The Last Graduate
By Naomi Novik
- Release Date: 2021-09-28
- Genre: Epic Fantasy
Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The specter of graduation looms large as Naomi Novik’s groundbreaking, New York Times bestselling trilogy continues in the stunning sequel to A Deadly Education.
“The climactic graduation-day battle will bring cheers, tears, and gasps as the second of the Scholomance trilogy closes with a breathtaking cliff-hanger.”—Booklist (starred review)
WINNER OF THE LODESTAR AWARD • HUGO AND LOCUS AWARD FINALIST • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Polygon, Thrillist, She Reads
In Wisdom, Shelter. That’s the official motto of the Scholomance. I suppose you could even argue that it’s true—only the wisdom is hard to come by, so the shelter’s rather scant.
Our beloved school does its best to devour all its students—but now that I’ve reached my senior year and have actually won myself a handful of allies, it’s suddenly developed a very particular craving for me. And even if I somehow make it through the endless waves of maleficaria that it keeps throwing at me in between grueling homework assignments, I haven’t any idea how my allies and I are going to make it through the graduation hall alive.
Unless, of course, I finally accept my foretold destiny of dark sorcery and destruction. That would certainly let me sail straight out of here. The course of wisdom, surely.
But I’m not giving in—not to the mals, not to fate, and especially not to the Scholomance. I’m going to get myself and my friends out of this hideous place for good—even if it’s the last thing I do.
With keen insight and mordant humor, Novik reminds us that sometimes it is not enough to rewrite the rules—sometimes, you need to toss out the entire rulebook.
The magic of the Scholomance trilogy continues in The Golden Enclaves
Reviews
From Loaner to Leader
5By asildroffopsThe Last Graduate by Naomi Novik is the second book in The Scholomance series and begins not long after A Deadly Education ends. During the book, our protagonist, El, continues to develop both socially and emotionally and her relationships with her peers reflects this change. Her determination not to harm any living thing drives many of her actions. Orion continues to be a constant presence in her life and time would tell how this relationship would progress. It was inspiring to read as El, who was prophesied to destroy everything, as she became a leader who went from being concerned only for herself to someone who was concerned with the wellbeing of the entire student body. This was El and Orion’s graduation year and they were making every effort to make it out of the school alive. This fantasy world that the author has built is original and incredibly creative. Her ability to write the journey of an extremely awkward, socially inept teen to a still abrasive but much more connected young woman was a joy to experience. The friendships that were formed between the students were important and meaningful.. I found it hard to put this book down, despite the fact that it was harder work to read and follow than the author’s other novels. I wholeheartedly recommend The Last Graduate to all readers of fantasy, especially YA fantasy. It has magic, it has danger, it has friendship and love, and it has a well developed plot, and it ends in a very unexpected cliffhanger. How can it miss? I am voluntarily submitting this honest review after reading a complementary copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey .A solid entry for the middle of the Scholomance
4By xaxnarThe Scholomance series is slated to be a trilogy, making this book the middle volume. In trilogies that’s the hardest one to pull off. The author has to build on the story setup from the entry book without recapping it too much, and go on to set up for the conclusion in the final volume. But the book also has to stand on its own. Novik succeeds with a story that continues the development of her characters as they move on to face challenges that take things to a new level. There are some good plot twists and surprises capped at the end by a real cliffhanger - just as the first volume did. If there is one drawback to the story, it’s the way the main character El spends a lot of time filling out events with extra details and observations that provide a lot of context, but at the cost of slowing the story down at times. But, this also sets the stage for revelations and insights as the story progresses - and puts a fair number of “Chekhov guns” on the wall. Quite a few of them are likely to go off in the final volume. This series is a hero’s journey - coming of age tale; we get to see El and the cast of females around her play out what is more often the kind of story reserved for male characters. The one primary male character, Orion Lake, gets fleshed out a bit more, but we also get to see how limited his life has been. He’s only starting to realize how much more there is to living towards the end of this book. In a way he demonstrates how narrow the classic ‘young hero’ can be as a clichéd stock archetype. A good read - which makes the wait for the final volume all that more irritating.El is my new hero.
1By BASF15A magnificent and heroic triumph of magical human beings. You will want to be them, to know them and aspire to be as noble. El is my hero!!Ow my feelings
5By PhyrexianGodWow just about broke my heart and now I gotta wait for the next one 🥲I’m giving up
1By JLOJODI eagerly anticipated this book. Unfortunately, a significant portion was descriptions of the same things from the first book—a total slog—but I hung in there. Then came the completely unsatisfactory ending that is unabashedly designed to get you to buy the next book. I give up…I’m not doing it.Brilliant , spellbinding, endlessly creative
5By stratton100Naomi Novik dances in the footsteps of JK Rowling but with the upgrade of a gorgeous sense todays diverse world. Page turning excitement, intricate world building ,and exuberant passion. I read the last page four times in a row. She writes with such confidence and joy . I savored every chapter and long for the next book already.The Last Graduate
5By LanerhammEl rewrites the narrative for Graduation. Tremendous! Can’t wait for the next book. Who was the last graduate?Amazing as Always
5By RingOfWordsEvery book by this author is incredible with this series being her best. I highly recommend it.Nope
3By zaibunisa sahibaJust don’t invest time in this book, the utter waste of time,Simply amazing
5By Texan gamingI picked up the Temeraire series as a teenager and haven’t been disappointed with the authors since. The life she breathes into her series makes it hard to put down a book. The pacing is just want you want. Slow enough to get you sucked in the beginning and then by the end, you’re being reeled in, hook, line and sinker. Looking forward to the next book, no matter the wait.A work of magic in its own right
5By AlloraLeeFrom the prose to the character growth to the Diablo hue, everything is weaved together wonderfullyA fitting second lesson
5By HeidleburgThis book is as entertaining as the first. I don’t understand the reviews that say that there is not enough of Orion Lake. In this book El and Orion progress in their relationship but the focus of the story is the mission of the Scholomance and how El and the other characters come together to fulfill the mission of the school.Wicked fun
5By abhayakaraA bunch of high school students in an impossibly grim situation, and yet somehow I spent most of this book chortling at the funny bits and tearing up at the sweet bits. This definitely lived up to the promise of the first book in the series.Amazing sequel!!!
5By mmarcone912I loved the first one. Loved this one even more. Brought me to tears multiple times. And the cliffhanger ending is already killing me!!! Can’t wait for the next oneRead the entire thing in one sitting
5By Sneezy grumpy seven dwarfsOk, I thought I was hooked from the first book. This one was amazing. Finished it in one sitting (read it from sunrise to sundown). I already knew I would love the 2nd book, and now I’m going to patiently wait (please please please) for the next book in the series (please let there be a next book) to tell me what happened!!!! I need to know!!!One of the best books I've ever read
5By Tori TannerI couldn't possibly wait to read this book as soon as it came out (literally. I started reading the minute it was released) and I am so beyond amazed. I'm a little upset that I finished it so quickly because I just want MORE. The twists and turns had me theorizing the entire time and I can say I absolutely did not see the ending coming. This was 100% one of the best books I've ever read. I can't wait to see more!Delightful sequel to the first book
4By RoadrunnerReaderIn the first book, the heroes are constantly fighting monsters. In this book, there are barely any monsters at all because of the action that took place in the previous book. But the stakes are even higher than before. I loved the twists and turns that the story took. I look forward to reading more in this series.Cliffhanger
4By bloomsburry28I would have given this a five star if not for the cliffhanger
