UK  (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Welcome back to the world of the Scholomance this year’s graduation ceremony will be slightly different from what was advertised.

Synopsis from Goodreads: A budding dark sorceress determined not to use her formidable powers uncovers yet more secrets about the workings of her world in the stunning sequel to A Deadly Education, the start of Naomi Novik’s groundbreaking crossover series.

At the Scholomance, El, Orion, and the other students are faced with their final year–and the looming specter of graduation, a deadly ritual that leaves few students alive in its wake. El is determined that her chosen group will survive, but it is a prospect that is looking harder by the day as the savagery of the school ramps up. Until El realizes that sometimes winning the game means throwing out all the rules . . .

My Thoughts: To read this book you really need to have read A Deadly Education as this book literally picks up right where that book left off with that note from El’s mum. As you will have read the first book you will know what to expect magic, dark magic, enclaves, rivalries, alliances and of course all sorts of mals new and old to contend with.

This term the Scholomance itself decides to play a role in the action and to reassert itself to its original purpose by manipulating events so that what it wants cannot be avoided, but what does it want?

Another fun romp through the school of magic lead by everyone’s favourite potential practiser of the dark arts. Nothing ground breaking here and the cliff hanger ending makes it clear that there is more to come and that in the next instalment we will learn more about the world beyond the walls of the Scholomance and I am totally there for that.

Who would like this? Fans of book one will definitely dig book two so my advice is start there see how you feel.

We want to hear from you! Have you read this book? What did you think?