February Group Read Discussion: A Deadly Education (Scholomance #1) by Naomi Novik

[L Y N N]

This is the February Monthly Group Read discussion of A Deadly Education (Scholomance #1) by Naomi Novik. This book can be used to fulfill prompt #14 A book about a nontraditional education. World Thinking Day is February 22, 2025!

Erin is the “crafty chronicler” who lead this discussion! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Erin!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍😃

HERE is a listing of potential discussion questions. These are meant to not only help those who volunteer to facilitate these monthly discussions but also to provide ideas for members participating in discussions!

Every person reads at a different pace, so please use spoiler tags if you are sharing any plot-related surprises. This allows others to decide whether this information might reveal surprising information they have not yet read. It can also be helpful to other readers if you post the location within the book noting your progress (chapter and/or page number). That way, if someone else has read that far they can go ahead and open the spoiler, but if not, they'll know to skip it for now and return later...

TO ADD SPOILER TAGS:
Use this for spoilers, just remove the spaces:
< spoiler > write your spoiler here and close with < / spoiler >

Posts here should only be contributions to discussion about this book. 😊

[Erin]

Hi all! I finally picked up a copy from the library, so will be starting to read this weekend- I have to finish up a few books from netgalley and libby I need to get to first. But I'll post some intro questions to get the conversation started.

1. Are you picking up this book just for the prompt, or was it already on your tbr?

2.Do you have any expctations of the book? Have you read anything by the author before?

3. For series, do you prefer waiting until a series has been completely released, or do you prefer to read them as they're released?

4. Is this the type of book you're normally drawn to or is this outside your usual genres?

[Joanna G]

I'll play, even though I'm not reading the book now (read it already, loved it, but want something new for the challenge).

1. Are you picking up this book just for the prompt, or was it already on your tbr? As said, I'm not, I've read it already.

2.Do you have any expectations of the book? Have you read anything by the author before? I was pretty jazzed about it, the description (magical school) was right up my alley. I forget where I was in my Novik reading when I read this. I think I had read both Uprooted and Spinning Silver, but maybe it was only one of them. I've not read the Temeraire series, but have heard a ton of good things about it, and own the first book to get to at some point.

3. For series, do you prefer waiting until a series has been completely released, or do you prefer to read them as they're released? I'm so torn about this! I used to read anything as it was published but I got hung up with a couple series that then ...stopped publishing (most notably A Game of Thrones). And I've decided recently that I want to be able to read series close together - if not, I read something, but by the time I get to the sequel I've forgotten details and have to go back and reread the earlier books. Which isn't a problem since I enjoy them if I'm reading on, but isn't efficient for my life goal of reading all the books. So then I was in camp wait for it to be published.

And then I saw something online about how especially for smaller authors, you need to support the first books in the series to ensure they get to write it all, because if the sales / support isn't there, the publisher won't keep going. Also, if it's something buzzy, it's more fun to experience things at the same time as other people rather than having to catch up after the fact.

So, now I think I'm going to mostly wait, but if it's an author I love / want to support, or the premise is just that engaging, I will read it before the whole thing is published. That was actually the case with A Deadly Education for me - it was such catnip to me that I started when only that was out.

4. Is this the type of book you're normally drawn to or is this outside your usual genres? As I've said above, it feels like this book was basically written for me. I'm a complete sff buff, and magical schools are one of my favorite settings.

[Erin]

Joanna G wrote: "And then I saw something online about how especially for smaller authors, you need to support the first books in the series to ensure they get to write it all, because if the sales / support isn't there, the publisher won't keep going. "

I've heard this too! There was one series that started with Upon a Burning Throne that I heard wound up getting cut short because it didn't have as much hype as they wanted. Which considering I have book 1 sitting unread on my shelf makes me feel a little guilty...

[Erin]

I guess I should answer the questions too!

1. Are you picking up this book just for the prompt, or was it already on your tbr?
I read this back when it came out, and then never got around to picking up book 2. Now I'd really like to continue the series, but I honestly only remember bits and pieces of the book, so this getting chosen for the monthly read was the motivation I needed to reread the book.

2.Do you have any expectations of the book? Have you read anything by the author before?
I really like Naomi Novik, I loved Spinning Silver and the short story collection she just put out. I'm curious to see how much of the book I remember as I reread it.

3. For series, do you prefer waiting until a series has been completely released, or do you prefer to read them as they're released?
So I typically like to read the books as they're released. But more and more, I lose track of a series and then suddenly it's been 5 yrs and 3 books and I can't remember where we left off. This series and the Between Earth and Sky series, and I think a few others, are all series that I have to start from the beginning if I want to continue on with them

4. Is this the type of book you're normally drawn to or is this outside your usual genres?
This is exactly the type of book I'm drawn to.

[Erin]

ok, I'm going to post some more questions, just in case anyone's planning on hopping into the group later. So these will be for about the first half of the book:

1. At about halfway through the book, what are your initial thoughts of the story so far?

2. Are there any characters you are really enjoying? Any that you can't stand?

3. This is definitely not the typical "magical school" setup- no teachers, and the deaths of students kind of baked into the process. What are your thoughts of the magic system/magical creatures so far?

4. Are there other books that you'd recommend based on this- either the similar settings, approach to magic or similar characters?

[Lynn Renee]

1. Are you picking up this book just for the prompt, or was it already on your tbr?

I picked this for the prompt after seeing it as the monthly read, but it definitely is my type of interested reading. Found it in my library but it was actually listed as not available for 12 or more weeks then all of the sudden it was here so I borrowed it and was able to read it in the same month the group is reading it which isn’t the norm for me. Normally I end up reading a book outside of the month it’s actually picked for especially when borrowing from the library. I am already on the second book in the series, The Graduate and have already borrowed the third book The Golden Enclaves from my library also.

2. Do you have any expectations of the book? Have you read anything by the author before?

No expectations at all I picked this book after seeing it listed for the monthly read and I haven’t read anything by this author before so it’s all new to me. The description definitely sounds good.

3. For series, do you prefer waiting until a series has been completely released, or do you prefer to read them as they're released?

I definitely love to run across a series that is fully finished and I’m able to read them one after the other. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen all the time and I end up with books coming out after I’ve read all the books in a series that are written then later find there’s 4, 5, or 6 more books added to a series. This is always just a happy find on my part and I’m glad to continue on with the series.

4. Is this the type of book you're normally drawn to or is this outside your usual genres?

I do like to read this type of book. This genre has always interested me anything magical, mystical, dystopian, apocalyptic, etc. I just love them all. Of course there are many other genres that I enjoy too.

[Delilah]

I struggled with this book. Not surprisingly though, because this genre is just not my cup of tea. With that being said, I could tell it was written pretty well but I just couldn’t help being distracted while listening to it on audible. Only bits and pieces kept my attention.

[Marina]

I had never heard of this book and borrowed it just for the prompt. I didn't have many expectations since I had not heard of it, but I generally like books about magic and magic schools.

I don't know if I really have a preference of reading series as they are released or after multiple are released. I find it hard to wait when I really want to find the ending of the story, so it is great to have the ability to just start the next book right away. On the other hand, I also have trouble waiting, so I will get read a series right away if I know about it and am really interested. I think the point brought up about generating interest by reading them as they are released is a great one. So, I think I will try to read books as they are released especially for less well-known authors.

I just finished the book and even though it wasn't my favorite, I think I will read the second book. The book started off slow for me but got better as it went along. I think that since this isn't the typical magical setup it took a little more explaining and was a little harder to wrap my head around. I am interested finding out more now.