A Deadly Education is set at the Scholomance, a school for magically gifted students. Failure at the Scholomance means certain death. The protagonist, Galadriel “El” Higgins, is a half-Welsh, half-Indian sorceress. She must survive until graduation while controlling her destructive abilities. The school has no teachers, no holidays, and no genuine friendships—only strategic alliances12.
Main Characters
Certainly! In “A Deadly Education” by Naomi Novik, the main characters include:
- Galadriel “El” Higgins: The protagonist, El,, is a half-Welsh, half-Indian sorceress. She possesses powerful and destructive magical abilities. El studies death and destruction spells and keeps her famous magical healer mother a secret. She lacks popularity and friends, which is dangerous in the treacherous environment of Scholomance.
- Other Students at the Scholomance: While El is the central character, the novel also features other students who form alliances, compete, and face life-threatening challenges. These students come from various backgrounds and have their own motivations and secrets.
Setting
Certainly! “A Deadly Education” by Naomi Novik is set at the Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted. Here are some key details about the setting:
- Scholomance: The Scholomance is a unique and perilous magical school. It exists in a void outside the normal world. Within its walls, students learn through independent study, facing constant danger. There are no teachers, no holidays, and no genuine friendships—only strategic alliances. Survival is more important than any letter grade, as the school won’t allow students to leave until they graduate or die. The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone, and beware of the monsters that lurk everywhere. The Scholomance is a place where failure means certain death, and El, the protagonist, begins to unlock its many secrets12.
- El: The main character, Galadriel “El” Higgins, is a half-Welsh, half-Indian sorceress. She possesses powerful and destructive magical abilities. El studies death and destruction spells and keeps her famous magical healer mother a secret. Despite lacking popularity and friends, El is uniquely prepared for the school’s dangers. However, her powerful dark magic might also pose a threat to other students1.
Themes
Certainly! “A Deadly Education” by Naomi Novik explores several themes:
- Class and Wealth Inequality: The novel analogizes the concept of “haves and have-nots” by constructing an enclave system within the Scholomance. It highlights the struggles of those who exist outside of this system, emphasizing the disparities between students based on their magical abilities and backgrounds1.
- Survival and Strategic Alliances: Survival is more important than any letter grade at the Scholomance. Students must form strategic alliances to navigate the dangerous environment. El, the protagonist, lacks allies but possesses a dark power that could either save or harm her peers2.
- Secrets and Hidden Agendas: The Scholomance is full of secrets, from its mysterious origins to the maleficaria (magical creatures) that hunt students. El’s own secrets—such as her famous magical healer mother—are crucial to her survival2.
- Power and Responsibility: El’s powerful dark magic could level mountains, but it also poses a risk to other students. The novel explores the balance between using one’s abilities and the potential harm they might cause2.
Read More ebooks
Conclusion
The book follows El’s journey as she unravels secrets, forms unexpected alliances, and faces deadly challenges. It’s a thrilling and darkly magical tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats3.
