A Deadly Education

by Naomi Novik · 2020

A Deadly Education is the first novel in Naomi Novik’s Scholomance trilogy, a dark‑academia fantasy set in a deadly magical school where there are no teachers, no holidays, and the only way out is to graduate or die. The story follows Galadriel “El” Higgins, a third‑year student with a terrifying, world‑shaking power she desperately tries not to unleash. As monsters stalk every corridor and alliances are purely strategic, El must navigate a cut‑throat environment, confront the charismatic Orion Lake, and decide whether to use her destructive magic to survive. Wry, witty, and mordantly funny, the novel blends high‑stakes survival with a coming‑of‑age arc, earning New York Times bestseller status and praise for its inventive world‑building.