Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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Inert Magic

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

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CBR Bingo – New Series A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, Book No. 1 in the Scholomance series, was a disappointment. It had an interesting premise: a sorcery school that is crawling with creatures who are set on injuring and killing the students. Unfortunately, the book didn’t live up to the premise. The book centers around Galadriel, an extremely powerful wizard who has the capability to cause mass destruction. She has kept her power hidden from her fellow students and the prestigious enclaves that sit […]

It’s kind of like if Harry Potter was destined to destroy the world, crossed with the Hunger Games, and Hogwarts was actively trying to kill you

Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

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Naomi Novik burst on the scene with her Temeraire series but around book 4 or 5 I lost interest.  Then last year I finally read Spinning Silver and was reminded what a good author she is and was excited to find out that a new book was forth coming in the Fall, Deadly Education.  Attending one of her virtual release events whetted my appetite and I have been eagerly waiting for Deadly Education to rise to the top of the TBR, I’m happy to report it lived […]

A really good premise ruined by casual racism and poor characterization

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

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The Scholomance is not your typical school. And not just because it’s a school for magic. No, this school is not your average school because it will straight up try to kill you. Students have to stay alert constantly and travel in packs everywhere lest one of the evil creatures, or malefecaria, who live in the school try to kill them. Galadriel, or El, is a student at the Scholomance determined to survive all the way through graduation and do so on her own terms. […]

Teased and Tantalized but not completely fulfilled.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

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When I found out I would have to spend 12 hours in a car by myself I knew I wanted to find an audiobook that would engage me as much as possible but not distract me. As I was travelling through the Rocky Mountains, I also wanted something that had an earthy tone. I’ve been a fan of Naomi Novik since I fell in love with the Temeraire series as a teenager. She has a beautiful lyrical writing style and weaves history and fantasy together […]

Give me a dragon now!

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik

Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik

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Uprooted and Spinning Silver were two of the best books that I read last year, and they left me wanting more Naomi Novik. When I didn’t immediately purchase her new book this year, amazon offered me a collection of her first three Temeraire novels for $3. Obviously, I bought it.  The series starts with His Majesty’s Dragon, which is a kind of weird title since His Majesty has lots of dragons. In this alternate history, dragons exist and are used for warfare. It’s the early […]

You learn your lessons and stay vigilant, or you die

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

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4.5 stars Official book description: A Deadly Education is set at Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death (for real) — until one girl, El, begins to unlock its many secrets. There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die!    The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the […]



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