The world can be brutal, especially for children
Ordinary people and wizards live in our world. For centuries, the latter gathered in the so-called enclaves, exchanging knowledge and guaranteeing their members a relative level of security.
People who use magic are often attacked by sinister creatures that drain their life force. An adult wizard is one thing, he can already cast a spell, defend himself. But the children? Often attacked, unable to use spells or control their powers – they are easy prey. Out of concern for their own children, a group of genius magicians decided to create a school.
Scholomance is a very dangerous place. And here the deadly entities attack the students. In the canteen, while scooping food, in the classroom, when you reach for the necessary utensils, while lying in your own bed in the evening – you can die at every step. Although the mortality rate is lower than in the outside world. Not first glance, the creatures are the biggest problem. But, as they say, man is wolf to man, and sometimes it turns out that a colleague on the upper floor of the dorm will try to gut you at night. The school cannot be left, and only new students will teleport to it. How do I get out of here? It’s simple – survive graduation and get through the gate, but there are even more monsters there.
Be careful who you stick with
How little where, you can learn strategy at Scholomance. And making alliances is an essential part of increasing your chances of survival in and out of school.
The main character of the novel is Galadriel Higgins – yes, my mother named it after the Queen of the Elves in The Lord of the RingsJRR Tolkien, whom she often read to her. According to the prophecy of his great-grandmother, he is to bring destruction to the world. The girl defies “stupid destiny” and tries to avoid it at all costs – of course not going to the wrong side of the force. She has always been lonely. Only her mother cared about her fate. El (this is how they refer to the main character) is a talented sorceress, hiding her true abilities. She is mean, dry, unkind. He is great at analyzing every situation. This calculated behavior changes when “by force” he gets to know Orion Lake – the school hero, who saves other kids from creatures waiting for their lives. This acquaintance will affect her relationship with the other students, and also push Galadriel to make various decisions, sometimes more or less dangerous.
Fast action and lots of emotions
The book was written in the first person, so we get to know the world from the perspective of Galadriel. And although he theoretically explains to us all the complexities of the world in which he lives, we are still unable to understand many things. Because we were additionally thrown into the action, and the perception of the world is related to the decisions made by the heroine. Due to the narrative, a large part of the book is made up of the protagonist’s extensive internal experiences.
Certain passages were extremely hard to read, in part because of the construction of the sentences. It seems to me that this is a question of translation. The action is fast and sometimes you can get lost, especially in the midst of dynamic scenes or in which Galadriel tells intricate stories. The heroes of the book make decisions that are in harmony with their character and you can really like them. The novel is only seemingly “completely” dark. It also contains humorous elements. As the action develops, it becomes really addictive, it can surprise you, there is something in it that encourages you to the next and the next page, and finally it turns out that we have already read everything and want more.
Summary
Although it may seem like a book for teenagers and young adults, any fantasy fan, regardless of age, should read it. Especially if you like Naomi Novik, efficient action, reliable heroes and a large dose of danger. The ending of the book prompts us to reach for the next volume of the novel. I will certainly do it.
