At the Scholomance, a magical school with no teachers and deadly consequences, survival is the only curriculum. El Higgins is a powerful but unpopular student who’s trying not to give in to her dark magical potential. As monsters lurk in every corner and alliances are crucial, El must decide who to trust—even the annoyingly heroic Orion Lake. A Deadly Education is the first in The Scholomance trilogy, offering a fresh twist on dark academia. With sharp wit, world-building, and a fierce, flawed heroine, it explores friendship, power, and survival in a school where graduation literally means escape or death.
About The Scholomance Series
Set in a deadly magical school with no teachers and countless lurking monsters, this dark academia fantasy begins with A Deadly Education. El Higgins, a powerful but socially isolated student, tries to survive without succumbing to dark magic. As alliances shift and danger escalates, El must confront both external threats and her own destiny. The trilogy, concluded with The Golden Enclaves, subverts typical school-of-magic tropes with wit, diversity, and a sharp critique of privilege and power. It’s fast-paced, funny, and emotionally rich.
About Naomi Novik
An American author known for her imaginative and beautifully written fantasy novels that often blend historical settings with magical elements and folklore. Her Temeraire series reimagines the Napoleonic Wars with dragons, while her standalone novels like Uprooted and Spinning Silver draw on Eastern European fairy tales. Novik's elegant prose and compelling characters have made her a beloved author in the fantasy genre.
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