TPW: I am strongly reminded of The Name Of The Wind (mild spoilers for the first half of the book)

[Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth]

As soon as Rin got to school, I noticed strong similarities between it and Kvothe's university. The way Rin was an outsider because of her origins, the rivalry and the unwise manner in which she stoked the flames of that rivalry, the group of professors that included one who immediately took against her and another who was a total nut job who would, inevitably, take an interest in our protonist... so much was familiar here. This isn't a criticism. I am rather enjoying it, and it seems to be moving in a very different direction, but it did make me wonder at the influences behind this book.

Mind you, I guess you could make similar comparisons to Harry Potter, with Dumbledor, I guess, taking the role of the mad professor. There are probably many others too that follow a similar path.

[Tassie Dave, S&L Historian]

I am very early in the book (about 11%) and am also getting a Red Sister vibe.

If it's half as good, (or better), than that series, I'll be happy :-)

[Trike]

All these parallels and similarities to numerous other books are one of the hallmarks I looked for when doing my research on genre distinctions.

That also makes it easier to recommend to others: “It’s just like _____ except with _____!”

[Nick]

I believe the Earthsea series had a hero goes to a special school story line. It has become a trope of sorts. Protagonist leaves what they've known to be schooled. Runs into a fellow student who they don't get along with and runs into a teacher they don't get along with. Finds out they have special abilities that are nurtured by a specific teacher or parental figure.

As long as it is told well I'm okay with revisiting old story ideas. Writers have been copying Shakespeare for centuries by putting a creative spin on the old tropes. I'm sure Shakespeare copied someone else in a few areas or more.

[John (Taloni)]

^Yep, Hamlet wasn't exactly a new story, but Shakespeare told it best.