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Cover of A Deadly Education

Fantasy

A Deadly Education

by Naomi Novik

4.0 out of 5, from 1,046 ratings from Hardcover readers

At a magical school with no teachers and monsters hiding in every corridor, a sarcastic student with a gift for destruction just wants to survive until graduation. Then the most popular boy in school keeps saving her life.

Facts last checked 2026-10-16

First published
2020
Pace
Medium
Length
Medium
Pages
320
Format
Book 1 of 3 in The Scholomance
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Read this if you like a grim, snarky take on the magic school genre with a prickly narrator and clever worldbuilding.

Skip this if you want a cosy school story or dislike a narration that heavily explains how the magic works.

The feel

Content warnings

  • Violence
  • Death
  • Gore
  • Bullying

Also reported by Hardcover readers:

  • Child death
  • Death of parent
  • Murder
  • Blood
  • Vomit
  • Confinement
  • Drug use
  • Animal death
  • Injury/Injury detail

Quick answers about A Deadly Education

What is A Deadly Education about?
At a magical school with no teachers and monsters hiding in every corridor, a sarcastic student with a gift for destruction just wants to survive until graduation. Then the most popular boy in school keeps saving her life.
Who should read A Deadly Education?
Read it if you like a grim, snarky take on the magic school genre with a prickly narrator and clever worldbuilding. Skip it if you want a cosy school story or dislike a narration that heavily explains how the magic works.
How long and how fast is A Deadly Education?
It is a medium-paced, medium read of about 320 pages, first published in 2020.
Does A Deadly Education have content warnings?
Content we flag: Violence, Death, Gore, Bullying.
Can I borrow A Deadly Education for free?
Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends A Deadly Education; the borrow button above searches it for you.
What should I read after A Deadly Education?
Readers who liked it often move on to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Magicians, Ninth House.

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